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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/17603-h.zip b/17603-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1095797 --- /dev/null +++ b/17603-h.zip diff --git a/17603-h/17603-h.htm b/17603-h/17603-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..db820ec --- /dev/null +++ b/17603-h/17603-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5740 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Bert Wilson In The Rockies, by AUTHOR. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Bert Wilson in the Rockies, by J. W. Duffield + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Bert Wilson in the Rockies + +Author: J. W. Duffield + +Release Date: January 25, 2006 [EBook #17603] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BERT WILSON IN THE ROCKIES *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Lybarger, Brian Janes, Mary Meehan and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<h1>BERT WILSON IN THE ROCKIES</h1> + +<h2>BY J. W. DUFFIELD</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Author of "Bert Wilson at the Wheel," "Wireless Operator," "Fadeaway +Ball," "Marathon Winner," "At Panama."</span></h3> + +<h4>NEW YORK<br /> +GEORGE SULLY & COMPANY<br /> +PUBLISHERS</h4> + +<h4>Copyright, 1914, By<br /> +SULLY AND KLEINTEICH</h4> + +<h4>Published and Printed, 1924 by<br /> +Western Printing & Lithographing Company<br /> +Racine, Wisconsin<br /> +Printed in U.S.A.</h4> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS</h2> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I--<span class="smcap">A Desperate Encounter</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II--<span class="smcap">The Ranch in the Rockies</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III--<span class="smcap">"Busting" a Broncho</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV--<span class="smcap">A Forest Terror</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V--<span class="smcap">The Grizzly at Bay</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI--<span class="smcap">The "Ringer's" Downfall</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII--<span class="smcap">The Wolf Pack</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII--<span class="smcap">With Teeth and Hoofs</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX--<span class="smcap">The Indian Outbreak</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X--<span class="smcap">In Fearful Extremity</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI--<span class="smcap">Within an Ace</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII--<span class="smcap">Quick on the Draw</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII--<span class="smcap">Trailing the Outlaws</span></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV--<span class="smcap">The Race for Life</span></a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="BERT_WILSON_IN_THE_ROCKIES" id="BERT_WILSON_IN_THE_ROCKIES"></a>BERT WILSON IN THE ROCKIES</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">A Desperate Encounter</span></h3> + + +<p>A shower of glass from the shattered windowpane fell over the floor and +seats, and a bullet embedded itself in the woodwork of an upper berth. +There was a shriek from the women passengers in the crowded Pullman, and +the men looked at each other in consternation. From the platform came the +sound of a scuffle, interspersed with oaths. Then, through the narrow +corridor that bordered the smoking-room, hurried two men, pushing the +terrified negro porter ahead of them. Each of the intruders wore a black +cloth tied over the lower part of his face, and before the bewildered +passengers knew what had happened they found themselves looking along the +blue-black barrels of two ugly revolvers.</p> + +<p>It was a startling break in an uneventful day. For several hours the +Overland Limited had hummed along over the boundless prairies that +stretched away on either side with scarcely a break to the horizon. They +had time to make up, and on these open spaces the engineer had let it out +to the limit. So swiftly and smoothly had it sped along that the "click, +click" as it struck each separate rail had merged into one droning "song +of the road."</p> + +<p>There had been no rain for a week past, and the dust lay thick on the +grass and cactus. The motion of the train drew it up in clouds that made +it impossible to keep the windows raised, and the sun, beating down +pitilessly from a brazen sky, added to the general discomfort. Cooling +drinks were at a premium, and the porters were kept busy making trips to +the buffet car, from which they returned with tinkling glasses and +cooling ices. Collars wilted and conversation languished. Women glanced +listlessly over the pages of the magazines. Men drew their traveling caps +over their eyes and settled down for a doze. Here and there a commercial +traveler jotted down some item or wondered how far he dared to "pad" his +expense account so that it would "get by" the lynx-eyed head of the firm. +In the smoking-room a languid game of cards was being played, in an +effort to beguile the tedious monotony of the trip. Over all there +brooded a spirit of somnolence and relaxation.</p> + +<p>If there was life to be discerned anywhere, it was in a group of three +young fellows seated near the middle of the car. They would have drawn +more than a passing glance wherever seen. Tall, well set up, muscular, +they served as splendid types of young American manhood. None of them +were over twenty, and their lean, bronzed faces, as well as the lithe +alertness of their movements, spoke of a life spent largely in the open. +They were brimming with life and high spirits. Exuberant vitality shone +through their eyes and betrayed itself in every gesture. That they were +friends of long standing was evident from the utter absence of ceremony +and the free and easy comradeship with which they chaffed each other.</p> + +<p>From the beginning of the trip they had been full of fun and merriment. +Their college year had just closed, and they were like frolicsome colts +turned out to pasture. There was hardly an incident of the journey that +did not furnish to their keen, unjaded senses something of interest and +amusement. Their cup of life was full and they drained it in great +draughts.</p> + +<p>But just now even their effervescence was calmed somewhat by the heat and +spirit of drowsiness that hovered over the car.</p> + +<p>"Gee," yawned the youngest of the three, stretching out lazily. "Isn't it +nearly twelve o'clock? I wonder when that dusky gentleman will come along +with the call to dinner."</p> + +<p>"Always hungry," laughed one of the others. "The rest of us eat to live, +but Tom lives to eat."</p> + +<p>"You've struck it there, Dick," assented the third. "You know they say +that no one has ever been able to eat a quail a day for thirty days hand +running, but I'd be willing to back Tom to do it."</p> + +<p>"Well, I wouldn't quail at the prospect," began Tom complacently, and +then ducked as Dick made a pass at him.</p> + +<p>"Even at that, I haven't got anything on you fellows," he went on, in an +aggrieved tone. "When you disciples of 'plain living and high thinking' +get at the dinner table, I notice that it soon becomes a case of high +living and plain thinking."</p> + +<p>"Such low-brow insinuations deserve no answer," said Dick severely. +"Anyway," consulting his watch, "it's only half-past eleven, so you'll +have to curb the promptings of your grosser nature."</p> + +<p>"No later than that?" groaned Tom. "I don't know when a morning has +seemed so long in passing."</p> + +<p>"It <i>is</i> a little slow. I suppose it's this blistering heat and the long +distance between stations. It's about time something happened to break +the monotony."</p> + +<p>"Don't raise false hopes, Bert," said Tom, cynically. "Nothing ever +happens nowadays."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know," laughed Bert. "How about the Mexican bandits and the +Chinese pirates? Something certainly happened when we ran up against +those rascals."</p> + +<p>"They were lively scraps, all right," admitted Tom, "but we had to go +out of the country to get them. In the little old United States, we've +got too much civilization. Everything is cut and dried and pared and +polished, until there are no rough edges left. Think of the fellows that +made this trip across the continent sixty years ago in their prairie +schooners, getting cross-eyed from looking for buffalo with one eye and +Indians with the other, feeling their scalp every five minutes to make +sure they still had it. That was life."</p> + +<p>"Or death," put in Dick skeptically.</p> + +<p>"Then look at us," went on Tom, not deigning to notice the interruption, +"rolling along smoothly at fifty miles an hour in a car that's like a +palace, with its cushioned seats and electric lights and library and +bath and soft beds and rich food and servants to wait upon us. We're +pampered children of luxury, all right, but I'm willing to bet that those +'horny-handed sons of toil' had it on us when it came to the real joy of +living."</p> + +<p>"Tom was born too late?" chaffed Bert. "He doesn't really belong in the +twentieth century. He ought to have lived in the time of Ivanhoe, or +Young Lochinvar, or the Three Musketeers, or Robin Hood. I can see him +bending a bow in Nottingham Forest or breaking a lance in a tournament or +storming a fortress by day, and at night twanging a guitar beneath a +castle window or writing a sonnet to his lady's eyebrow."</p> + +<p>"Well, anyhow," defended Tom, "those fellows of the olden time had good +red blood in their veins."</p> + +<p>"Yes," assented Dick drily, "but it didn't stay there long. There were +too many sword points ready to let it out."</p> + +<p>And yet, despite their good-natured "joshing" of Tom, they, quite as much +as he, were eager for excitement and adventure. In the fullest sense they +were "birds of a feather." In earlier and ruder days they would have been +soldiers of fortune, cutting their ways through unknown forests, facing +without flinching savage beasts and equally savage men, looking ever for +new worlds to conquer. Even in these "piping days of peace" that they so +much deplored, they had shown an almost uncanny ability to get into +scrapes of various kinds, from which sometimes they had narrowly escaped +with a whole skin. Again and again their courage had been severely tried, +and had stood the test. At home and abroad, on land and sea, they had +come face to face with danger and death. But the fortune that "favors the +brave" had not deserted them, even in moments of deadliest peril. They +were accustomed to refer to themselves laughingly as "lucky," but those +who knew them best preferred to call them plucky. A stout heart and a +quick wit had "many a time and oft" extricated them from positions where +luck alone would have failed them.</p> + +<p>And most of their adventures had been shared in company. The tie of +friendship that bound them together as closely as brothers was of long +standing. Beginning at a summer camp, five years earlier, where chance +had thrown them together, it had grown increasingly stronger with every +year that passed. A subtle free masonry had from the start made each +recognize the others as kindred spirits. Since this first meeting their +paths had seldom diverged. Together they had gone to college, where their +athletic prowess had put them in the first rank in sports and made them +popular among their comrades. On the baseball diamond they had played +their positions in brilliant fashion, and on the football gridiron they +had added to their laurels. When Bert had been chosen to go to the +Olympic games abroad, his "pals" had gone with him and exulted in his +glorious victory, when, in the Marathon race, he had beaten the crack +runners of the world. Nor were they to be denied, when his duty as +wireless operator had carried him over the Pacific to meet with thrilling +experiences among the yellow men of Asia. In every time of storm and +stress they had stood with him shoulder to shoulder, and faced life and +death with eyes wide open and unafraid. They were worthy lieutenants of +a brave and intrepid leader.</p> + +<p>For, that he was their leader, they themselves would have been the first +to admit, although he would have modestly disclaimed it. He never +asserted leadership, but it sought him out of its own accord. He had the +instinct, the initiative, the quick decision, the magnetic personality +that marks the born captain. It was not merely that he was endowed with +strength of muscle and fleetness of foot and power of endurance that +placed him in a class by himself. He might have had all these, and still +been only a superb specimen of the "human animal." But, above and +controlling these qualities, was the indomitable will, the unflinching +courage, the gallant audacity that made him the idol of his comrades.</p> + +<p>The college year just ended had been a notable one, marked by victories +on track and field. Together with the high rank he had reached and held +in his studies, with which, unlike many athletes, he never allowed sport +to interfere, it had taxed him heavily in mind and body. And it was with +unfeigned delight that he now looked forward to a long season of +recreation and adventure on the ranch in Montana, toward which he and +his friends were speeding.</p> + +<p>Mr. Melton, the owner of the ranch, was a Western cattleman of the old +type, now rapidly disappearing. Bluff, rough and ready, generous and +courageous, his sterling qualities had won the admiration and affection +of the boys from the date of their first meeting the year before.</p> + +<p>That meeting had taken place under extraordinary circumstances. The +"Three Guardsmen"—so called in joke, because they were always +together—journeying to the opening of the Panama Canal had found +themselves on the same train with Melton, as it wound its way through +Central Mexico. A broken trestle had made it necessary for the train to +halt for an hour or two, and during this enforced stop Dick had +carelessly wandered away on a stroll through the woods, tempted by the +beauty of the day and the novelty of his surroundings. At a turn in the +road he had suddenly found himself in the presence of twenty or more +guerillas, headed by the notorious El Tigre, whose name was spoken with a +shudder throughout Mexico. They had bound him and carried him off to +their mountain retreat. Bert and Tom, an hour later, discovered the cause +of his absence and immediately started in pursuit, determined to save +their comrade or die with him. But first they had disclosed the situation +to Melton, who had sworn in his rage to follow after them and aid them in +the rescue. How faithfully he had kept his word, how skillfully and +daringly he had led them on and rushed the camp just as Dick was steeling +himself to undergo the rattlesnake torture that the bandit chief had +planned for him, was engraven indelibly on the memories of the boys. +Until the day of their death they could never forget how the old war +horse, with everything to lose and nothing to gain, had come to their +assistance simply because they were Americans and in dire need of help.</p> + +<p>And on Melton's part the feeling was equally warm. He had taken an +instantaneous liking to these young countrymen of his who had played +their part so gallantly. They recalled to him the days of his own stormy +youth, when he had ridden the range and when his life had depended on +his iron nerve and his quickness with the trigger. Though older than +they by forty years, they were all cut on the same pattern of sturdy, +self-reliant American manhood, and it was with the utmost cordiality that +he had crushed their hands in his strong grip and urged them to visit him +at his ranch in the Rockies. Since then he had been East on a business +trip and had been present on that memorable day when Bert, with the ball +tucked under his arm, had torn down the field in the great race for the +goal that won the game in the last minute of play. Then he had renewed +the invitation with redoubled earnestness, and promised them the time of +their lives. They needed no urging to do a thing that accorded so well +with their own inclinations, and from that time on until the opening of +the summer had shaped everything with that end in view. Now they were +actually launched upon their journey. That it held for them a new and +delightful experience they did not doubt. How much of danger and +excitement and hairbreadth escape it also held, they did not even dream.</p> + +<p>"Bully old boy, Melton," commented Tom, playing lazily with a heavy +paperweight he had bought at a curio shop at their last stopping place.</p> + +<p>"A diamond in the rough," assented Dick.</p> + +<p>"All wool and a yard wide," declared Bert, emphatically. "I wonder if +he——Great Scott, what's that?" as a bullet whizzed through the window +of the Pullman.</p> + +<p>The question was quickly answered when their eyes fell on the robbers, +who, with leveled pistols, dominated the car. And the threat of the +weapons themselves was not more sinister than the purpose that glinted in +the ferocious eyes above the improvised masks. There was no mere bluff +and bluster in that steady gaze. They were ready to shoot and shoot to +kill. Their lives were already forfeit to the law, anyway, and in that +rough country they would get "a short shrift and a long rope" if their +plans went astray. They might as well be hung for murder as robbery, and, +while they did not mean to kill unless driven to it, they were perfectly +ready to do so at the first hint of resistance.</p> + +<p>The paralyzing moment of surprise passed, there was a stir among the +passengers. The first instinct was to hide their valuables or drop them +on the floor. But this was checked instantly by the outlaws.</p> + +<p>"Hands up," shouted one of them with an oath. "I'll kill the first man +that makes a move."</p> + +<p>His pistol ranged over the car, flickering like the tongue of a snake, +seeming to cover every passenger at once. Beneath its deadly insistence, +hands were upraised one after the other. Resistance at that moment meant +instant death. The unwritten law of the West had to be obeyed. He "had +the drop" on them.</p> + +<p>The leader grinned malignantly and spoke to his companion, without for an +instant turning his gaze.</p> + +<p>"Now, Bill," he growled, "I've got these mavericks covered. Pass round +the hat. These gents—and ladies," he leered—"will hand over their coin +and jewelry, and God help the one who tries to renig. He won't never need +money no more."</p> + +<p>Taking his old sombrero from his head, the one addressed as Bill started +in to collect from the front of the car.</p> + +<p>"Only one hand down at a time to get your money," shouted his companion. +"And mind," he added ominously, "I'm watchin' that hand."</p> + +<p>Pocket books and rings and watches dropped into the hat. Women were +sobbing hysterically and men were cursing under their breath.</p> + +<p>"Stung," groaned Tom disgustedly.</p> + +<p>"And our pistols in our bags," growled Dick.</p> + +<p>Bert's mind had been working like lightning. He was always at his best +when danger threatened. Now his body grew taut and his eyes gleamed.</p> + +<p>"Be ready, you fellows," he said in low tones, scarcely moving his lips. +"Dick, back me up when I make a move. Tom, got that paperweight handy?"</p> + +<p>"Right alongside on the window ledge," muttered Tom.</p> + +<p>Still keeping his eyes in an innocent stare on the outlaw captain, Bert +murmured a few words. They caught his meaning on the instant and were +ready.</p> + +<p>The man with the hat was getting nearer. There had been no sign of +resistance and the leader relaxed his caution ever so slightly. This +was easier than they had dared to hope.</p> + +<p>The sombrero was sagging now with the unwilling wealth poured into it, +and the collector, relying on the vigilance of his companion, was +compelled to use both hands to keep the contents from spilling on the +floor.</p> + +<p>He held it out in front of Bert and Dick.</p> + +<p>"Your turn now," he snarled. "Fork over."</p> + +<p>They lowered their hands as though to get out their money. Then something +happened.</p> + +<p>Like a flash, Dick grabbed the pistol hand of the collector, while Bert's +fist shot up in a tremendous smashing uppercut. The man staggered back, +and Bert and Dick were on him like a pair of wildcats.</p> + +<p>At the same instant, with all the power of his trained baseball arm, Tom +had hurled the heavy paperweight straight at the outlaw captain. It +caught him full between the eyes. His pistol fell from his hand, going +off as it did so, and he crumpled up and went down to the floor in a +heap.</p> + +<p>It was all over in a second. The whole thing had been so perfectly timed, +brain and hand had worked in such absolute unison that disaster had come +on the outlaws like a bolt from the blue. It was "team work" of the +finest kind.</p> + +<p>The first surprise over, the other men in the car came crowding to the +assistance of the chief actors in the scrimmage. But the danger was past. +The leader was unconscious, and the other, badly beaten and cursing +horribly, was helpless in the grasp of the victors. Train men, rushing +in, took charge of the prisoners and trussed them up securely.</p> + +<p>A posse was hastily organized among the passengers and, heavily armed, +swarmed from the train in quest of the two remaining members of the band, +who had been left to guard the engineer and fireman. The miscreants saw +them coming, however, and realized that the game was up. They emptied +their pistols and then flung themselves upon their horses and galloped +off, secure for the time from further pursuit.</p> + +<p>The conductor, still pale and shaken from excitement, gave the signal. +There was a scramble to get aboard, the whistle tooted and the train +once more got under way.</p> + +<p>In the Pullman there was a wild turmoil, as the relieved passengers +crowded around the boys and wrung their hands in congratulation. They +couldn't say enough in praise of the courage and presence of mind that +had turned the tables so swiftly and gallantly. The spoils were retrieved +and distributed among the rightful owners, and then, with a bow of mock +politeness, the old sombrero, empty now, was clapped on the head of the +baffled collector, who received it with a new string of blasphemies.</p> + +<p>By this time the victim of Tom's unerring aim had gradually struggled +back to consciousness. His arms and feet had been securely tied and his +remaining revolver had been taken from his belt. Of a stronger mold than +his accomplice, he disdained to vent his rage in useless imprecations and +relapsed into silence as stoical as an Indian's. But, if looks could +kill, the boys would have been blasted by the brooding hate that shot +from under his jutting brows.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad it didn't kill him, anyway," said Tom, as, after the tumult had +somewhat subsided, they once more were seated and the train was flying +along at full speed.</p> + +<p>"It's a wonder it didn't," responded Dick. "It was a fearful crack."</p> + +<p>"Tom hasn't forgotten the way he used to shoot them down from third base +to first," laughed Bert. "That right wing of his is certainly a dandy."</p> + +<p>"It's lucky it is," said the conductor, who had just returned from giving +directions concerning the prisoners; "and talking about wings," he added, +turning to Bert, "there's no discount on yours. That fist hit like a +sledgehammer. The way you fellows piled into him was a crime. I never saw +a prettier bit of rough house.</p> + +<p>"But the beauty of it all," he went on, "was the way you worked together. +If any one of you hadn't 'come through' at the same second, the jig would +have been up. Who figured it out?"</p> + +<p>"Here's the slow thinker that did it," said Dick, clapping Bert on the +shoulder.</p> + +<p>"That's the bonehead, sure enough," echoed Tom.</p> + +<p>"Oh, come off," growled Bert, flushing a little and fidgeting uneasily in +his seat. "There was a whole lot of luck about it, anyway. If we hadn't +had the paperweight, all the thinking in the world wouldn't have done us +a bit of good."</p> + +<p>"If you hadn't had the thinking, all the paperweights in the world +wouldn't have done us a bit of good," corrected Tom.</p> + +<p>"Well, there's glory enough for all," smiled the conductor. "The main +point is that you fellows have put me and the company under a load of +gratitude and obligation that we can never repay. Call it quick thinking, +quick acting, or both—you turned the trick."</p> + +<p>"It had to be a case of 'the quick or the dead,'" grinned Tom.</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," assented the conductor. "You were the quick and those two +rascals are the dead. Or will be before long," he added grimly. "I'll +turn them over to the sheriff at the next station. There's a hand bill +in the baggage car describing a band of outlaws that the authorities of +three States have been after for a long time for robbery and murder, and +two of the descriptions fit these fellows to a dot. There's a price on +their heads, dead or alive, and I guess they've reached the end of their +rope in more senses than one."</p> + +<p>He passed on and the boys relaxed in their seats. They were still under +the nervous strain of the stirring scene in which they had been the chief +actors. Tom's breath was coming fast and his eyes were shining.</p> + +<p>Bert looked at him for a moment and then nudged Dick.</p> + +<p>"Didn't I hear some one say a little while ago," he asked slyly, "that in +this little old United States there was too much civilization?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Dick, still quoting, "nothing ever happens nowadays."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Ranch in the Rockies</span></h3> + + +<p>With a great roar and rattle and clangor of bells, the train drew up at +the little station where the boys were to descend. Their long rail +journey of nearly three thousand miles was over, but they still had a +forty-mile drive before they would reach the ranch.</p> + +<p>For a half hour previous they had been gathering their traps together and +saying good-by to their friends on the train. These last included all of +the travelers, who, since the capture of the robbers, had insisted on +making heroes of the boys. In vain they had protested that the thanks +were out of all proportion to the service rendered. The passengers +themselves knew better. And it was amid a chorus of the friendliest +farewells and good wishes that they had stepped to the rude platform of +the station.</p> + +<p>"Not much of a metropolis about this," said Tom as they looked around.</p> + +<p>"Hardly," agreed Dick. "The principal thing here is space. You can cross +the street without the help of a traffic cop."</p> + +<p>"And only one street to cross, at that," added Bert.</p> + +<p>It was the typical small town of the Western plains. The one crooked +street parallel with the track stretched on either side of the station +for perhaps half a mile, lined with houses at irregular intervals. There +was no pretence of a sidewalk and even fences were conspicuous by their +absence. The business part of the town consisted of a general store that +served also as a post office, a blacksmith shop and three saloons, to one +of which a dance hall was attached. Business seemed brisk in these, +judging from the many mustangs that were tied to rails outside, patiently +waiting for their masters who were "tanking up" within and accumulating +their daily quota of "nose paint." A Mexican in a tattered serape was +sitting on the steps of the store rolling a cigarette, while an Indian, +huddled in a greasy blanket and evidently much the worse for fire water, +sat crouched against the shack that served as baggage-room at the left +end of the station.</p> + +<p>Down the platform came hustling a big burly form that they recognized in +an instant.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Melton," they cried in chorus as they rushed with extended hands to +meet him.</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," he responded, his face beaming with delight at their hearty +greeting. "Did you think I'd send one of my men to meet you? Not on your +life. Nothing less than a broken leg would have kept me from coming to +give you the first welcome to old Montana. Came down yesterday so that +the horses could have a good rest before starting back again. Come right +along now and tumble into the buckboard. One of my men will look after +your duds and bring them along later."</p> + +<p>All talking at once, they came to the farther end of the platform, where +a big mountain wagon was waiting. It was drawn by a pair of wiry mustangs +that champed impatiently at the bit.</p> + +<p>"Not very pretty to look at," said Melton, "but they're holy terrors when +it comes to traveling. Jump in."</p> + +<p>They all piled in and Melton gathered up the reins. He chirped to the +horses and they started off at a rate that justified all he had said as +to their speed. But he held them in check and subdued them to a trot +that, while moderate in appearance, ate up the miles amazingly.</p> + +<p>"Pure grit and iron, those little sinners," he commented. "But they've +got a long way to go, and we're sure even at this rate to get home in +plenty of time for supper. Now, tell me all about yourselves."</p> + +<p>Which they proceeded to do in detail, not neglecting the attempted +hold-up on the train. He listened with the keenest interest.</p> + +<p>"So you got the best of 'Red' Thompson and 'Shag' Leary," he exclaimed in +astonishment. "The toughest nuts we've had to crack in this section for +years. A good many people will breathe easier now that they're trapped. +They're 'bad men' through and through, and if their pistol butts had a +notch on them for every man they've killed, they'd look like saws. And +with nothing but a paperweight and bare fists," he chuckled. "They sure +must feel sore. What was done with them?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, the conductor handed them over to the sheriff at one of the +stations," answered Bert. "I suppose they'll be tried before long."</p> + +<p>"Maybe," said Melton a little dubiously. "My own private hunch, though, +is that Judge Lynch will invite them to a little necktie party. They've +lived a heap sight too long already, and there won't be much formality +wasted on them.</p> + +<p>"You boys sure have the nerve," he went on. "You got away with it all +right, but you took an awful chance."</p> + +<p>"Yes," quoted Dick:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'An inch to the left or an inch to the right,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And we wouldn't be maundering here to-night.'"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Those born to be hung will never be shot," laughed Tom. "I guess that +explains our escape so far."</p> + +<p>"It beats the Dutch the faculty you fellows have of getting into scrapes +and out again," commented Melton. "I believe you'd smell a scrap a mile +away. You'd rather fight than eat."</p> + +<p>"You won't think so when you see what we'll do to that supper of yours +to-night," retorted Tom. "Gee, but this air does give you an appetite."</p> + +<p>"The one thing above all others that Tom doesn't need," chaffed Dick. +"But he's right, just the same. The way I feel I could make a wolf look +like thirty cents."</p> + +<p>"You can't scare me with that kind of talk," challenged Melton. "Let out +your belts to the last notch and I'll guarantee they'll be tight when you +get up from the table."</p> + +<p>"That listens good," said Tom. "I'm perfectly willing you should call my +bluff."</p> + +<p>With jest and laughter the afternoon wore on and the shadows cast by the +declining sun began to lengthen. After their long confinement on the +train, the boys felt as though they had been released from prison. They +had been so accustomed to a free, unfettered life that they had chafed at +the three days' detention, where the only chance they had to stretch +their limbs had been afforded by the few minutes wait at stations. Now +they enjoyed to the full the sense of release that came to them in their +new surroundings. The West, as seen from a car window, was a vastly +different thing when viewed from the seat of a buckboard going at a +spanking gait over the limitless plains.</p> + +<p>For that they were limitless was the impression conveyed by the unbroken +skyline that seemed to be a thousand miles away. Only in the northwest +did mountains loom. They had never before had such an impression of the +immensity of space. It seemed as though the whole expanse had been +created for them, and them alone. For many miles they saw no human figure +except that of a solitary cowboy, who passed them at a gallop on his way +to the town. The country was slightly rolling and richly grassed, +affording pasturage for thousands of cattle that roamed over it at will, +almost as free as though in a wild state, except at the time of the +round-up. They crossed numerous small rivers, none so deep that they +could not be forded, although in one case the water flowed over the body +of the wagon.</p> + +<p>"That's the Little Big Horn River," said Melton as they drew out on the +other side. "Perhaps you fellows remember something that happened here a +good many years ago."</p> + +<p>"What," cried Bert. "You don't mean the Custer Massacre?"</p> + +<p>"That's what," returned Melton. "Right over there where the river bends +was the place where Sitting Bull was encamped when Custer led the charge +on that June morning. I've got to breathe the horses for twenty minutes +or so, and, if you like, we'll look over the field."</p> + +<p>If they would like! The boys thrilled at the thought. They had read again +and again of that gallant and hopeless fight, where a thousand American +cavalrymen led by Custer, the idol of the army, had attacked nine +thousand Indians, and fighting against these fearful odds had been wiped +out to the last man. In all the nation's history no one, except perhaps +Phil Sheridan and Stonewall Jackson, had so appealed to the imagination +of the country's youth as Custer, the reckless, yellow-haired leader in +a hundred fights, the hero of Cedar Creek and Waynesboro and Five Forks, +the Chevalier Bayard of modern times, "without fear and without +reproach," who met his death at last as he would have wished to meet it, +in that mad glorious dash that has made his name immortal, going down as +he had lived with his face to the foe. To these ardent young patriots the +place was holy ground, and their pulses leaped and their hearts swelled +as Melton pointed out the features of the field and narrated some of the +incidents of that awful, but magnificent, fight. It was with intense +reluctance that, warned by the gathering shadows, they tore themselves +away.</p> + +<p>"Can't wait any longer now," said Melton as they retraced their steps to +the place where the horses were browsing; "but some day soon we'll come +down here early and spend the whole day. It won't be any too long to get +a clear idea of the fight and all that led up to it."</p> + +<p>The mustangs, refreshed by the rest, and feeling too that they were on +the last stretch of their journey, needed no urging, and Melton gave them +their head.</p> + +<p>"Must be pretty near your place now, I suppose," said Tom.</p> + +<p>"Well, yes," answered Melton, with a twinkle in his eyes; "been traveling +on my lands for the last eight miles. House not more than five miles +ahead."</p> + +<p>The boys gasped. It was something new to them to hear one speak as +carelessly of miles as a farmer back East would speak of acres. Now they +were getting some idea of what was meant when one spoke of the "boundless +West."</p> + +<p>"Got to have room to stretch my arms without hitting anything," went on +Melton. "Of course, I don't use much of it for farming. Just raise enough +to take care of the table and the stock. But for grazing there ain't any +better pasture for cattle in the whole State of Montana."</p> + +<p>"Then all the cattle we've seen grazing by thousands for the last few +miles belong to you?" asked Dick, as soon as he had recovered from his +surprise.</p> + +<p>"Sure thing," returned their host, "and they're only a few of them. It +would take a cowboy the better part of a day to start at one end of the +ranch and circle around it. And there's plenty of ranches in the State +bigger than mine."</p> + +<p>Now the going was steadily uphill and the horses subsided to a walk. They +were in the foothills of the Rockies. In the gathering dusk they could +see ahead of them the mighty peaks in the background rising to a height +of many thousand feet. Higher and higher they went, until they were as +much as six hundred feet above sea level. If they had had no other proof +they would have found it in the increasing rarity of the air and the +slightly greater difficulty in breathing.</p> + +<p>"You'll soon get used to that," said Melton. "After a day or two you +won't notice any difference. I could of course have built on a lower +level, and in some ways that would have been an advantage. But when I +settled here I made up my mind that I wanted air that was washed clean +by the mountain breezes, and I planted my stakes according."</p> + +<p>Soon they reached a broad, level plateau, and, a little way off, could +see the lights coming from a low-lying group of buildings. Several dogs +came rushing down with barks of welcome, and a couple of men lounging +near one of the corrals removed the bars of a huge gate, from which the +path led up to the largest of the buildings. It was a rambling structure +only two stories in height, but covering a vast extent of ground and +suggestive of homely comfort and hospitality. A broad veranda extended +along three sides of the house, and in front a well-kept flower garden +bordered the path that led to the door.</p> + +<p>As they approached, heralded by the noisy greeting of the dogs, the door +was thrown wide open and Mrs. Melton appeared in the flood of light that +streamed from within.</p> + +<p>She was a pleasant-faced, motherly-looking woman, and she welcomed the +boys with open arms. There was no mistaking the warmth and sincerity of +her greeting. They felt at home at once and in a few minutes were +chatting and laughing as easily as though they had known her for years. +Perhaps the memory of her own two boys, dead long since, but who would +have been just about the age of the newcomers had they lived, added to +the hearty cordiality with which she took them under her wing.</p> + +<p>"We oughtn't to need any introduction at all," she beamed, "because Mr. +Melton has done nothing but talk about you ever since he came back from +that last trip to Mexico. I wouldn't dare to tell you all he said, for +fear of making you conceited. I really think the last trip he made East +was more to see you than anything else. He said he was going on business, +but I have my own opinion about that."</p> + +<p>"Well, if it hadn't been for him we wouldn't have been there to see," +said Bert warmly. "The vultures would have had us long ago, if he hadn't +risked his own life to help us out of trouble."</p> + +<p>"Nothing at all, nothing at all," deprecated Melton. "You gave me a +chance for a lovely scrap, just when I was beginning to wonder whether +I'd forgotten how to fight. I've felt ten years younger ever since."</p> + +<p>"You don't need to get any younger," retorted his wife in affectionate +reproach. "You're just as much of a boy as you ever were. I declare," she +laughed, turning to her guests; "I ought to call him Peter Pan. He'll +never grow up."</p> + +<p>"Well, he's a pretty husky youngster," grinned Tom, looking admiringly at +his host's two hundred and forty pounds of bone and muscle.</p> + +<p>But now Mrs. Melton's housewifely instincts asserted themselves, and she +shooed the boys off to their rooms to rid themselves of the dust of the +journey, while she bustled round to get supper on the table.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later and they were gathered at supper in the +brightly-lighted, well-furnished dining-room of the ranch. It was a jolly +party, where every one radiated happiness and good nature. There was not +a particle of stiffness or pretence in that wholesome environment. The +delight of their hosts in having them there found an echo in the hearts +of the boys, and they were soon on as genial and friendly a footing as +though they had known them all their lives.</p> + +<p>And that supper! To the hungry boys, with their naturally keen appetites +still further sharpened by the long ride, it seemed a feast fit for the +Gods. The table fairly groaned beneath the weight of good things placed +upon it. Crisp trout freshly taken from the mountain brook, a delicious +roast flanked by snowy mounds of potatoes and vegetables just plucked +from the garden patch, luscious berries warm with the sun, deluged with +rich cream, and pastries "such as mother used to make" offered a +challenge to the boys that they gleefully accepted. They ate like +famished wolves, while Mrs. Melton bridled with pride at the tribute paid +to her cooking; and, when at last they had fairly cleared the board, they +sat back with a sigh of content at duty well performed.</p> + +<p>"How about those belts?" laughed Melton, as he lighted his pipe.</p> + +<p>"Tight as a drum," Tom answered for all. "You called my bluff, all +right."</p> + +<p>"Sallie certainly knows how to cook," said Mr. Melton, patting his wife's +hand.</p> + +<p>"You mustn't give me all the credit," smiled Mrs. Melton, smoothing out +her apron. "That Chinese cook you brought back with you the last time you +went to Helena is certainly a treasure. I don't know how I'd get along +now without him."</p> + +<p>"That reminds me," said Melton, with a quick glance at his wife. "Just +send him in here for a minute, will you?"</p> + +<p>She went into the kitchen and a moment later returned, followed by a +Chinaman, who shuffled along in his heelless slippers.</p> + +<p>The boys glanced at him indifferently for a moment. Then a startled +recognition leaped into their eyes.</p> + +<p>"Wah Lee," they cried in chorus, jumping to their feet.</p> + +<p>"That same old yellow sinner," confirmed Melton complacently.</p> + +<p>The Chinaman himself was shocked for a moment out of his Oriental +stolidity. A delighted smile spread over his face and he broke into an +excited jargon of "pidgin English," of which the refrain was:</p> + +<p>"Velly glad slee. Wah Lee velly glad slee."</p> + +<p>Then in a burst of grateful memory he threw himself to the floor and +tried to put their feet upon his head, as a token that he was their slave +for life. But they jerked him upright in a torrent of eager questioning.</p> + +<p>"You old rascal."</p> + +<p>"How did you ever get here?"</p> + +<p>"I thought you were back in China by this time."</p> + +<p>But Wah Lee's smile was more expansive than his vocabulary was extensive.</p> + +<p>"Him tell," he said, pointing to Mr. Melton.</p> + +<p>"I thought it would be a surprise party," that worthy chuckled as he +refilled his pipe. "So I didn't tell you anything about it nor did I tell +the Chink that you were coming. It was a surprise, all right," and he +chuckled again.</p> + +<p>"It won't take very long to explain," he went on when his pipe was +drawing well. "You remember that after you got back from your trip +to the Canal you gave him money enough to go West and start a little +laundry business wherever he might choose to settle down. It seems he +drifted out to Helena, where there's quite a colony of Chinks, and +started in to wash and iron. As nearly as I can understand his gibberish, +he was doing pretty well, too, until he got mixed up in one of those +secret society feuds that play hob among those fellows. It seems that he +belonged to the On Leong clan and the Hip Son Tong got after him. They +sent on to 'Frisco for some highbinders—those professional killers, you +know—and Wah Lee got wind of the fact that he was one of the victims +marked for slaughter. Naturally, he was in a fearful stew about it, and +just when things were at their worst I happened to be in Helena on +business and ran across him. Of course, I'd never have known him, for all +Chinks look alike to me, but he recognized me in a minute and begged me +by all his gods to help him out. He knew it wouldn't do any good to go +from one city to another, because they'd get him sure, and his only +chance was to be smuggled off into some country place where they might +lose track of him. It seemed rather hard lines for the old fellow, and +though I didn't care much to mix up in the rescue stunt, I didn't have +the heart to turn him down. So he sold out his shop to one of his own +society, and I brought him out at night. I didn't know just what I'd do +with him, but it turns out that he is a dandy cook, and Mrs. Melton +insists that my running across him was a rare streak of luck."</p> + +<p>"It certainly was for him, anyway," said Bert. "I'd hate to have anything +happen to the old boy. He had a pretty rough deal in Mexico."</p> + +<p>"He did, for a fact," agreed Melton reminiscently, "and he hasn't gotten +over it yet. A little while ago one of my men brought in a snake that he +had killed on his way back from town. The boys were looking at it when +the Chink happened to come along, and one of them, in a joke, threw it at +him. You never saw a fellow so scared. I thought for a minute he was +going to throw a fit."</p> + +<p>"I don't wonder," said Dick soberly.</p> + +<p>For he, as well as Wah Lee, would never look upon one of those hideous +reptiles without a shudder. As clearly as though it were yesterday, he +saw again that morning in the Mexican hills, when, tied to a tree, he had +looked upon the monster rattlesnake that was to torture him, and prayed +that he might have courage to die without disgracing his manhood. Wah +Lee, his companion in captivity, had been brought out first, thrown flat +on the ground and fastened securely to stakes. Just out of reach, a +rattlesnake, with a buckskin thong passed through its tail, was tied to a +stake. Tortured by rage and pain, the reptile struck at the Chinaman's +face, but couldn't quite make the distance. Then water was poured on the +thong and it began to stretch. With each spring the awful fangs came +nearer, and it was only a question of minutes before they would be +embedded in the victim's flesh. Then, from the woods, Melton's bowie +knife had whizzed, slicing the snake's head from his body, and the next +instant in a rain of bullets the rescuing party had burst into the +clearing.</p> + +<p>Later on, they had found Wah Lee on their hands, and at his earnest +entreaties had taken him with them to Panama. There he had found +employment in the house of a wealthy Japanese landholder, and by the +merest chance had been able to convey to Bert a hint of the conspiracy to +destroy the Canal. The plot had been frustrated by Bert's daring exploit, +and on the return of the party to America Wah Lee had again accompanied +them. When they had provided for him and sent him West they never thought +that again their paths would cross. Yet here he was, as bland and smiling +as ever, on this remote ranch in the Rocky Mountains. The world was only +a small place, after all.</p> + +<p>For a long time after he had trotted away again to his duties in the +kitchen they sat discussing the exciting events that his reappearance had +brought back to their minds. Then, at last, Melton arose and shook the +ashes from his pipe.</p> + +<p>"I reckon you youngsters are about ready to turn in," he said. "You've +had a long ride and it's getting pretty late. We'll have plenty of time +to chin before the summer's over. For I give you fair warning," he added +with his genial smile, "I've got you roped now and I ain't going to let +you go in a hurry."</p> + +<p>He took them up to their rooms, cool, spacious and provided with every +comfort. There with a cordial good-night he left them.</p> + +<p>Their windows faced toward the north and commanded a magnificent view of +the mountains. Tall, solemn, majestic, they towered upward in wild and +rugged beauty. The moon had risen and the distant peaks were flooded with +light. It was a scene to delight the soul of an artist and the boys +lingered under the spell.</p> + +<p>"Just such a night as when we crouched in the shadow of that big rock in +the Mexican forest," murmured Bert. "Do you remember, Tom?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Tom; "but I don't think the moon will ever again see us +in such a desperate fix as we were in that night."</p> + +<p>Which showed that Tom had not the gift of prophecy.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">"Busting" a Broncho</span></h3> + + +<p>The boys slept that night the dreamless sleep of wholesome fatigue and +perfect health, and awoke the next morning as fresh as daisies. Life is +astir early on a ranch, and the day's work had fairly begun when they +came down to breakfast. The smell of hot coffee and frying bacon had +whetted their appetites, and they needed no urging from their hosts to do +full justice to the ample meal that awaited them. Then they hurried +outdoors to make acquaintance with this new life that they had looked +forward to so impatiently.</p> + +<p>It was a glorious morning. There was not a cloud in the sky and a light +breeze tempered the heat of the sun. At that high level it was seldom +sultry, and the contrast to the heat of the sun-baked plains below was +refreshing. It amply justified, in the boys' opinion, Mr. Melton's wisdom +in the choice of this airy plateau as a location for his home.</p> + +<p>The mountains hemmed them in on the north, but on the west and east and +south stretched grassy plains and rolling slopes as far as the eye could +reach. Great herds of cattle dotted the expanse, and here and there could +be seen a mounted cowboy, winding in and out among the stock. Dark lines +at short intervals marked the course of artificial canals, that were fed +by a series of pipes from brooks back in the mountains. There was an +inexhaustible supply of sparkling water, and it was evident that the +fortunate owner of this ranch was forever secure against drought—that +scourge of the Western plains.</p> + +<p>"It must have cost a mint of money to do all that piping and digging," +suggested Bert as his eyes took in the vast extent of the operations.</p> + +<p>"Yes, a good many thousands," assented his host, "but it pays to do +things right. I've already got back a good many times over all that it +cost. A single hot barren summer would destroy thousands of head of +cattle, to say nothing of the suffering of the poor brutes. And those +that didn't die would be so worn to skin and bone that they'd hardly pay +the expense of shipping them to market. The only way to make money in +ranching nowadays is to do things on a big scale and take advantage of +all up-to-date ideas.</p> + +<p>"A good many people," he went on, "have an idea that if a man has a good +ranch and a few thousand head of stock he's found a short and easy way to +riches. That doesn't follow at all. There are just as many chances, just +as many ups and downs as in any other business. I know lots of men that +once were prosperous ranchers who to-day are down and out, and that too +through no fault of their own. Sometimes it's a disease that comes along +and sweeps away half of your herd at a single stroke. The drought gets +them in summer and a blizzard covers them up in winter. Then, too, there +are the cattle rustlers that, in the course of a season, often get away +with hundreds of them, change the brand and send them away to their +confederates. Many of them are stung by rattlesnakes. The wolves, in a +hard winter, pull down a lot of the cows, and sometimes, though not so +often, the grizzlies get after them. Take all these things into account, +figure up the payroll for the help, the freight charges on your +shipments, and it's no wonder that many a man finds a balance on the +wrong side of the ledger in lean seasons. No, it isn't all 'peaches and +cream' in ranching."</p> + +<p>"You spoke of grizzlies a minute ago," said Dick, whose sporting blood +had tingled at mention of the name. "Are there many of those fellows +around here?"</p> + +<p>"Not so many as there used to be," replied Mr. Melton. "They're being +pushed further and further north as the country gets more settled. Still +there are enough around to make it advisable to keep your eye peeled for +trouble whenever you get a little way further up in the mountains. Every +once in a while we find the body of a steer partly eaten, and we can +always tell when a grizzly has pulled it down."</p> + +<p>"How's that?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"By the way he covers it up," answered Melton. "He always heaps up a pile +of brush or dried grass over the carcass. I reckon it's his sign manual +to tell other animals who may be skulking around that it's his kill, and +that there'll be trouble if any of them go monkeying around it. At any +rate, they don't fool with it. They know he's king in these parts. +Wherever the grizzly sits is the head of the table."</p> + +<p>"Are they really as savage as they are cracked up to be?" asked Bert. "If +so, it must be great sport hunting them."</p> + +<p>"Are they savage?" echoed their host pityingly. "Say, son, there's +nothing on four feet as full of hate and poison, unless perhaps a +gorilla. And if it ever came to a tussle between them two, my money +would go on the grizzly every time.</p> + +<p>"As to it's being great sport hunting them, it's the grizzly that usually +does the hunting. For myself, I haven't any ambition that way. I'm +perfectly willing to give him his full half of the road whenever we meet. +And we won't meet at all, if I see him first. I've had more than one +tussle with an old silver-tip, and I've got a few hides up at the house +to serve as reminders. But it's always been when it was more dangerous to +run than it was to stay and fight it out. There ain't many things on four +feet or two that I'd go far out of my way to keep from meeting, but when +it comes to a grizzly I haven't any pride at all. There are less exciting +forms of amusement. No, my boy, if you're thinking of tackling a grizzly, +take a fool's advice and don't do it."</p> + +<p>"But a bullet in the right place would stop them as surely as it would +anything else, I should think," ventured Tom.</p> + +<p>"That's just the point," said Melton. "It's mighty hard to put a bullet +in the right place. If you're on horseback, your horse is so mortally +scared at sight of the brute that he won't let you get a steady aim. +There's nothing on earth that a mustang fears so much as a bear. And, if +you're on foot, he moves so swiftly and dodges so cleverly, that it's +hard to pick out the right spot to plunk him. And all the time, you know +that, if you miss, it's probably all up with you. Even if you get him in +the heart, his strength and vitality are such that he may get to you in +time enough to take you along with him over the great divide. And it +isn't a pleasant way of dying. He just hugs you up in those front paws of +his, lifts up his hind paw with claws six inches long, and with one great +sweep rips you to pieces. There's no need of a post-mortem to find out +how a man has died when a grizzly has got through with him. I've come +across such sights at times, and I didn't have any appetite for a day or +two afterward.</p> + +<p>"But there's no use warning you young rascals, I suppose," he grinned. +"You're the kind that looks for trouble as naturally as a bee hunts +for clover. I'll bet at this very minute you're honing to get after a +silver-tip. Own up, now, ain't you?"</p> + +<p>The boys laughed and flushed a little self-consciously.</p> + +<p>"Hardly that, perhaps," answered Bert. "But if you should happen by any +chance to come across one, I wouldn't mind being along."</p> + +<p>"Righto," said Dick emphatically.</p> + +<p>"Same here," echoed Tom.</p> + +<p>"Hopeless cases," said Mr. Melton quizzically, shaking his head. "I +suppose there's no use arguing with you. I was that way once myself, but +I've learned now to keep out of trouble as much as I can."</p> + +<p>"Just as you did down in Mexico," suggested Dick slyly.</p> + +<p>The boys roared and Melton looked a little sheepish.</p> + +<p>"You scored on me that time," he laughed. "But come along now down to the +bunk house and meet some of the boys. A good many are away riding herd, +but the foreman is here and two or three of the others, and a lot more +will come in when it's time for grub."</p> + +<p>"How many men do you need to run the ranch?" asked Dick.</p> + +<p>"Oh, about twenty, more or less," answered Melton. "In the busiest season +I usually take on a few more to help out, especially when I'm getting +ready to ship the stock.</p> + +<p>"Pretty good set of fellows I have now," he went on as he led the way +toward the men's quarters. "Not a trouble maker in the bunch, except a +half breed that I'm not particularly stuck on, and that I'm going to get +rid of as soon as work gets slack. But take them all together I haven't +got any kick coming.</p> + +<p>"Of course," he qualified as he stopped to light his pipe, "they ain't +what you could call angels, by a long shot. If any one's looking for +anything like that, they won't find it on a ranch. Some pretty rough +specimens drift out here from the East, who perhaps have had reasons for +making a quick getaway. But as long as a man does his work and does it +right, we don't ask any more about their past than they care to tell. It +ain't etiquette out here to do that, and then too it sometimes leads to a +man getting shot full of holes if he's too curious. Their language isn't +apt to be any too refined and their table manners leave a lot to be +desired. When pay day comes, most of their money goes to the saloons and +dance halls in the towns. They're usually a pretty moody and useless +bunch for a day or two after that. But in the main they're brave and +square and friendly, and they sure do work hard for their forty-five +a month and found. And if you get into a scrap they're a mighty handy lot +of fellows to have at your back."</p> + +<p>By this time they had reached the bunk house. As its name implied, it +served as sleeping quarters for the men. It was a long one-story building +covering a large area of ground. All one end of it was partitioned off +into bunks to the number of thirty or more. The other half was used as a +dining and living room. A long table, spread with oilcloth, extended down +the center, with a row of chairs on either side. The walls were decorated +with gaudy lithographs, circus posters and colored sheets taken from the +Sunday papers that occasionally drifted out that way. On a side table +were a number of well-thumbed magazines that Mrs. Melton had sent down +for the men to read in their rare moments of leisure. Saddles and harness +and lariats were hung on nails driven into the logs. Everything was rude +and simple, but scrupulously clean. The floor had been recently swept and +the oilcloth on the table was shining.</p> + +<p>In a little extension at the southern end of the shack the cook was +clearing away the dishes from breakfast and making ready for the +noon-day meal. A couple of great dogs basked in the sunshine that +streamed through the open door. They jumped to their feet as their owner +approached and capered about him joyously in a manner that bespoke their +attachment.</p> + +<p>A lank, muscular man at this moment came around a corner of the house. +His face was tanned to the color of mahogany and around his eyes were the +tiny wrinkles that come to men accustomed to peer into the wide spaces. +He had on a pair of sheepskin trousers with the fleece still adhering, +and his long legs had the slight crook that spoke of a life spent almost +entirely in the saddle. A buckskin shirt, a handkerchief knotted loosely +around his neck and a broad slouch hat with a rattlesnake skin encircling +it for a band completed his costume. There was about him the air of a man +accustomed to be obeyed, and yet there was no swagger or truculence in +his bearing. His glance was singularly fearless and direct, and the boys +warmed to him at first sight.</p> + +<p>"Just the man I wanted to see, Sandy," said his employer. "I want you to +meet these three young friends of mine."</p> + +<p>As their names were spoken the boys stepped forward and shook hands +heartily.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Clinch is one of the best foremen that ever rode the range or roped +a steer," went on Melton, "and what he don't know about a ranch isn't +worth knowing. I've got to go up to the house now to look over some +accounts and I'm going to leave you in his care. You remember, Sandy, +that little scrap in Mexico I told you about? Well, these are the boys +that stood at my back. They've got a knack for getting into a shindy on +the slightest provocation and I look to you to keep them out of trouble. +I warn you though that it is a man's job."</p> + +<p>"I guess I'm up to it, boss," grinned Sandy. "There ain't much chance for +trouble round here, anyhow. There may be a look in if those ornery +rustlers don't quit fooling with our cattle. But just at this minute +things is plumb peaceful. I'm going up to the corral where the wranglers +are breaking in some of the young horses, and perhaps these young fellers +would like to come along."</p> + +<p>Nothing possibly could suit them better, and while Mr. Melton retraced +his steps to the house they followed the foreman to the corral.</p> + +<p>There everything was animation and apparent confusion. The clatter of +hoofs, the swish of lariats, the shouts of the "wranglers" as they +sought to bring their wayward charges under control, while a matter of +everyday routine to the cowboys themselves were entirely new to the boys, +who leaned against the log fence and watched the proceedings with +breathless interest.</p> + +<p>There were two corrals of almost equal size, each covering several acres +of ground, and a broad gate connected the two. In one of them were forty +or more young horses who up to now had been running wild on the range. +They had never known the touch of a whip or a spur, nor felt the weight +of a rider. The nearest approach to constraint they had ever experienced +was that furnished by the encircling fence of the corral into which they +had been driven yesterday. That this was irksome and even terrifying was +evident by their dilated nostrils, their wild expression, and the way +they pawed at the bars and at times measured the height of the fence, as +though contemplating a leap over it into the wide spaces beyond. But +their instinct told them that they could not make it, and they ran around +restlessly or pawed the ground uneasily, waiting their turn to be roped +and broken.</p> + +<p>When the boys reached the outer fence, one of them had just been caught +by a whirling lariat and dragged, stubbornly protesting, into the +adjoining corral. Once there he made a wild dash to escape and lashed out +fiercely with his heels at the men who held him. But with a skill born of +long experience they eluded him, and one of them, watching his chance, +suddenly leaped on his back. The men, on either side, relinquished their +hold, and retreated to a safe position on the fence.</p> + +<p>Then commenced the most exciting struggle for mastery between brute and +man that the boys had ever seen.</p> + +<p>For a moment the broncho stood stock still, paralyzed with surprise and +fright. Then he gave a mighty leap into the air in a vain endeavor to +unseat the rider. This failing, he snapped viciously at the horseman's +leg, which was instantly thrown up out of reach. Then the maddened brute +rushed against the bars of the corral in an effort to crush the rider. +But again the uplifted leg foiled the maneuver, and the severe scraping +that the horse himself received took away from him all desire of +repeating that particular trick.</p> + +<p>All this time the cowboy showed the most extreme nonchalance. If +anything, he seemed rather bored. And yet, despite his apparent +stolidity, the boys noticed that he watched his mount like a hawk and +always discounted each trick a second in advance. It was a fight between +brute strength and human intelligence and the struggle was unequal. +Barring accidents the latter was bound to win.</p> + +<p>Like a flash the horse changed his tactics and went to the ground, +intending to roll over and crush his rider. The movement was almost too +quick to be followed by the eye. But the man was off at a bound and, when +the astonished broncho struggled to his feet, his tormentor had again +sprung on his back and was lashing him with the end of the rope that +served as a halter.</p> + +<p>Then the pony tried his last resource. Springing into the air he came +down with all four feet held closely together. It would have jarred a +novice out of his seat at once. But the superb horsemanship of the man +on his back absorbed the shock with his tightly gripped legs as he +descended, and he settled into his seat with the lightness of a feather.</p> + +<p>For half an hour the battle was prolonged, and, to the breathlessly +watching boys, it seemed that the daring rider escaped death a dozen +times almost by a miracle. All that they had ever seen in Wild West shows +seemed pale and weak by comparison with this fight out in the open, where +nothing was prearranged and where both parties to the combat were in +deadly earnest. It was life "in the raw" and it stirred them to the +depths.</p> + +<p>And now the horse was "all in." His flanks heaved with his tremendous +exertions, and he was dripping with sweat and foam. He had made a gallant +fight, but the odds were against him. His ears were no longer flattened +viciously against his head, but drooped forward piteously, and into his +eyes came the look that spelled surrender. He had learned the hard and +pathetic lesson of the brute creation, that man was the master. This +strange being, who so easily defied his strength and thwarted his +cunning, was stronger than he, and at last he knew it.</p> + +<p>The rider, now that he had won, could afford to be kind. He patted his +mount's head and spoke to him soothingly. Then he drove him without +demur a few times more about the corral and dismounted. A stable +attendant led the conquered brute to a stall, and the victor, breathing a +little hard, but bearing no other traces of the struggle, repaired to the +fence, squatted on the top rail and lighted a cigarette.</p> + +<p>"That was horsemanship, all right," breathed Tom in admiration.</p> + +<p>"You bet it was," said Dick. "If I'd been insuring that fellow's life I'd +have wanted a premium of ninety-nine per cent."</p> + +<p>"He earns his money," remarked Bert. "A man hasn't any chance to +'soldier' on a job like that."</p> + +<p>Another cowboy took the place of the first one, and the scene was +repeated, in each case with variations that kept the interest of the boys +at fever heat. The time slipped by so rapidly that they were genuinely +astonished when the blowing of a horn announced that it was time for +dinner.</p> + +<p>Sandy approached them as they were turning away reluctantly.</p> + +<p>"I'd shore like to have you young fellers take dinner with us at the +bunkhouse, if you care to," he said. "I'd like to have the boys get +acquainted with yer. Maybe we won't have all the trimmin's that you'd get +at the boss's table, but I guess we can manage to fill yer up."</p> + +<p>"That's a pretty big contract, Sandy," laughed Bert; "but we'll be only +too glad to come. Just let me speak to Mrs. Melton, so that she won't +wait for us and we'll be with you in a jiffy."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Melton smilingly acquiesced, and Melton himself, who knew how much +of the boys' enjoyment of their visit would depend upon friendly +relations with the men about the ranch, gave his hearty approval.</p> + +<p>A dozen or more of the cowboys were at the house when they arrived, all +ravenous for "grub." Outside of the door was a broad bench on which was a +basin, which the men in turn replenished from a hogshead standing near, +and in which they plunged their hands and faces, emerging dripping to dry +themselves on a roller towel behind the door. The boys did the same, and +as they came in were introduced by Sandy to the rest of the men. There +was a breezy absence of formality that was most refreshing after the more +or less artificial life of the East, and the boys warmed at once toward +these hardy specimens of manhood, who looked them straight in the eyes +and crushed their hands in their hearty grip. This wild, free spirit of +the plains was akin to their own, and although their mode of life had +been so different, a subtle free masonry told them that in substance +they were members of the same brotherhood.</p> + +<p>The cowboys also were "sizing up" the newcomers. Physically they had no +criticism to make. These stalwart, athletic young fellows were splendid +specimens, who looked as though they were fully capable of giving a good +account of themselves in a tussle. Most of them had heard in a more or +less fragmentary way about the adventure in Mexico, and Melton's +unstinted praise of them had gone a long way in their favor. Still, that +had been a scrap with "greasers," and the contemptuous attitude that most +of them held toward the men south of the Rio Grande, led them to attach +less value to the exploit. Then, too, when all was said and done, these +visitors were "tender-feet," and as such would bear watching. So that, +while perfectly free and friendly and admitting that they were a "likely +bunch," they were inclined to reserve judgment, and observe them further, +before admitting them fully into their fraternity.</p> + +<p>The meal proceeded amid a clatter of dishes and a buzz of conversation, +abounding in rough jests and repartee. The boys took their part in frank, +good fellowship and were hearty in their praises of the hard riding they +had seen that morning. The ranchmen deprecated this as only "part of the +day's work," but were pleased none the less at the sincere appreciation.</p> + +<p>The meal, although, as Sandy had hinted, wanting in "frills," was well +cooked and abundant, and the food disappeared before those healthy +appetites in a way that would have struck terror to the heart of a +boarding-house keeper. Before it was quite over, a belated cowboy +galloped in from town. He dismounted, threw his saddlebags on the bench, +and, after sousing his heated face in the friendly basin, sat down to the +table and proceeded to make amends for lost time.</p> + +<p>"Bring a paper with you, Pete?" asked one of his friends as he pushed +back his chair and lighted his pipe.</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Pete between mouthfuls. "Got a copy of the Helena +'Record.' You'll find it in the saddlebag."</p> + +<p>The first speaker rose leisurely, hunted up the newspaper and seated +himself on the step of the bunkhouse. He looked over it carelessly for +a moment and then a headline caught his attention. He read on for a few +lines and then called to his mates.</p> + +<p>"Look here, fellows," he exclaimed. "I see that they've jugged 'Red' +Thompson and 'Shag' Leary. Caught them trying to hold up a train."</p> + +<p>There was a stir at this and they crowded round the speaker.</p> + +<p>"Tell us about it," they begged excitedly, for all of them knew of the +evil fame and numerous exploits of these celebrated ruffians.</p> + +<p>"I knew the sheriff would bag them fellers before long," said one.</p> + +<p>"Sheriff nuthin," snorted Pete disgustedly. "Them guys ain't good fur +nuthin but to wear tin stars and put up a bluff. It was a bunch of +tender-feet that nabbed 'em."</p> + +<p>"Have a heart," said "Buck" Evans incredulously. "Don't fill us up with +anything like that."</p> + +<p>"Them newspaper fellers is awful liars," sagely commented "Chip" Bennett.</p> + +<p>"But it gives the names," persisted Pete. "They wouldn't go as far as +that if it wasn't so. Let's see," he went on as his stubbed finger moved +slowly over the lines. "Here they are—Wilson, Trent, Henderson—say," he +exclaimed with a quick look at the boys, "ain't them the handles you +fellers carries?"</p> + +<p>All eyes were fixed in astonishment on the visitors, who blushed as +though they had been detected in a fault. Their embarrassment carried +conviction. The paper was thrown aside and the men gathered about them in +a chorus of eager questionings. They made them tell in every detail the +story of the fight, which the boys tried to minimize as much as possible.</p> + +<p>"And yer never said a word about it," commented Pete when they had +extracted the last scrap of information.</p> + +<p>"Why should we?" retorted Dick. "As you said about the broncho busting, +it was 'all in the day's work.'"</p> + +<p>They tore themselves away at last, leaving the cowboys grouped about the +door and looking after them with eyes from which the last vestige of +distrust and reserve had vanished.</p> + +<p>"Not a maverick in the bunch," commented Pete.</p> + +<p>"Every one of them carries the man brand," added Chip.</p> + +<p>"They shore can warm their beans at my fire," concluded Buck.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">A Forest Terror</span></h3> + + +<p>"A dandy day for fishing," remarked Bert as he was dressing a few +mornings later.</p> + +<p>"Just right for the speckled beauties to bite," acquiesced Dick as he +looked out of the window and saw the clouds that obscured the sun.</p> + +<p>"What do you say to trying it?" suggested Tom, who was an enthusiast on +the subject. "I'd like nothing better than to whip some of these mountain +streams for trout."</p> + +<p>"Or troll for pickerel in the lake Mr. Melton was telling us about," +amended Bert. "He says there are some whopping big fellows up there. +We'll find plenty of bass, too, and they're fighters from way back."</p> + +<p>At breakfast the matter was broached and met with the hearty approval of +Mr. Melton.</p> + +<p>"I don't think it will rain before night," he said, "and on a hazy day +like this they'll keep you busy pulling them in. How about tackle? Did +you bring any along?"</p> + +<p>"Plenty," answered Bert. "Each of us has a rod and reel. The pike and +pickerel will bite at the spoon, and we can get plenty of bait for the +bass right out here in the garden. Let's hurry up, fellows, and get +busy," he continued, pushing his chair away from the table. "Won't you +go along, Mr. Melton."</p> + +<p>"Like to," said their host. "Nothing would suit me better than to pull +in some of the sockdolagers you'll find in that lake. But I've got a +date with a horse dealer to-day, who's coming up to look at some of my +bronchos, and I can't get off. Don't catch them all to-day," he laughed, +"and some day soon I'll go with you. Of course, you'll take your guns +along."</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, if you think it necessary," replied Bert. "But we'll be pretty +well loaded with tackle and fish if we have any luck."</p> + +<p>"Never mind the load," he adjured emphatically. "Never go into the +mountains without your gun. Of course, you may have no use for it. +Chances are that you won't. But it's a mighty wise thing to have a good +rifle along wherever you go in this country. And if you need it at all, +you'll need it mighty bad and mighty quick."</p> + +<p>So that when the boys left the house a half hour later, they took with +them not only all that was necessary to lure the finny prey from their +lurking places, but each as well carried on his shoulder a Winchester +repeating rifle and around his waist a well-stored cartridge belt.</p> + +<p>Mr. Melton gave them explicit directions as to the route they were to +follow to find the lake, which lay in the hollow of a broad plateau about +five miles back in the mountains.</p> + +<p>"You'll find a canoe hidden in the bushes near a big clump of trees on +the east shore," he said. "That is, if nobody has swiped it. But I +covered it up pretty well the last time I was there, and I guess it's +safe enough. If not, you'll have to take your chance in fishing from the +shore. There's an island a little way out in the lake, and you'll find +the pike thick around there if you can get out to it. And don't wait too +long before starting for home. That mountain trail is hard enough to +follow in the daytime, but you'd find your work cut out for you if you +tried it in the dark."</p> + +<p>They promised not to forget the time in their enthusiasm for the sport, +and, stowing away in their basket the toothsome and abundant lunch put up +by Mrs. Melton, they started off gaily on their trip.</p> + +<p>For a little distance from the house the road was fairly level. Then it +began to ascend and soon the trees that clothed the slopes shut them in, +and they lost sight of the ranch and of everything that spoke of +civilization.</p> + +<p>"'This is the forest primeval,'" quoted Dick.</p> + +<p>"'The murmuring pines and the hemlocks,'" added Tom.</p> + +<p>"Primeval's the word," said Bert as he looked in awe at the giant +trees, towering in some instances to a height of two hundred feet. +"I suppose this looked just as it does now ten thousand years ago. +The only thing that suggests man is this trail we're following, and that +gets fainter and fainter as we keep climbing. This is sure enough 'God's +out-of-doors.'"</p> + +<p>The balsam of the pines was in their nostrils and the path was carpeted +by the fragrant needles. Squirrels chattered in the trees and chipmunks +slipped like shadows between the trunks. As they were passing a monster +oak, Bert's observant eye noted something that brought him to a sudden +halt.</p> + +<p>"Look there, fellows," and he pointed to a place on the bark about +fifteen feet from the ground.</p> + +<p>"Well, what about it?" demanded Tom.</p> + +<p>"Those scratches on the trunk," said Bert. "What made them?"</p> + +<p>They looked more closely and saw two rows of scratches that had torn +deeply into the bark. Each row consisted of five marks at an equal +distance apart. It was as though two gigantic rakes had been drawn along +the rough surface, each tooth of the rakes peeling off a long vertical +strip.</p> + +<p>The boys looked at each other in wonder. Then they peered into the +surrounding woods a little uneasily.</p> + +<p>"Some animal made those marks," said Bert at last. "And, what's more, +there's only one animal that could have done it."</p> + +<p>"And that's a grizzly bear," said Dick.</p> + +<p>Again the boys looked at each other, and it almost seemed as though they +could hear the beating of their hearts. Then Tom measured again with his +eye the distance from the ground to where the scratches began.</p> + +<p>"Sixteen feet if it's an inch," he decided. "Nonsense," he went on, with +a tone of relief in his voice. "There's nothing that walks on four feet +could do it. A horse even couldn't stand on his hind legs and strike with +his fore hoofs the place where those scratches begin. Some of those +pre-historic monsters, whose skeletons we see in the museums, might have +done it, but nothing that walks the earth nowadays. You'll have to guess +again, Bert."</p> + +<p>"They might have been made by some animal in climbing," suggested Dick. +"He might have slipped in coming down and torn off those strips in trying +to hold on."</p> + +<p>"But grizzlies don't climb," objected Bert.</p> + +<p>"Who said it was a grizzly?" retorted Tom. "It might have been a black or +brown bear. You've got grizzlies on the brain. The very biggest don't +measure more than nine or ten feet from the nose to the root of the tail. +Allowing a couple of feet more for his reach, and you have eleven or +twelve altogether. How do you account for the other four or five? +Unless," he went on with elaborate sarcasm, "you figure out that this pet +of yours is about fourteen feet long."</p> + +<p>The argument certainly seemed to be with Tom, but Bert, although he had +no answer to it, still felt unconvinced.</p> + +<p>"The scratches are too deep to have been made by any animal slipping," he +persisted. "The beast, whatever it was, had a tremendous purchase to dig +so deep. And he couldn't have got such a purchase except by standing on +his hind legs."</p> + +<p>"Marvelous," mocked Tom. "A regular Sherlock Holmes! Perhaps he stood on +a ladder or a chair. I've heard that grizzlies carry such things about +with them when strolling in the woods. Come along, old man," he bantered, +"or these squirrels will think you're a nut and carry you off. There's +nothing this side of a nightmare that'll fit your theory, and you'd +better give it up and come along with us sensible people."</p> + +<p>"But what did do it, then?" asked Bert obstinately.</p> + +<p>"Search me," answered Tom flippantly. "I don't have to know. I'm not +cursed with curiosity so much as some people I could mention. What I do +know is that we're losing time and that I'm fairly aching to bait my hook +and fling it into the water. We've promised Mrs. Melton a big mess of +fish for supper, and we've got to get busy, or she'll think we're a lot +of four-flushers."</p> + +<p>They picked up their traps that they had laid aside while they were +studying the bark. Tom and Dick kept up a steady fire of jokes, their +spirits lightened by the evidence that the "ghost" of the grizzly had +been "laid." But Bert answered only in monosyllables. He would have been +as relieved as they had he been able to convince himself that he was +wrong. He "hadn't lost any bear," and was not particularly anxious to +"meet up" with one, especially a monster of the size indicated. Suddenly +he dropped the basket.</p> + +<p>"I've got it," he exclaimed eagerly.</p> + +<p>"No, you haven't," contradicted Dick. "You've just dropped it."</p> + +<p>"What have you got?" mocked Tom. "A fit?"</p> + +<p>"The answer," said Bert.</p> + +<p>"Prove it," challenged Dick.</p> + +<p>"I'm from Missouri," said Tom skeptically.</p> + +<p>"Why, it's this way," hurried on Bert, too engrossed in his solution to +retort in kind. "Sandy was telling me a little while ago about the habits +of grizzlies, and he mentioned especially the trick they have of standing +on their hind legs and clawing at trees as high as they could reach. But +I remember he said they did this only in the spring. They've just come +out of winter quarters and they feel the need of stretching their muscles +that have got cramped during their long sleep. In the spring, the early +spring. Don't you see?"</p> + +<p>"Not exactly," confessed Dick.</p> + +<p>"No, Sherlock," murmured Tom, "I don't follow you."</p> + +<p>"Why," said Bert impatiently, "don't you boobs realize that up in the +mountains here the snow is often four or five feet deep in the early +spring? How could the grizzly reach that high? <i>Because he stood on a +snowbank.</i>"</p> + +<p>"By Jove," exclaimed Tom, all his self-assurance vanishing, "I believe +you're right."</p> + +<p>"You've hit the bull's-eye," cried Dick. "Bert, old man, you're a +wonder."</p> + +<p>"Of course," Bert went on, too generous to gloat over their discomfiture, +"that only proves that he was here then. He may be a hundred miles off +by this time. Still, it won't do a bit of harm to keep our eyes peeled +and make sure that our guns are in good working order. He's probably got +a perpetual grouch, and he might be peevish if he should turn up and find +us poaching on his hunting grounds."</p> + +<p>They moved along, a little more soberly now, and their eyes narrowly +scanned the trees ahead as though at any moment through the forest aisles +they might discover a giant form lumbering down upon them. They did not +think it at all likely, as there had been no rumors for some time past +of a grizzly having been seen in the locality, nor had the mutilated body +of some luckless steer borne traces of his handiwork. Still it was +"better to be safe than sorry," and their vigilance did not relax until +they came out of the thicker forest onto a more scantily wooded plateau +and saw before them the shining waters of the lake that marked the goal +of their journey.</p> + +<p>Under the cloudy sky the waters had the steel-gray luster of quicksilver. +It seemed to be about three miles in length, although this they could not +clearly determine, owing to a curve at the upper end, which concealed its +limits in that direction. It was not more than three-quarters of a mile +wide, and the expanse was broken by a small wooded island about half way +across. Nothing living was in sight, except a huge fish hawk that waited +expectantly on a dead branch overhanging the water. Even while they +looked, it darted downward, cleaving the air and water like an arrow, and +reappeared a moment later with a large fish struggling in its jaws. +Resuming its seat upon the branch it tossed the fish in the air, caught +it cleverly as it came down, and swallowed it at a gulp.</p> + +<p>"Talk about juggling," laughed Tom. "That fellow would make a hit upon +the vaudeville stage."</p> + +<p>"I'd like first rate to have him at the end of a cord," said Dick.</p> + +<p>"Like those natives we saw in China, eh?" suggested Bert. "Do you +remember how they used to fasten a ring about the throat so that they +couldn't swallow them? It always seemed to me a low-down game to make +them fork over as soon as they caught the fish."</p> + +<p>"Well, at any rate, that fellow has shown us that there are fish to be +had for the taking," said Tom. "I'll hunt up that canoe while you get +the rods and reels ready. What are you going to try for first, pickerel +or bass?"</p> + +<p>"Suppose we take a hack at both," suggested Dick. "I'll get out the spoon +bait and try for pike and pickerel. You and Bert can use the live bait +and see what luck you have with the bass."</p> + +<p>A careful search revealed the canoe, so cunningly hidden by its owner +under a heap of brush and sedge-grass, that only the explicit directions +they had received enabled them to find it. It was in good condition, +about eighteen feet in length and two paddles lay in the bottom. Tom got +in, pushed off from the shore, and with deft strokes brought the slender +craft down to where his friends were waiting.</p> + +<p>Bert eyed the frail boat dubiously.</p> + +<p>"A canoe is a dandy thing for cruising in, especially if you want to get +somewhere in a hurry, but it was never meant for a fishing party," he +commented. "We'd have to be so careful in moving about that we couldn't +keep our mind on the sport. You couldn't play a bass from one without +danger of upsetting. I tell you what we'd better do. Let one of us fish +from the shore for bass, while the two others in the canoe troll for +pickerel. Two lines can be put out over the stern and one can paddle +gently while the other keeps a sharp eye on the lines. Between us all we +ought to get a mess in less than no time. We'll toss up to see which +shall do the lonesome act while the others use the canoe. At noontime +we'll have a fish fry right here on the shore to help us out with the +lunch. The one who catches the first fish gets out of doing any of the +work. The one who gets the next will have to do the cooking and the one +that trails in last will have to clean the fish. What do you say?"</p> + +<p>There was no dissenting voice, and the spinning coin decreed that Tom and +Dick should do the trolling, while Bert remained on shore and tried for +bass.</p> + +<p>With the polished spoons twinkling in the water behind, the canoe shot +out to the center of the lake. Bert carefully baited his hook and cast it +far out from shore. Then, with the happy optimism of the average +fisherman, he settled back and waited for results.</p> + +<p>Contrary to the usual experience, those results were not long in coming. +Tom was the first to score. The spoon at the end of his line dipped +violently, and, hauling it in rapidly, he yanked in a big pickerel. He +did not dare to shout, for fear of scaring the wary denizens of the lake, +but he held it up for Bert to see, and the latter responded with a wave +of the hand in congratulation.</p> + +<p>The next instant he had to grab his own rod with both hands, while the +cord whistled out over the reel. He had made a "strike," and the frantic +plunges at the other end of the line told that he had hooked a fighter. +Back and forth he darted, until it seemed as though the slender rod would +break under the strain. Bert's fighting blood responded to the challenge, +and he played his opponent with all the skill and judgment in which he +was a past master. It was fully ten minutes before, carefully shortening +his line, he was able to land on the bank a magnificent striped bass.</p> + +<p>From that time on, the sport was fast and furious. The lake was full of +fish, and it had been visited so rarely that they had not learned the +danger of the bait that trailed so temptingly before them. In half an +hour they had caught more than they could eat and carry home, and Tom, +whose appalling appetite was clamoring for satisfaction, suggested that +they wind up and pull for shore. Dick was nothing loath, and the canoe, +more heavily loaded than when they had started out, glided shoreward +until its nose touched the bank where Bert was standing, surrounded by +a host of finny beauties that bore witness to his skill.</p> + +<p>They fastened the boat securely and spent a few minutes comparing their +catches. Then they gathered a heap of dry brush and burned it until they +had a glowing bed of embers. They had no frying pan, but Bert improvised +an ingenious skillet of tough oaken twigs, that, held high enough above +the fire, promised to broil the fish to a turn.</p> + +<p>Tom, who, in accordance with the agreement, had nothing to do, stretched +himself out luxuriously and "bossed the job."</p> + +<p>"See that you don't burn the fish, my man," he said to Bert, affecting a +languid drawl. "And you, my good fellow," he added, turning to Dick, "be +sure and clean them thoroughly."</p> + +<p>He dodged just in time to avoid a fish head that Dick threw at him. It +whizzed by his ear, and his quick duck detracted somewhat from his +dignity.</p> + +<p>"The growing insolence of the lower classes," he muttered, regaining his +equilibrium. "You're fired," he roared, glaring at Dick.</p> + +<p>"All right," said Dick, throwing down his knife.</p> + +<p>"No, no," corrected Tom hurriedly, "not till after dinner."</p> + +<p>Before long the fish were sputtering merrily over the fire and the +appetizing smell was full of promise. It even induced Tom to abandon his +leisurely attitude and "rustle" the good things out of the basket. They +made a royal meal and feasted so full and long that, when at last old +Nature simply balked at more, they had no desire to do anything but lie +back lazily and revel in the sheer delight of living.</p> + +<p>"If I've an enemy on earth, I forgive him," sighed Dick blissfully.</p> + +<p>"Old Walt Whitman's my favorite poet," said Tom. "Isn't he the fellow +that tells you to 'loaf and invite your soul'?"</p> + +<p>"Soul," grunted Bert disdainfully. "You haven't any soul. Just now you're +all body."</p> + +<p>"Always pickin' on me," groaned Tom resignedly.</p> + +<p>In complete abandonment to their sense of well being they drew their hats +over their eyes and stretched out under the shadow of the trees that came +down almost to the water's edge. A brooding peace enveloped them, and the +droning of insects and the faint lapping of the water on the shore lulled +them into drowsiness. Insensibly they lapsed into slumber.</p> + +<p>A half hour passed before Bert started up and rubbed his eyes. It took +him a moment to realize where he was. His eyes fell on his sleeping +companions, and he made a movement as though to awake them. Then he +checked the impulse.</p> + +<p>"What's the use?" he said to himself. "There's plenty of time before we +need to start for home."</p> + +<p>He yawned and lay back again. But now the desire for sleep had left him. +After a moment he sat up again.</p> + +<p>"I haven't tried the canoe yet," he thought. "I'll take a little spin +across to the island. They'll be awake by the time I get back."</p> + +<p>Noiselessly he walked down to the water's edge, unfastened the canoe and +took up the paddle.</p> + +<p>There was scarcely a ripple on the lake except that made by the sharp bow +of the canoe. There was an exhilarating sense of flying as his light +craft shot away from the shore. Almost before he knew it he had covered +the distance and was drawing up the canoe on the sloping beach of the +island.</p> + +<p>It was larger than he had thought, at a distance, and toward the center +was heavily wooded. There was a dense tangle of undergrowth, and in order +to avoid this he skirted the shore, intending to make a complete circuit +before returning to the canoe.</p> + +<p>His surprise was great when on reaching the further side he found that it +was not an island at all. A narrow strip of land connected it with the +mainland beyond. It was not over a hundred feet in width, but he noticed +that there was a very distinct path that had been beaten through the +undergrowth. The discovery for a moment startled him. Then he realized +that the woods were, of course, full of all sorts of harmless animals, +who had to come down to the water to drink. This would explain the beaten +path, and in some measure it reassured him.</p> + +<p>Still his gait was quicker as he sped along, intent on regaining the +canoe. It would have perhaps been just as well if he had put his rifle in +when he started. He listened attentively now as he hurried on, but not a +sound broke the stillness of the woods.</p> + +<p>And now his pulses began to drum with that subtle sixth sense of his that +warned of danger. Again and again in his adventurous career he had felt +it, and it had never misled him. It was something like the second sight +of the Highlander. His nature was so highly organized that like a +sensitive camera it registered impressions that others overlooked. Now +some "coming event" was casting "its shadow before," and the mysterious +monitor warned him to be on his guard.</p> + +<p>It was with a feeling of intense relief that he came again in sight of +the canoe and saw that it was undisturbed. He looked across and saw his +friends waving at him. He waved back and stooped to unfasten the canoe.</p> + +<p>Then something that struck him as odd in their salutation caused him to +look again. It was not simply a friendly greeting. There was terror, +panic, wild anxiety. And now they were shouting and pointing to something +behind him.</p> + +<p>He turned like a flash. And what he saw made his heart almost leap from +his body.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Grizzly at Bay</span></h3> + + +<p>Tearing down upon him in a rapid, lumbering gallop was a monstrous bear. +It needed no second glance to tell that it was a grizzly. The little eyes +incandescent with rage, the big hump just back of the ears, the enormous +size and bulk could belong to none other than this dreaded king of the +Rockies.</p> + +<p>For an instant every drop of blood in Bert's body seemed to rush to his +head. It suffused his eyes with a red film and sounded like thunder in +his ears. Then the flood receded and left him cold as ice. He was himself +again, cool, self-reliant, with his mental processes working like +lightning.</p> + +<p>He had no time to unfasten the canoe. Long before he could get in and +push off, the bear would have been on top of him. The beast was not more +than thirty feet away and two or three more lunges would bring him to the +water's edge.</p> + +<p>Bert's first impulse was to dive into the lake and seek to escape by +swimming. But this he discarded at once. Fast as he was, he knew that +the grizzly could outswim him.</p> + +<p>With a quick turn to the left, he plunged into the woods, running like a +deer. The bear lost a second or two in trying to check his momentum. Then +he turned also and went crashing through the underbrush in pursuit.</p> + +<p>Had the going been open Bert might have made good his escape. His legs +and wind had once won him a Marathon from the fleetest flyers of the +world. But here conditions were against him. Vines reached out to trip +him. Impenetrable thickets turned him aside. He had to dodge and twist +and squirm his way through the undergrowth.</p> + +<p>But the bear had no such handicaps. His great body crashed straight +through all obstacles. The fearful padding of those monstrous feet came +nearer and nearer. Bert's legs worked like piston rods, but to no avail. +The distance between them steadily decreased, and now he could hear the +labored breathing of his enraged pursuer close on his heels. It was like +a hideous nightmare, and gradually the conviction began to force itself +upon him that he was running his last race. Once in the grip of that +monster, nothing could save him from a frightful death.</p> + +<p>But he would not give up. The old "never say die" spirit that had carried +him through so many tight places still persisted. On, on, he ran, putting +every ounce of speed and strength in one last spurt. He could feel the +hot breath of the grizzly and the padding feet were terribly near. Then, +just as the beast was ready to hurl its huge bulk against him, Bert swung +on his heel like a pivot, doubled in his tracks and flashed back past his +pursuer, just escaping a lunge from the outstretched paw. But that +marvelous swaying motion of the hips that had eluded so many tacklers +on the football field stood him in stead, and he just grazed the enormous +claw that tried to stop him.</p> + +<p>That strategy proved his salvation. The grizzly plunged along for many +feet before he could turn, and in that instant's respite Bert saw his +chance.</p> + +<p>Right in front of him was a tall oak whose lowest branch was full twenty +feet from the ground. Like a streak Bert reached it, whirled around to +the farther side and swarmed up it like a monkey. He reached the fork and +swung himself out on the branch with not a second to spare. The grizzly, +frothing with rage and hate, had hurled himself against the tree and his +up-reaching claw had torn the bark in a vain attempt to clutch the leg +that he only missed by inches.</p> + +<p>But he was balked. He could not climb, and the tree was too big for him +to tear down, as he might have done had it been slenderer or younger. By +the narrowest of margins he had failed to add one more victim to those +who had already fallen before his ferocity.</p> + +<p>Not that he had relinquished hope. He had lost in the open attack, but he +still had the resource of a siege. Soon or late he was sure his victim +would have to descend. His victory was only deferred. Back and forth and +round and round the tree he paced, growling fiercely, at times rearing +himself on his hind legs and tearing savagely at the trunk. His open +jaws, slavering with foam and showing his great yellow fangs, were full +of fearful menace, and his wicked eyes glowed like a furnace. His temper, +evil at all times, had been rendered worse by the fury of the chase and +disappointment at his failure. Baffled rage bristled in every hair of his +shaggy hide. At that moment he would have charged a regiment.</p> + +<p>Bert settled himself in the crotch of the tree and gazed at his thwarted +enemy with a sensation of indescribable relief. He was drenched with +sweat, his clothes were torn by that wild race through the brush, his +breath came in gasps that were almost sobs, and his heart was beating +like a triphammer. He had looked into the very eyes of death and almost +by a miracle had escaped. For the present, at least, he was safe. His +giant adversary could not reach him.</p> + +<p>Had he been entirely alone in this wild section of the mountains, or had +his whereabouts been unknown, his situation would have been hopeless. +The bear might settle down to a siege of many days, and he had powerful +allies in sleep and hunger. If wearied nature should assert her rights +and Bert in a moment of drowsiness topple from his perch, or if, driven +by starvation, he should make a last despairing effort to escape, the +chances would be all against him. The instinct of the grizzly told him +that, if not interfered with, time alone was all that was necessary to +bring his foe within his grasp.</p> + +<p>But there were Dick and Tom to be reckoned with, and beyond them was +Melton, who would surely organize a party and come to his aid. He knew +that his comrades would not leave him in the lurch and that they would +risk their lives to save him from his perilous position. No doubt but at +that moment they were working with might and main to devise some plan of +rescue.</p> + +<p>But what could they do? He had taken the canoe and they had no means of +getting over to him. Had they known of the narrow peninsula on the +farther side, they might have worked their way around the end of the +lake. But they thought the place was an island, only to be reached by +water. Both were strong swimmers and could easily win their way over. But +they couldn't do that and keep their guns dry, and without weapons they +could do nothing.</p> + +<p>In the wild dash through the woods he had described almost a perfect +circle, and the tree in which he was sheltered commanded a view of the +canoe and the shimmering water beyond. It maddened him to see the boat +rocking there idly, as useless to him at that moment as though it were +a thousand miles away.</p> + +<p>If he had only brought his rifle with him! How thoughtless of him to take +such a chance! The words of Mr. Melton at the breakfast table recurred to +him and he fairly writhed in an agony of self-reproach.</p> + +<p>The grizzly had by this time realized that nothing could be done for the +present but wait. He ceased his restless swaying to and fro and squatted +down on his haunches, his murderous eyes never leaving Bert for an +instant.</p> + +<p>On the other side of the lake Dick and Tom were working with feverish +energy, almost beside themselves with fear at their comrade's terrible +plight.</p> + +<p>They had awakened soon after Bert's departure, and had been startled for +a moment at finding him gone. The absence of the canoe, however, followed +by a glimpse of it on the shore across the water, had reassured them, and +they had waited more or less patiently for his reappearance.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Dick started to his feet.</p> + +<p>"What's that?" he cried, pointing to the woods near the water's edge.</p> + +<p>"Where?" exclaimed Tom, startled out of his usual calm by the evident +alarm in Dick's voice.</p> + +<p>"In that big clump of trees over to the right," was the answer, and then +his voice rose to a shout: "Great Scott! It's a grizzly."</p> + +<p>"And there comes Bert," yelled Tom. "Bert, Bert," they shouted wildly, +rushing down to the shore and waving their hands frantically.</p> + +<p>They had seen Bert dart off into the woods with the bear in hot pursuit, +but the outcome of the chase had been hidden from their view. They did +not dare to think of what might have happened, and they looked at each +other in helpless anguish.</p> + +<p>"Quick!" yelled Dick, wrenching himself loose from the paralysis that had +seized him. "A raft. We've got to get over there with the guns. We've +got a paddle left and we can push ourselves over. Oh, Bert, Bert!" he +groaned.</p> + +<p>But Tom intervened.</p> + +<p>"No good," he said hurriedly. "It'll take too long to make it and we'd be +too slow in getting across. The canoe's our only chance. You get the guns +ready."</p> + +<p>He kicked off his shoes, tore off his clothes, dived head foremost into +the lake, and with long, powerful strokes headed for the farther shore.</p> + +<p>He had an almost amphibious love for the water and the task he had set +for himself was easy. But his fear for Bert and his impatience at the +delay before he could help him made it seem to him as though he were +going at a snail's pace, although in reality he was cleaving the water +like a fish.</p> + +<p>Bert, looking out from his perch in the tree, suddenly had his attention +attracted by something on the smooth surface. He thought at first that +it was a water fowl. Then he looked more closely, and his heart gave a +great bound as he recognized that it was one of his comrades, although he +could not tell which one at that distance. He saw that the swimmer was +headed straight for the canoe, and he surmised the plan in an instant.</p> + +<p>"Good old Dick and Tom," he exulted to himself. "They're two pals in a +thousand. I knew they'd get me out of this or die in the trying."</p> + +<p>But the bear, too, seemed to realize that something was happening. His +scent was phenomenally keen, and the wind was blowing directly toward +him from the lake. He sniffed the air for a moment and then, with a +threatening growl, looked toward the water. Then he rose slowly and +backed in that direction, still keeping an eye on Bert.</p> + +<p>The latter took alarm at once. Here was a new complication. If the bear +should discover the swimmer, who was now nearing the shore, it might be +fatal. At all events his attention must be distracted.</p> + +<p>With Bert, to think was to act. He grasped the branch tightly and swung +himself down at full length, so that his dangling feet were almost within +the bear's reach. The grizzly, with an exultant "whuff," galloped +clumsily back to the tree and made a ferocious swipe at his enemy, who +pulled himself up just in time. Snarling and mouthing horribly, the bear +once more moved toward the lake, torn between the desire to investigate +and the fear that his victim might escape. Once more Bert worked the same +maneuver and again the bear "fell" for it.</p> + +<p>But the crisis was past. There was no need now to repeat. Tom had reached +the canoe, climbed into it, and with powerful strokes of the paddle sent +it flying toward the mainland. Not, however, till his heart had been +thrilled with joy by Bert's yell that rang far out on the water.</p> + +<p>"I'm up a tree, old man," called the voice that Tom had feared he might +never hear again, "but I'm all right."</p> + +<p>"Thank God," answered Tom, and tried to add something else, but couldn't.</p> + +<p>Once more on shore he jubilantly reported to Dick, whose delight at the +news of Bert's present safety passed all bounds.</p> + +<p>The first rejoicing over, they hastily laid their plans.</p> + +<p>"Are the guns ready?" asked Tom as he got into his clothes.</p> + +<p>"They're all right," answered Dick. "To make sure, I unloaded and filled +them up with new cartridges. Everything's in perfect shape."</p> + +<p>They did not underestimate the task before them. They were taking their +lives in their hands in attacking this monster of the wilds. But had he +been ten times as big or ten times as savage they would not have +hesitated an instant, with Bert's life as the stake.</p> + +<p>Knowing that the wind was blowing toward the bear from where they were, +they deemed it wise, as a plan of campaign, to paddle to the other side +of the island and come upon the foe from the rear. If they could take him +unawares, and pump a bullet or two into his great carcass before he had +time to charge, their chances of success would be immensely greater.</p> + +<p>Moving as warily as Indians, they dipped their paddles in the water and +made for the upper end of the supposed island. They rounded the point +and disembarked. Clutching their guns firmly and straining their eyes, as +they gazed into the dark green recesses of the woods, they advanced, +scarcely daring to breathe.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to signal," whispered Dick. "That'll warn Bert that we're +coming and he'll keep the bear busy." And the next instant the mournful +cry of the whippoorwill floated through the forest.</p> + +<p>It was an accomplishment that the boys had frequently practised, and the +counterfeit was perfect enough to deceive the birds themselves.</p> + +<p>They waited an instant, and then they heard Bert's answering +"whippoorwill."</p> + +<p>The bear paid no attention to the familiar sound, and it was evident that +his suspicions had not been aroused.</p> + +<p>Guiding themselves by the repetition of the cry Dick and Tom pressed +forward, their guns ready for instant use at the first sight of the +enemy.</p> + +<p>Bert had promptly grasped the meaning of the signal. It was imperative +that the bear's attention should be centered on himself alone. The only +thing he found in his pocket was a jack-knife, but he threw this with +such precision that it struck the bear full on the point of the nose and +evoked a roar of fury. A shower of twigs and branches added insult to +injury, until the great beast was beside himself with rage. He had no +thought or eyes or ears for anything but Bert.</p> + +<p>And now the whippoorwill was close at hand.</p> + +<p>Two spurts of flame leaped from the forest on the right. With a ferocious +snarl the grizzly whirled about in the direction of the shots. As he did +so two more bullets plowed their way into his breast. He tore savagely at +the wounds, and then plunged fiercely in the direction of his unseen +foes.</p> + +<p>But his hour had struck. Another volley halted him in his tracks. He +sagged, coughed, and fell in a crumpled mass to the ground.</p> + +<p>With a wild hurrah, Dick and Tom broke from cover, dropped their guns and +threw their arms about Bert, who had slid down to the foot of the tree.</p> + +<p>The strain had been so great and the reaction was so tremendous that none +of them for a moment knew what he was doing. They shouted, laughed and +grasped each others' hands, too excited for coherent speech. They had +been through many perils together, but none so great and terrible as +this. And now all three were together again, safe and sound, and the +grizzly——</p> + +<p>"Look out," screamed Bert, his face going white.</p> + +<p>They jumped as though they had been shot.</p> + +<p>Not ten feet away was the grizzly coming down on them like a locomotive. +His mouth was open, his eyes blazing, and with the blood flowing from +his wounds he made a hideous picture as he rushed forward. They had +forgotten to reckon with the wonderful tenacity of life that makes a +grizzly bear the hardest thing in the world to kill. Six bullets were +embedded in his carcass and his life was ebbing. But his fiendish +ferocity was unimpaired, and he had gathered himself together for one +last onslaught.</p> + +<p>There was no time to think, no chance to resist. The guns were on the +ground, and merely to stoop for them meant that the bear would be upon +them before they could rise. With one bound the boys leaped aside, and +scattered through the woods at the top of their speed.</p> + +<p>The bear hesitated a second, as though undecided whom to follow, and then +put after Bert.</p> + +<p>But it was a very different race this time from that of an hour before. +Then the odds had been against the fugitive; now they were with him. +The rage of the bear was greater, but his speed and strength were +failing. Bert easily increased his distance, and as he ran his quick mind +formed a plan of action.</p> + +<p>Running in a circle, he gradually drew his pursuer around to the tree +where he had sought refuge. He had figured on grabbing one of the guns +and shinning up to the friendly crotch, there to despatch his foe at +leisure. But as he rose with the rifle in his hand he saw that there was +no time for this.</p> + +<p>Dropping on one knee he took careful aim, and as the grizzly rose on its +hind legs to grasp him, fired point blank at the spot just below the fore +leg that marked the heart. Then he jumped aside.</p> + +<p>The bear spun around once, toppled and fell with a tremendous crash on +the spot where Bert had been a moment before.</p> + +<p>Once more Bert raised his rifle, looking narrowly for any sign of life. +But the last bullet had done the work. A convulsive shudder ran through +the bear's enormous length. Then he stiffened out and a glaze crept over +the wicked eyes. He had fought his last fight.</p> + +<p>And as Bert looked down at him, his relief and exultation were tempered +by a feeling of respect for the brute's courage. Never for a moment had +he shown the white feather. He had fought gallantly and gone down +fighting.</p> + +<p>Tom and Dick, who had now rejoined him, shared his feeling.</p> + +<p>"Nothing 'yellow' about that old rascal but his hide," commented Dick.</p> + +<p>"A fighter from Fightersville," added Tom.</p> + +<p>When their jubilation had somewhat subsided, they measured their quarry.</p> + +<p>"Ten feet four inches, from the tip of the nose to the root of the tail," +announced Tom. "Gee, but he's a monster."</p> + +<p>"The daddy of them all," said Dick.</p> + +<p>"He must weigh over half a ton," judged Bert.</p> + +<p>They looked with a shudder at the terrible claws and fangs.</p> + +<p>"They say that a grizzly has forty-two teeth," remarked Tom, "but I +thought he had forty-two thousand when he was bearing down upon us with +his mouth open."</p> + +<p>"Well, now the question is what are we going to do with him," said Dick.</p> + +<p>"That's a pleasant way to put it," laughed Bert. "A little while ago the +question was what was he going to do with us."</p> + +<p>"I don't know," he mused, "what we can do. We can't skin him, because we +haven't the proper knives, and then, too, it takes an expert to get that +hide off without spoiling it. On the other hand, we can't leave it here +and expect to find it in the morning. The other animals will feast on +the carcass, and the skin won't be any good when they've got through +tearing it. If it were a deer we could hang it up out of reach. But we +couldn't even move this mountain, let alone lift it."</p> + +<p>"Of course we can come back and get the teeth and claws, anyway," put in +Dick. "But I hate like thunder to lose the skin."</p> + +<p>"I tell you what," suggested Bert. "Let's hustle around and get as many +big stones as we can find. We'll pile up a sort of funeral mound around +him that the animals can't work through or pull away. Then in the morning +we'll get some of the boys from the ranch to come up with us and get the +hide. It may not work, but I think it will, and, anyway, we've got to +take the chance."</p> + +<p>Luckily for the carrying out of the plan, big stones abounded in the +vicinity and a few minutes of hard work sufficed to gather together +enough to make it probable that the body would remain undisturbed till +they came for it.</p> + +<p>"And now, fellows," said Bert, gazing at the sun, "it's the quick sneak +for us if we want to get back to the ranch before dark. Forward, march."</p> + +<p>With a last look at the scene of their thrilling experience, they boarded +the canoe, shot across the lake, and, packing up their traps, set out for +the ranch. They made quick time of it, as the road was now familiar and +led downhill all the way. Yet, despite their speed, dusk was settling +down when they reached the house, to receive a hearty greeting from their +hosts, who were becoming a little anxious at the delay.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Melton paled as she heard the story of their frightful danger, and +Melton himself was deeply stirred at their narrow escape. He, better than +any one else, realized all the horror of the case had victory declared on +the side of the bear.</p> + +<p>"You'll never be nearer death than you were to-day, my boys," he said +gravely; "and a kind of death that I don't care to think about. I'll send +Sandy and some of the men up to-morrow to get the skin, and I hope that +hide will be the nearest you ever come to seeing a grizzly again. You +came through all right to-day, but it's the kind of stunt a man doesn't +get way with twice. But now," he added more lightly, "I'll bet that +you're hungry enough to eat nails. Hurry up and wash and get down to the +table."</p> + +<p>"By the way," said Mrs. Melton, her eyes twinkling, "where are those fish +you promised me for supper?"</p> + +<p>The boys looked at each other in consternation.</p> + +<p>"Great Scott!" exclaimed Bert. "We forgot to bring them."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The "Ringer's" Downfall</span></h3> + + +<p>After the boys had been on the ranch some two or three weeks a new topic +of interest came up. It seemed that every Fourth of July a great +celebration was held in Helena, in which cowboys and ranchmen from many +miles around took part. All sorts of competitions were held, such as +roping, throwing, target shooting, and so on. As the day drew near, it +became the chief topic of conversation about the ranch, and everybody, +with the exception of two or three who would have to stay to take care of +the stock, intended to go and take part in the festivities.</p> + +<p>Quite a feature of the present celebration was to be a one-mile running +race. As a rule ranchmen and cowboys are not noted for their running +abilities, generally being more at home upon the back of a horse than +upon their own feet. But among the neighboring ranches there were several +fair runners, and among the townspeople there were others. The last year +or two a hot rivalry had existed between the ranchmen and "townies" over +the outcome of the running race, for in this event everybody, no matter +what his daily occupation, could be interested.</p> + +<p>The last year one of the men from the Bar X Ranch had taken the prize +money, and the ranchers had all been jubilant. They imagined they had +a fair chance to win this year's event with the same runner, and Mr. +Melton's men thought so too. But one day late in June Chip returned from +a trip to town with clouded brow.</p> + +<p>"What do yuh think them low-down Piutes that calls themselves citizens of +Helena has been an' done now?"</p> + +<p>"What's bitin' yuh, Chip?" asked Sandy. "Did somebody get your wad, or +what?"</p> + +<p>"No, nothin' like that," answered Chip. "I'll tell it to you jest the way +one o' the boys handed it to me. He says t' me, 'Waal, Chip, I reckon +you boys on the ranches hereabouts won't pick off the prize money this +year in the footrace, will yuh?'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, I don't know,' I answers him. 'Yuh never kin tell what's going to +happen, but we-all have a sneakin' idea that our man is jest goin' to +run away from any shorthorn you guys kin put up.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, is that so?' he jeers, real triumphant-like, 'well, I got a little +piece o' change that I'm willin' to put up on our man. How do yuh feel?'</p> + +<p>"Waal, I wasn't goin' to let the guy bluff me, so I covers his money to +the tune o' fifty bucks. 'I s'pose Jenkins, the feller that nearly pulled +down the prize last year, is goin' to run fer you, ain't he' I asks, +never suspicionin' that he'd say anythin' but 'yes.'</p> + +<p>"'Not any,' he answers, grinnin' satisfied like; 'we've got another man +this year, an' a streak o' greased lightnin' is plumb slow an' ploddin' +alongside him.'</p> + +<p>"'An' who is this yere maverick?' I asks him, feelin' like somebody'd hit +me when I wasn't lookin'.</p> + +<p>"'Johnson is his brand,' says the sport; 'stick around a while an' I'll +point him out t' yuh. There he is now,' he says sudden-like, pointin' to +a guy amblin' along the sidewalk with half a dozen kids taggin' at his +heels, 'there's the guy what's goin' to make your runners look like +candidates from a young ladies' finishing school. Take a good look at +him, Chip, so yuh'll know him the next time yuh see him.'</p> + +<p>"Waal, boys, I took a good look, as this sport suggests, and I'm a +pop-eyed tenderfoot if I didn't recognize the guy right off. I couldn't +jest place him at first, but in a few seconds I remembered where I'd seen +him last."</p> + +<p>"An' where was that?" questioned Sandy, while everybody listened eagerly +for his answer.</p> + +<p>"It was at a function thet come near bein' a lynchin' party," answered +Chip. "I was up in a little town over the Canada border at the time, an' +they had jest had a race like this yere one we-all has on the Fourth o' +July, only they ain't no sech institution there, them folks bein' nothin' +but benighted Britishers and Frenchmen. Howsum-ever, they'd had a race, +and this maverick what's pointed out to me in Helena had won the race, +together with most o' the loose change in the town. Suddenly a guy in the +crowd yells out: 'That feller's a 'ringer.' I seen him run in an Eastern +professional race onct.'"</p> + +<p>"Waal, thet was like puttin' a match to powder, and them people was goin' +to string the guy up, only the sheriff came along jest then and stopped +the proceedin's. So that's when I see this party last."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but he might not have been a 'ringer'," suggested Bert, who had +come up and joined the group while Chip was speaking. "He might have +been square, but the man that accused him probably had lost money, and +may have accused him just to get even. You don't have to prove much to an +angry mob when they want to believe what you're telling them, anyway."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I thought o' that," replied Chip, "but a few weeks arterward I come +across an old newspaper with this party's picture engraved on the +sportin' page, an' underneath it said, 'Albert Summers, the well-known +professional one-mile runner,' or words meanin' the same thing. I'd clean +forgot about it, though, until I sees this yere hoss thief paradin' the +streets o' Helena followed by the admirin' glances o' the populace."</p> + +<p>The cowboys exchanged indignant glances, and Sandy said, "Mebbe the folks +in Helena don't know this maverick's a professional."</p> + +<p>"I suppose most o' them don't," replied Chip, "but the officials thet +have charge o' the race are wise, all right. It looks as though I was +goin' to be out fifty hard-earned dollars, but it will keep the rest o' +yuh boys from losin' any o' your money, anyhow."</p> + +<p>"Seems t' me it's up to us t' give this here shell game away," remarked +Buck; "it riles me plumb fierce t' think of anybody puttin' over a game +like that an' gettin' away with it."</p> + +<p>"The best thing to do, I should think," remarked Bert, "would be to let +this Summers, or Johnson, or whatever his name is, run, and get somebody +to beat him. That would be doing things artistically, as you might say."</p> + +<p>"What do yuh mean?" queried Sandy, speaking for his surprised companions, +"yuh think we ought t' get a 'ringer' on our own account to beat this +professional sharp?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all," said Bert with a grin. "I don't want to seem to boast, but +I've done a little running myself at times, and I think if I entered +against this 'profesh' I might be able to give him a run for his money."</p> + +<p>The cowboys looked somewhat incredulous, and Chip said, "I seen this +feller run, m' lad, and he sure is fast, I got to admit that much. Have +yuh ever done much runnin'?"</p> + +<p>"Quite some," replied Bert with a curious little smile. "The next time +you talk to Trent or Henderson ask them about it, if you don't believe +me."</p> + +<p>He strolled off, and after he had gone the men held a consultation. Chip +was openly skeptical regarding Bert's offer to run. "He's a fine lad an' +all that," he opined, "but it takes more than an amateur to beat this +sharp. The boy would be out of his class, I reckon, if he came up against +this yere sprinter."</p> + +<p>The others seemed inclined to agree with Chip's view of the matter, but +Sandy demurred. "I've been watchin' that lad," he said, "an' I've noticed +he don't usually go around shootin' off his mouth about nothin'. Seems t' +me before we pass up his proposition it might be a good idea to look up +his friends an' see what they say about it."</p> + +<p>"Waal, thet's only fair," remarked one of the cowboys known to his mates +only as "Bud." "I vote we make Sandy an' Chip a committee o' two to see +Trent an' Henderson an' question them on this yere p'int. Yuh don't want +to fergit thet if we <i>could</i> find somebody thet could beat this Helena +candidate we'd have it on them effete citizens so bad they'd wear +mournin' fer a year."</p> + +<p>This consideration had great weight with the others, and they all +assented to Bud's proposition. It was agreed that at the first +opportunity Sandy and Chip should question Tom and Dick on the subject of +Bert's running abilities, and so the matter was dropped for the present.</p> + +<p>The "committee," however, kept it in mind, and when, as they were +returning to the bunkhouse that same evening, Chip and Sandy espied Dick +and Tom at no great distance, riding along in leisurely fashion, they +immediately hailed them.</p> + +<p>On hearing their names called the two friends looked around, and, seeing +the ranchmen beckoning to them, cantered over in their direction, and +quickly reached the spot on which they were standing.</p> + +<p>"What's up?" questioned Dick, "anything wrong?"</p> + +<p>"No, not 'specially," answered Sandy, slightly at a loss as to the best +way to bring up the subject. "Yuh see, it's this way. Some o' the boys +has heard thet your pal, Wilson, is somethin' of a runner, and we was +jest cur'ous to know ef it was so. Can you wise us up on this yere mooted +p'int?"</p> + +<p>Dick looked over at Tom and grinned. "You tell 'em, Tom," he said; "tell +them whether Bert can run or not."</p> + +<p>"Well," said Tom, "Bert isn't such an awful good runner, no. He's never +done a thing in that line except win the Marathon run at the last Olympic +games, break every college record from one to twenty-five miles, and set +up a new world's record for the five mile distance. Outside of that he +can't run worth a cent, can he, Dick?"</p> + +<p>For a moment Dick was too amused watching the faces of the two ranchmen +to answer. "Wh-what are yuh tryin' t' hand us, anyhow," demanded Chip. +"Do yuh really mean he's the same Wilson thet won the big Marathon race?"</p> + +<p>"Straight goods," answered Dick; "if you don't believe it, ask Melton."</p> + +<p>"Whoop-ee!" yelled Sandy, throwing his sombrero high in the air and +catching it deftly as it descended. "No wonder he seemed so confident +when he offered to run fer us. At thet time I kind a' thought he was jest +stringin' us along."</p> + +<p>"You'll find that when Bert says a thing he generally means it," remarked +Dick, "but what is it all about, anyway? What was it that he offered to +run in?"</p> + +<p>Sandy then proceeded to explain all that had occurred that morning, and +when he had finished both Tom and Dick gave a long whistle.</p> + +<p>"So that's how the land lies, is it?" exclaimed Dick; "the old sinner's +never satisfied unless he's winning something or other, is he?"</p> + +<p>"You said something that time," acquiesced Tom, a note of pride in his +voice; "if excitement won't come to him, he goes looking for it. That's +his style, every time."</p> + +<p>The two cowboys did not stop to hear any more, but hurried off excitedly +to take the news to their companions. They burst into the bunkhouse, +where the men had already sat down to supper.</p> + +<p>"Boys, we're all a bunch o' locoed Piutes," yelled Sandy. "Do you know +who this boy Wilson is, eh? He's the feller that won the Marathon fer +Uncle Sam at the Olympic games, an' we never knew it. Somebody kindly +make the remarks fer me thet 're approp'rite on sech an occasion."</p> + +<p>For a few seconds, astonished exclamations of a very forceful character +filled the air, but soon the cowboys quieted down somewhat, and began to +discuss the surprising news in every detail. Everybody was jubilant, and +already they could picture the chagrin of the townspeople when their +favorite was beaten.</p> + +<p>"But we don't want to be too certain of winnin', at that," cautioned Bud; +"arter all, that Helena runner is a professional, an' Wilson is only an +amateur, no matter how good he may be. A feller thet makes a livin' out +of a thing is likely to do it better than the sport thet does it fer fun, +leastwise, thet's the way I figger it out."</p> + +<p>"Thet's all right," spoke up Reddy, "but ef yuh can remember that far +back, you'll rec-lect that his pals told us he held a world's record fer +five miles. Waal, now, they must 'a' been lots o' professionals runnin' +thet distance, and in spite of everythin' they never did no better'n +thet. What've yuh got to say t' that, eh?"</p> + +<p>Thus the discussion raged, and the cowboys stayed up much later than +usual that night arguing every phase of the forthcoming race pro and +con. As is usually the case in such discussions, they reached no +decision, beyond unanimously agreeing that the best man would win, +a proposition that few people would care to argue.</p> + +<p>In the meantime the three comrades had met at Mr. Melton's hospitable +board, and Dick and Tom recounted with great mirth the surprise of +the cowboys on hearing of Bert's athletic prowess.</p> + +<p>"It was better than a circus," laughed Dick. "I never saw two more +surprised faces in my life."</p> + +<p>"I either," said Tom. "I guess they must have thought Bert was champion +of some hick village before they consulted us."</p> + +<p>"I could see that was their idea when I offered to run," grinned Bert; +"that's why I referred them to you."</p> + +<p>"The boys place a lot of importance on the foot race," said Mr. Melton; +"in the other events they're chiefly competing against each other, but in +that they meet the townspeople on common ground, and it means a lot to +them to win. And if the winner comes from their own particular ranch, +that makes the victory all the more sweet."</p> + +<p>"Well," remarked Bert, "if I do run in that race, as it seems very likely +I shall, I'll certainly do my best to win for the ranch. I don't suppose +there'll be much competition outside of this 'ringer,' anyway."</p> + +<p>"No, I don't think there'll be much competition for <i>you</i>," smiled Mr. +Melton, "but just the same there'll be some pretty fair runners in that +race, and they may make you hustle a little at that."</p> + +<p>"I hope they do," said Bert, "but the only thing I'm going in the race +for is to show up that crooked runner. It's such fellows as he that give +the sport a bad name. I'll do everything in my power to discourage it +whenever I get the chance."</p> + +<p>"That's the talk," encouraged Tom, "go to it, old boy, and show him up. +Besides, it will put you in more solid than ever with the cowboys here. +They've got a pretty good idea of you already, I imagine, and this will +cinch matters."</p> + +<p>"It will give me an awful black eye if I should happen to get licked," +laughed Bert; "you never seem to think of that side of it."</p> + +<p>"No, we'll have to admit that we don't take that into consideration +much," said Dick; "you seem to have such an inveterate habit of winning +that we rather take it as a matter of course."</p> + +<p>"I don't take it as a matter of course, though, not by a long sight," +said Bert; "many a fellow's got tripped up by being over-confident, and +not waking up until it was too late. I go into anything like that with +the idea that if I don't do my very best I <i>may</i> lose. And then, if a +person does lose a race, that excuse of 'over-confidence' doesn't go a +long way, I've noticed."</p> + +<p>"No, it's better to be on the safe side, I guess," admitted Dick. "But +are you going to train at all for this race?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing to speak of," answered Bert. "The life we're living these days +keeps a fellow about as fit as he can be, anyway. I feel as though I +could start running at a minute's notice and give a good account of +myself."</p> + +<p>They talked over matters in this fashion until they had discussed the +forthcoming event at every angle, and then separated for the night.</p> + +<p>From that time on little else was thought or talked of about the ranch. +Even the roping and riding contests were relegated to the background. +News that the Bar Z boys had a promising candidate had been circulated +among the neighboring ranches, and there was almost as much excitement +rife on them as on Mr. Melton's. The cowboys were always questioning Dick +and Tom in regard to Bert's "past performances," and never tired of +hearing his exploits as told by his enthusiastic friends.</p> + +<p>Never was a day so looked forward to as the Fourth of July that year, and +never did a day seem so long in coming. The last days of June were +checked off one by one on a highly colored calendar suspended against the +wall of the bunkhouse, and at last the impatient ranchers tore the June +sheet off, or, as Chip put it, "took a month off."</p> + +<p>Saddles were gone over, oiled and polished, and when at last the +longed-for day arrived every preparation had been made to celebrate it +fittingly. Everybody on the ranch was up before the sun, and after a +hasty breakfast they sallied forth to town.</p> + +<p>The three comrades rode with them, and the cowboys surrounded them as a +sort of bodyguard. Mr. Melton was not able to accompany them, as he had +some pressing business affairs to attend to, but he had promised to reach +town before the running race, which was not to take place until the +afternoon, was "pulled off."</p> + +<p>It was a beautiful day and the ranchmen were in high spirits. They +laughed and shouted and indulged in rough horse-play like a crowd of +school-boys out for a lark, and the boys did their full share to add to +the general gaiety. The long miles slipped unnoticed behind them, and the +sun was not far above the eastern horizon when the party cantered into +Helena.</p> + +<p>The town was gaily bedecked in honor of the occasion. The houses were +draped with flags and bunting, and in many cases long colored streamers +fluttered from the windows and roofs.</p> + +<p>The cowboys set spurs to their ponies, and swept down the street like +a veritable cyclone. They met other parties who had just arrived, and +exchanged greetings with the many friends among them. There was an air +of merry-making and good-fellowship in the air that was infectious, and +everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves.</p> + +<p>"They certainly know how to have a good time," remarked Dick. "I guess +it's because they have so few holidays that they enjoy them all the more +when they do come."</p> + +<p>Along the streets booths were lined, selling anything from a ten-cent +pocket knife to a blue-barreled Colts revolver. The numerous saloons were +going full blast, and were doing a profitable business. Nobody is more of +a spendthrift than your true cowboy when he is out on pleasure bent, and +the fakirs and saloon-keepers were taking full advantage of that fact.</p> + +<p>The party from Melton's ranch, with the exception of the three boys, lost +no time in slaking the thirst occasioned by their ride over the prairie, +and then they all repaired to the scene of the first event on the +entertainment programme, which proved to be a roping and tying contest. +Chip entered this and narrowly missed winning the prize.</p> + +<p>"Tough luck, old timer," consoled Sandy, "but better luck next time. You +made a good stab at it, anyhow."</p> + +<p>Other events were run off in quick succession, with the excitement +running high and keeping everybody at fever heat. The boys from the home +ranch won their share of the honors and a little over, and were +proportionately jubilant. "An' ef Wilson wins that race this arternoon," +said Sandy, "the boys from the ranch will feel so dawgoned good thet they +won't be able t' kick about nothin' fer a year t' come."</p> + +<p>"Thet's a good one, thet is," jeered one of the townspeople who had +overheard this remark. "Why, that guy Wilson ain't got even a look-in. +Our champ will make him look like an also ran."</p> + +<p>"Is that so?" replied Sandy sarcastically. "Well, yuh just stick around +this arternoon, an' yuh'll realize what a plumb egreg'us idjut a feller +can become by livin' in town a spell. Why, yuh poor boob, the feller +you're backin' to rake in the chips ain't got even a ghost of a show."</p> + +<p>Others of the citizens began to join in the argument, and words were +beginning to run high when Hotchkiss, the sheriff, galloped up on his +horse. "Here, here, boys," he exclaimed, "no hard feelin' on the glorious +Fourth. We're all here to have a good time, an' anybody that don't think +so can talk to me."</p> + +<p>"All right, Bill," said Sandy soothingly; "we warn't allowin' to have +a scrap, but the people o' this yere town is got too big a idea o' +themselves, thet's all."</p> + +<p>"Come away, Sandy," advised Dick, laughing. "Maybe we'll take a little of +the starch out of them this afternoon."</p> + +<p>Sandy at last allowed himself to be persuaded, and the cowboys rode off. +Soon afterward the three boys left them, for they had arranged with Mr. +Melton to lunch with him at the principal hotel.</p> + +<p>When they entered its doors he was waiting for them in the lobby, his +genial face beaming.</p> + +<p>"Well, my lads," he exclaimed, "how do you like the way we spend our +holidays out here, eh?"</p> + +<p>"Great!" exclaimed Bert, speaking for the others; "the boys certainly +know how to make things hum when they get started. There's something +doing every minute."</p> + +<p>"Yes, they're a great lot," said Mr. Melton. "They're hot tempered and +inclined to jump too quickly into a quarrel, but their hearts are always +in the right place, and they're loyal to the core. But how do you feel, +Bert?" suddenly changing the subject. "Have you got your winged shoes on +to-day?"</p> + +<p>"Never felt more like running in my life," smiled Bert. "Anybody that +beats me to-day will have to travel a little, I think."</p> + +<p>"Good!" exclaimed the rancher, "that's the kind of talk I like to hear. +Everybody I've talked to in the hotel here seems to think that this +Johnson is going to have things all his own way, and I want you to give +them the surprise of their lives."</p> + +<p>The fact that Bert was a Marathon winner was not generally known, and +everybody in town thought that their candidate would have an unknown +runner pitted against him, whom he could easily vanquish. It was, +therefore, with feelings of the utmost confidence that they streamed +toward the place where the race was to be held. They bantered the cowboys +they met unmercifully, but the latter kept their own counsel, and only +smiled in a knowing fashion. Money was bet freely on both sides, and +those who lost stood to lose heavily.</p> + +<p>After the boys had finished luncheon, they and Mr. Melton repaired to the +meeting place. The race was to be run around a one-mile oval track, and +five men were entered as contestants. Besides Bert and Johnson, the +winner of the previous race, Jed Barnes, was to race, and two other men +from neighboring ranches. As soon as the boys and Mr. Melton reached the +track they parted, the former seeking out the dressing room, and the +latter securing a seat in the grand stand.</p> + +<p>Bert got into his racing togs immediately, and his comrades left him and +walked out to secure seats for themselves. This was soon done, and they +settled themselves, waiting as best they could for the start.</p> + +<p>The stand and field filled rapidly until at last, when the gates were +closed, every available space was occupied by a tightly packed, expectant +throng. Suddenly a whistle blew and a few seconds afterward the runners +walked out and proceeded to draw lots for the choice of position. Bert +drew third from the inside rail, Jed Barnes second, and Johnson secured +the best place next to the rail.</p> + +<p>"That makes a rather bad handicap for Bert," said Tom anxiously. "I wish +he could have gotten a better position."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, it might be worse," said Dick, but it must be confessed he was +a little worried also. Johnson was a well-built athlete, and seemed to be +in the best of condition. Dick recalled that Bert had not gone through +any special training, and was assailed with misgivings. However, he had +not long to wait. The runners took their places, and the starter raised +his pistol in the air.</p> + +<p>"Get set!" he called, and amid a breathless silence the racers crouched +over, their fingers barely touching the ground.</p> + +<p>Crack! went the pistol, and amid a roar from the spectators the five +athletes sprang ahead as though released from a catapult. Elbows pressed +against their sides, heads up, they made a thrilling picture, and the +crowd cheered wildly. At first they kept well together, but they were +setting a fast pace, and soon one of the men began to lag behind. But +little attention was paid him, for interest was concentrated on Bert, +Johnson and Barnes. Before they were half way around the oval the fourth +man had dropped out, so the race had narrowed down to these three.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Bert increased his stride a little, and spurted ahead. A wild +shout went up from the spectators, and those who had not already done +so leaped to their feet. "Wilson! Wilson!" chanted the cowboy contingent, +while the townspeople no less vociferously reiterated the name of their +favorite.</p> + +<p>But the "ringer" was not to be shaken off, and he in turn put on a burst +of speed that carried him into the lead. As the runners rounded the +three-quarter mile mark he was still leading, and Barnes was lagging far +to the rear, evidently done for as far as the race was concerned. Chip +had said that Johnson could "move some," and the professional did not +belie his reputation. Apparently, Bert was unable to close up the gap of +nearly a yard that now separated him from his rival, and the yells and +cheers of the citizens redoubled, while those of the cowboys died down. +Mr. Melton chewed the end of his cigar fiercely, and swore softly to +himself.</p> + +<p>But Tom and Dick were not deceived. "The old reprobate's only stalling," +yelled Dick into Tom's ear, at the same time pounding him frantically on +the back. "He isn't going his limit, by a whole lot. Watch him, now, just +watch——" but his words were drowned in the shrill cowboy yell that +split the air. "Yi, yi, yi!" they shouted, half crazy with excitement. +For Bert, their champion, suddenly seemed to be galvanized into furious +action. He leaped ahead, seeming to dart through the air as though +equipped with wings. Johnson gave a startled glance over his shoulder, +and then exerted himself to the utmost. But he might as well have stood +still as far as any good it did him was concerned. Bert was resolved to +make a decisive finish, and show these doubting Westerners what a son of +the East could do. Over the last hundred yards of the course he exerted +every ounce of strength in him, and the result was as decisive as even +Dick and Tom could desire. Amid a tremendous pandemonium he dashed down +the stretch like a thunderbolt, and breasted the tape sixty feet in +advance of his laboring rival.</p> + +<p>Words fail to describe the uproar that then broke loose. A yelling mob of +cowboys swept down onto the field, and, surrounding Bert, showered praise +and congratulations. Swearing joyfully, Reddy, Chip, Bud and several of +the others of the cross diamond outfit elbowed their way through the +crowd at one point, while Mr. Melton, Dick and Tom edged through at +another.</p> + +<p>"All right, boys," laughed Mr. Melton, "give him a chance to get his +breath back, though, before you shake his hands off altogether. Let's +work a path to the dressing room for him."</p> + +<p>This was no sooner said than done. Dick and Tom, assisted by Reddy and +the others, fought a path through the excited crowd, and at last got +Bert into the dressing room under the grandstand.</p> + +<p>"Waal, m' lad, yuh certainly put it all over that maverick," exulted +Reddy; "one time there, though, we figgered he had you beaten to a +stand-still. It was sure a treat the way yuh breezed past him at the +finish, it sure was."</p> + +<p>"I was worried some myself," admitted Mr. Melton, "but I suppose I ought +to have known better."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Bert had taken a shower, and started to dress. In a few minutes +he was ready to leave the dressing room, and they all started out. Just +as Bert was going through the door Johnson, who had had a hard time +getting through the crowd, entered. As they passed Bert said, "Maybe this +will teach you to stick to straight racing, Summers. Take my advice and +cut out the crooked stuff. It doesn't pay in the end."</p> + +<p>The defeated athlete started, and muttered an oath. "I know who you are +now," he exclaimed. "I recognized you first thing, but couldn't place +you. It's just my luck," he continued bitterly. "If I'd had any idea who +I was going to run against I'd have backed out. But I'll get even with +you some day for queering my game, see if I don't."</p> + +<p>"Do your worst," invited Bert. "So long," and he hastened after his +friends, who had gone on slowly during this time. "What did he say?" +inquired Tom, and Bert repeated the substance of the brief exchange of +talk. "But I'm not worrying much over his threats," he finished. "I +imagine he'll be a little more careful in the future."</p> + +<p>They then repaired directly to the hotel, where they had supper. +Afterward they went out again to view an elaborate display of fireworks +given under the auspices of the town. Everywhere were hilarious cowboys, +who as soon as they recognized Bert crowded about the party and made +progress difficult. At last they struggled to a point of vantage where +they could see everything going on, and spent an enjoyable evening.</p> + +<p>About ten o'clock they returned to the hotel, and after securing their +ponies set out on the long ride back to camp, accompanied by such of the +ranchmen as could tear themselves away so early. They straggled in singly +and in couples all the next day, and it was almost a week before the +affairs of the ranch settled down into their usual well-ordered +condition.</p> + +<p>From that time on, the regard in which the three comrades were held by +the rough Westerners never wavered, and the cowboys never wearied of +discussing again and again the details of the great race that clipped the +wings of the "townies."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Wolf Pack</span></h3> + + +<p>One evening not long after their arrival at the camp the three friends, +wearied after a day of strenuous activity, were whiling away the time in +reminiscences of some of their past adventures. Mr. Melton, who made one +of the little group, listened in an interested fashion, and seemed little +disposed to interrupt the draught of "memories' mellow vine."</p> + +<p>After a while they ceased talking, and a short silence ensued, which was +abruptly broken by Bert.</p> + +<p>"Look here, fellows," he exclaimed, "here we are monopolizing the +conversation, when we might be listening to some really interesting story +from Mr. Melton. I vote we petition the boss of this outfit to spin us a +yarn."</p> + +<p>"Second the motion," shouted Tom and Dick, and the vote was carried.</p> + +<p>"You fellows seem to think I have a story on tap all the time," he said +with an indulgent smile, "but the fact is I've told you about all the +exciting things that ever happened to me, or that I ever heard of. My +memory is squeezed as dry as a lemon."</p> + +<p>"Just the same, I'll bet if you think real hard you can think of +something worth telling," said Bert; "try to, anyway, won't you?"</p> + +<p>At first their host made no reply to this entreaty, but gazed +ruminatively off into space. At last he spoke.</p> + +<p>"I suppose you boys think," he said, "that this country is pretty wild +and uncivilized. But take my word for it, it is so tame now that it eats +out of your hand compared to what it once was. Why, now it's the rarest +thing in the world that you ever see a wolf—that is, a real wolf," as +Tom started to interrupt. "What I'm thinking of is a real timber wolf, +not one of the slinking coyotes you see every once in a while. There is +no animal I'd go farther out of my way to avoid than a hungry timber +wolf, and anybody else who knows anything at all about them will tell you +the same thing.</p> + +<p>"They are half as big again as a coyote, and twice as strong. Why, a +full-grown timber wolf will throw a running steer. Man is the only thing +in the world they're afraid of, and they're not afraid of him when +they're very hungry or running in packs. When driven to it they'll tackle +almost anything.</p> + +<p>"I remember one time when I had occasion to go to Belford, a little +trading station some twenty or thirty miles from our camp, to secure some +much-needed supplies. It was the middle of winter, and an exceptionally +cold and severe winter at that. Fresh meat was naturally very scarce, and +the wolves were becoming bolder and more fearless every day. At night +they used to prowl close about the camp, and howl until we got up and +plugged one or two of their number, after which they generally dispersed +for a time.</p> + +<p>"Well, as I have said, it became necessary for me to take the journey for +supplies, so one winter's morning I hitched up the team to a rude sort +of home-made sled I had made and started off for Belford. The snow was +quite deep and, needless to say, there had not been enough travel along +the trail to pack it down. The horses made heavy going of it, but we got +there at last, and glad enough I was to get inside the shack that served +as the general store and warm my half frozen hands and feet at the red +hot stove.</p> + +<p>"After I was comfortable once more I made my purchases, and after loading +them into the sleigh said good-by to the boys and started out on the +return journey.</p> + +<p>"It was a mighty long trip for the horses, but they were a young team, +full of fire and life, and I thought we could make back the same day +without much trouble. And likely enough we would have, with time to +spare, if it hadn't started to snow; lightly at first, but getting +thicker all the time. The horses had started out toward home at a brisk +trot, but they gradually slowed down to a walk, and once or twice I had +to stop them altogether to let them gather fresh strength.</p> + +<p>"What with the slow going and the stops, dusk overtook us while we were +still some eight or ten miles from the camp. It couldn't have been later +than four o'clock, but the short winter's day was even at that time +drawing to a close, and the falling snow made it darker still.</p> + +<p>"But no thought of danger entered my head, and I merely swore a little +at the prospect of a late supper, for I was cold and hungry. Suddenly, +however, the danger of my position was brought home to me in a very +sudden manner. Away in the distance I heard the long drawn wolf-howl, +than which I firmly believe there is no more blood-curdling sound in +existence. The horses pricked up their ears nervously and hastened their +lagging pace, and I myself felt a thrill go up my spine. It was not many +seconds before the first howl was answered by a second, and then a third.</p> + +<p>"'A little faster, my beauties,' I said to the horses, 'we're not so far +from home now, and it's up to us to get there pretty pronto.'</p> + +<p>"The faithful beasts seemed to understand my words, and strained forward +in the harness. The snow had stopped by this time, but was pretty deep, +and the sleigh was heavy. After trotting forward at a brisk pace for a +way they dropped back into a walk again.</p> + +<p>"By now the howls had merged into a general chorus, and looking back over +the great expanse of open country over which we were traveling I could +see numerous black specks traveling swiftly toward us, becoming larger +every second.</p> + +<p>"I saw that I was in a mighty tight place, so got out my Winchester +repeater and made sure that it was loaded. Then I stationed myself in +the back of the sleigh and waited for the enemy to approach.</p> + +<p>"On they came, loping swiftly along, silent now that their quarry was in +plain sight. I took careful aim at the foremost brute, and pulled the +trigger. My shot took effect, for with an unearthly scream the animal +dropped, and for a few brief seconds his comrades stopped in order to +devour him. At the sound of the rifle shot and the scream of the stricken +wolf the horses plunged forward, all thought of fatigue gone in their +overwhelming terror. The wolves were not easily to be outdistanced, +though, and were soon after us again. They gained on us as though we were +standing still, and were soon close to the back of the sleigh. I pumped +bullets into them as fast as I could work my repeater, but by this time +they were so numerous that it seemed to have little effect. The horses +were slowing down again, even their fear of death unable to force them +onward. I saw it was a case of lighten the sleigh or go under, so I +commenced throwing our precious supplies out of the sled. Bags of flour +and sides of bacon flew through the air, and the wolves were momentarily +checked while fighting over the prizes.</p> + +<p>"I knew that presently they would be up with us again, however, and then, +with every resource gone, it looked as though my chances would be slim, +indeed. But suddenly an inspiration shot through my mind.</p> + +<p>"I drew up the trembling horses, and with a few slashes of my hunting +knife cut the harness that held them to the sleigh. Then, with my rifle +in one hand, I swung onto the back of the larger of the two horses, and +let the other go. He was off like a streak, with my mount a close second.</p> + +<p>"I glanced back over my shoulder, hoping that we could gain a little +ground before the wolves quit their wrangling over the supplies I had +thrown out to them, but was disappointed. They were after us again in +full cry, and my heart sank.</p> + +<p>"I turned in the saddle and sent shot after shot into the racing pack, +and succeeded in checking them a little, but not much. The horse was +galloping at a good clip now, though, and I knew that if we could keep +ahead for a short time longer we would reach the camp.</p> + +<p>"The wolves overtook us without seeming effort, however, and were soon +snapping about the horse's heels. My rifle was of little use now, and +I drew my revolvers and blazed away at short range. Every shot took +effect, but the wolves were nothing daunted. As I told you before, when +the timber wolf gets his blood up he is absolutely fearless. No sooner +did one of the great gray brutes drop than another leaped into his place, +his green eyes glowing balefully and his jaws snapping.</p> + +<p>"When both my revolves were empty I clubbed my rifle, and lashed away at +the long-pointed heads that were so close to me. Once or twice one would +catch the butt of the gun in his teeth, and the marks are in the wood to +this day.</p> + +<p>"Well, I was so busy fighting off the wolves that I had no time to notice +how near we were to camp. But suddenly my heart gave a great leap as I +heard a yell in front of me and recognized the voice of my partner.</p> + +<p>"I looked ahead and saw that I had almost reached our shack. My partner +was standing in the doorway, rifle in hand, and even as I looked came +running out toward me. In a few seconds the faithful horse had carried me +almost to the shack, and I leaped to the ground. My partner took up a +stand alongside me, and as the wolves came on we cleared a space about us +with the clubbed rifles. We realized we couldn't keep that up long, +though, so we retreated to the cabin. We backed in, but were unable to +shut the door before one big gray brute squeezed inside. He was nothing +dismayed at being separated from his companions, but leaped straight for +us. I fetched him a stunning blow with the butt of my rifle, and before +he could recover we both fell upon him and despatched him with our +hunting knives. That was about as close a shave as I ever had," and as he +finished his story Mr. Melton shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I should think it must have been," said Bert, drawing a long breath, +"but what did the rest of the wolves do when they found themselves shut +out?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, my partner and I shot at them from the window until we had killed +over a dozen, and the rest, finding that they could not get at us, took +themselves off."</p> + +<p>"Did they kill the horses?" asked Tom.</p> + +<p>"No," replied Mr. Melton, "for some reason they didn't chase them. The +next morning we found them both outside the shack none the worse for +their adventure. And a mighty lucky thing for us it was, because the loss +of our horses then would have meant the failure of all our plans."</p> + +<p>"I suppose you went back and got the sled the next day, didn't you?" +inquired Dick.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," replied his host, "we recovered it all right, but then we had +to go back to the settlement for more grub, of course. But I was so happy +at having escaped with my life that I didn't mind a little thing like +that."</p> + +<p>The three boys laughingly voted Mr. Melton's story a "curly wolf," and +then, as it was getting late, trooped off to bed.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">With Teeth and Hoofs</span></h3> + + +<p>One of the most important of the many industries of the ranch was the +breeding of horses for the Eastern market. Mr. Melton had a number of +fine horses, but the most valuable of all was Satan, a big black +stallion. His pedigree was as long as his flowing tail, and physically he +was a perfect specimen. His only drawback was a fiendish temper, which it +seemed impossible to subdue. Strangers he would never tolerate, and Mr. +Melton seemed to be the only man on the ranch that could go near him +without running a chance of being badly kicked or bitten. Even he was +always very careful to keep an eye out for mischief whenever in the +neighborhood of the stallion.</p> + +<p>All the cowboys hated Satan, and with good reason. More than one of them +bore marks of the horse's sharp teeth, and all of them could tell stories +of narrow escapes experienced while feeding him or otherwise going +through duties that called them into the neighborhood of the beautiful +but vicious animal.</p> + +<p>He was pastured in lonely grandeur in a spacious corral, shunned by all, +but apparently happy enough in spite of this. The three boys often +watched him at a safe distance, and regretted that his evil temper made +it impossible to be friendly with him. Satan often lost many a lump of +sugar or delicious carrot that he would have gotten had he been of a more +friendly nature, in this way resembling many humans who build up a wall +of reserve or ill-temper about them, and so lose many of the good things +of life.</p> + +<p>Soon after the arrival of the boys at the ranch Mr. Melton decided to +purchase another stallion, as the demand for good horses at that time +was exceptionally great. Accordingly, one day another horse made his +appearance in a corral adjacent to that in which Satan was kept. The new +horse was a good-sized bay, but not quite as large as Satan, although a +little younger. The two corrals were separated by a double fence, so +that, while the two horses could get within a few feet of each other, +they could never get close enough to fight.</p> + +<p>From the very beginning they exhibited a mutual hatred, and it was +evident that if they ever got within striking distance of each other +there would be trouble. Everybody on the ranch was strictly enjoined to +keep the gates between the corrals securely fastened, however, and there +seemed no possibility of the two rivals meeting.</p> + +<p>"But if they ever should," one of the men had remarked, "there'd be some +scrap, take it from me. There's nothing in the world worse than a fight +between two stallions."</p> + +<p>"Why, are they so vicious about it?" Bert, who was standing near, had +asked.</p> + +<p>"Vicious!" exclaimed the cowboy, "why, vicious ain't no word for it, +nohow. They're just devils let loose, that's all."</p> + +<p>It was only a few days after this that, as the boys were seated around +the table in the ranch house eating luncheon, in company with their host, +one of the cowboys dashed into the room, breathless and red of face.</p> + +<p>"Satan an' the bay are fightin'," he cried; "somebody must 'a' left the +gates open an'——"</p> + +<p>But Mr. Melton did not wait to hear any more. Leaping to his feet he +dashed through the door in the direction of the corrals. The three +comrades followed close on his heels. As they reached the open they could +hear shouts and cries and the thudding of hoofs. Mr. Melton increased his +pace, and in a few moments they had reached the scene of action.</p> + +<p>And it was a fearsome sight that met their eyes. The two big stallions, +the black and the bay, were both in Satan's corral, fighting furiously, +with a rage and viciousness that words are inadequate to describe. They +circled rapidly about, biting at each other with their long yellow teeth, +and lashing out with their hoofs. Each was quick as a flash of light, but +every once in a while a sharp hoof would find its mark, or the deadly +teeth would rip into the other's skin. Blood flowed freely, but neither +seemed to notice the wounds that the other inflicted. They had longed to +decide the question of supremacy ever since the newcomer's arrival, and +now they were determined to settle the matter.</p> + +<p>Satan was the stronger of the two, however, and probably in addition +possessed a more evil temper than his rival. Biting, screaming, kicking, +he circled about his enemy, his savage heart bent on the destruction of +the upstart who had dared to invade his domains. As Mr. Melton and the +boys dashed up, the black horse whirled like lightning and planted both +hind hoofs with deadly effect. The bay horse staggered, but his spirit +was still unconquered, and, recovering himself, he rushed for Satan with +a ferocity almost as great as his.</p> + +<p>"Stop them! separate them!" shouted Mr. Melton; "what are you standing +around watching them for? One or the other of them will be killed soon, +if we don't do something."</p> + +<p>It was but a few moments since the horses had started fighting, although +it had seemed much longer. At first the cowboys had seemed in a sort of +stupor, so suddenly had the thing happened, but at Mr. Melton's words +they sprang into activity. Some of them ran to get pitchforks, while +others secured lariats from their saddles and hurried back to the scene +of battle.</p> + +<p>The bay horse was now getting much the worst of it, and it became evident +that if the two infuriated animals were not separated soon the later +arrival would either be killed or else so badly hurt that he would have +to be shot eventually.</p> + +<p>Some of the cowboys rushed into the corral and with shouts and cries +endeavored to separate the combatants. The stallions took not the +slightest notice of them, however, except to lash out savagely at them +whenever they came within striking distance.</p> + +<p>"They can't do anything that way," muttered Mr. Melton. "Here," he +exclaimed, snatching a coiled lariat from one of his men, "I'll get in +there myself and put an end to this business, or know the reason why."</p> + +<p>Lasso in hand he rushed toward the corral, and in a few seconds was +inside. Fortunately, just as he entered the inclosure, the stallions, +exhausted with their efforts, drew apart and stood snorting and pawing +the ground. Mr. Melton realized that here was his opportunity, and +grasped it on the instant. Swinging the loop in great circles about his +head he took careful aim and let go. The rope whizzed through the air, +and the lithe coils settled about Satan's neck.</p> + +<p>For a second the black stallion was taken by surprise. He rolled his +bloodshot eyes toward his owner, but for a brief space made no move. +Then with a loud snort of rage he rushed toward the ranchowner, his +foam-flecked jaws gnashing and the breath whistling through his red +nostrils. Mr. Melton stood quiet, but alert, every muscle tense. Then, +when the infuriated stallion was almost upon him, with an agility that +it seemed impossible one of his bulk could possess, he leaped to one +side, and started running backward.</p> + +<p>At the same moment he threw the whirling, writhing coil of rope with such +sure aim that it settled with beautiful precision over Satan's powerful +shoulders. Before the rope could tighten, however, the black stallion had +whirled, and was again making for the ranchman.</p> + +<p>When the horse was almost upon him Mr. Melton once more leaped aside, and +with a dexterous flick on the rope pulled the loop down over Satan's +back. Before the horse could check his headlong speed Mr. Melton had +worked the loop down about his legs. With a quick jerk he pulled it +taut, and Satan, suddenly hobbled, fell to the earth with a crash.</p> + +<p>Several of the cowboys ran up, and in a few seconds the stallion was +securely trussed up. The bay stallion in the meantime had retreated to +the farthest corner of the corral, and was standing there dejectedly, all +the fight gone out of him. He was quickly secured and led back into his +own inclosure. Very carefully Satan was then loosed a trifle, and allowed +to struggle to his feet. He was still "hunting trouble," as one of the +men expressed it, but with the confining ropes about his fetlocks was +powerless. He was left hobbled, and the gate to his corral was fastened +securely this time.</p> + +<p>"That was sure a great ropin' stunt you pulled off, boss," said "Curley" +to Mr. Melton. "I never seen the trick done neater, nohow."</p> + +<p>"It was great!" Bert exclaimed. "I didn't know you were such an expert +roper, Mr. Melton."</p> + +<p>"It wasn't so bad for an old fellow," admitted his host with a smile; +"it took some pretty quick sidestepping to get out of Satan's way, I'll +admit. But when I was twenty years younger I used to rope cattle for a +living, and narrow escapes were part of the business."</p> + +<p>He turned and gave a few directions to the men, together with strict +injunctions to keep the two gates between the corrals closed.</p> + +<p>"If anything like this happens again," he warned, "somebody's going to +get fired pretty pronto, savvy? And do all you can for the bay. I don't +think he's seriously hurt, and if we're careful we can bring him back +into shape all right."</p> + +<p>After this, he and the boys returned to the ranch house, where they +discussed the recent exciting happenings pro and con. The boys had +planned to take an exploring expedition that afternoon, but all thought +of this was banished from their minds. After a while they returned to the +stables, where the stallions were having their wounds doctored. It +appeared that, as Mr. Melton had surmised, neither was very badly injured +physically, but the bay stallion's spirit seemed utterly broken. After +many days, however, he regained the pride which had been so rudely +shattered in his encounter with Satan, and proved to be a valuable horse. +He was of a more gentle disposition also, and accepted the overtures of +friendship that the boys made toward him, so that before their visit at +the ranch came to a close they were on very good terms with him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Indian Outbreak</span></h3> + + +<p>"They seem to be having trouble with the Indians on the reservation," +remarked Mr. Milton one evening, just after his return from a trip to +town; "everybody in Helena seems to be talking about it, and there was +a big article in the 'Despatch' this morning, too."</p> + +<p>"What kind of trouble?" asked Bert, his interest at once aroused. "You +don't mean there's talk of an outbreak among them, do you?"</p> + +<p>"That's exactly what I <i>do</i> mean," replied Mr. Melton seriously. "The +young bucks are discontented, and are continually making 'war medicine.' +Of course, the old men of the tribes do all they can to keep them within +bounds, for they know how useless any outbreak would be. But the young +men have never had the bitter experience of their fathers, and at present +they seem very restless."</p> + +<p>"But I thought the days of Indian outbreaks were over," exclaimed Tom +excitedly; "why, they wouldn't have a ghost of a chance if they started +anything now."</p> + +<p>"Just the same there are enough of them to make trouble, if they ever got +started," said Mr. Melton soberly. "Of course, as you say, the uprising +would be suppressed quickly enough, but not perhaps without considerable +bloodshed and loss of property. At any rate, the prospect of such an +outbreak is enough to keep people living anywhere near the reservation +boundary on the anxious seat."</p> + +<p>"But I should think," remarked Dick, "that the authorities would make +such preparations to subdue an uprising among the Indians that it would +be crushed before they had a chance to get off the reservation."</p> + +<p>"Well, the authorities <i>have</i> taken every possible precaution," replied +Mr. Melton. "Jim Hotchkiss, the sheriff, told me that word had been +passed to officers of the forts to have the troops in readiness for +instant action. But the 'noble red man' is cunning in his own way, and +lays his plans carefully. And when he is ready to strike he strikes +quickly, like the snake. A marauding band will attack and sack a +farmhouse, and be forty miles away before the troops arrive on the scene. +And in a country as large and wild as this it is something of a task to +corner and subdue them."</p> + +<p>"There hasn't been any trouble of the kind for a long time, has there?" +asked Dick.</p> + +<p>"No, not for a good many years," answered Mr. Melton; "and that inclines +me all the more to take the present situation seriously. These uprisings +come only at long intervals now, but it seems impossible to prevent them +altogether. After an outbreak has been put down the Indians are very +quiet for a time. They have probably suffered considerable loss of life, +and been severely punished by the government. For years the memory of +this lingers, but gradually it fades away, and the rising generation of +young bucks, with the inherited lust of fight and warfare running riot in +their blood, become restless and rebellious under the restraints of +civilization and government. They hear stories of their ancestors' +prowess from the lips of the old men of the tribe, and they long to go +out and capture a few 'pale face' scalps on their own account. After a +while they work themselves up to the required pitch, and some fine day a +band of them sallies forth on the 'war path.' Then there is a brief time +of plundering and murdering, until the troops can come up with them. Then +there's a scrimmage, in which most of the band is exterminated, and the +rest are herded back to the reservation, with most of the fight gone out +of them."</p> + +<p>"I should think a few experiences like that would teach them wisdom, and +keep them from repeating the experiment," commented Bert.</p> + +<p>"It would seem so," assented Melton, "but," with a smile, "youth is +always prone to disregard what is told it by its elders, and to insist on +finding out the why and wherefore of things by bitter experience."</p> + +<p>"I hope there's nothing personal in that," grinned Dick.</p> + +<p>"Oh, not at all," replied his host with an innocent expression on his +face, but a twinkle in his eye. "I wonder what could have given you that +idea."</p> + +<p>"Nothing," replied Dick. "I just thought it barely possible, that's all."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," disclaimed Melton, "nothing could have been further from my +thoughts."</p> + +<p>Dick looked suspicious, and Tom and Bert laughed heartily.</p> + +<p>After this little interruption, the talk went back to the subject of the +threatened Indian uprising. After a time Mr. Melton said: "It might be a +good idea for you boys to ride to town to-morrow and get the latest news. +There'll be very little going on about the ranch to-morrow to interest +you, and it will be a good way to spend the day. Besides, there are one +or two things I forgot when in town, and while you are about it you can +get them and bring them back with you."</p> + +<p>This plan was received by the boys with acclamation, and they immediately +set to making preparations. It was a considerable distance to the town, +and they planned to make an early start, before the intense heat of the +day set in.</p> + +<p>They accordingly packed their "war-bags" that same evening, and before +retiring had made every preparation for the morrow's trip.</p> + +<p>The next morning they were up with the sun, and after a hasty breakfast +leaped into their saddles and were off. It was a glorious day, and the +exhilarating air made them feel "right up on their toes," as Tom +expressed it. Bert felt called upon to reprove Tom for using this +expression, for, as he gravely pointed out, they were not on their own +toes at all, but on the horses', so to speak.</p> + +<p>"Aw, forget it," retorted Tom flippantly; "it's toe bad about you, +anyway."</p> + +<p>Having delivered this shot Tom chirruped to his horse, and set off at a +smart gallop, followed by Dick and Bert. The two latter hadn't decided +what they would do to Tom when they caught him, but they were longing for +a canter, anyway, and this gave them a good excuse. But after traveling +in this rapid manner for a short distance they pulled in their steeds, +for it would never do to tire them thus early in the journey. Tom, seeing +that the pursuit had been abandoned, also reined in his horse, and +allowed his companions to gain on him.</p> + +<p>"Don't shoot," he called. "I'll promise to be good and never do it +again—not till the next time, that is."</p> + +<p>"All right," laughed Bert, "we'll suspend sentence this time, but at the +next offense we won't be so lenient, will we, Dick?"</p> + +<p>"Not by a long shot," said Dick; "we'll toe him along at the end of a +lariat if he does, that's all." He grinned feebly as he got off this +atrocious pun, but Bert and Tom refused to be beguiled into smiling.</p> + +<p>"I never thought it of you, Dick, honest I didn't," mourned Bert, sadly +shaking his head. "I naturally expect such things from Tom, but I had a +better opinion of you. I suppose I'll have to let bygones be bygones, but +just the same you deserve nothing less than ptomaine poisoning as +punishment."</p> + +<p>At this Tom and Dick gave utterance to a howl of execration that made +their horses jump, and two tightly rolled sombreros came flying toward +Bert's head. But he ducked just in time, and then had a good laugh as Tom +and Dick were forced to dismount and secure their misused headgear.</p> + +<p>Soon his two friends were back in the saddle, however, and then they set +off at a steady trot, discussing in a more serious vein the probability +of such an uprising as Mr. Melton feared.</p> + +<p>"I don't want it to happen," summed up Bert at last, "but if it's got to +happen anyway, I hope it does while we're out here. I feel like a small +boy going to a fire. As long as the house has to burn anyway, he wants to +be Johnny-on-the-spot."</p> + +<p>In this manner the time passed quickly, and before eleven o'clock they +were nearing the town. A few minutes later they were riding through its +streets, alertly on the lookout for any signs of impending trouble. All +seemed much the same as usual, though, except that about the telegraph +and newspaper offices there seemed to be unwonted bustle and excitement. +Here and there knots of men had congregated also, who appeared to be +discussing some important matter.</p> + +<p>The three boys rode until they reached the post office, and then, +dismounting and hitching their horses, went inside. The post office also +served as a telegraph station, and there were various news bulletins +posted about the room.</p> + +<p>They hastened to one of these, and their faces grew grave as they read. +It appeared from the bulletin that the Indians were on the very eve of an +outbreak, although they had made no actual hostile moves as yet. Troops +had been summoned to the reservation, however, and were expected to reach +Helena that evening. They were ordered to stay in the town overnight, and +press on for the reservation the following morning.</p> + +<p>"It begins to look like business now, all right," said Bert, after he and +his friends had digested this information.</p> + +<p>"It sure does," agreed Dick, "but likely as not it will all blow over +before anything really serious happens."</p> + +<p>"Oh, of course, there's always that chance," said Bert, "but let's go +outside and find out what the opinion of the townspeople is. They must +understand the situation pretty thoroughly, and we can soon find out +whether or not they regard this as a false alarm. But it looks to me as +though real trouble were brewing."</p> + +<p>Bert's opinion seemed to be shared almost unanimously by the citizens. +Everywhere men were getting out and overhauling their firearms, and there +was a run on the ammunition stores.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad we brought our revolvers," remarked Tom; "there seems to be a +chance of our having use for them by and by."</p> + +<p>"I'm mighty glad we did," acquiesced Bert, "and I brought something +beside my revolver, too. Just before we left the ranch I packed my +Winchester repeater inside my blankets. I wasn't even thinking of the +Indians then, but I thought we might have a chance at a little game, and +it would be just as well to pack it along. There's not a chance in a +thousand that we'll need it, but you can't always tell."</p> + +<p>"It's lucky you did," said Dick; "have you got plenty of ammunition for +it?"</p> + +<p>"None too much," replied Bert. "I think while we're here I'll buy a few +boxes of cartridges."</p> + +<p>Acting upon this thought, they bought the ammunition, together with some +extra cartridges for their revolvers. This done they made the purchases +for Mr. Melton that he had requested of them, and after a satisfying meal +at the best hotel set out on their return journey.</p> + +<p>It was about two o'clock as they jogged out of town, and as they knew +they had ample time in which to reach the ranch before dark they let the +horses set their own pace. They had many things to talk about, although +the heat of the sultry afternoon made even conversation a task. But +nothing could subdue their spirits, and with never a care in the world +they rode gaily on.</p> + +<p>"It's quite near stage time," Bert remarked suddenly, "we're pretty near +the trail, and if we meet it we can get the latest developments of the +reservation situation from Buck, the driver. He always has a supply of +the latest news. He knows more than the local newspapers of what's going +on, I believe."</p> + +<p>"I'll bet that's the coach now," exclaimed Dick, pointing to a cloud of +dust in the distance.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I guess it is," returned Bert, gazing intently at the distant +smirch against the clear blue background of sky; "come along, fellows. +Ride hard and we'll reach the trail before the coach comes along."</p> + +<p>Accordingly they set spurs to their horses and galloped rapidly over the +sunburned prairie. In a short time they reached the travel-hardened +trail, beating the coach by a good half mile. Then they drew rein, and +waited impatiently for the lumbering vehicle to reach them.</p> + +<p>With rattle of harness and creak of complaining axle-tree the coach +toiled over the endless trail, drawn by four raw-boned mules. As it drew +near, the boys waved their sombreros to the driver, who returned the +salute with a flourish of his long snakeskin whip.</p> + +<p>At last it reached them and the driver rumbled a hoarse greeting. "How +goes it, pards," he said, "an' what's the good word?"</p> + +<p>"That's just what we were going to ask you," said Bert with a friendly +smile. "We've been hearing a lot lately of the expected redskin uprising, +and we wanted to know if you had a line on the real situation, Buck. Is +there anything really doing, or is it all just talk?"</p> + +<p>"I dunno," answered the driver, "some says yes an' some says no, but +if you want my honest opinion I'd say thet the Injuns ain't got nerve +enough to start trouble no more. Why, they're so all-fired meek an' lowly +thet——"</p> + +<p>Zip! A bullet whizzed through the sultry air and whirled the stage +driver's slouch hat from his head. Zip! Zip! Zip! and the air was alive +with the whine and drone of bullets.</p> + +<p>"Hold-ups, by the 'tarnal," yelled the driver, accompanying his words +with a whirl of oaths. "Down behind the coach, Sam!" addressing the +guard, who always rode beside him on the box with loaded rifle; "we'll +stand 'em off, or I'm a greaser."</p> + +<p>The guard leaped down behind the coach at the same moment that Bert and +Dick and Tom made for the same shelter. There were only two passengers +in the coach, and they, pale of face and with chattering teeth, joined +the little group.</p> + +<p>"Them shots came from that bunch of chaparral over there," said Buck, +"but it's an almighty queer way for road agents to go about a job. They +ginerally——"</p> + +<p>"Injuns!" shouted the guard, who had been peering cautiously around the +end of the coach. "Injuns, by the Lord Harry, shoot me if they ain't!"</p> + +<p>A thrill passed over the three comrades, and they looked warily forth in +the direction in which the guard had pointed. Sure enough, over the top +of the chapparal they could discern a number of hideously painted faces +surmounted by tufts of eagle feathers. The guard, recovering from his +first paralysis of astonishment, took careful aim at one of them and +pulled the trigger. A yell of pain followed the report of his rifle, and +a savage shout went up from the band of redskins. They answered with a +volley that bored through the sides of the coach, and narrowly missed +several of the little group gathered behind it.</p> + +<p>"We got to turn the coach over," exclaimed Buck, "the top an' floor's a +whole lot thicker than the sides, and besides, as it is there's nothin' +to prevent the bullets from comin' in underneath. Lend a hand, everybody, +and we'll get 'er over."</p> + +<p>He crept in between the mules and commenced unharnessing them. Bert and +his friends leaped to his assistance, although during the process they +were much more exposed to the fire of the Indians. The latter were not +slow to perceive this, and they opened a steady fire. But fortunately +they were poor shots, and most of their bullets went wild. Several struck +the mules, however, and the unfortunate animals plunged and kicked so +wildly that the three friends and the driver stood in almost as much +danger from them as from the bullets. Finally the traces were unfastened, +and the mules, released from the harness, raced wildly away.</p> + +<p>Bert and the others dodged nimbly back behind the coach, and then all +hands set to the task of overturning it. By dint of exerting all their +strength they finally managed to lift one side of the clumsy vehicle +until it toppled over with a crash.</p> + +<p>"There," exclaimed Buck, wiping the perspiration from his face with a big +bandanna handkerchief; "so fur, so good, but we got to do more than that. +Them Injuns will start to surround us as soon as they see they can't pick +us off from the front, and we want to be ready for them."</p> + +<p>"What do you think we'd better do?" asked Bert.</p> + +<p>"Fust thing is t' get the trunks and mail bags out o' the coach and build +a barricade with them," replied the driver, "an' it looks as though we +stood a good chance o' gettin' shot full o' lead doin' it, too. If them +Injuns hadn't been sech all-fired poor shots we'd a been winged before +this, I reckon."</p> + +<p>"Well, as long as it's got to be done, we might as well get it over +with," said Dick; "come on, fellows, one, two——"</p> + +<p>"Wait a minute!" exclaimed Bert. "I think it would be a good plan for +those of us who have rifles to be on the lookout and pick off any of the +redskins who show themselves. Even if we don't get any, it will prevent +them from taking good aim."</p> + +<p>"We ain't got but one rifle, though," objected Buck. "Sam, here," +motioning toward the guard, "is the only one in the bunch with a rifle."</p> + +<p>"No, I've got one in my blanket roll," replied Bert, and before the +driver could answer was busily engaged in undoing the tightly rolled +blanket.</p> + +<p>"I reckon you two had better get anythin' you want off your horses," said +Buck, addressing Tom and Dick, "an' then set the critters loose. They +ain't a mite o' good here, an' they only take up valuable space."</p> + +<p>The boys were loath to act on this advice, but they saw the wisdom of it, +and so did as the driver suggested. They knew that the horses, as soon as +released, would make for the ranch, and they had little fear of the +Indians being able to catch them. Accordingly, a few minutes later the +three trusty animals were turned loose, each receiving a smart slap to +start it on its way. They galloped off across the plain, and were soon +lost to sight in the distance.</p> + +<p>Meantime the Indians had been keeping up a straggling fire in the +direction of the stage coach, and Bert and the guard set themselves to +the task of silencing it. Lying flat on the ground, and aiming their guns +cautiously around each end of the coach, they fired with sure aim every +time a dusky arm or leg was exposed by their attackers. They were both +crack shots, and their bullets seldom failed to reach their mark. +Gradually the fire from the enemy died down, and at last stopped almost +altogether. The precision of the white men astonished them, and they drew +behind cover and held a conference.</p> + +<p>"Now's the time!" exclaimed Buck. "Into the coach, boys, and rustle out +the baggage. Lively's the word!"</p> + +<p>All the little party, with the exception of the passengers, who seemed +too paralyzed with fright to move, dashed into the coach, and before the +Indians realized what was happening returned, each staggering under some +bulky article, trunk, or mail bag.</p> + +<p>The savages sprang into life, and a hail of bullets struck against the +coach. But they were too late, and the defenders set to work to construct +a circular rampart, using the coach as part of it. After arranging the +baggage to their satisfaction they dug up earth and covered the +improvised ramparts with it.</p> + +<p>"So far, so good," said Buck, when at last they stopped to draw breath. +"That will hold the red devils off for a time, anyway. But unless we get +help in some way I'm afraid we're done for, anyway. There's a big party +o' bucks there, and chances are that more will join them before mornin'. +Then they'll come at us in earnest, and it will only be a question o' how +long we can stand them off. After that——" he ended with a silence more +eloquent than words.</p> + +<p>"Isn't there—isn't there some way to summon aid?" asked one of the +passengers, with blanched cheeks.</p> + +<p>"I don't see how," replied Buck; "it would be jest plain suicide fer one +of us to make a break now. Besides, it's twenty miles to the nearest +town, and the Injuns'll be on us long before anybody could get to town +and bring back help, even supposin' the Injuns didn't pot him before he +got fairly started. O' course, we couldn't do anythin' before dark, +nohow."</p> + +<p>"Don't you think they'll attack before that?" asked Dick.</p> + +<p>"No, I don't," replied the driver; "they'll want to surround us first, +an' they won't start to do that until after dark, 'cordin' to my way o' +thinkin'. What do you say, Sam?"</p> + +<p>"Them's my sentiments exactly," answered that individual. "There ain't a +chance in the world o' their doin' anythin' before that."</p> + +<p>As the opinions of these two veterans coincided the matter was regarded +as settled, and the boys commenced overhauling their pistols to make sure +they were in perfect shape.</p> + +<p>There was no further movement on the part of their besiegers, but Buck +and Sam knew full well that the Indians were far from giving up their +attack. To them the respite was more ominous than an active sally, for +they knew that the braves were hatching some scheme for their +destruction.</p> + +<p>"They're foxy as they make 'em," opined Sam grimly; "the critters are +cookin' up some deep plan to circumvent us, or I'm a Dutchman. Jest wait +an' see if they ain't."</p> + +<p>"If anybody thinks them red devils ain't watching us closer than a cat +watches a mouse," said Buck, "I'll just prove it to 'em mighty pronto."</p> + +<p>He snatched his sombrero from his head, and placing it on the muzzle of +the guard's rifle, held the piece up in the air so that the hat projected +above the edge of the over-turned coach. Instantly a sharp fusillade broke +from the Indian's position, and one bullet, better aimed than the +majority, passed clean through the sombrero, whirling it off the rifle.</p> + +<p>"I reckon that shows they ain't asleep," remarked Buck grimly; "ef they +don't get our scalps it won't be from lack o' tryin'."</p> + +<p>"We've got to figure out some way of getting word to town," exclaimed +Bert fiercely. "There must be some way, if we could only think of it. +I have it!" he shouted. "Listen! The new branch they've been putting +through from the railroad is almost completed, and a foreman I was +speaking to a few days ago said they had almost finished stringing the +telegraph wires. They're probably up by now, and if I could only get to +them I'd have help here in no time!"</p> + +<p>"By all that's holy, the lad's right," exclaimed Buck, "an' it ain't far +from here neither, considerin' jest the distance."</p> + +<p>"But the chances are you'd never reach the railroad, Bert," said Dick +anxiously; "they'd wing you before you got anywhere near it."</p> + +<p>"I'll have to take a chance on that," responded Bert. "Besides, if I +don't go our condition is hopeless, anyhow, so I might as well attempt +it."</p> + +<p>The two Westerners nodded their heads at this, and Buck said: "O' course, +it's only a ragged chance, but it might go through at that. The best +thing will be for him to make the try the first second after dark. The +redskins won't start to surround us until then, and by quick work he +might get out before they'd finished postin' a ring around us."</p> + +<p>"But even if you get to the railroad how are you going to telegraph +without an instrument?" inquired Tom.</p> + +<p>"Leave that to me," replied Bert; "if I can only get that far I'll manage +to telegraph all right, never fear."</p> + +<p>By this time the sun was low in the west, and a short time afterward it +dipped under the rim of the prairie. For a short time the sky was painted +in vivid colors by its reflected rays, and then the sudden prairie +twilight descended swiftly.</p> + +<p>"Now's your time, son," said Buck; "are you all ready?"</p> + +<p>"I'll start the first second you think it best," replied Bert, and then +turning shook hands all around, ending up with Dick and Tom.</p> + +<p>"We'd go with you, old friend, if it would do any good," said Dick, +wringing Bert's hand. "I guess you know that without my saying it."</p> + +<p>"I know it, all right," replied Bert; "but don't you worry about me. The +Indian isn't born yet that can get my scalp."</p> + +<p>As he finished speaking Buck said: "You'd better start now, my lad. It's +so dark they can't see you, and I don't think they've had time to +surround us yet. If you do get through and send the message make for +town. Don't try to get back here, because you'd never make it, and if you +did it would do no good. There's no use sacrificing your life along with +ours."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll get there first," said Bert, "and then there'll be plenty of +time to think about whether or not to come back." Needless to say, in his +own mind there was little doubt that if it lay in his power he would +return and fight, and if need be die at his comrades' side.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">In Fearful Extremity</span></h3> + + +<p>With the stealthy tread of a panther, Bert climbed over the improvised +rampart, and a few seconds later his form merged into the enveloping +darkness and was lost to the view of his anxious friends. They listened +with straining ears for any sound of shot or struggle, but the deep +silence of a prairie night remained unbroken.</p> + +<p>Bert pursued his way swiftly, but at the same time he exercised all the +knowledge that a life of adventure had given him to detect with ear or +eye the presence of a lurking enemy. He had traveled several hundred +yards when suddenly he heard what seemed to be a stealthy rustling, off +somewhere to his right. He dropped to the ground like a flash, and, +scarcely daring to breathe, peered through the velvety blackness, +straining his eyes in an attempt to make out the cause of the sound.</p> + +<p>For the space of perhaps a minute all was as still as the grave, and Bert +had almost made up his mind that the noise must have been occasioned by a +snake or lizard, when suddenly, within three feet of where he lay he made +out the form of an Indian, a mere black splotch against the slightly +lighter background of the sky. The savage did not move, and Bert knew +that he had not been discovered as yet. But the dark form seemed to +have no intention of going any further, and Bert came to the conclusion +that the brave was one of the band that had been detailed to surround the +devoted little party of whites.</p> + +<p>Bert knew that it would be impossible for him to move without being +discovered by the Indian, so he resolved on a swift, deadly attack as the +only way out of the dilemma.</p> + +<p>Gathering his muscles for the spring he suddenly launched himself like a +thunderbolt at the Indian. With the same motion he drew his revolver and +aimed a blow at the savage's head, for he knew that a single shot would +give the alarm and frustrate all his plans.</p> + +<p>But the wily redskin was not to be so easily caught off his guard. With +a grunt of surprise he half turned to meet the attack, and the butt of +Bert's revolver dealt him only a glancing blow. Before the savage had a +chance to shout a warning, however, Bert had grasped him by the throat +with one hand, while he rained blows from the clubbed revolver on him +with the other. The Indian made a desperate attempt to loose his +assailant's hold and secure the knife from his girdle, but Bert's attack +was too fierce and deadly. In a few seconds the struggling form of the +brave grew limp and fell to the earth.</p> + +<p>Without giving him a moment's further notice, Bert started out over the +desert at a swift run, guided by his almost instinctive sense of +direction. He ran quickly and lightly with the speed and silence of a +wolf, and he breathed a heartfelt prayer of thanksgiving when he realized +that he was clear of the besiegers.</p> + +<p>In a short time he reached the line of newly laid rails that marked one +more stride of civilization into this far western country. He scrambled +up the steep embankment, and was not long in locating a telegraph pole. +He climbed this quickly and once securely seated in the crossbars made +ready to send the message that meant life or death to himself and the +little party back there by the over-turned stage coach, dependent on him +for their very lives.</p> + +<p>He drew from a pocket a pair of cutting pliers that he had secured from +the coach's toolbox, and donned a pair of thick leather gloves that he +had borrowed from the driver. With the pliers he severed the single +telegraph wire, and grasped the two ends in his gloved fingers.</p> + +<p>"Now," he thought, "if there's no current in the wire everything will +have gone for nothing. But if there is——"</p> + +<p>He brought the severed ends together, and was overjoyed to see a snapping +little blue spark play about them.</p> + +<p>"Great!" he shouted aloud, and then set himself to send the message. He +was an expert telegrapher and knew the Morse code as well as he knew his +own name. Of course, he had no means of telling whether or not anybody +was receiving his sending, but had to go ahead on the chance that they +were.</p> + +<p>"Attacked by Indians," he sent. "Near stage-coach trail—twenty miles +east of Helena. Send help, quick."</p> + +<p>He repeated this message again and again, until he felt sure that +somebody must have received it. Then he twisted the two ends of the wire +together, and slid down the pole.</p> + +<p>"Now to get back with Dick and Tom and the others," he thought. "It's +going to be no easy matter, either. I have an idea it's going to be +harder to get in than it was to get out."</p> + +<p>He retraced his course with the utmost caution, until he judged that he +must be nearing the Indian outposts. Then he dropped at full length on +the ground and commenced crawling forward at a snail's pace, pausing +every few yards to listen intently for any indication of danger. At one +time he heard a murmur of guttural voices at no great distance, and +proceeded with redoubled caution until he left the sound behind. +Gradually he worked himself along until he knew he could be at no great +distance from his friends. The danger of being caught by the Indians now +seemed to be passed, but Bert realized that it would never do to approach +his party without giving warning of his coming, as the chances were they +would take him for an enemy and shoot before he could make himself known +to them.</p> + +<p>For a time he was at a loss to think of some signal that would be +recognized by those within the improvised fort, but at last had an +inspiration. Softly he whistled a bar of one of the old college songs. +There was no reply at first, but he repeated the refrain a little louder +this time, and was overjoyed to hear the tune taken up by a whistle that +he recognized as Tom's. He waited a few minutes, to give Tom time to warn +the others of his coming, and then ran swiftly forward until he reached +the inclosure.</p> + +<p>Dick and Tom almost hugged him in their joy at his safe return, and then +questioned him anxiously as to whether he had sent the message.</p> + +<p>"I got it through, all right," said Bert, "and I don't think there's much +doubt that somebody received it. Now it's only a question of holding out +until help comes."</p> + +<p>"It'll have to come mighty soon," declared Buck, who had seemed much +surprised at Bert's safe return; "at dawn or jest before is the time the +varmints will close in upon us."</p> + +<p>The hours dragged on and, as Buck had predicted, just before dawn a +hideous yell rent the air, and a shower of bullets whined over the heads +of the besieged party.</p> + +<p>They grasped their firearms and prepared for a desperate encounter. But +for a few minutes after the outbreak all was silent as the grave, and in +the slight respite the first pale streaks of dawn appeared in the eastern +sky.</p> + +<p>"Thank God for the light, anyway," exclaimed Dick fervently; "at least +we'll be able to see what we're doing."</p> + +<p>Before anybody could reply to this there was another shrill yell, and +against the rapidly lightening sky the defenders could see a vague body +of horsemen charging toward them.</p> + +<p>"Shoot!" yelled Buck, suiting the action to the word. "Make every bullet +tell." Outside of the two passengers, who were unarmed and could do +little to aid the defense, there were five men behind the ramparts who +were excellent marksmen. Dick's and Tom's revolvers barked viciously, and +the deadly rifles wielded by Bert and the stage driver made havoc in the +ranks of the attacking braves. Sam, the guard, wielded his heavy Colts +with the skill and sure aim of a veteran, and the Indians broke ranks +under the withering hail of bullets. They wheeled their horses off to +either side of the stoutly defended fortification and galloped out of +range, leaving a number of still figures on the ground.</p> + +<p>"First blood for us," shouted Bert exultantly. "I guess we gave them a +warmer reception than they figured on."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but they'll be back pretty soon," said Buck. "There's a hundred of +them if there's one, and they would never dare face the tribe again if +they let themselves be beaten by half a dozen 'pale faces'."</p> + +<p>Nothing could have suited the three comrades better, for their fighting +blood was aroused, and all thought of danger was swallowed up in the +primitive love of battle that is inherent in every man.</p> + +<p>"Here they come," shouted Dick, and come they did, but more cautiously +this time. They had learned their lesson, and realized how deadly was +the white mans' aim. They hung low from the saddle, on the side farthest +from the defenders, thus interposing the bodies of their horses as +shields between themselves and the defenders.</p> + +<p>In this fashion they galloped and wheeled back and forth in front of the +breastworks, firing over and under their horses, and drawing ever a +little closer, a little closer, until they should close on the devoted +little band of whites and annihilate them.</p> + +<p>Bert's unerring rifle never failed of its mark, and whenever an Indian +raised his head ever so little over his horse's back the Winchester spoke +and one more still form was added to the many already strewed over the +ground. The revolvers barked steadily and terrible havoc was wrought +among the ranks of the attacking redmen.</p> + +<p>But now their savage blood was up, and death itself had lost its power +to daunt them. Slowly the circle about the besieged constricted, and +suddenly the attackers, at a given signal, abandoned their horses +and, springing to the ground, rushed forward, shooting and emitting +blood-curdling yells as they ran.</p> + +<p>"Stand together, boys," yelled Buck, "we'll stand back to back and fight +it out to the bitter end."</p> + +<p>Nobody had time to answer, but they did as he suggested. The Indians were +now close upon them, and with wild yells mounted the low embankment that +had hitherto protected the white men. Rifles were useless at this short +range, and Bert and the stage driver clubbed theirs and met the first +savages over the embankment with death-dealing blows from the clubbed +weapons. The savages pressed forward so fiercely and in such numbers that +soon even this became of no avail, and they had recourse to their +revolvers. The six-shooters barked steady streams of fire, doing fearful +execution among the packed ranks of the attacking redmen.</p> + +<p>The Indians were now fighting chiefly with knives, and the defenders +began to suffer, too. One of the passengers dropped to the ground under +a wicked thrust from the knife of a giant Indian, who seemed to be the +leader. Then the big redskin, encouraging his fierce followers by voice +and action, threw himself toward Dick, who happened to be nearest him. +Dick had just fired the last shot from his revolver, and he had no time +to reload. As the Indian sprang at him Dick clubbed his revolver, and +made a terrific swing at the shaven head of his attacker. The savage +dodged with the agility of a cat, and the blow merely glanced from his +shoulder. With a yell of exultation the Indian raised his sharp knife, +still dripping with the blood of its last victim. But before the weapon +could descend, Bert's fist shot out like lightning, catching the redskin +a terrific blow under the chin. The Indian's head snapped back, and he +was almost lifted from the ground by the impact. Then he fell limply, and +the fight waged on over his unconscious form.</p> + +<p>The attackers, instead of being daunted by the fall of their leader, +seemed spurred to an even greater pitch of ferocity, and fought like very +demons. The whites, fighting silently and grimly, resolved to sell their +lives as dearly as might be, presented a solid front and battled with the +grim courage and ferocity of desperation. Bert and Dick and Tom fought as +one unit, and again and again repelled the assaults of their swarming +enemies.</p> + +<p>But they were battling against overwhelming odds, and the end could not +be far off. Sam, the guard, was down, whether dead or only wounded they +did not know. All of them were wounded, and Tom's left arm hung useless +at his side. They had no time to load their revolvers, and, with the last +shot fired, drew their sharp hunting knives and fought like cornered +wildcats. Eyes bloodshot, the odor of blood and sweat in their nostrils, +they time and again flung back the leaping, yelling hordes pressing in on +them.</p> + +<p>But there is a limit to human endurance, and their arms were beginning to +weaken, their aim to be less certain. Then suddenly the fierce attack +wavered and weakened. To their dazed senses came the noise of rifle +shots, and the sound of a bugle's strident note. Before they could +realize that help had at last arrived the Indians had broken away and +with wild yells were making for their horses. A detachment of cavalry set +out in pursuit, while the commanding officer and his staff rode over to +the exhausted defenders.</p> + +<p>As they rode they looked wonderingly at the numbers of Indians scattered +over the bloodsoaked ground. They galloped up to where the defenders, or +what remained of them, lay panting on the ground, ringed about by a +circle of those who had fallen by their hands.</p> + +<p>"Well, boys!" exclaimed the captain, "I guess we came just in the nick of +time. You were about at the last ditch, but from all the signs you must +have put up a corking fight."</p> + +<p>Before any one could answer, the surgeon, who had accompanied the +rescuing party, arrived on the scene, and immediately took charge of the +wounded men. One of the passengers was past all aid, and the other was +badly wounded. The doctor shook his head when he examined the senseless +but still breathing form of the guard, but finally announced that he had +a chance to recover. Among the three boys Tom's wounded arm was the most +serious injury sustained, although they had all suffered cuts and slashes +and were weak from loss of blood.</p> + +<p>By the time their wounds had been dressed and bandaged the first of the +pursuing cavalry returned with the prisoners they had captured. An hour +later the last of them rode in, reporting that the braves who had escaped +capture had scattered to the four points of the compass, making further +pursuit useless.</p> + +<p>"Very well," said Captain Graham, their leader; "we'll return to Helena +with the prisoners. But you lads," he said, turning to the three friends, +"where were you bound for when you were attacked?"</p> + +<p>Bert told him, and the captain told off half a dozen troopers to escort +them to the ranch. "You deserve the highest praise for the plucky fight +you put up," he said, "and I don't want your lives put in jeopardy by any +of the redskins who may return to this neighborhood after we leave. I +imagine they've had all the fight taken out of them by this time, +however, and they'll probably make a bee line for the reservation. But +it is best to be on the safe side, at all events."</p> + +<p>The boys thanked him heartily for his timely aid, and then, each mounted +on a trooper's horse, they and the escort set off in the direction of the +ranch, first shaking hands with Buck, the stage-coach driver.</p> + +<p>"You're plucky lads," he exclaimed, wringing their hands, "and we all put +up the scrap of our lives. I don't know about old Sam"—here a shadow +passed over his face—"but he's a tough old sinner, an' I reckon he'll +pull through all right. I hope I'll see you lads again some time, I sure +do."</p> + +<p>It was with real regret that the friends parted from him, and more than +once they turned in their saddles and waved their hats to him, until his +sturdy figure was swallowed up in the distance.</p> + +<p>Shortly after this they descried an approaching dust-cloud in the +distance, and the troopers, thinking it might be a new band of Indians or +some of the survivors of the dispersed one, unslung their rifles and made +preparations to give them a warm reception.</p> + +<p>As the cloud drew nearer, however, figures began to emerge from it, and +in a few minutes the boys were able to make out the familiar faces of the +ranch cowboys, headed by Mr. Melton. They were all armed to the teeth, +and were spurring their horses along at a gallop.</p> + +<p>Soon they were within hailing distance, and as the cowboys recognized the +three boys among the troopers they emitted joyful yells, and by way of +salute many of them fired their revolvers in the air. Mr. Melton appeared +more overjoyed than anybody else, however, and as the two parties met and +drew rein he exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Thank the Lord you're safe! When your horses galloped in late last night +without you I feared the worst. Tell me what has happened."</p> + +<p>The cowboys crowded around, and listened eagerly while Bert gave an +account of the attack by the Indians and its result. When he had +finished, but before anybody had time to say anything, the corporal, who +commanded the escort, broke in: "From the way he tells it," he said, "you +might imagine that it had been a good deal less of a fight than it was. +But we counted over twenty dead redskins, besides a lot that were more +or less badly wounded. It must have been <i>some</i> shindy, take it from me."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure proud of you boys," exclaimed Mr. Melton, with glistening eyes; +"but I'm not so much surprised, after all. I always knew you were grit +clear through, anyhow."</p> + +<p>"Oh, there was nothing very wonderful about it," disclaimed Bert. "We had +to fight, whether we wanted to or not. It wasn't a matter of choice."</p> + +<p>"Well, we won't argue the matter," smiled Mr. Melton; "what you need now +is food and rest and a little nursing. We'll ride back home just as soon +as we can, where you'll get plenty of all three. I guess we won't need to +trouble you any more," he continued, addressing the corporal commanding +the detachment; "there's enough of us here to hold our own in case of an +attack, I think."</p> + +<p>"I reckon so," said the corporal, sizing up the score or more of lean, +square-jawed cowboys, "and in that case we might just as well return to +camp."</p> + +<p>He took leave of the three comrades, who thanked him for his escort, and +with the troopers at his heels galloped off.</p> + +<p>On the trip to the ranch the cowboys crowded around the boys, and plied +them with innumerable questions, which they answered to the best of their +ability. On their arrival they were turned over to motherly Mrs. Melton, +who insisted on redressing their wounds, and then, after they had made +a hearty meal, packed them off to bed.</p> + +<p>"Gee, boys!" exclaimed the foreman, before the cowboys dispersed to their +alloted tasks, "those lads are sure <i>there</i> when it comes to deliverin' +the goods, ain't they? An' to think that once in a moment of besotted +ignorance I referred to them as 'tender-feet.' Why, it don't seem possible +them boys can be Easterners at all. It seems like they jest <i>must</i> 'a' +been born west o' the Rockies."</p> + +<p>As this was the highest eulogium any of them could think of, they +acquiesced in their foreman's words and dispersed to work.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Within an Ace</span></h3> + + +<p>Work about the ranch went steadily on, and there were few interruptions +to the daily course of events. But one day a small black cloud appeared +on the western horizon, and grew larger with amazing rapidity. Soon it +had so increased in size that it obscured the sun, and a gloomy twilight +settled over the earth.</p> + +<p>Bert and Dick and Tom were in the neighborhood of the branding pen, +watching the men throw the cattle and brand them with Mr. Melton's +mark. At first they did not notice the gathering storm, but as the sun +grew dimmer and dimmer they looked up, as did many of the cowboys, and +saw the ominous-looking cloud. The cattlemen gave it but one glance, and +then quit their tasks and began to securely rope and tie the animals +inside the corral and make everything trim and shipshape.</p> + +<p>The boys were somewhat surprised to see such precautions being taken +against what they thought was merely going to be a thunder shower, but +they had gained experience enough to know that when anything was done on +the ranch there was generally some good reason back of it, and they had +also learned not to ask direct questions.</p> + +<p>They wished to know the cause of the evident anxiety on the part of the +ranchmen, however, so Bert set about getting the information in the +manner they had learned by experience was best.</p> + +<p>"Looks as though there were going to be something doing pretty soon, +doesn't there?" he remarked to "Chip," one of the most experienced +members of the working force.</p> + +<p>"Somethin' doin'?" exclaimed Chip. "Waal, I reckon they will be somethin' +doin', and mighty soon, too. We're goin' to beat it for the bunkhouse +some soon, and you'd better come along with us. Chances are you won't +have time to make the ranchhouse. When a norther once gets started, +things happens pretty fast, so ef you don't want to get soaked an' run a +good chance o' gettin' blown away you'd better come along with us, all +three o' you."</p> + +<p>A "norther!" The boys had heard tales of the fury of these storms, and +now they would have an opportunity to judge for themselves the truth of +these stories. They had always believed them exaggerated, but the haste +and anxiety of the ranchmen told them that something out of the ordinary +was expected.</p> + +<p>The air was close and oppressive, and not a breath of wind rustled the +dry prairie grass. The boys mopped their foreheads, and hurried along +with the men. By this time the entire sky was overspread with a funeral +pall, and it was so dark that they could hardly see. When they were +within a few hundred yards of the bunkhouse they heard a weird whining +noise far off over the prairie, and suddenly a little puff of cool air +struck against their heated faces.</p> + +<p>At this moment Sandy, followed by several cowboys, dashed up, and they +all leaped from their horses. "We'll jest have time to make the +bunkhouse," he said; "the wind will reach us in another minute. Lively's +the word, boys."</p> + +<p>He and the others with him who had horses dashed behind the bunkhouse, +and tethered the frightened animals where they would be sheltered in some +measure from the wind and rain. They dashed around the end of the +building and ran through the door, preceded by the party with which the +boys had started from the corral. The door of the bunkhouse was slammed +shut just in the nick of time.</p> + +<p>With a shriek and a roar the norther was upon them. The wind blew with +terrific violence, and rain dashed in great sheets against the windows +and drummed on the roof with a noise that made it difficult for the men +to hear the sound of each other's voices. The building quivered and +trembled as the fierce gusts shook it in their grasp, and it seemed as +though it must be torn away from its foundations. But it had been stoutly +built with an eye to resisting just such storms, and held firm. The air +was filled with grass, bits of planking, and other wreckage that it had +picked up in its furious course. The boys gazed out the windows, +wondering mightily at the tremendous force of the gale, which closely +approached that of a cyclone. They had been in storms at sea, and a +gale was no new thing to them, but this surpassed anything of the kind +they had ever seen.</p> + +<p>"I'm mighty glad we weren't caught out in this," shouted Bert into the +ears of Tom and Dick. "I never thought it <i>could</i> rain so."</p> + +<p>And his astonishment was shared by his friends. "Rain" hardly seemed an +adequate word to describe the torrents that poured down. The sky seemed +fairly to open, and the rain descended in solid sheets. The ranchmen took +it all calmly, however, and loafed lazily in their bunks, smoking pipes +and gazing contemplatively up at the roof. Weather conditions they had +learned to take as a matter of course, as all men do who earn a living in +the open, and they accepted philosophically what Dame Nature meted out to +them.</p> + +<p>The fury of the storm continued unabated for perhaps half an hour, and +then began to slacken perceptibly. The wind still tore at the rude +building and the rain continued to fall heavily, but with less of their +former violence. The rattle of the rain on the roof grew less deafening, +and it became possible to make one's self heard without being under the +necessity of shouting.</p> + +<p>"I reckon the worst of it's over," remarked Sandy, after a time; "but +this here rain ain't goin' to stop fer an hour or more, and I vote that +to while away the ted-ium of this here interval some one o' you +shorthorns tells us a yarn. You're all good liars, and yuh ought to be +able to make somethin' up if yuh can't rec-lect nothin' thet really +happened."</p> + +<p>"Ef it comes t' that," exclaimed Chip in a resentful tone, "what's the +matter with you goin' ahead and turnin' the trick. There ain't nobody +here that knows better'n you how to keep the recordin' angel workin' +double shifts."</p> + +<p>There was a laugh at this, but when it subsided Sandy had his answer +ready: "It ain't a question o' lyin' with me," he explained. "I've been +in so many scrapes that only a man of extraordinary intelligence and +iron nerve like myself could 'a' pulled out of, that there ain't no call +for me to make up nothin'."</p> + +<p>"That stuff sounds all right as long as you're sayin' it," said Chip +skeptically; "but jest to prove it, supposin' you take the bit in your +teeth an' spiel off one o' these here adventures o' yourn."</p> + +<p>"Well, mebbe I will," replied Sandy thoughtfully, "mebbe I will." He +paused reflectively a few moments while he filled and lighted his pipe. +The rain still beat steadily against the roof and windows of the +bunkhouse, but the wind now came only in fitful gusts.</p> + +<p>Everybody, with the exception of the three boys, was smoking, and a blue +fog drifted and eddied through the atmosphere. At last Sandy appeared to +have collected his thoughts, and after a few vigorous puffs to get his +pipe drawing well began his story.</p> + +<p>"What I'm goin' to tell yuh about," he said, "happened before I became a +cattle puncher. Then I was workin' in the lumber business up in the +Michigan woods fer Dodd & Robertson, one o' the biggest concerns in the +line. We'd had a pretty successful winter, the boys were all in good +humor, an' the daily cuts averaged pretty high. But the weather was cold, +mighty cold, I can tell yuh. We'd swing an axe until we had to take +off our coats, and we'd be wet with sweat, but if we stopped work fer as +much as a minute we had to skip back into our coats again, or our clothes +would freeze on us as we stood there. Take it from me, boys, it was cold +with a capital C.</p> + +<p>"But all this ain't gettin' me any further along with my yarn. As I say, +the winter was a bitter one, and the wild things, panthers an' wolves an' +sech, were pretty hard put to it to rastle enough grub to keep them +alive. Natchally, this made 'em plumb ferocious, and they used to come +right into the clearin' around the camp, hopin', I suppose, to pick up +somethin'. The cook had to watch out to keep the supply house closed up +tight, or there'd 'a' been a famine in camp, sure.</p> + +<p>"Waal, one day the foreman sent me out to look over a section of timber +land some distance from the camp, an' I set off right after breakfast. +I took my axe along, o' course; no lumberman ever thinks o' goin' +anywhere without his axe, any more than you boys figure on travelin' +around without packin' a six-gun with yuh. I took enough grub with me to +last the day out, fer, as I said, it was a longish distance, an' I didn't +reckon t' get back much before dark. It was the middle o' winter, an' the +days up there in the woods were mighty short.</p> + +<p>"The snow was pretty deep, but I traveled on snowshoes, an' didn't have +much trouble gettin' along. I made tol'able time, an' made a rough survey +o' the timber before I unpacked my grub. After eatin' I started back to +camp, congratulatin' myself that I'd reach it with time an' to spare. But +as some poetry sharp I once heard of says, 'Man proposes, but the +Almighty disposes,' or words that mean the same thing. I'd gotten pretty +well along on the return journey when suddenly I heard somethin' snap, +and before I had time to even jump aside a big dead tree slams down, +knockin' me over an' catchin' my left leg under it.</p> + +<p>"Waal, I saw stars fer a few minutes, but as soon as my head cleared off +a mite I tried to wriggle myself loose. But the tree couldn't seem to see +it that way. It had me good an' tight, and appar'ntly meant to enjoy my +company fer a spell. At first, though, I couldn't seem to understand that +I was really caught hard an' fast, an' it took a little time fer the idea +t' sink in. When it did filter through to me I pretty near went crazy, I +guess. I remember turnin' and twistin' until my leg felt like it was +goin' to break clean off, an' I almost wished it would. But after a while +I pulled myself together a little, an' tried to think o' some way out. As +soon as I lay still even fer a minute the cold began to gnaw through me, +and I knew I'd have t' do whatever I was goin' to do mighty quick, or I'd +freeze to death.</p> + +<p>"An' that warn't the only danger, neither. It was beginnin' to get dark, +and suddenly, 'way off to the north, I heard the yell of a painter (or a +panther, as you lads might call it)," turning toward the three comrades, +who were listening intently.</p> + +<p>"Waal, when I heard that yell somethin' that seemed colder even than the +icy air clutched at my heart. O' course, I didn't have any weapon with +me, except as you might call my axe one. I looked around fer it, and saw +that it had fallen about three feet farther than I could stretch, and lay +half buried in the snow, only the haft stickin' out.</p> + +<p>"I made up my mind that I'd have to have that axe, anyway, an' I set to +work gettin' it. After thinkin' a few minutes I took off a long leather +belt I was wearin' and made a loop by runnin' it through the buckle. From +where I was layin' it was an almighty hard job to throw that loop around +the axe handle, an' I reckon I must 'a' tried twenty times before I +finally made to throw it over. Then I started pullin' easy-like on the +belt to tighten the loop, so it would hold on the slippery handle. The +belt was a leetle stiff, though, an' the loop wouldn't tighten very +close. When I tried to pull in on it, the axe stuck in the crust that +covered the softer snow underneath, an' the belt slipped off the handle.</p> + +<p>"Waal, boys, I've had my share o' disappointments in this world, I +reckon, but I think that was the hardest o' them all to bear. Howsomever, +I knew there was nothin' to do but to keep at it until I got that axe, so +after a lot o' false throws I got the loop over the handle agin. This +time it held better, and at last the head o' the axe broke through the +snow crust an' then it was easy t' pull it up to me. When I felt the haft +in my hand a little hope come back to me, an' I figgered there might be a +chance t' cut myself loose. But I was lyin' in sech a way that I couldn't +rightly get at the tree noway, an' finally I had to give up tryin'.</p> + +<p>"I've hearn more'n once of wild animals caught in traps gnawin' their own +feet off fer the sake o' goin' free, an' the thought come to me of tryin' +to chop myself loose in the same way. I think the only thing that kept me +from doin' it was the thought that I'd rather be dead than be a cripple, +anyway. An' o' course, I knew that arter a while, when I didn't show up +at camp, the boys would suspicion thet somethin' was wrong an' make up +a searchin' party to look for me. There's somethin'in all of us, I +reckon, that keeps right on hopin' up to the very minute that we cash in +an' leaves this here vale o' tears.</p> + +<p>"But the worst was yet to come, as the story-book fellers say. It had +begun t' get real dark, when I thinks I hears a rustlin' sound in the +dead underbrush. I grabbed my axe, an' made up my mind to die fightin', +anyway. I knew sooner or later some hungry critter would come along an' +find me laid out there nice an' invitin', without a chance o' protectin' +myself, and I figgered that arter that the end wouldn't be a long ways +off.</p> + +<p>"In a few minutes I heard the rustlin' sound again, only this time +nearer. I twisted as far around as I could, and then I saw what was +makin' the noise. Not thirty feet from me one o' the biggest painters I +ever laid eyes on was creepin' stealthily along, sizin' me up with his +glistenin' green eyes as he went.</p> + +<p>"When he saw thet I had spotted him he stopped, crouchin' down clost t' +the ground, ready to fight or run, accordin' t' the way things looked +to him. Chances are he was half minded t' run, anyway, fer all the wild +critters is mighty shy of a man, an' as a rule will go the long way +around to keep out o' his way. But this brute was hungry, as I could tell +by his lean flanks, an' he didn't scare as easy as usual. I yelled at +him, but he didn't move, jest sat there an' looked at me with them +unwinkin' eyes, tryin' his best to figger out the way things stood. Every +onct in a while his eyes would leave mine, an' he'd glance casual-like +around him, but they always came back.</p> + +<p>"I knew it wouldn't be long before he got next t' the fact that I was +down an' out, an' I was right. I've hearn people say thet animals don't +reason, but they're a long ways from hittin' the bull's-eye. It warn't +long afore thet painter had everythin' settled in his own mind, an' had +decided thet I was helpless fer some reason an' would be easy pickin's +fer him. He got up on all fours, and began to growl a little an' switch +his tail. I knew then that it wouldn't be long before he came fer me, an' +I took a fresh grip on the axe. I knew I didn't have a chance, but I +figgered on puttin' my mark on the critter before he did fer me, anyway.</p> + +<p>"He crept closer an' closer, growlin' and spittin' away fer all the world +like a big tomcat gettin' ready t' fight. I makes a swing at him with the +axe, an' he jumps back a little, and fer a few seconds jest crouches an' +glares at me, his eyes like two big, gleamin' emeralds. Then he gathers +himself fer a spring, an' I gets ready fer what I knows is comin'.</p> + +<p>"Suddenly he shot through the air, an' as he comes down I slams out at +him with the axe. The critter dodges even while he's in the air, but he +couldn't squirm aside altogether, an' the sharp axe caught him a gash +that laid his shoulder open. He gives a great yell, and then all I can +remember is his landin' on me like a cyclone, fetchin' me a blow on the +side of the head with his paw that it's a wonder didn't do fer me then +an' there. After that everythin' went dark, an' the next I knew I was +lyin' in my bunk at camp, with my leg done up in splints, my left arm, +that had been chawed by the painter, done up in bandages, an' my head so +bound up that there wasn't much left out but my nose.</p> + +<p>"The boys told me that when I didn't show up at supper-time they began to +get anxious, and when I hadn't showed up an hour later they got up a +searchin' party and set out to look fer me in the direction they knew I'd +be comin' from. They'd gone quite a ways when they heard the yell the +painter gave when I slashed him with the axe, and rushed over in the +direction o' the sound. They got there jest in the nick o' time, too, I +reckon. Two minutes more an' I'd 'a' been done fer, sure."</p> + +<p>Sandy ceased speaking, and everybody drew a long breath. "Did they kill +the panther?" inquired Bert.</p> + +<p>"No, worse luck," replied Sandy; "it was dark, and when they got close +the critter made off before they had a chance at a shot. But, say!" he +exclaimed, "the storm's over an' the sun is out, an' here we are loafin' +in here yet. Vamoose, boys! scatter!" and they all piled out into a fresh +and made-over world. Everything was washed clean by the torrential +rainfall, and, strange to say, comparatively little damage had been done +by the terrific wind. The ranchmen set about repairing whatever had been +destroyed, and the three comrades walked toward the ranchhouse, +discussing Sandy's tale as they went.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Quick on the Draw</span></h3> + + +<p>Sandy rode up to the house, threw himself from the saddle and went into +that room of the ranch that served as Mr. Melton's library and business +office combined.</p> + +<p>His employer looked up from some accounts he was going over and motioned +the foreman to a seat.</p> + +<p>"Well, Sandy," he said, as he noted the worried look in the latter's +eyes, "what seems to be the matter? Out with it and get it off your +chest."</p> + +<p>"It's about them derned rustlers," said Sandy, with his usual directness +coming straight to the point. "I'm afraid they're gettin' away with a +good many of our beeves."</p> + +<p>Mr. Melton's brows met in a puzzled frown.</p> + +<p>"What makes you think so?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"A heap of things," was the reply. "In the first place, the boys have +found a lot of motherless calves galloping around and bleating for their +mas. Of course, we always look for a few of those, but lately the +number's been beyond all reason. Then, too, there's been quite a bunch of +ornery fellers that the boys has caught sight of hangin' round where they +didn't seem to have no business to be. Of course, that doesn't prove +anything against them, and aside from givin' them a pretty sharp lookin' +over, we couldn't do nothin' just on suspicion."</p> + +<p>He took another bite from his plug of tobacco and hitched his chair a +little closer.</p> + +<p>"But yesterday," he went on, "Buck was riding herd up in the north +section, and he saw a place leadin' up a gully where the ground was +trampled down in a way that made it look almost as if there had been a +stampede. He could see that a big drove had passed through there and that +it must have been goin' in an almighty hurry. He thought at first they +might have got scared of a grizzly or somethin', but if that had 'a' been +so, some one of them would 'a' been caught and pulled down and there +wasn't any sign of anything like that. Then he looked a little closer at +the trail and he could see the track of hosses. Somebody was drivin' that +herd.</p> + +<p>"He come in a flyin' with the report, but it was after midnight and I +didn't want to wake you up.</p> + +<p>"But there's one thing more," he added, "that makes me dead sure. Chip +meandered in from town last night, a little the worse for wear. He'd +been celebratin' some and lookin' upon the likker when it was red, and he +was so far gone that I guess he'd have slept somewhere on the road if his +broncho hadn't had more sense than him and brought him home. He was too +soused to know his name, and he didn't need no urgin' to tumble into his +bunk and sleep it off. He's got an awful head this mornin', too, but when +he heard Buck talkin' at breakfast about what he seen, he called to mind +somethin' that one of his pals that works on the Bar Y Ranch off toward +the east told him about, when he was a boozin' with him last night.</p> + +<p>"It seems that this feller was comin' back from a round-up to his ranch +the other day, and he saw the body of a steer, a little off to the right. +He rode over to look at it, and, lookin' close, saw that the first brand +had been burned over by another one. Of course, he knows most of the +brands in this section of the country, and after he studied it over a +spell, he knew for sure that the first brand was ours. Knew it by the +little curlicue in the top corner of the O. The second brand had been put +on kinder careless, in a hurry, as if the fellers that did it wanted to +mosey along right quick. Then, too, he could see that the steer had died +from bein' overdriven."</p> + +<p>Mr. Melton rose and paced the floor in growing anger as he pondered the +situation.</p> + +<p>Like all Westerners, he hated cattle rustlers only less than he hated a +horse thief. In years past he had had frequent battles with them when +they had tried to raid his stock, and the dire punishment that he +inflicted had made them willing of late to leave his ranch alone. For +several years he had had immunity and had been inclined to think that he +would be henceforth free of that particular pest. When Sandy had first +begun to speak, he had thought there might be some mistake, and that +the depletion of his stock might be traced to other causes. The last +incident, however, had furnished positive proof and it was evident that +the miscreants were due for another lesson at his hands.</p> + +<p>"Was there any clue on that steer, outside of the changing of the brand?" +he demanded.</p> + +<p>"No," replied Sandy, "except just this. Chip's pal said that he thought +the feller that did the branding was left-handed. The edge that was +deepest burned was on the other side from what it usually is when a +right-hander does it. Course, on account of the brands bein' mixed up +like, he couldn't say for sure, but that's the way it looked to him."</p> + +<p>"Do you know of anybody round these parts that is left-handed?" asked his +employer.</p> + +<p>"Can't say as I do," replied Sandy after a little meditation, "leastways, +on any of the ranches around here. I know some of the boys that is almost +as good with their left hand as the right, but not what you could call +p'intedly left-handed. And anyway them fellers is as straight as a +string, and I know they wouldn't mix up with any dirty work like that."</p> + +<p>"Who had been riding herd on that north range before Buck saw the trail +of the drove?" asked Mr. Melton abruptly.</p> + +<p>"Let me see," answered Sandy, cudgeling his memory. "Why," he said after +a moment, "it was Pedro. He had been up there three days before Buck +relieved him."</p> + +<p>"Ah, Pedro," echoed Mr. Melton.</p> + +<p>There was a significance in his voice that caused Sandy to look up +quickly, and, as he caught the look in his employer's eyes, a sudden +suspicion leaped into his own.</p> + +<p>"What!" he exclaimed. "Do you mean that Pedro was in cahoots with the +gang?"</p> + +<p>"I don't mean anything—yet," replied Mr. Melton slowly. "I don't want to +do any one an injustice, and I haven't a particle of evidence that Pedro +isn't as innocent as a new-born babe. He's a good rider and a good +herder, and we've never had any fault to find with the way he does his +work. But you know as well as I do that we didn't know a thing about him +when he came riding along looking for a job. We were short-handed then +and needed men desperately, and so we hired him, but I made up my mind +that as soon as things got slack, and we had to lay some of the men off, +he'd be the first to go. There may be good Indians and good Mexicans, +and it may be my misfortune that I never met them. But Pedro is a +half-breed—half Mexican and half Indian—and I've always noticed that +that kind is apt to have the worst qualities of both. I've never liked +him, but I've set that down to prejudice, and always tried to treat him +exactly like the rest of the men. Now, as I said, I may be entirely +wrong, but somehow I've got the notion in my head that those rustlers +knew just who was to be riding herd on that section when they made their +raid. But don't breathe a word of this to any one till we've got +something more to go on. Keep your eyes wide open and see too if you can +pump anything more out of Chip about that steer. I'll think it all over, +and after dinner we'll get together and fix on some plan to get after +those infernal scoundrels."</p> + +<p>Sandy took his departure, and Mr. Melton was left alone with his problem. +That it was a perplexing one was evident from his knitted brows and air +of intense concentration.</p> + +<p>With the exception of Mrs. Melton and Bert, he was alone in the house. +The other boys were absent, having started out soon after breakfast. +Dick and Tom had gone off with Buck to have a little experience in +"riding herd." Bert, who had intended to go with them, had found it +necessary to go to town to make some purchases. He had just finished his +preparations and brought his horse to the door, in order to say good-by +to his host before starting. At the first glance he saw that something +had disturbed Mr. Melton's usual composure.</p> + +<p>To his anxious inquiry as to whether anything was wrong, the latter +responded by telling him the news Sandy had brought, carefully +refraining, however, from mentioning his suspicions about the half-breed.</p> + +<p>"Of course, it's nothing very important in one way of looking at it," he +said. "The mere fact that I've lost a few head of cattle doesn't worry +me at all. They might take a thousand and I wouldn't miss them. But those +rustlers are the rattlesnakes of the West, and no man steals from me and +gets away with it until I'm weaker and older than I am now. I suppose the +fact is that my pride is hurt more than anything else," he smiled grimly. +"I'd rather flattered myself that I'd built up a reputation in these +parts that would keep those vermin at a distance. It galls me horribly +that they should have the nerve to come up and rustle my stock right +under my very nose. But if they think that they are going to get by +with it, they have another guess coming," and into the eyes of the old +warhorse came the look that Bert had learned to know in Mexico.</p> + +<p>"Are you going to organize a force and go after them?" asked Bert +eagerly.</p> + +<p>Mr. Melton's eyes twinkled.</p> + +<p>"Hit it right the first time," he said. "I suppose I ain't far out in +guessing that you'd like to go along."</p> + +<p>"You bet I would," replied Bert emphatically.</p> + +<p>"Well, we'll see about it," answered his host. "But you'd better get +along now if you expect to be home before dark. You've got a long way to +go, and you'll have to give your horse a good breathing space before you +start back. I promise that we won't start out for the rustlers without +you, if you're really bent on going."</p> + +<p>Bert thanked him, touched his horse with the spur, and, with a last wave +of his hand was off on his journey.</p> + +<p>In due time he reached the town, hitched his horse to the rail in front +of the general store, and went in to make his purchases. This consumed +some time, and when he was through, his vigorous appetite reminded him +that it was time for dinner. There was only one place in that primitive +town where it could be obtained and that was in a little annex to the +leading saloon. Drinks of course were the things chiefly dealt in, but a +meal also could be obtained at any time desired, and Bert went in, seated +himself at a table in the corner, and ordered steak and eggs and coffee.</p> + +<p>While this was being prepared he had ample time to look about him. The +building was a mere shack of the roughest kind. The bar took up one whole +side of the room, and the bartender was kept busy most of the time in +serving drinks to the crowd lined up before it. At a number of small +tables, miners, prospectors and cowboys were seated, with piles of poker +chips heaped up before them. Some of the men were already drunk and +inclined to be ugly, but most of them at that early hour were sober +enough, though drinking freely. All without exception were armed, and +the weapons peeped from their holsters within easy reach. Among these +reckless and, in many cases lawless, dwellers on the borderland of +civilization, the difference of a fraction of a second in offense or +defense might mean the difference between life and death.</p> + +<p>Still, matters were proceeding peaceably enough at the moment, and there +was no indication of impending trouble. Bert's food was brought to him +after a considerable wait, and he "waded" into it with characteristic +vigor. The cooking was none too good nor was the food itself of +superlative quality. But "hunger is the best sauce," and he was not +inclined to be critical. He had, moreover, been too much of a traveler +not to be able to adapt himself philosophically to any condition in +which he found himself.</p> + +<p>He was about to pick up his hat and go to the bar to pay for his meal, +when he was struck by the tones of a familiar voice. He looked about +quickly and saw Pedro, the cowboy employed at the ranch. He was surprised +at this, as he was sure Pedro was supposed at the time to be on herd +duty. Had Mr. Melton intended that he should be in town, he would have +suggested to Bert that the half-breed might do his commissions for him +and save him the long journey.</p> + +<p>Bert's first thought, therefore, was that Pedro was "lying down on his +job" and shirking duty for the sake of a day's debauch in town. It roused +his indignation, as he always hated anything that savored of sneaking or +disloyalty. Still, it was not his affair and Pedro was safe as far as he +was concerned. He would not act as talebearer.</p> + +<p>He had never liked the half-breed from the moment that he had met him. +There was a sullen reticence that checked advances, and although he had +always tried to be friendly, Pedro had held him at a distance. He was +tall and swarthy, and, for one of his mixed race, not bad looking. But +there was a furtive shiftiness in his eyes that were set too close +together, that awakened distrust, and although Bert reproached himself +for it and never revealed it by word or look, he could not help an +instinctive aversion.</p> + +<p>His first impulse was to approach and speak to the man, who had not seen +him as he came in and was now standing with his back partly toward him, +tossing down a drink that he had poured out generously from the bottle +the bartender placed before him.</p> + +<p>Bert checked himself, however, as he saw that Pedro had just greeted a +man who had risen from a table where he had been sitting apart from the +others, as though waiting for some one. An almost imperceptible sign +passed between them that aroused Bert's curiosity. Nor was this lessened +when the newcomer took from his pocket a pouch, such as gold dust is +usually carried in, and slipped it over to Pedro, who placed it carefully +in the breast of his buckskin shirt.</p> + +<p>Here was the beginning of a mystery. Why should this man be giving money +to the half-breed? To be sure, it might be in payment of a loan or a +gambling debt. But, if so, why the air of secrecy?</p> + +<p>The conversation with Mr. Melton that morning recurred to him. He pulled +his hat over his eyes, half turned in his seat, and, picking up a greasy +pack of cards that lay on the table began to lay them out before him as +in solitaire. But under the brim of his sombrero, his keen eyes stole +frequent glances at the two, who had now adjourned to a table in the +farther corner and were engaged in a low and earnest conversation.</p> + +<p>The stranger had before him what seemed to be a diagram, drawn on the +back of an old envelope, and both studied it with care, Pedro especially, +as though seeking to engrave it on his memory. Then he nodded assent to +what the other had been saying, and they shook hands, evidently in +confirmation of a bargain. Once more they adjourned to the bar, gulped +down several glasses of the fiery liquor that masqueraded as whiskey, +and then Pedro, with a gesture of farewell, went outside. A moment later +Bert heard the clatter of hoofs as he rode away.</p> + +<p>There was no further need of concealment, and with exceeding care Bert +studied the features of the man who he felt sure was involved in some +plan that boded no good to Pedro's employer.</p> + +<p>The fellow was tall and heavily built, and dressed in a more gaudy style +than that usually affected by the cowboys. Bert could not remember having +seen him among the employees of the neighboring ranches. His face bore +traces of drink and dissipation and was seamed with evil passions. There +was a lurid glow in his eyes that brought back to Bert the memory of the +men who had tried to hold up the train. He seemed naturally to fall into +that class. Instinctively Bert felt that in some way he was to be ranked +with the outcasts that war upon society. A cruel mouth showed beneath a +hawk-like nose that gave him the appearance of a bird of prey. To Bert he +seemed a living embodiment of all that he had ever heard or read of the +"bad man" of the Western frontier.</p> + +<p>The stranger stood a little while longer at the bar. Then he strolled +over to a table where four men were playing, and watched the game with +the critical eye of an expert.</p> + +<p>Soon one of the men kicked his chair back and rose with an oath.</p> + +<p>"Busted," he growled. "Not a dinero left. That last hand cleaned me out."</p> + +<p>"Aw, don't go yet, Jim," protested one of his companions. "Your credit's +good and you can play on your I. O. U.'s."</p> + +<p>"Yes," agreed another. "Or you can put up that Spanish saddle of yourn. +I've allers had a kind of hankerin' fur that. It's good fur eighty plunks +in chips."</p> + +<p>"Nuthin' doin'," announced the first emphatically. "Any time I hold four +kings and still can't rake in the pot, it shore is my unlucky day. But +I'll be here with bells on next pay day. So long," and he strode out of +the room, slamming the door behind him.</p> + +<p>The others were preparing to go on three-handed, when the stranger +intervened.</p> + +<p>"If it's an open game, gents, and you've no objections, I'll take a +hand," he said.</p> + +<p>As no one demurred, he slid into the vacant chair, bought a hundred +dollars worth of chips and the game proceeded.</p> + +<p>For a time Fortune seemed to divide her favors impartially, and the chips +before each player remained about the same. Then the luck changed and the +stranger began to win heavily. He raked in one pot after another, losing +only occasionally, and then, generally, when the stakes were small. The +atmosphere about the table became tense and feverish, and gradually most +of the others in the room gathered about the players and watched the +progress of the game.</p> + +<p>It was the newcomer's deal. The pack had been cut, and he was dealing out +the cards, when suddenly one of the players leaped to his feet.</p> + +<p>"Foul play," he shouted. "You dealt that last card from the bottom of the +pack." And at the same instant he threw over the table and reached for +his gun.</p> + +<p>But quick as he was, the stranger was quicker. Like a flash his revolver +spoke, and his opponent fell to the floor. But the others now had started +shooting and there was a fusillade. The spectators dropped behind +anything that promised shelter and the bartender went out of sight under +the counter. Only after the revolvers had been emptied did the firing +cease.</p> + +<p>When the smoke lifted, three were lying on the littered floor, one dead +and two desperately wounded. The stranger was not to be seen, but the +pounding of hoofs outside told of his escape. He had gone, but not till +Bert had seen one thing that registered itself indelibly on his mind.</p> + +<p>The stranger had drawn and shot <i>with his left hand</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Trailing the Outlaws</span></h3> + + +<p>For a few minutes the wildest confusion prevailed in the saloon. The +noise of the shooting had emptied the other bar-rooms, as well as the +houses of the little settlement, and from all quarters people came +flocking to the scene of the tragedy. The dead man was removed to a +room in the rear, and the wounds of the others were bound up with rude +surgery, pending the arrival of a doctor, for whom one of the cowboys had +ridden off post haste.</p> + +<p>Bert's quick mind was busy piecing together the events of the past +crowded hour. That the stranger was left-handed, although unusual in that +region, proved nothing by itself. But the dead steer had borne the mark +of a left-handed man—and Pedro was in charge of a part of Melton's +stock—and he had sneaked away from his work to talk with this ruffian, +apparently by appointment—and the latter had given the half-breed money. +Had Bert known the additional fact that Pedro had been riding herd in the +section where a large drove had recently disappeared, the conclusion +would have been irresistible that he and the stranger had been in league +to "rustle" Melton's cattle. But even without this last fact, the +evidence was strong enough. All of these happenings, taken together, +pointed unerringly toward the identity of one at least of the rustlers +and gave the clue to the mystery.</p> + +<p>His first impulse was to follow the fleeing murderer and either try to +capture him or find out the rendezvous of the gang to which he belonged. +But when he ran out to his horse, the fugitive had vanished, and there +was nothing in the dusty road that gave any inkling of the direction he +had taken.</p> + +<p>Pursuit being impossible, there was but one thing left for him to do. He +must get back to the ranch at once and reveal all he knew or guessed of +the conspiracy. Pedro, at any rate, would be within reach, and a +judicious application of the "third degree" could probably wring from +him enough to put them on the track of the rustlers and bring the gang to +justice. And his blood tingled at the thought of the fight that was +probably coming, for the rustlers, brought to bay, would not surrender +tamely. It was better to die from a bullet than dangle at the end of a +rope, and they would battle with the fierceness of cornered rats.</p> + +<p>He untied his horse, sprang into the saddle and set out for the ranch. +His horse had had a good rest and was full of running, especially as his +face was turned homeward. But, despite his own impatience, Bert subdued +his mount to a trot that he could keep up indefinitely, and gave himself +up to reviewing the stirring scenes from which he had just emerged.</p> + +<p>He was passing through a patch of woodland, from which a deep gully +diverged to the right, when he heard the whinny of a horse. Instantly he +clapped his hand over the nostrils of his own mount to keep him from +answering. Then he slid to the ground, tied a rope around his horse's +jaws to keep him quiet and secured him to a tree. On hands and knees he +crept forward through the underbrush in the direction of the sound. He +reached the bank of the gully and peered over.</p> + +<p>A little brook ran over the stones at the bottom of the gulch. Stooping +over it was a man with his back toward him. A horse was picketed near by, +contentedly munching the grass that grew thick and lush on the border of +the stream. The man's right arm was bared to the elbow, and he was +dashing water on a wound just above the wrist. Then he tore a strip from +his shirt and proceeded to bandage the arm as best he could, accompanying +the action with groans and curses that told of the pain he was enduring.</p> + +<p>Bert's first thought was to steal down upon the man and at the point of +his revolver demand his surrender. He had the drop on him, and, quick as +the ruffian had proved himself on the draw, he would be at too great a +disadvantage to resist. But, after all, what right had he to arrest the +man? As far as the shooting in the saloon was concerned, the dead man had +started the fight, and the other had acted in self-defense. The question +of cheating was an open one that could probably never be determined. It +had not been a murder, but a duel, and the quicker hand and better shot +had won. There was no call for Bert to interfere.</p> + +<p>As to the charge of cattle rustling, he had absolutely no proof to go +upon. He had the moral conviction that the man was mixed up in the +affair, but not a scintilla of evidence that would stand for a moment in +a court of law. It would be high-handed and indefensible to make this man +a prisoner, and take him on to the ranch for questioning by Melton. He +would simply stand on his rights and defy them to prove anything against +him. They would be forced to let him go, and, being henceforth on his +guard, it would be doubly difficult to trap him and his gang.</p> + +<p>No, the waiting game was the only one to play under the circumstances, +and Bert replaced the revolver that he had half drawn from his belt. But +he had no intention of resuming his journey to the ranch. Fate had +brought him in contact with this man, when he had given up all +expectation of finding him, and he was too good a sportsman to overlook +any point in the game. He would keep him in sight, hang on his flank, +follow his trail wherever it led, in the hope of finding the rendezvous +of the gang. Then he would ride with whip and spur to the ranch, Melton +would gather his men together, and they would swoop down on the outlaws' +camp and catch them red-handed with their booty.</p> + +<p>While he was settling on this course of action as promising the best +results, the man had completed the task of bandaging. Bert looked for +him to unhobble his horse and resume his journey. But, to his surprise, +the fellow stretched himself out on the grass as though in no particular +hurry. Yet there was an air of expectancy about him, and it flashed +across Bert that he was waiting for some one. And this impression was +heightened by the glances he cast toward the upper end of the gully, and +the way he lifted his head from time to time as though listening for a +signal.</p> + +<p>It came at last, a whistle three times repeated. Instantly he sent back +an answering call, and a moment later two men emerged from the farther +end of the ravine and rode their horses slowly toward their waiting +companion.</p> + +<p>They were dressed in ordinary cowboy fashion and rode as though they had +been born to the saddle. In addition to the revolvers in their holsters, +each carried a rifle slung in the hollow of the arm. One was of enormous +bulk and a shock of flaming red hair showed beneath his sombrero. The +other was of medium build, but wiry and quick as a cat in his movements. +Both were of the same evil stamp as the first, although they lacked the +look of authority that marked him as a natural leader.</p> + +<p>They gave an exclamation of surprise as they saw the bandaged arm, and +were off their horses in an instant.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter, cap?" inquired the smaller man. "Did they get you +bad?"</p> + +<p>"Bad enough," snarled the other with a string of blasphemies. "I guess +they've broken a bone in my wrist. But the feller that did it will never +do no more shooting." And in fervid words, interrupted by curses as his +sore arm gave a worse twinge than usual, he related the events leading +up to the affray.</p> + +<p>The others listened with perfunctory grunts of sympathy, although they +seemed less concerned about him personally than over the changes the +wounding might make in their plans.</p> + +<p>"It's lucky it's the right arm, anyway," consoled one of them. "Yer'll +still be able to shoot as well as ever until yer get all right again."</p> + +<p>"Yes," assented the captain grudgingly, "it's the first time I've ever +felt glad that I'm left-handed. And I'm shore glad that I fixed that deal +up with the half-breed before the scrap came off. Handed him over his +share of the last swag, and got it all settled to pull off another trick +a week from to-morrow."</p> + +<p>They gathered eagerly about him to learn the details, and Bert strained +his ears to catch the fragments of conversation that floated up to him. +He could detect the name of "Melton" and "Pedro" as often recurring, but +to his intense disappointment could get no coherent idea of the felony +the rustlers had in view. Had he done so, his quest would have ended then +and there. It would then be simply a matter of laying an ambush at the +given time and place, into which the rascals would walk blindly, and from +which there would be no escape. But when at last the conference was over, +he was no wiser than before, except that his suspicions as to the +half-breed had become a certainty.</p> + +<p>The afternoon was well along now, and the captain, casting a glance at +the sun, rose hastily to his feet.</p> + +<p>"Come along," he growled. "We can do our chinning later on. We'll have +all we can do now to get to camp before dark."</p> + +<p>"Before dark." Bert looked at his watch. It was nearly six o'clock. It +would not be fully dark until eight. That meant that the rendezvous of +the gang was within two hours' ride. Allowing ten miles an hour, it meant +a distance of perhaps twenty miles.</p> + +<p>But that was assuming that they went on well-traveled roads, where the +horses could be given their head. Bert felt sure that they would not do +this. The conditions of their lawless life made it necessary for them to +seek refuge in the wilds, where riding would be hard and slow. Their lair +was doubtless in some secluded valley or coulee, where they could hide +the stolen stock, secure from discovery until a favorable opportunity +offered to drive it out at night far from the plundered ranches. The +place, therefore, might not be more than fifteen miles distant. Otherwise +the outlaws would hardly be able to make it in the time mentioned, over +the rough trails they would probably follow. That this conjecture was +correct was proved by the fact that, instead of returning to the broad +road up which Bert had ridden, the men mounted their horses and turned +their heads in the opposite direction up the ravine.</p> + +<p>But how could he follow without detection? If he let them get too far +ahead, he might lose track of them altogether. On the other hand, if he +followed too closely they might hear the sound of his horse's feet, or, +turning in the saddle, might see his figure outlined against the sky. In +that case the game was up. It would be a matter of flight, or an +encounter in which, against such odds, he could look for nothing but +capture or death. And in either event, his plans for the breaking up +of the band would come to nothing.</p> + +<p>There was but one alternative. He must follow on foot.</p> + +<p>He was in superb condition and could do it easily. Running was his game. +He had taken the measure of the fleetest runners in the country, and had, +by so doing, won the right to represent America in the Olympic Games. And +when he had carried off the honors in the Marathon race over the crack +flyers of all the world, he had made the distance of twenty-six miles, up +hill and down, in a trifle over two hours and thirty minutes, or a +sustained rate of more than ten miles an hour. To be sure, he was then +trained to the hour and at the top of his form. But even now, although +not strictly in training, his outdoor life and clean living had kept him +in fine fettle, and he was fit to "run for a man's life." A horse could +beat him in a sprint, but there were few mustangs on the ranch that he +could not have worn down and beaten in a stretch of twenty miles.</p> + +<p>It was with no lack of confidence, therefore, that he reached his +decision.</p> + +<p>He hurried back to his horse, tore a scrap of paper from his note-book +and hastily scribbled a note to Dick. It was in cipher, so that if it +fell into hostile hands no one else could understand its purport. He told +him of his discovery and urged him to have Melton put Pedro under guard +until his return. He adjured him not to worry, as he would probably be +back before twenty-four hours.</p> + +<p>A word of greeting to Tom and the Meltons, and he placed the paper +securely under the saddle, with just an end protruding to attract notice. +Then he released the horse, untied his jaws, gave him a smart slap on +the back and sent him off toward home. The delighted broncho threw up +his heels and set off at a pace that promised soon to get him to his +well-filled manger. Then, with a last glance at his weapon, to see that +it was in perfect trim, Bert vanished into the woods and set out upon the +trail as silently and swiftly as an Indian.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Race for Life</span></h3> + + +<p>He could hear the crackling of the shrubbery as the horses of the outlaws +pushed their way through to the higher ground, and it was not long before +he caught sight of them, riding in single file, the captain leading the +way.</p> + +<p>With the utmost caution he followed, taking advantage of every bush and +tree, ready to dodge behind them or fall to the ground as the case might +demand. For a time they proceeded at a walk, owing to the rough going, +but as soon as they got to more level ground they put the spurs to their +horses and galloped on at a rapid gait. Bert drifted after them like a +ghost, never letting them get more than half a mile a head, for fear that +they might turn into some byroad and give him the slip. Twice one of the +men turned in the saddle and looked behind him, probably more as the +result of habit than from any real fear that they might be followed, but +each time Bert had discounted the movement and was lying flat on the +ground.</p> + +<p>As the latter had surmised, the most of the way lay through a genuine +wilderness, over mountain trails and through ravines that lent themselves +admirably to the lawless purposes of the outlaws. Probably since the old +Indian days, no human feet beside their own had trodden these wilds that +offered no temptations to the farmer or grazier.</p> + +<p>Before long the sun had vanished over the western rim and twilight came +on rapidly. This rendered Bert's task, easier by diminishing the chances +of detection, and as the twilight deepened into dusk, he gradually +decreased the distance until, when it was fully dark, he had ventured +to draw so near that he could hear the jingle of their trappings and an +occasional monosyllable that passed between the riders.</p> + +<p>Suddenly, as they rode into a little valley, a light gleamed out from a +shack half a mile distant. It was the first sign of a human habitation +Bert had seen. At the sight, an oath of satisfaction broke from the +leader, and the three urged on their horses, who responded willingly. +It was evident that they had reached the end of their journey.</p> + +<p>As they dashed into the clearing in front of the house, the door was +thrown open and several men came out to greet the newcomers. The saddles +were taken from the horses' backs and they were turned loose to graze. +Then the party entered the house and the door was closed.</p> + +<p>For a few minutes Bert remained perfectly motionless. There had been no +barking of dogs, and, after listening intently, he became convinced that +no living thing was out of doors in the vicinity of the shack. With +infinite caution he wormed his way along the ground and, reaching a +window in the rear of the house, drew himself to the sill and peered over +the edge.</p> + +<p>There were six men gathered about a table in the center of the room, upon +which a seventh, who seemed to be the cook, was placing dishes of bacon +and beans. The chief, whose arm had been bathed and rebound in a cotton +bandage, was seated at the head of the table. A bottle of whiskey was +passing from hand to hand as a preliminary to the more substantial part +of the meal, and the men who had just arrived were evidently retailing +to their fellow rascals the events that had led up to the shooting.</p> + +<p>So engrossed was Bert in watching the outlaws, that he did not see or +hear the approach of a dark figure stealing up behind him. An arm shot +out and a pistol butt came down on his head with a crash. A myriad of +sparks flashed before his eyes, there was the roar of a cataract in his +ears, and he fell to the ground like a log.</p> + +<p>When consciousness came back to him it was morning. He was lying on the +floor of the shack and the hot sun was streaming in upon him. His head +ached horribly, and for a moment he wondered where he was. Then gradually +he recalled the events of the day before, the fracas in the saloon, the +tracking of the rustlers, the looking in at the window. But then it was +night, and now it was broad daylight. What had happened to him?</p> + +<p>He put his hand to his head and felt that his hair was matted with blood. +Then he tried to rise to his feet, but found that they were tied +together, and sank back with a groan. The wall of the house was just +behind him, and he edged painfully toward it, until he was able to sit up +and have some support for his back. Then with swimming eyes he looked +around him.</p> + +<p>As his vision cleared, he saw that there were two men sitting in the +center of the room. They had not spoken a word, but had watched with a +sort of amused interest his gradual coming back to life. In one of them +he recognized the outlaw captain, and the other was the burly, red-haired +giant, whose trail he had followed the afternoon before. There was no +trace of the others and they had evidently gone to attend to the stock, +or on some errand connected with the operations of the band.</p> + +<p>The leader's eyes fastened on Bert with a penetrating glare, as though he +sought to read the secrets of his soul. The captive met his look calmly +and defiantly, and for a moment there was a silent duel. But Bert's gaze +remained level, and the captain, a little disconcerted at his failure to +make his prisoner cringe, resorted to taunts.</p> + +<p>"Feel kind o' wobbly, eh?" he jeered. "Got a bad little hangover from +last night? Perhaps we were a little playful, but it's just our hearty +way of welcomin' strangers. 'Specially when they come without an +invitation and we ketches them peepin' through the winders. But we don't +mean no harm, do we, Red?" and he leered at his companion, who grinned +dutifully in response to his leader's humor.</p> + +<p>Bert made no answer.</p> + +<p>"Now look here, young feller," snapped the speaker, dropping his +elaborate sarcasm and veering round to his natural ferocity, "you ain't +tongue-tied, I reckon, and I want to know right quick, pronto, what +you're doin' round these diggin's, anyhow. One of our men comin' in from +the stables caught you spyin' through the winder. He gave yer one on the +nob, and dragged yer in here. Now, who are yer, where do yer come from +and what are yer doin' in these parts. Speak quick now, or by——" and he +broke into a torrent of vile oaths and death-dealing threats, while he +fingered nervously the knife that hung in his belt.</p> + +<p>Before Bert could reply one of the band entered the room. He glanced at +the prisoner, and a sudden recognition leaped to his eyes.</p> + +<p>"I know that feller," he exclaimed excitedly, turning to his chief. "I +couldn't just place him last night when his eyes was shut, but now I'm +plumb sure of him. He's livin' over to the Melton ranch with a couple of +pals of his'n. Seen him there more than once. Ain't that straight?" to +Bert.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Bert boldly, "that's straight."</p> + +<p>The man's identification was absolute and the time for silence or evasion +was past. He was trapped and absolutely in their power. That they would +kill him he had little doubt. A life more or less meant little to these +ruthless scoundrels. But if he had to meet death, he would meet it +unafraid.</p> + +<p>The name of the ranch owner acted on the chief like an electric shock. He +leaped to his feet with a curse.</p> + +<p>"So Melton sent you to spy on us, did he?" he demanded furiously.</p> + +<p>"He did not," answered Bert.</p> + +<p>There was a conviction in the tone that checked the headlong rush that +the captain had seemed about to make. He sat down again and pondered, his +face working with rage and apprehension. At last he reached a decision, +and Bert read in his eyes that his doom had been pronounced.</p> + +<p>"It don't make no difference whether yer tellin' the truth or lyin'," he +snarled. "Ye've learned too much fur me to let yer live. If I turned yer +loose, ye'd have Melton and his bunch down on us in no time. Keep a close +watch on him, Red," he commanded as he rose to his feet. "I've got some +things to look after that'll keep me busy till dinner-time, and after +that we'll put this maverick where he won't do no more spyin'."</p> + +<p>"How about breakfast?" asked Bert coolly. "You're not going to starve me +to death, are you?"</p> + +<p>The outlaw looked at him with astonishment, not unmixed with a sort of +grudging admiration.</p> + +<p>"Ye're a cool one," he responded after a moment's hesitation. "Ye'd +better be thinkin' of sayin' yer prayers instead of eatin'. Rustle a +little grub fer 'im, Red, though it seems plumb sinful to waste good +chuck on a feller that's as good as dead already." And with this ominous +remark he went out, accompanied by the man who had identified the +captive, leaving Bert alone with his jailer.</p> + +<p>"Red" got together some cold meat and beans and placed them on the floor +within Bert's reach. He ate heartily, knowing that above everything else +he must preserve his strength. And while he ate his mind was busy.</p> + +<p>At any rate, he had a little respite. It would be at least two hours +before noontime, and many things might happen before then. He did not +disguise from himself that his situation was desperate. But, though there +might be but one chance in a thousand of escape, he was determined to +find and seize that chance.</p> + +<p>His feet had been tied in such a manner that while, if he stood up, he +would be able to take steps a foot apart, he could by no possibility run +away. The knot at each ankle was skillfully looped in cowboy fashion, and +under the watchful eyes of "Red" there was no chance to unfasten them. +His knife and pistol had been taken from him, as well as his watch and +money. So thoroughly had he been "frisked" that, as he felt his pockets +carelessly, he found that nothing had been left except a bunch of keys +that the rustlers had disdained as booty, and a convex piece of glass +that belonged to an old telescope that he had been taking apart a day or +two before.</p> + +<p>As his hand came in contact with it a thought sprang into his mind that +sent his pulses leaping in wild delirium. Could he do it? Why not?</p> + +<p>Without any pretence of concealment he drew it with the keys from his +pocket and fingered it idly, looking out of the window as though his +thoughts were far away. "Red" looked at the articles, recognized their +harmless character, and with an indifferent grunt went on smoking.</p> + +<p>The fierce sun of the dog days was coming hotly through the open window. +Still handling the glass dreamily, Bert brought it in such a position +that its convex surface gathered the rays of the sun into one blistering +shaft. This he directed on the center of the rope that stretched between +his feet.</p> + +<p>Slowly but surely it began to darken. The tiny threads of which it was +composed twisted and shriveled and broke. Bert hunched up his knees, +and sat as though rapt in brooding contemplation, while all the time that +tiny shaft bored deeper and deeper into the rope like a red hot iron.</p> + +<p>For half an hour this continued until Bert was convinced that the rope +was burned to the core, and that under a vigorous effort it would snap +like thread.</p> + +<p>He moved around uneasily, fidgeting and twisting with an occasional groan +until "Red" unbent sufficiently from his surly indifference to ask him +"what was eatin' of him."</p> + +<p>"I'm in a fearfully cramped position," explained Bert, meekly. "Do you +mind if I stand up for a minute and stretch?"</p> + +<p>"Red" cogitated a moment.</p> + +<p>"No law agin it, I reckon," he conceded ungraciously.</p> + +<p>Bert labored painfully and clumsily to his feet, yawned wearily and +stretched his arms above his head. Then with one quick jerk he burst the +rope and went into "Red" like a thunderbolt. Before that crashing impact +of bone and muscle that had triumphed on many a football field, the +startled outlaw hit the floor with a tremendous thump, while Bert's +sinewy hands tightened on his throat.</p> + +<p>But there was no resistance, and after a moment Bert relaxed his grasp. +The rustler's head had struck on the sill of the door and the blow had +rendered him unconscious.</p> + +<p>Springing to his feet, Bert grasped the knife that lay on the table, and +sawed desperately at the ends of rope that dangled about his feet. A +few minutes sufficed and he was free. Then he took the revolver from the +belt of his fallen enemy, and, after a swift glance round the clearing, +bolted for the woods like a deer.</p> + +<p>He had almost reached cover when he heard a yell behind him and a bullet +zipped past his head. He turned and saw one of the outlaws rushing from +the corral behind the house, while others, attracted by the shot, were +running to mount their horses. Then he dived into the woods and ran for +his life.</p> + +<p>Through the forest aisles he slipped like a shadow, and for a time he +more than held his own. But his pursuers had the advantage of knowing the +ground, while he had to choose his course on the spur of the moment. He +lost precious seconds in dodging obstacles, and he could hear the clatter +of horses coming nearer and nearer. At any moment a bullet might bring +him down.</p> + +<p>The wound in his head was bleeding now under his tremendous exertions, +and he began to grow dizzy and faint. But, although his strength was +ebbing, his heart was as high and his spirit as undaunted as ever. He +would never surrender. As a last resource he had his revolver, and, if he +had to die, he would take some of the outlaws with him. The thud of hoofs +was nearer now, and bullets began to whiz past him. A voice that he +knew was that of the leader of the gang shouted to him to halt. Before +him was a thinning of the woods that indicated open country. On a level +course they could never get him. His second wind was coming back and he +would distance them yet. On, on, he went, running like the wind.</p> + +<p>A few rods ahead the trail bent round in a sweeping curve, and as Bert +approached it on flying feet, he heard horsemen coming from that +direction. With a groan he halted. They had him surrounded, then. He had +no chance. The game was up. He drew his revolver and dropped on his knee +to aim.</p> + +<p>And then round the curve with a rush and a roar, riding like fiends, came +Melton, Dick and Tom, with twenty cowboys at their back.</p> + +<p>There was a wild whoop when they caught sight of Bert, and his comrades +flung themselves from the saddle and rushed toward him. Melton, without +dismounting, reached over and gave him a bear grip that said more than +words. Then he straightened up and rode on at the head of his men to meet +the rustlers.</p> + +<p>The latter, however, did not await his coming. They broke and ran, +bending low over the necks of their horses. But Melton's blood was up and +he rode them down relentlessly. Rifle and revolver shots merged into one +crackling fusillade. The cornered outlaws fought to the last ditch when +overtaken, and no one asked for quarter. And when at last the fight was +over, five, including the captain, lay stretched lifeless upon the +ground. One, by hard riding and his knowledge of the country, had +escaped, and "Red," still looking dazed and foolish, was a prisoner.</p> + +<p>The cowboys were for stringing him up on the spot, but Bert, who had +swung up behind Dick and been in at the finish, pleaded hard that his +life might be spared.</p> + +<p>"You win," conceded Melton. "You've done too much for me to refuse you +anything. We'll turn him over to the sheriff, and he'll have all the +chance that's coming to him, which, between you and me, I think is mighty +little."</p> + +<p>Then he turned to Pedro, who, as Bert now noticed for the first time, was +sitting tied upon his horse and guarded by two of the ranchmen.</p> + +<p>"Cut his ropes," he commanded, "and turn him loose. I promised the hound +his life if he led me to the rustlers' camp, and I keep my word."</p> + +<p>Melton gathered his force together and they took up their march for home, +jubilant at the success of the expedition.</p> + +<p>"It's all due to you, you young dare-devil," said Melton, as he and the +reunited comrades rode back at the head of the squad. "Sandy found your +pony neighing to get in the corral, and brought your note to Dick. I +nabbed Pedro and handled him some savage until the fellow wilted. Then we +saddled and started out at the first sign of daybreak and you know the +rest. And I guess, by thunder, that we got here just in time."</p> + +<p>And when they reached the ranch, motherly Mrs. Melton folded him in her +arms with tears in her eyes, unable to speak. She washed and bandaged the +wound, which proved to be not serious, and sent him straightway off to +bed. Bert laughingly protested, but he had to yield.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>It was with immense regret, a few days later, that the boys parted from +their warm-hearted host and hostess. But duty and the East were calling, +and they had to go. They had passed a glorious summer, full of the +excitement in which their adventurous souls delighted. Far out from the +car windows they leaned and waved their hands, until the kindly figures +on the platform were lost to sight.</p> + +<p>The cowboys too had turned out in a body to bid their friends good-by, +and, as the train started, they tossed their hats in the air and fired +their six-shooters till their cartridges gave out. Then they wheeled +their bronchos and headed for the ranch.</p> + +<p>"No use talkin'," Sandy broke out suddenly that night as they were +smoking their pipes in the bunkhouse, "that Wilson is the finest feller +that ever wore shoe leather."</p> + +<p>Buck, who was half asleep, roused himself.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I wouldn't go quite so far as that," he drawled, mistaking the +reference. "Still, he's makin' a pretty fair President."</p> + +<p>"Shucks," snorted Sandy, "I didn't mean <i>him</i>. I was talkin' of Bert."</p> + + +<p>THE END</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Bert Wilson in the Rockies, by J. W. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Bert Wilson in the Rockies + +Author: J. W. Duffield + +Release Date: January 25, 2006 [EBook #17603] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BERT WILSON IN THE ROCKIES *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Lybarger, Brian Janes, Mary Meehan and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + BERT WILSON IN THE ROCKIES + + BY J. W. DUFFIELD + +Author of "Bert Wilson at the Wheel," "Wireless Operator," "Fadeaway +Ball," "Marathon Winner," "At Panama." + + + + +NEW YORK +GEORGE SULLY & COMPANY +PUBLISHERS + +Copyright, 1914, By +SULLY AND KLEINTEICH + +Published and Printed, 1924 by +Western Printing & Lithographing Company +Racine, Wisconsin +Printed in U.S.A. + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + +I. A Desperate Encounter + +II. The Ranch in the Rockies + +III. "Busting" a Broncho + +IV. A Forest Terror + +V. The Grizzly at Bay + +VI. The "Ringer's" Downfall + +VII. The Wolf Pack + +VIII. With Teeth and Hoofs + +IX. The Indian Outbreak + +X. In Fearful Extremity + +XI. Within an Ace + +XII. Quick on the Draw + +XIII. Trailing the Outlaws + +XIV. The Race for Life + + + + +BERT WILSON IN THE ROCKIES + + + + +CHAPTER I + +A Desperate Encounter + + +A shower of glass from the shattered windowpane fell over the floor and +seats, and a bullet embedded itself in the woodwork of an upper berth. +There was a shriek from the women passengers in the crowded Pullman, and +the men looked at each other in consternation. From the platform came the +sound of a scuffle, interspersed with oaths. Then, through the narrow +corridor that bordered the smoking-room, hurried two men, pushing the +terrified negro porter ahead of them. Each of the intruders wore a black +cloth tied over the lower part of his face, and before the bewildered +passengers knew what had happened they found themselves looking along the +blue-black barrels of two ugly revolvers. + +It was a startling break in an uneventful day. For several hours the +Overland Limited had hummed along over the boundless prairies that +stretched away on either side with scarcely a break to the horizon. They +had time to make up, and on these open spaces the engineer had let it out +to the limit. So swiftly and smoothly had it sped along that the "click, +click" as it struck each separate rail had merged into one droning "song +of the road." + +There had been no rain for a week past, and the dust lay thick on the +grass and cactus. The motion of the train drew it up in clouds that made +it impossible to keep the windows raised, and the sun, beating down +pitilessly from a brazen sky, added to the general discomfort. Cooling +drinks were at a premium, and the porters were kept busy making trips to +the buffet car, from which they returned with tinkling glasses and +cooling ices. Collars wilted and conversation languished. Women glanced +listlessly over the pages of the magazines. Men drew their traveling caps +over their eyes and settled down for a doze. Here and there a commercial +traveler jotted down some item or wondered how far he dared to "pad" his +expense account so that it would "get by" the lynx-eyed head of the firm. +In the smoking-room a languid game of cards was being played, in an +effort to beguile the tedious monotony of the trip. Over all there +brooded a spirit of somnolence and relaxation. + +If there was life to be discerned anywhere, it was in a group of three +young fellows seated near the middle of the car. They would have drawn +more than a passing glance wherever seen. Tall, well set up, muscular, +they served as splendid types of young American manhood. None of them +were over twenty, and their lean, bronzed faces, as well as the lithe +alertness of their movements, spoke of a life spent largely in the open. +They were brimming with life and high spirits. Exuberant vitality shone +through their eyes and betrayed itself in every gesture. That they were +friends of long standing was evident from the utter absence of ceremony +and the free and easy comradeship with which they chaffed each other. + +From the beginning of the trip they had been full of fun and merriment. +Their college year had just closed, and they were like frolicsome colts +turned out to pasture. There was hardly an incident of the journey that +did not furnish to their keen, unjaded senses something of interest and +amusement. Their cup of life was full and they drained it in great +draughts. + +But just now even their effervescence was calmed somewhat by the heat and +spirit of drowsiness that hovered over the car. + +"Gee," yawned the youngest of the three, stretching out lazily. "Isn't it +nearly twelve o'clock? I wonder when that dusky gentleman will come along +with the call to dinner." + +"Always hungry," laughed one of the others. "The rest of us eat to live, +but Tom lives to eat." + +"You've struck it there, Dick," assented the third. "You know they say +that no one has ever been able to eat a quail a day for thirty days hand +running, but I'd be willing to back Tom to do it." + +"Well, I wouldn't quail at the prospect," began Tom complacently, and +then ducked as Dick made a pass at him. + +"Even at that, I haven't got anything on you fellows," he went on, in an +aggrieved tone. "When you disciples of 'plain living and high thinking' +get at the dinner table, I notice that it soon becomes a case of high +living and plain thinking." + +"Such low-brow insinuations deserve no answer," said Dick severely. +"Anyway," consulting his watch, "it's only half-past eleven, so you'll +have to curb the promptings of your grosser nature." + +"No later than that?" groaned Tom. "I don't know when a morning has +seemed so long in passing." + +"It _is_ a little slow. I suppose it's this blistering heat and the long +distance between stations. It's about time something happened to break +the monotony." + +"Don't raise false hopes, Bert," said Tom, cynically. "Nothing ever +happens nowadays." + +"Oh, I don't know," laughed Bert. "How about the Mexican bandits and the +Chinese pirates? Something certainly happened when we ran up against +those rascals." + +"They were lively scraps, all right," admitted Tom, "but we had to go +out of the country to get them. In the little old United States, we've +got too much civilization. Everything is cut and dried and pared and +polished, until there are no rough edges left. Think of the fellows that +made this trip across the continent sixty years ago in their prairie +schooners, getting cross-eyed from looking for buffalo with one eye and +Indians with the other, feeling their scalp every five minutes to make +sure they still had it. That was life." + +"Or death," put in Dick skeptically. + +"Then look at us," went on Tom, not deigning to notice the interruption, +"rolling along smoothly at fifty miles an hour in a car that's like a +palace, with its cushioned seats and electric lights and library and +bath and soft beds and rich food and servants to wait upon us. We're +pampered children of luxury, all right, but I'm willing to bet that those +'horny-handed sons of toil' had it on us when it came to the real joy of +living." + +"Tom was born too late?" chaffed Bert. "He doesn't really belong in the +twentieth century. He ought to have lived in the time of Ivanhoe, or +Young Lochinvar, or the Three Musketeers, or Robin Hood. I can see him +bending a bow in Nottingham Forest or breaking a lance in a tournament or +storming a fortress by day, and at night twanging a guitar beneath a +castle window or writing a sonnet to his lady's eyebrow." + +"Well, anyhow," defended Tom, "those fellows of the olden time had good +red blood in their veins." + +"Yes," assented Dick drily, "but it didn't stay there long. There were +too many sword points ready to let it out." + +And yet, despite their good-natured "joshing" of Tom, they, quite as much +as he, were eager for excitement and adventure. In the fullest sense they +were "birds of a feather." In earlier and ruder days they would have been +soldiers of fortune, cutting their ways through unknown forests, facing +without flinching savage beasts and equally savage men, looking ever for +new worlds to conquer. Even in these "piping days of peace" that they so +much deplored, they had shown an almost uncanny ability to get into +scrapes of various kinds, from which sometimes they had narrowly escaped +with a whole skin. Again and again their courage had been severely tried, +and had stood the test. At home and abroad, on land and sea, they had +come face to face with danger and death. But the fortune that "favors the +brave" had not deserted them, even in moments of deadliest peril. They +were accustomed to refer to themselves laughingly as "lucky," but those +who knew them best preferred to call them plucky. A stout heart and a +quick wit had "many a time and oft" extricated them from positions where +luck alone would have failed them. + +And most of their adventures had been shared in company. The tie of +friendship that bound them together as closely as brothers was of long +standing. Beginning at a summer camp, five years earlier, where chance +had thrown them together, it had grown increasingly stronger with every +year that passed. A subtle free masonry had from the start made each +recognize the others as kindred spirits. Since this first meeting their +paths had seldom diverged. Together they had gone to college, where their +athletic prowess had put them in the first rank in sports and made them +popular among their comrades. On the baseball diamond they had played +their positions in brilliant fashion, and on the football gridiron they +had added to their laurels. When Bert had been chosen to go to the +Olympic games abroad, his "pals" had gone with him and exulted in his +glorious victory, when, in the Marathon race, he had beaten the crack +runners of the world. Nor were they to be denied, when his duty as +wireless operator had carried him over the Pacific to meet with thrilling +experiences among the yellow men of Asia. In every time of storm and +stress they had stood with him shoulder to shoulder, and faced life and +death with eyes wide open and unafraid. They were worthy lieutenants of +a brave and intrepid leader. + +For, that he was their leader, they themselves would have been the first +to admit, although he would have modestly disclaimed it. He never +asserted leadership, but it sought him out of its own accord. He had the +instinct, the initiative, the quick decision, the magnetic personality +that marks the born captain. It was not merely that he was endowed with +strength of muscle and fleetness of foot and power of endurance that +placed him in a class by himself. He might have had all these, and still +been only a superb specimen of the "human animal." But, above and +controlling these qualities, was the indomitable will, the unflinching +courage, the gallant audacity that made him the idol of his comrades. + +The college year just ended had been a notable one, marked by victories +on track and field. Together with the high rank he had reached and held +in his studies, with which, unlike many athletes, he never allowed sport +to interfere, it had taxed him heavily in mind and body. And it was with +unfeigned delight that he now looked forward to a long season of +recreation and adventure on the ranch in Montana, toward which he and +his friends were speeding. + +Mr. Melton, the owner of the ranch, was a Western cattleman of the old +type, now rapidly disappearing. Bluff, rough and ready, generous and +courageous, his sterling qualities had won the admiration and affection +of the boys from the date of their first meeting the year before. + +That meeting had taken place under extraordinary circumstances. The +"Three Guardsmen"--so called in joke, because they were always +together--journeying to the opening of the Panama Canal had found +themselves on the same train with Melton, as it wound its way through +Central Mexico. A broken trestle had made it necessary for the train to +halt for an hour or two, and during this enforced stop Dick had +carelessly wandered away on a stroll through the woods, tempted by the +beauty of the day and the novelty of his surroundings. At a turn in the +road he had suddenly found himself in the presence of twenty or more +guerillas, headed by the notorious El Tigre, whose name was spoken with a +shudder throughout Mexico. They had bound him and carried him off to +their mountain retreat. Bert and Tom, an hour later, discovered the cause +of his absence and immediately started in pursuit, determined to save +their comrade or die with him. But first they had disclosed the situation +to Melton, who had sworn in his rage to follow after them and aid them in +the rescue. How faithfully he had kept his word, how skillfully and +daringly he had led them on and rushed the camp just as Dick was steeling +himself to undergo the rattlesnake torture that the bandit chief had +planned for him, was engraven indelibly on the memories of the boys. +Until the day of their death they could never forget how the old war +horse, with everything to lose and nothing to gain, had come to their +assistance simply because they were Americans and in dire need of help. + +And on Melton's part the feeling was equally warm. He had taken an +instantaneous liking to these young countrymen of his who had played +their part so gallantly. They recalled to him the days of his own stormy +youth, when he had ridden the range and when his life had depended on +his iron nerve and his quickness with the trigger. Though older than +they by forty years, they were all cut on the same pattern of sturdy, +self-reliant American manhood, and it was with the utmost cordiality that +he had crushed their hands in his strong grip and urged them to visit him +at his ranch in the Rockies. Since then he had been East on a business +trip and had been present on that memorable day when Bert, with the ball +tucked under his arm, had torn down the field in the great race for the +goal that won the game in the last minute of play. Then he had renewed +the invitation with redoubled earnestness, and promised them the time of +their lives. They needed no urging to do a thing that accorded so well +with their own inclinations, and from that time on until the opening of +the summer had shaped everything with that end in view. Now they were +actually launched upon their journey. That it held for them a new and +delightful experience they did not doubt. How much of danger and +excitement and hairbreadth escape it also held, they did not even dream. + +"Bully old boy, Melton," commented Tom, playing lazily with a heavy +paperweight he had bought at a curio shop at their last stopping place. + +"A diamond in the rough," assented Dick. + +"All wool and a yard wide," declared Bert, emphatically. "I wonder if +he----Great Scott, what's that?" as a bullet whizzed through the window +of the Pullman. + +The question was quickly answered when their eyes fell on the robbers, +who, with leveled pistols, dominated the car. And the threat of the +weapons themselves was not more sinister than the purpose that glinted in +the ferocious eyes above the improvised masks. There was no mere bluff +and bluster in that steady gaze. They were ready to shoot and shoot to +kill. Their lives were already forfeit to the law, anyway, and in that +rough country they would get "a short shrift and a long rope" if their +plans went astray. They might as well be hung for murder as robbery, and, +while they did not mean to kill unless driven to it, they were perfectly +ready to do so at the first hint of resistance. + +The paralyzing moment of surprise passed, there was a stir among the +passengers. The first instinct was to hide their valuables or drop them +on the floor. But this was checked instantly by the outlaws. + +"Hands up," shouted one of them with an oath. "I'll kill the first man +that makes a move." + +His pistol ranged over the car, flickering like the tongue of a snake, +seeming to cover every passenger at once. Beneath its deadly insistence, +hands were upraised one after the other. Resistance at that moment meant +instant death. The unwritten law of the West had to be obeyed. He "had +the drop" on them. + +The leader grinned malignantly and spoke to his companion, without for an +instant turning his gaze. + +"Now, Bill," he growled, "I've got these mavericks covered. Pass round +the hat. These gents--and ladies," he leered--"will hand over their coin +and jewelry, and God help the one who tries to renig. He won't never need +money no more." + +Taking his old sombrero from his head, the one addressed as Bill started +in to collect from the front of the car. + +"Only one hand down at a time to get your money," shouted his companion. +"And mind," he added ominously, "I'm watchin' that hand." + +Pocket books and rings and watches dropped into the hat. Women were +sobbing hysterically and men were cursing under their breath. + +"Stung," groaned Tom disgustedly. + +"And our pistols in our bags," growled Dick. + +Bert's mind had been working like lightning. He was always at his best +when danger threatened. Now his body grew taut and his eyes gleamed. + +"Be ready, you fellows," he said in low tones, scarcely moving his lips. +"Dick, back me up when I make a move. Tom, got that paperweight handy?" + +"Right alongside on the window ledge," muttered Tom. + +Still keeping his eyes in an innocent stare on the outlaw captain, Bert +murmured a few words. They caught his meaning on the instant and were +ready. + +The man with the hat was getting nearer. There had been no sign of +resistance and the leader relaxed his caution ever so slightly. This +was easier than they had dared to hope. + +The sombrero was sagging now with the unwilling wealth poured into it, +and the collector, relying on the vigilance of his companion, was +compelled to use both hands to keep the contents from spilling on the +floor. + +He held it out in front of Bert and Dick. + +"Your turn now," he snarled. "Fork over." + +They lowered their hands as though to get out their money. Then something +happened. + +Like a flash, Dick grabbed the pistol hand of the collector, while Bert's +fist shot up in a tremendous smashing uppercut. The man staggered back, +and Bert and Dick were on him like a pair of wildcats. + +At the same instant, with all the power of his trained baseball arm, Tom +had hurled the heavy paperweight straight at the outlaw captain. It +caught him full between the eyes. His pistol fell from his hand, going +off as it did so, and he crumpled up and went down to the floor in a +heap. + +It was all over in a second. The whole thing had been so perfectly timed, +brain and hand had worked in such absolute unison that disaster had come +on the outlaws like a bolt from the blue. It was "team work" of the +finest kind. + +The first surprise over, the other men in the car came crowding to the +assistance of the chief actors in the scrimmage. But the danger was past. +The leader was unconscious, and the other, badly beaten and cursing +horribly, was helpless in the grasp of the victors. Train men, rushing +in, took charge of the prisoners and trussed them up securely. + +A posse was hastily organized among the passengers and, heavily armed, +swarmed from the train in quest of the two remaining members of the band, +who had been left to guard the engineer and fireman. The miscreants saw +them coming, however, and realized that the game was up. They emptied +their pistols and then flung themselves upon their horses and galloped +off, secure for the time from further pursuit. + +The conductor, still pale and shaken from excitement, gave the signal. +There was a scramble to get aboard, the whistle tooted and the train +once more got under way. + +In the Pullman there was a wild turmoil, as the relieved passengers +crowded around the boys and wrung their hands in congratulation. They +couldn't say enough in praise of the courage and presence of mind that +had turned the tables so swiftly and gallantly. The spoils were retrieved +and distributed among the rightful owners, and then, with a bow of mock +politeness, the old sombrero, empty now, was clapped on the head of the +baffled collector, who received it with a new string of blasphemies. + +By this time the victim of Tom's unerring aim had gradually struggled +back to consciousness. His arms and feet had been securely tied and his +remaining revolver had been taken from his belt. Of a stronger mold than +his accomplice, he disdained to vent his rage in useless imprecations and +relapsed into silence as stoical as an Indian's. But, if looks could +kill, the boys would have been blasted by the brooding hate that shot +from under his jutting brows. + +"I'm glad it didn't kill him, anyway," said Tom, as, after the tumult had +somewhat subsided, they once more were seated and the train was flying +along at full speed. + +"It's a wonder it didn't," responded Dick. "It was a fearful crack." + +"Tom hasn't forgotten the way he used to shoot them down from third base +to first," laughed Bert. "That right wing of his is certainly a dandy." + +"It's lucky it is," said the conductor, who had just returned from giving +directions concerning the prisoners; "and talking about wings," he added, +turning to Bert, "there's no discount on yours. That fist hit like a +sledgehammer. The way you fellows piled into him was a crime. I never saw +a prettier bit of rough house. + +"But the beauty of it all," he went on, "was the way you worked together. +If any one of you hadn't 'come through' at the same second, the jig would +have been up. Who figured it out?" + +"Here's the slow thinker that did it," said Dick, clapping Bert on the +shoulder. + +"That's the bonehead, sure enough," echoed Tom. + +"Oh, come off," growled Bert, flushing a little and fidgeting uneasily in +his seat. "There was a whole lot of luck about it, anyway. If we hadn't +had the paperweight, all the thinking in the world wouldn't have done us +a bit of good." + +"If you hadn't had the thinking, all the paperweights in the world +wouldn't have done us a bit of good," corrected Tom. + +"Well, there's glory enough for all," smiled the conductor. "The main +point is that you fellows have put me and the company under a load of +gratitude and obligation that we can never repay. Call it quick thinking, +quick acting, or both--you turned the trick." + +"It had to be a case of 'the quick or the dead,'" grinned Tom. + +"Sure thing," assented the conductor. "You were the quick and those two +rascals are the dead. Or will be before long," he added grimly. "I'll +turn them over to the sheriff at the next station. There's a hand bill +in the baggage car describing a band of outlaws that the authorities of +three States have been after for a long time for robbery and murder, and +two of the descriptions fit these fellows to a dot. There's a price on +their heads, dead or alive, and I guess they've reached the end of their +rope in more senses than one." + +He passed on and the boys relaxed in their seats. They were still under +the nervous strain of the stirring scene in which they had been the chief +actors. Tom's breath was coming fast and his eyes were shining. + +Bert looked at him for a moment and then nudged Dick. + +"Didn't I hear some one say a little while ago," he asked slyly, "that in +this little old United States there was too much civilization?" + +"Yes," replied Dick, still quoting, "nothing ever happens nowadays." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +The Ranch in the Rockies + + +With a great roar and rattle and clangor of bells, the train drew up at +the little station where the boys were to descend. Their long rail +journey of nearly three thousand miles was over, but they still had a +forty-mile drive before they would reach the ranch. + +For a half hour previous they had been gathering their traps together and +saying good-by to their friends on the train. These last included all of +the travelers, who, since the capture of the robbers, had insisted on +making heroes of the boys. In vain they had protested that the thanks +were out of all proportion to the service rendered. The passengers +themselves knew better. And it was amid a chorus of the friendliest +farewells and good wishes that they had stepped to the rude platform of +the station. + +"Not much of a metropolis about this," said Tom as they looked around. + +"Hardly," agreed Dick. "The principal thing here is space. You can cross +the street without the help of a traffic cop." + +"And only one street to cross, at that," added Bert. + +It was the typical small town of the Western plains. The one crooked +street parallel with the track stretched on either side of the station +for perhaps half a mile, lined with houses at irregular intervals. There +was no pretence of a sidewalk and even fences were conspicuous by their +absence. The business part of the town consisted of a general store that +served also as a post office, a blacksmith shop and three saloons, to one +of which a dance hall was attached. Business seemed brisk in these, +judging from the many mustangs that were tied to rails outside, patiently +waiting for their masters who were "tanking up" within and accumulating +their daily quota of "nose paint." A Mexican in a tattered serape was +sitting on the steps of the store rolling a cigarette, while an Indian, +huddled in a greasy blanket and evidently much the worse for fire water, +sat crouched against the shack that served as baggage-room at the left +end of the station. + +Down the platform came hustling a big burly form that they recognized in +an instant. + +"Mr. Melton," they cried in chorus as they rushed with extended hands to +meet him. + +"Sure thing," he responded, his face beaming with delight at their hearty +greeting. "Did you think I'd send one of my men to meet you? Not on your +life. Nothing less than a broken leg would have kept me from coming to +give you the first welcome to old Montana. Came down yesterday so that +the horses could have a good rest before starting back again. Come right +along now and tumble into the buckboard. One of my men will look after +your duds and bring them along later." + +All talking at once, they came to the farther end of the platform, where +a big mountain wagon was waiting. It was drawn by a pair of wiry mustangs +that champed impatiently at the bit. + +"Not very pretty to look at," said Melton, "but they're holy terrors when +it comes to traveling. Jump in." + +They all piled in and Melton gathered up the reins. He chirped to the +horses and they started off at a rate that justified all he had said as +to their speed. But he held them in check and subdued them to a trot +that, while moderate in appearance, ate up the miles amazingly. + +"Pure grit and iron, those little sinners," he commented. "But they've +got a long way to go, and we're sure even at this rate to get home in +plenty of time for supper. Now, tell me all about yourselves." + +Which they proceeded to do in detail, not neglecting the attempted +hold-up on the train. He listened with the keenest interest. + +"So you got the best of 'Red' Thompson and 'Shag' Leary," he exclaimed in +astonishment. "The toughest nuts we've had to crack in this section for +years. A good many people will breathe easier now that they're trapped. +They're 'bad men' through and through, and if their pistol butts had a +notch on them for every man they've killed, they'd look like saws. And +with nothing but a paperweight and bare fists," he chuckled. "They sure +must feel sore. What was done with them?" + +"Oh, the conductor handed them over to the sheriff at one of the +stations," answered Bert. "I suppose they'll be tried before long." + +"Maybe," said Melton a little dubiously. "My own private hunch, though, +is that Judge Lynch will invite them to a little necktie party. They've +lived a heap sight too long already, and there won't be much formality +wasted on them. + +"You boys sure have the nerve," he went on. "You got away with it all +right, but you took an awful chance." + +"Yes," quoted Dick: + + 'An inch to the left or an inch to the right, + And we wouldn't be maundering here to-night.'" + +"Those born to be hung will never be shot," laughed Tom. "I guess that +explains our escape so far." + +"It beats the Dutch the faculty you fellows have of getting into scrapes +and out again," commented Melton. "I believe you'd smell a scrap a mile +away. You'd rather fight than eat." + +"You won't think so when you see what we'll do to that supper of yours +to-night," retorted Tom. "Gee, but this air does give you an appetite." + +"The one thing above all others that Tom doesn't need," chaffed Dick. +"But he's right, just the same. The way I feel I could make a wolf look +like thirty cents." + +"You can't scare me with that kind of talk," challenged Melton. "Let out +your belts to the last notch and I'll guarantee they'll be tight when you +get up from the table." + +"That listens good," said Tom. "I'm perfectly willing you should call my +bluff." + +With jest and laughter the afternoon wore on and the shadows cast by the +declining sun began to lengthen. After their long confinement on the +train, the boys felt as though they had been released from prison. They +had been so accustomed to a free, unfettered life that they had chafed at +the three days' detention, where the only chance they had to stretch +their limbs had been afforded by the few minutes wait at stations. Now +they enjoyed to the full the sense of release that came to them in their +new surroundings. The West, as seen from a car window, was a vastly +different thing when viewed from the seat of a buckboard going at a +spanking gait over the limitless plains. + +For that they were limitless was the impression conveyed by the unbroken +skyline that seemed to be a thousand miles away. Only in the northwest +did mountains loom. They had never before had such an impression of the +immensity of space. It seemed as though the whole expanse had been +created for them, and them alone. For many miles they saw no human figure +except that of a solitary cowboy, who passed them at a gallop on his way +to the town. The country was slightly rolling and richly grassed, +affording pasturage for thousands of cattle that roamed over it at will, +almost as free as though in a wild state, except at the time of the +round-up. They crossed numerous small rivers, none so deep that they +could not be forded, although in one case the water flowed over the body +of the wagon. + +"That's the Little Big Horn River," said Melton as they drew out on the +other side. "Perhaps you fellows remember something that happened here a +good many years ago." + +"What," cried Bert. "You don't mean the Custer Massacre?" + +"That's what," returned Melton. "Right over there where the river bends +was the place where Sitting Bull was encamped when Custer led the charge +on that June morning. I've got to breathe the horses for twenty minutes +or so, and, if you like, we'll look over the field." + +If they would like! The boys thrilled at the thought. They had read again +and again of that gallant and hopeless fight, where a thousand American +cavalrymen led by Custer, the idol of the army, had attacked nine +thousand Indians, and fighting against these fearful odds had been wiped +out to the last man. In all the nation's history no one, except perhaps +Phil Sheridan and Stonewall Jackson, had so appealed to the imagination +of the country's youth as Custer, the reckless, yellow-haired leader in +a hundred fights, the hero of Cedar Creek and Waynesboro and Five Forks, +the Chevalier Bayard of modern times, "without fear and without +reproach," who met his death at last as he would have wished to meet it, +in that mad glorious dash that has made his name immortal, going down as +he had lived with his face to the foe. To these ardent young patriots the +place was holy ground, and their pulses leaped and their hearts swelled +as Melton pointed out the features of the field and narrated some of the +incidents of that awful, but magnificent, fight. It was with intense +reluctance that, warned by the gathering shadows, they tore themselves +away. + +"Can't wait any longer now," said Melton as they retraced their steps to +the place where the horses were browsing; "but some day soon we'll come +down here early and spend the whole day. It won't be any too long to get +a clear idea of the fight and all that led up to it." + +The mustangs, refreshed by the rest, and feeling too that they were on +the last stretch of their journey, needed no urging, and Melton gave them +their head. + +"Must be pretty near your place now, I suppose," said Tom. + +"Well, yes," answered Melton, with a twinkle in his eyes; "been traveling +on my lands for the last eight miles. House not more than five miles +ahead." + +The boys gasped. It was something new to them to hear one speak as +carelessly of miles as a farmer back East would speak of acres. Now they +were getting some idea of what was meant when one spoke of the "boundless +West." + +"Got to have room to stretch my arms without hitting anything," went on +Melton. "Of course, I don't use much of it for farming. Just raise enough +to take care of the table and the stock. But for grazing there ain't any +better pasture for cattle in the whole State of Montana." + +"Then all the cattle we've seen grazing by thousands for the last few +miles belong to you?" asked Dick, as soon as he had recovered from his +surprise. + +"Sure thing," returned their host, "and they're only a few of them. It +would take a cowboy the better part of a day to start at one end of the +ranch and circle around it. And there's plenty of ranches in the State +bigger than mine." + +Now the going was steadily uphill and the horses subsided to a walk. They +were in the foothills of the Rockies. In the gathering dusk they could +see ahead of them the mighty peaks in the background rising to a height +of many thousand feet. Higher and higher they went, until they were as +much as six hundred feet above sea level. If they had had no other proof +they would have found it in the increasing rarity of the air and the +slightly greater difficulty in breathing. + +"You'll soon get used to that," said Melton. "After a day or two you +won't notice any difference. I could of course have built on a lower +level, and in some ways that would have been an advantage. But when I +settled here I made up my mind that I wanted air that was washed clean +by the mountain breezes, and I planted my stakes according." + +Soon they reached a broad, level plateau, and, a little way off, could +see the lights coming from a low-lying group of buildings. Several dogs +came rushing down with barks of welcome, and a couple of men lounging +near one of the corrals removed the bars of a huge gate, from which the +path led up to the largest of the buildings. It was a rambling structure +only two stories in height, but covering a vast extent of ground and +suggestive of homely comfort and hospitality. A broad veranda extended +along three sides of the house, and in front a well-kept flower garden +bordered the path that led to the door. + +As they approached, heralded by the noisy greeting of the dogs, the door +was thrown wide open and Mrs. Melton appeared in the flood of light that +streamed from within. + +She was a pleasant-faced, motherly-looking woman, and she welcomed the +boys with open arms. There was no mistaking the warmth and sincerity of +her greeting. They felt at home at once and in a few minutes were +chatting and laughing as easily as though they had known her for years. +Perhaps the memory of her own two boys, dead long since, but who would +have been just about the age of the newcomers had they lived, added to +the hearty cordiality with which she took them under her wing. + +"We oughtn't to need any introduction at all," she beamed, "because Mr. +Melton has done nothing but talk about you ever since he came back from +that last trip to Mexico. I wouldn't dare to tell you all he said, for +fear of making you conceited. I really think the last trip he made East +was more to see you than anything else. He said he was going on business, +but I have my own opinion about that." + +"Well, if it hadn't been for him we wouldn't have been there to see," +said Bert warmly. "The vultures would have had us long ago, if he hadn't +risked his own life to help us out of trouble." + +"Nothing at all, nothing at all," deprecated Melton. "You gave me a +chance for a lovely scrap, just when I was beginning to wonder whether +I'd forgotten how to fight. I've felt ten years younger ever since." + +"You don't need to get any younger," retorted his wife in affectionate +reproach. "You're just as much of a boy as you ever were. I declare," she +laughed, turning to her guests; "I ought to call him Peter Pan. He'll +never grow up." + +"Well, he's a pretty husky youngster," grinned Tom, looking admiringly at +his host's two hundred and forty pounds of bone and muscle. + +But now Mrs. Melton's housewifely instincts asserted themselves, and she +shooed the boys off to their rooms to rid themselves of the dust of the +journey, while she bustled round to get supper on the table. + +A few minutes later and they were gathered at supper in the +brightly-lighted, well-furnished dining-room of the ranch. It was a jolly +party, where every one radiated happiness and good nature. There was not +a particle of stiffness or pretence in that wholesome environment. The +delight of their hosts in having them there found an echo in the hearts +of the boys, and they were soon on as genial and friendly a footing as +though they had known them all their lives. + +And that supper! To the hungry boys, with their naturally keen appetites +still further sharpened by the long ride, it seemed a feast fit for the +Gods. The table fairly groaned beneath the weight of good things placed +upon it. Crisp trout freshly taken from the mountain brook, a delicious +roast flanked by snowy mounds of potatoes and vegetables just plucked +from the garden patch, luscious berries warm with the sun, deluged with +rich cream, and pastries "such as mother used to make" offered a +challenge to the boys that they gleefully accepted. They ate like +famished wolves, while Mrs. Melton bridled with pride at the tribute paid +to her cooking; and, when at last they had fairly cleared the board, they +sat back with a sigh of content at duty well performed. + +"How about those belts?" laughed Melton, as he lighted his pipe. + +"Tight as a drum," Tom answered for all. "You called my bluff, all +right." + +"Sallie certainly knows how to cook," said Mr. Melton, patting his wife's +hand. + +"You mustn't give me all the credit," smiled Mrs. Melton, smoothing out +her apron. "That Chinese cook you brought back with you the last time you +went to Helena is certainly a treasure. I don't know how I'd get along +now without him." + +"That reminds me," said Melton, with a quick glance at his wife. "Just +send him in here for a minute, will you?" + +She went into the kitchen and a moment later returned, followed by a +Chinaman, who shuffled along in his heelless slippers. + +The boys glanced at him indifferently for a moment. Then a startled +recognition leaped into their eyes. + +"Wah Lee," they cried in chorus, jumping to their feet. + +"That same old yellow sinner," confirmed Melton complacently. + +The Chinaman himself was shocked for a moment out of his Oriental +stolidity. A delighted smile spread over his face and he broke into an +excited jargon of "pidgin English," of which the refrain was: + +"Velly glad slee. Wah Lee velly glad slee." + +Then in a burst of grateful memory he threw himself to the floor and +tried to put their feet upon his head, as a token that he was their slave +for life. But they jerked him upright in a torrent of eager questioning. + +"You old rascal." + +"How did you ever get here?" + +"I thought you were back in China by this time." + +But Wah Lee's smile was more expansive than his vocabulary was extensive. + +"Him tell," he said, pointing to Mr. Melton. + +"I thought it would be a surprise party," that worthy chuckled as he +refilled his pipe. "So I didn't tell you anything about it nor did I tell +the Chink that you were coming. It was a surprise, all right," and he +chuckled again. + +"It won't take very long to explain," he went on when his pipe was +drawing well. "You remember that after you got back from your trip +to the Canal you gave him money enough to go West and start a little +laundry business wherever he might choose to settle down. It seems he +drifted out to Helena, where there's quite a colony of Chinks, and +started in to wash and iron. As nearly as I can understand his gibberish, +he was doing pretty well, too, until he got mixed up in one of those +secret society feuds that play hob among those fellows. It seems that he +belonged to the On Leong clan and the Hip Son Tong got after him. They +sent on to 'Frisco for some highbinders--those professional killers, you +know--and Wah Lee got wind of the fact that he was one of the victims +marked for slaughter. Naturally, he was in a fearful stew about it, and +just when things were at their worst I happened to be in Helena on +business and ran across him. Of course, I'd never have known him, for all +Chinks look alike to me, but he recognized me in a minute and begged me +by all his gods to help him out. He knew it wouldn't do any good to go +from one city to another, because they'd get him sure, and his only +chance was to be smuggled off into some country place where they might +lose track of him. It seemed rather hard lines for the old fellow, and +though I didn't care much to mix up in the rescue stunt, I didn't have +the heart to turn him down. So he sold out his shop to one of his own +society, and I brought him out at night. I didn't know just what I'd do +with him, but it turns out that he is a dandy cook, and Mrs. Melton +insists that my running across him was a rare streak of luck." + +"It certainly was for him, anyway," said Bert. "I'd hate to have anything +happen to the old boy. He had a pretty rough deal in Mexico." + +"He did, for a fact," agreed Melton reminiscently, "and he hasn't gotten +over it yet. A little while ago one of my men brought in a snake that he +had killed on his way back from town. The boys were looking at it when +the Chink happened to come along, and one of them, in a joke, threw it at +him. You never saw a fellow so scared. I thought for a minute he was +going to throw a fit." + +"I don't wonder," said Dick soberly. + +For he, as well as Wah Lee, would never look upon one of those hideous +reptiles without a shudder. As clearly as though it were yesterday, he +saw again that morning in the Mexican hills, when, tied to a tree, he had +looked upon the monster rattlesnake that was to torture him, and prayed +that he might have courage to die without disgracing his manhood. Wah +Lee, his companion in captivity, had been brought out first, thrown flat +on the ground and fastened securely to stakes. Just out of reach, a +rattlesnake, with a buckskin thong passed through its tail, was tied to a +stake. Tortured by rage and pain, the reptile struck at the Chinaman's +face, but couldn't quite make the distance. Then water was poured on the +thong and it began to stretch. With each spring the awful fangs came +nearer, and it was only a question of minutes before they would be +embedded in the victim's flesh. Then, from the woods, Melton's bowie +knife had whizzed, slicing the snake's head from his body, and the next +instant in a rain of bullets the rescuing party had burst into the +clearing. + +Later on, they had found Wah Lee on their hands, and at his earnest +entreaties had taken him with them to Panama. There he had found +employment in the house of a wealthy Japanese landholder, and by the +merest chance had been able to convey to Bert a hint of the conspiracy to +destroy the Canal. The plot had been frustrated by Bert's daring exploit, +and on the return of the party to America Wah Lee had again accompanied +them. When they had provided for him and sent him West they never thought +that again their paths would cross. Yet here he was, as bland and smiling +as ever, on this remote ranch in the Rocky Mountains. The world was only +a small place, after all. + +For a long time after he had trotted away again to his duties in the +kitchen they sat discussing the exciting events that his reappearance had +brought back to their minds. Then, at last, Melton arose and shook the +ashes from his pipe. + +"I reckon you youngsters are about ready to turn in," he said. "You've +had a long ride and it's getting pretty late. We'll have plenty of time +to chin before the summer's over. For I give you fair warning," he added +with his genial smile, "I've got you roped now and I ain't going to let +you go in a hurry." + +He took them up to their rooms, cool, spacious and provided with every +comfort. There with a cordial good-night he left them. + +Their windows faced toward the north and commanded a magnificent view of +the mountains. Tall, solemn, majestic, they towered upward in wild and +rugged beauty. The moon had risen and the distant peaks were flooded with +light. It was a scene to delight the soul of an artist and the boys +lingered under the spell. + +"Just such a night as when we crouched in the shadow of that big rock in +the Mexican forest," murmured Bert. "Do you remember, Tom?" + +"Yes," answered Tom; "but I don't think the moon will ever again see us +in such a desperate fix as we were in that night." + +Which showed that Tom had not the gift of prophecy. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +"Busting" a Broncho + + +The boys slept that night the dreamless sleep of wholesome fatigue and +perfect health, and awoke the next morning as fresh as daisies. Life is +astir early on a ranch, and the day's work had fairly begun when they +came down to breakfast. The smell of hot coffee and frying bacon had +whetted their appetites, and they needed no urging from their hosts to do +full justice to the ample meal that awaited them. Then they hurried +outdoors to make acquaintance with this new life that they had looked +forward to so impatiently. + +It was a glorious morning. There was not a cloud in the sky and a light +breeze tempered the heat of the sun. At that high level it was seldom +sultry, and the contrast to the heat of the sun-baked plains below was +refreshing. It amply justified, in the boys' opinion, Mr. Melton's wisdom +in the choice of this airy plateau as a location for his home. + +The mountains hemmed them in on the north, but on the west and east and +south stretched grassy plains and rolling slopes as far as the eye could +reach. Great herds of cattle dotted the expanse, and here and there could +be seen a mounted cowboy, winding in and out among the stock. Dark lines +at short intervals marked the course of artificial canals, that were fed +by a series of pipes from brooks back in the mountains. There was an +inexhaustible supply of sparkling water, and it was evident that the +fortunate owner of this ranch was forever secure against drought--that +scourge of the Western plains. + +"It must have cost a mint of money to do all that piping and digging," +suggested Bert as his eyes took in the vast extent of the operations. + +"Yes, a good many thousands," assented his host, "but it pays to do +things right. I've already got back a good many times over all that it +cost. A single hot barren summer would destroy thousands of head of +cattle, to say nothing of the suffering of the poor brutes. And those +that didn't die would be so worn to skin and bone that they'd hardly pay +the expense of shipping them to market. The only way to make money in +ranching nowadays is to do things on a big scale and take advantage of +all up-to-date ideas. + +"A good many people," he went on, "have an idea that if a man has a good +ranch and a few thousand head of stock he's found a short and easy way to +riches. That doesn't follow at all. There are just as many chances, just +as many ups and downs as in any other business. I know lots of men that +once were prosperous ranchers who to-day are down and out, and that too +through no fault of their own. Sometimes it's a disease that comes along +and sweeps away half of your herd at a single stroke. The drought gets +them in summer and a blizzard covers them up in winter. Then, too, there +are the cattle rustlers that, in the course of a season, often get away +with hundreds of them, change the brand and send them away to their +confederates. Many of them are stung by rattlesnakes. The wolves, in a +hard winter, pull down a lot of the cows, and sometimes, though not so +often, the grizzlies get after them. Take all these things into account, +figure up the payroll for the help, the freight charges on your +shipments, and it's no wonder that many a man finds a balance on the +wrong side of the ledger in lean seasons. No, it isn't all 'peaches and +cream' in ranching." + +"You spoke of grizzlies a minute ago," said Dick, whose sporting blood +had tingled at mention of the name. "Are there many of those fellows +around here?" + +"Not so many as there used to be," replied Mr. Melton. "They're being +pushed further and further north as the country gets more settled. Still +there are enough around to make it advisable to keep your eye peeled for +trouble whenever you get a little way further up in the mountains. Every +once in a while we find the body of a steer partly eaten, and we can +always tell when a grizzly has pulled it down." + +"How's that?" asked Tom. + +"By the way he covers it up," answered Melton. "He always heaps up a pile +of brush or dried grass over the carcass. I reckon it's his sign manual +to tell other animals who may be skulking around that it's his kill, and +that there'll be trouble if any of them go monkeying around it. At any +rate, they don't fool with it. They know he's king in these parts. +Wherever the grizzly sits is the head of the table." + +"Are they really as savage as they are cracked up to be?" asked Bert. "If +so, it must be great sport hunting them." + +"Are they savage?" echoed their host pityingly. "Say, son, there's +nothing on four feet as full of hate and poison, unless perhaps a +gorilla. And if it ever came to a tussle between them two, my money +would go on the grizzly every time. + +"As to it's being great sport hunting them, it's the grizzly that usually +does the hunting. For myself, I haven't any ambition that way. I'm +perfectly willing to give him his full half of the road whenever we meet. +And we won't meet at all, if I see him first. I've had more than one +tussle with an old silver-tip, and I've got a few hides up at the house +to serve as reminders. But it's always been when it was more dangerous to +run than it was to stay and fight it out. There ain't many things on four +feet or two that I'd go far out of my way to keep from meeting, but when +it comes to a grizzly I haven't any pride at all. There are less exciting +forms of amusement. No, my boy, if you're thinking of tackling a grizzly, +take a fool's advice and don't do it." + +"But a bullet in the right place would stop them as surely as it would +anything else, I should think," ventured Tom. + +"That's just the point," said Melton. "It's mighty hard to put a bullet +in the right place. If you're on horseback, your horse is so mortally +scared at sight of the brute that he won't let you get a steady aim. +There's nothing on earth that a mustang fears so much as a bear. And, if +you're on foot, he moves so swiftly and dodges so cleverly, that it's +hard to pick out the right spot to plunk him. And all the time, you know +that, if you miss, it's probably all up with you. Even if you get him in +the heart, his strength and vitality are such that he may get to you in +time enough to take you along with him over the great divide. And it +isn't a pleasant way of dying. He just hugs you up in those front paws of +his, lifts up his hind paw with claws six inches long, and with one great +sweep rips you to pieces. There's no need of a post-mortem to find out +how a man has died when a grizzly has got through with him. I've come +across such sights at times, and I didn't have any appetite for a day or +two afterward. + +"But there's no use warning you young rascals, I suppose," he grinned. +"You're the kind that looks for trouble as naturally as a bee hunts +for clover. I'll bet at this very minute you're honing to get after a +silver-tip. Own up, now, ain't you?" + +The boys laughed and flushed a little self-consciously. + +"Hardly that, perhaps," answered Bert. "But if you should happen by any +chance to come across one, I wouldn't mind being along." + +"Righto," said Dick emphatically. + +"Same here," echoed Tom. + +"Hopeless cases," said Mr. Melton quizzically, shaking his head. "I +suppose there's no use arguing with you. I was that way once myself, but +I've learned now to keep out of trouble as much as I can." + +"Just as you did down in Mexico," suggested Dick slyly. + +The boys roared and Melton looked a little sheepish. + +"You scored on me that time," he laughed. "But come along now down to the +bunk house and meet some of the boys. A good many are away riding herd, +but the foreman is here and two or three of the others, and a lot more +will come in when it's time for grub." + +"How many men do you need to run the ranch?" asked Dick. + +"Oh, about twenty, more or less," answered Melton. "In the busiest season +I usually take on a few more to help out, especially when I'm getting +ready to ship the stock. + +"Pretty good set of fellows I have now," he went on as he led the way +toward the men's quarters. "Not a trouble maker in the bunch, except a +half breed that I'm not particularly stuck on, and that I'm going to get +rid of as soon as work gets slack. But take them all together I haven't +got any kick coming. + +"Of course," he qualified as he stopped to light his pipe, "they ain't +what you could call angels, by a long shot. If any one's looking for +anything like that, they won't find it on a ranch. Some pretty rough +specimens drift out here from the East, who perhaps have had reasons for +making a quick getaway. But as long as a man does his work and does it +right, we don't ask any more about their past than they care to tell. It +ain't etiquette out here to do that, and then too it sometimes leads to a +man getting shot full of holes if he's too curious. Their language isn't +apt to be any too refined and their table manners leave a lot to be +desired. When pay day comes, most of their money goes to the saloons and +dance halls in the towns. They're usually a pretty moody and useless +bunch for a day or two after that. But in the main they're brave and +square and friendly, and they sure do work hard for their forty-five +a month and found. And if you get into a scrap they're a mighty handy lot +of fellows to have at your back." + +By this time they had reached the bunk house. As its name implied, it +served as sleeping quarters for the men. It was a long one-story building +covering a large area of ground. All one end of it was partitioned off +into bunks to the number of thirty or more. The other half was used as a +dining and living room. A long table, spread with oilcloth, extended down +the center, with a row of chairs on either side. The walls were decorated +with gaudy lithographs, circus posters and colored sheets taken from the +Sunday papers that occasionally drifted out that way. On a side table +were a number of well-thumbed magazines that Mrs. Melton had sent down +for the men to read in their rare moments of leisure. Saddles and harness +and lariats were hung on nails driven into the logs. Everything was rude +and simple, but scrupulously clean. The floor had been recently swept and +the oilcloth on the table was shining. + +In a little extension at the southern end of the shack the cook was +clearing away the dishes from breakfast and making ready for the +noon-day meal. A couple of great dogs basked in the sunshine that +streamed through the open door. They jumped to their feet as their owner +approached and capered about him joyously in a manner that bespoke their +attachment. + +A lank, muscular man at this moment came around a corner of the house. +His face was tanned to the color of mahogany and around his eyes were the +tiny wrinkles that come to men accustomed to peer into the wide spaces. +He had on a pair of sheepskin trousers with the fleece still adhering, +and his long legs had the slight crook that spoke of a life spent almost +entirely in the saddle. A buckskin shirt, a handkerchief knotted loosely +around his neck and a broad slouch hat with a rattlesnake skin encircling +it for a band completed his costume. There was about him the air of a man +accustomed to be obeyed, and yet there was no swagger or truculence in +his bearing. His glance was singularly fearless and direct, and the boys +warmed to him at first sight. + +"Just the man I wanted to see, Sandy," said his employer. "I want you to +meet these three young friends of mine." + +As their names were spoken the boys stepped forward and shook hands +heartily. + +"Mr. Clinch is one of the best foremen that ever rode the range or roped +a steer," went on Melton, "and what he don't know about a ranch isn't +worth knowing. I've got to go up to the house now to look over some +accounts and I'm going to leave you in his care. You remember, Sandy, +that little scrap in Mexico I told you about? Well, these are the boys +that stood at my back. They've got a knack for getting into a shindy on +the slightest provocation and I look to you to keep them out of trouble. +I warn you though that it is a man's job." + +"I guess I'm up to it, boss," grinned Sandy. "There ain't much chance for +trouble round here, anyhow. There may be a look in if those ornery +rustlers don't quit fooling with our cattle. But just at this minute +things is plumb peaceful. I'm going up to the corral where the wranglers +are breaking in some of the young horses, and perhaps these young fellers +would like to come along." + +Nothing possibly could suit them better, and while Mr. Melton retraced +his steps to the house they followed the foreman to the corral. + +There everything was animation and apparent confusion. The clatter of +hoofs, the swish of lariats, the shouts of the "wranglers" as they +sought to bring their wayward charges under control, while a matter of +everyday routine to the cowboys themselves were entirely new to the boys, +who leaned against the log fence and watched the proceedings with +breathless interest. + +There were two corrals of almost equal size, each covering several acres +of ground, and a broad gate connected the two. In one of them were forty +or more young horses who up to now had been running wild on the range. +They had never known the touch of a whip or a spur, nor felt the weight +of a rider. The nearest approach to constraint they had ever experienced +was that furnished by the encircling fence of the corral into which they +had been driven yesterday. That this was irksome and even terrifying was +evident by their dilated nostrils, their wild expression, and the way +they pawed at the bars and at times measured the height of the fence, as +though contemplating a leap over it into the wide spaces beyond. But +their instinct told them that they could not make it, and they ran around +restlessly or pawed the ground uneasily, waiting their turn to be roped +and broken. + +When the boys reached the outer fence, one of them had just been caught +by a whirling lariat and dragged, stubbornly protesting, into the +adjoining corral. Once there he made a wild dash to escape and lashed out +fiercely with his heels at the men who held him. But with a skill born of +long experience they eluded him, and one of them, watching his chance, +suddenly leaped on his back. The men, on either side, relinquished their +hold, and retreated to a safe position on the fence. + +Then commenced the most exciting struggle for mastery between brute and +man that the boys had ever seen. + +For a moment the broncho stood stock still, paralyzed with surprise and +fright. Then he gave a mighty leap into the air in a vain endeavor to +unseat the rider. This failing, he snapped viciously at the horseman's +leg, which was instantly thrown up out of reach. Then the maddened brute +rushed against the bars of the corral in an effort to crush the rider. +But again the uplifted leg foiled the maneuver, and the severe scraping +that the horse himself received took away from him all desire of +repeating that particular trick. + +All this time the cowboy showed the most extreme nonchalance. If +anything, he seemed rather bored. And yet, despite his apparent +stolidity, the boys noticed that he watched his mount like a hawk and +always discounted each trick a second in advance. It was a fight between +brute strength and human intelligence and the struggle was unequal. +Barring accidents the latter was bound to win. + +Like a flash the horse changed his tactics and went to the ground, +intending to roll over and crush his rider. The movement was almost too +quick to be followed by the eye. But the man was off at a bound and, when +the astonished broncho struggled to his feet, his tormentor had again +sprung on his back and was lashing him with the end of the rope that +served as a halter. + +Then the pony tried his last resource. Springing into the air he came +down with all four feet held closely together. It would have jarred a +novice out of his seat at once. But the superb horsemanship of the man +on his back absorbed the shock with his tightly gripped legs as he +descended, and he settled into his seat with the lightness of a feather. + +For half an hour the battle was prolonged, and, to the breathlessly +watching boys, it seemed that the daring rider escaped death a dozen +times almost by a miracle. All that they had ever seen in Wild West shows +seemed pale and weak by comparison with this fight out in the open, where +nothing was prearranged and where both parties to the combat were in +deadly earnest. It was life "in the raw" and it stirred them to the +depths. + +And now the horse was "all in." His flanks heaved with his tremendous +exertions, and he was dripping with sweat and foam. He had made a gallant +fight, but the odds were against him. His ears were no longer flattened +viciously against his head, but drooped forward piteously, and into his +eyes came the look that spelled surrender. He had learned the hard and +pathetic lesson of the brute creation, that man was the master. This +strange being, who so easily defied his strength and thwarted his +cunning, was stronger than he, and at last he knew it. + +The rider, now that he had won, could afford to be kind. He patted his +mount's head and spoke to him soothingly. Then he drove him without +demur a few times more about the corral and dismounted. A stable +attendant led the conquered brute to a stall, and the victor, breathing a +little hard, but bearing no other traces of the struggle, repaired to the +fence, squatted on the top rail and lighted a cigarette. + +"That was horsemanship, all right," breathed Tom in admiration. + +"You bet it was," said Dick. "If I'd been insuring that fellow's life I'd +have wanted a premium of ninety-nine per cent." + +"He earns his money," remarked Bert. "A man hasn't any chance to +'soldier' on a job like that." + +Another cowboy took the place of the first one, and the scene was +repeated, in each case with variations that kept the interest of the boys +at fever heat. The time slipped by so rapidly that they were genuinely +astonished when the blowing of a horn announced that it was time for +dinner. + +Sandy approached them as they were turning away reluctantly. + +"I'd shore like to have you young fellers take dinner with us at the +bunkhouse, if you care to," he said. "I'd like to have the boys get +acquainted with yer. Maybe we won't have all the trimmin's that you'd get +at the boss's table, but I guess we can manage to fill yer up." + +"That's a pretty big contract, Sandy," laughed Bert; "but we'll be only +too glad to come. Just let me speak to Mrs. Melton, so that she won't +wait for us and we'll be with you in a jiffy." + +Mrs. Melton smilingly acquiesced, and Melton himself, who knew how much +of the boys' enjoyment of their visit would depend upon friendly +relations with the men about the ranch, gave his hearty approval. + +A dozen or more of the cowboys were at the house when they arrived, all +ravenous for "grub." Outside of the door was a broad bench on which was a +basin, which the men in turn replenished from a hogshead standing near, +and in which they plunged their hands and faces, emerging dripping to dry +themselves on a roller towel behind the door. The boys did the same, and +as they came in were introduced by Sandy to the rest of the men. There +was a breezy absence of formality that was most refreshing after the more +or less artificial life of the East, and the boys warmed at once toward +these hardy specimens of manhood, who looked them straight in the eyes +and crushed their hands in their hearty grip. This wild, free spirit of +the plains was akin to their own, and although their mode of life had +been so different, a subtle free masonry told them that in substance +they were members of the same brotherhood. + +The cowboys also were "sizing up" the newcomers. Physically they had no +criticism to make. These stalwart, athletic young fellows were splendid +specimens, who looked as though they were fully capable of giving a good +account of themselves in a tussle. Most of them had heard in a more or +less fragmentary way about the adventure in Mexico, and Melton's +unstinted praise of them had gone a long way in their favor. Still, that +had been a scrap with "greasers," and the contemptuous attitude that most +of them held toward the men south of the Rio Grande, led them to attach +less value to the exploit. Then, too, when all was said and done, these +visitors were "tender-feet," and as such would bear watching. So that, +while perfectly free and friendly and admitting that they were a "likely +bunch," they were inclined to reserve judgment, and observe them further, +before admitting them fully into their fraternity. + +The meal proceeded amid a clatter of dishes and a buzz of conversation, +abounding in rough jests and repartee. The boys took their part in frank, +good fellowship and were hearty in their praises of the hard riding they +had seen that morning. The ranchmen deprecated this as only "part of the +day's work," but were pleased none the less at the sincere appreciation. + +The meal, although, as Sandy had hinted, wanting in "frills," was well +cooked and abundant, and the food disappeared before those healthy +appetites in a way that would have struck terror to the heart of a +boarding-house keeper. Before it was quite over, a belated cowboy +galloped in from town. He dismounted, threw his saddlebags on the bench, +and, after sousing his heated face in the friendly basin, sat down to the +table and proceeded to make amends for lost time. + +"Bring a paper with you, Pete?" asked one of his friends as he pushed +back his chair and lighted his pipe. + +"Yes," answered Pete between mouthfuls. "Got a copy of the Helena +'Record.' You'll find it in the saddlebag." + +The first speaker rose leisurely, hunted up the newspaper and seated +himself on the step of the bunkhouse. He looked over it carelessly for +a moment and then a headline caught his attention. He read on for a few +lines and then called to his mates. + +"Look here, fellows," he exclaimed. "I see that they've jugged 'Red' +Thompson and 'Shag' Leary. Caught them trying to hold up a train." + +There was a stir at this and they crowded round the speaker. + +"Tell us about it," they begged excitedly, for all of them knew of the +evil fame and numerous exploits of these celebrated ruffians. + +"I knew the sheriff would bag them fellers before long," said one. + +"Sheriff nuthin," snorted Pete disgustedly. "Them guys ain't good fur +nuthin but to wear tin stars and put up a bluff. It was a bunch of +tender-feet that nabbed 'em." + +"Have a heart," said "Buck" Evans incredulously. "Don't fill us up with +anything like that." + +"Them newspaper fellers is awful liars," sagely commented "Chip" Bennett. + +"But it gives the names," persisted Pete. "They wouldn't go as far as +that if it wasn't so. Let's see," he went on as his stubbed finger moved +slowly over the lines. "Here they are--Wilson, Trent, Henderson--say," he +exclaimed with a quick look at the boys, "ain't them the handles you +fellers carries?" + +All eyes were fixed in astonishment on the visitors, who blushed as +though they had been detected in a fault. Their embarrassment carried +conviction. The paper was thrown aside and the men gathered about them in +a chorus of eager questionings. They made them tell in every detail the +story of the fight, which the boys tried to minimize as much as possible. + +"And yer never said a word about it," commented Pete when they had +extracted the last scrap of information. + +"Why should we?" retorted Dick. "As you said about the broncho busting, +it was 'all in the day's work.'" + +They tore themselves away at last, leaving the cowboys grouped about the +door and looking after them with eyes from which the last vestige of +distrust and reserve had vanished. + +"Not a maverick in the bunch," commented Pete. + +"Every one of them carries the man brand," added Chip. + +"They shore can warm their beans at my fire," concluded Buck. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A Forest Terror + + +"A dandy day for fishing," remarked Bert as he was dressing a few +mornings later. + +"Just right for the speckled beauties to bite," acquiesced Dick as he +looked out of the window and saw the clouds that obscured the sun. + +"What do you say to trying it?" suggested Tom, who was an enthusiast on +the subject. "I'd like nothing better than to whip some of these mountain +streams for trout." + +"Or troll for pickerel in the lake Mr. Melton was telling us about," +amended Bert. "He says there are some whopping big fellows up there. +We'll find plenty of bass, too, and they're fighters from way back." + +At breakfast the matter was broached and met with the hearty approval of +Mr. Melton. + +"I don't think it will rain before night," he said, "and on a hazy day +like this they'll keep you busy pulling them in. How about tackle? Did +you bring any along?" + +"Plenty," answered Bert. "Each of us has a rod and reel. The pike and +pickerel will bite at the spoon, and we can get plenty of bait for the +bass right out here in the garden. Let's hurry up, fellows, and get +busy," he continued, pushing his chair away from the table. "Won't you +go along, Mr. Melton." + +"Like to," said their host. "Nothing would suit me better than to pull +in some of the sockdolagers you'll find in that lake. But I've got a +date with a horse dealer to-day, who's coming up to look at some of my +bronchos, and I can't get off. Don't catch them all to-day," he laughed, +"and some day soon I'll go with you. Of course, you'll take your guns +along." + +"Why, yes, if you think it necessary," replied Bert. "But we'll be pretty +well loaded with tackle and fish if we have any luck." + +"Never mind the load," he adjured emphatically. "Never go into the +mountains without your gun. Of course, you may have no use for it. +Chances are that you won't. But it's a mighty wise thing to have a good +rifle along wherever you go in this country. And if you need it at all, +you'll need it mighty bad and mighty quick." + +So that when the boys left the house a half hour later, they took with +them not only all that was necessary to lure the finny prey from their +lurking places, but each as well carried on his shoulder a Winchester +repeating rifle and around his waist a well-stored cartridge belt. + +Mr. Melton gave them explicit directions as to the route they were to +follow to find the lake, which lay in the hollow of a broad plateau about +five miles back in the mountains. + +"You'll find a canoe hidden in the bushes near a big clump of trees on +the east shore," he said. "That is, if nobody has swiped it. But I +covered it up pretty well the last time I was there, and I guess it's +safe enough. If not, you'll have to take your chance in fishing from the +shore. There's an island a little way out in the lake, and you'll find +the pike thick around there if you can get out to it. And don't wait too +long before starting for home. That mountain trail is hard enough to +follow in the daytime, but you'd find your work cut out for you if you +tried it in the dark." + +They promised not to forget the time in their enthusiasm for the sport, +and, stowing away in their basket the toothsome and abundant lunch put up +by Mrs. Melton, they started off gaily on their trip. + +For a little distance from the house the road was fairly level. Then it +began to ascend and soon the trees that clothed the slopes shut them in, +and they lost sight of the ranch and of everything that spoke of +civilization. + +"'This is the forest primeval,'" quoted Dick. + +"'The murmuring pines and the hemlocks,'" added Tom. + +"Primeval's the word," said Bert as he looked in awe at the giant +trees, towering in some instances to a height of two hundred feet. +"I suppose this looked just as it does now ten thousand years ago. +The only thing that suggests man is this trail we're following, and that +gets fainter and fainter as we keep climbing. This is sure enough 'God's +out-of-doors.'" + +The balsam of the pines was in their nostrils and the path was carpeted +by the fragrant needles. Squirrels chattered in the trees and chipmunks +slipped like shadows between the trunks. As they were passing a monster +oak, Bert's observant eye noted something that brought him to a sudden +halt. + +"Look there, fellows," and he pointed to a place on the bark about +fifteen feet from the ground. + +"Well, what about it?" demanded Tom. + +"Those scratches on the trunk," said Bert. "What made them?" + +They looked more closely and saw two rows of scratches that had torn +deeply into the bark. Each row consisted of five marks at an equal +distance apart. It was as though two gigantic rakes had been drawn along +the rough surface, each tooth of the rakes peeling off a long vertical +strip. + +The boys looked at each other in wonder. Then they peered into the +surrounding woods a little uneasily. + +"Some animal made those marks," said Bert at last. "And, what's more, +there's only one animal that could have done it." + +"And that's a grizzly bear," said Dick. + +Again the boys looked at each other, and it almost seemed as though they +could hear the beating of their hearts. Then Tom measured again with his +eye the distance from the ground to where the scratches began. + +"Sixteen feet if it's an inch," he decided. "Nonsense," he went on, with +a tone of relief in his voice. "There's nothing that walks on four feet +could do it. A horse even couldn't stand on his hind legs and strike with +his fore hoofs the place where those scratches begin. Some of those +pre-historic monsters, whose skeletons we see in the museums, might have +done it, but nothing that walks the earth nowadays. You'll have to guess +again, Bert." + +"They might have been made by some animal in climbing," suggested Dick. +"He might have slipped in coming down and torn off those strips in trying +to hold on." + +"But grizzlies don't climb," objected Bert. + +"Who said it was a grizzly?" retorted Tom. "It might have been a black or +brown bear. You've got grizzlies on the brain. The very biggest don't +measure more than nine or ten feet from the nose to the root of the tail. +Allowing a couple of feet more for his reach, and you have eleven or +twelve altogether. How do you account for the other four or five? +Unless," he went on with elaborate sarcasm, "you figure out that this pet +of yours is about fourteen feet long." + +The argument certainly seemed to be with Tom, but Bert, although he had +no answer to it, still felt unconvinced. + +"The scratches are too deep to have been made by any animal slipping," he +persisted. "The beast, whatever it was, had a tremendous purchase to dig +so deep. And he couldn't have got such a purchase except by standing on +his hind legs." + +"Marvelous," mocked Tom. "A regular Sherlock Holmes! Perhaps he stood on +a ladder or a chair. I've heard that grizzlies carry such things about +with them when strolling in the woods. Come along, old man," he bantered, +"or these squirrels will think you're a nut and carry you off. There's +nothing this side of a nightmare that'll fit your theory, and you'd +better give it up and come along with us sensible people." + +"But what did do it, then?" asked Bert obstinately. + +"Search me," answered Tom flippantly. "I don't have to know. I'm not +cursed with curiosity so much as some people I could mention. What I do +know is that we're losing time and that I'm fairly aching to bait my hook +and fling it into the water. We've promised Mrs. Melton a big mess of +fish for supper, and we've got to get busy, or she'll think we're a lot +of four-flushers." + +They picked up their traps that they had laid aside while they were +studying the bark. Tom and Dick kept up a steady fire of jokes, their +spirits lightened by the evidence that the "ghost" of the grizzly had +been "laid." But Bert answered only in monosyllables. He would have been +as relieved as they had he been able to convince himself that he was +wrong. He "hadn't lost any bear," and was not particularly anxious to +"meet up" with one, especially a monster of the size indicated. Suddenly +he dropped the basket. + +"I've got it," he exclaimed eagerly. + +"No, you haven't," contradicted Dick. "You've just dropped it." + +"What have you got?" mocked Tom. "A fit?" + +"The answer," said Bert. + +"Prove it," challenged Dick. + +"I'm from Missouri," said Tom skeptically. + +"Why, it's this way," hurried on Bert, too engrossed in his solution to +retort in kind. "Sandy was telling me a little while ago about the habits +of grizzlies, and he mentioned especially the trick they have of standing +on their hind legs and clawing at trees as high as they could reach. But +I remember he said they did this only in the spring. They've just come +out of winter quarters and they feel the need of stretching their muscles +that have got cramped during their long sleep. In the spring, the early +spring. Don't you see?" + +"Not exactly," confessed Dick. + +"No, Sherlock," murmured Tom, "I don't follow you." + +"Why," said Bert impatiently, "don't you boobs realize that up in the +mountains here the snow is often four or five feet deep in the early +spring? How could the grizzly reach that high? _Because he stood on a +snowbank._" + +"By Jove," exclaimed Tom, all his self-assurance vanishing, "I believe +you're right." + +"You've hit the bull's-eye," cried Dick. "Bert, old man, you're a +wonder." + +"Of course," Bert went on, too generous to gloat over their discomfiture, +"that only proves that he was here then. He may be a hundred miles off +by this time. Still, it won't do a bit of harm to keep our eyes peeled +and make sure that our guns are in good working order. He's probably got +a perpetual grouch, and he might be peevish if he should turn up and find +us poaching on his hunting grounds." + +They moved along, a little more soberly now, and their eyes narrowly +scanned the trees ahead as though at any moment through the forest aisles +they might discover a giant form lumbering down upon them. They did not +think it at all likely, as there had been no rumors for some time past +of a grizzly having been seen in the locality, nor had the mutilated body +of some luckless steer borne traces of his handiwork. Still it was +"better to be safe than sorry," and their vigilance did not relax until +they came out of the thicker forest onto a more scantily wooded plateau +and saw before them the shining waters of the lake that marked the goal +of their journey. + +Under the cloudy sky the waters had the steel-gray luster of quicksilver. +It seemed to be about three miles in length, although this they could not +clearly determine, owing to a curve at the upper end, which concealed its +limits in that direction. It was not more than three-quarters of a mile +wide, and the expanse was broken by a small wooded island about half way +across. Nothing living was in sight, except a huge fish hawk that waited +expectantly on a dead branch overhanging the water. Even while they +looked, it darted downward, cleaving the air and water like an arrow, and +reappeared a moment later with a large fish struggling in its jaws. +Resuming its seat upon the branch it tossed the fish in the air, caught +it cleverly as it came down, and swallowed it at a gulp. + +"Talk about juggling," laughed Tom. "That fellow would make a hit upon +the vaudeville stage." + +"I'd like first rate to have him at the end of a cord," said Dick. + +"Like those natives we saw in China, eh?" suggested Bert. "Do you +remember how they used to fasten a ring about the throat so that they +couldn't swallow them? It always seemed to me a low-down game to make +them fork over as soon as they caught the fish." + +"Well, at any rate, that fellow has shown us that there are fish to be +had for the taking," said Tom. "I'll hunt up that canoe while you get +the rods and reels ready. What are you going to try for first, pickerel +or bass?" + +"Suppose we take a hack at both," suggested Dick. "I'll get out the spoon +bait and try for pike and pickerel. You and Bert can use the live bait +and see what luck you have with the bass." + +A careful search revealed the canoe, so cunningly hidden by its owner +under a heap of brush and sedge-grass, that only the explicit directions +they had received enabled them to find it. It was in good condition, +about eighteen feet in length and two paddles lay in the bottom. Tom got +in, pushed off from the shore, and with deft strokes brought the slender +craft down to where his friends were waiting. + +Bert eyed the frail boat dubiously. + +"A canoe is a dandy thing for cruising in, especially if you want to get +somewhere in a hurry, but it was never meant for a fishing party," he +commented. "We'd have to be so careful in moving about that we couldn't +keep our mind on the sport. You couldn't play a bass from one without +danger of upsetting. I tell you what we'd better do. Let one of us fish +from the shore for bass, while the two others in the canoe troll for +pickerel. Two lines can be put out over the stern and one can paddle +gently while the other keeps a sharp eye on the lines. Between us all we +ought to get a mess in less than no time. We'll toss up to see which +shall do the lonesome act while the others use the canoe. At noontime +we'll have a fish fry right here on the shore to help us out with the +lunch. The one who catches the first fish gets out of doing any of the +work. The one who gets the next will have to do the cooking and the one +that trails in last will have to clean the fish. What do you say?" + +There was no dissenting voice, and the spinning coin decreed that Tom and +Dick should do the trolling, while Bert remained on shore and tried for +bass. + +With the polished spoons twinkling in the water behind, the canoe shot +out to the center of the lake. Bert carefully baited his hook and cast it +far out from shore. Then, with the happy optimism of the average +fisherman, he settled back and waited for results. + +Contrary to the usual experience, those results were not long in coming. +Tom was the first to score. The spoon at the end of his line dipped +violently, and, hauling it in rapidly, he yanked in a big pickerel. He +did not dare to shout, for fear of scaring the wary denizens of the lake, +but he held it up for Bert to see, and the latter responded with a wave +of the hand in congratulation. + +The next instant he had to grab his own rod with both hands, while the +cord whistled out over the reel. He had made a "strike," and the frantic +plunges at the other end of the line told that he had hooked a fighter. +Back and forth he darted, until it seemed as though the slender rod would +break under the strain. Bert's fighting blood responded to the challenge, +and he played his opponent with all the skill and judgment in which he +was a past master. It was fully ten minutes before, carefully shortening +his line, he was able to land on the bank a magnificent striped bass. + +From that time on, the sport was fast and furious. The lake was full of +fish, and it had been visited so rarely that they had not learned the +danger of the bait that trailed so temptingly before them. In half an +hour they had caught more than they could eat and carry home, and Tom, +whose appalling appetite was clamoring for satisfaction, suggested that +they wind up and pull for shore. Dick was nothing loath, and the canoe, +more heavily loaded than when they had started out, glided shoreward +until its nose touched the bank where Bert was standing, surrounded by +a host of finny beauties that bore witness to his skill. + +They fastened the boat securely and spent a few minutes comparing their +catches. Then they gathered a heap of dry brush and burned it until they +had a glowing bed of embers. They had no frying pan, but Bert improvised +an ingenious skillet of tough oaken twigs, that, held high enough above +the fire, promised to broil the fish to a turn. + +Tom, who, in accordance with the agreement, had nothing to do, stretched +himself out luxuriously and "bossed the job." + +"See that you don't burn the fish, my man," he said to Bert, affecting a +languid drawl. "And you, my good fellow," he added, turning to Dick, "be +sure and clean them thoroughly." + +He dodged just in time to avoid a fish head that Dick threw at him. It +whizzed by his ear, and his quick duck detracted somewhat from his +dignity. + +"The growing insolence of the lower classes," he muttered, regaining his +equilibrium. "You're fired," he roared, glaring at Dick. + +"All right," said Dick, throwing down his knife. + +"No, no," corrected Tom hurriedly, "not till after dinner." + +Before long the fish were sputtering merrily over the fire and the +appetizing smell was full of promise. It even induced Tom to abandon his +leisurely attitude and "rustle" the good things out of the basket. They +made a royal meal and feasted so full and long that, when at last old +Nature simply balked at more, they had no desire to do anything but lie +back lazily and revel in the sheer delight of living. + +"If I've an enemy on earth, I forgive him," sighed Dick blissfully. + +"Old Walt Whitman's my favorite poet," said Tom. "Isn't he the fellow +that tells you to 'loaf and invite your soul'?" + +"Soul," grunted Bert disdainfully. "You haven't any soul. Just now you're +all body." + +"Always pickin' on me," groaned Tom resignedly. + +In complete abandonment to their sense of well being they drew their hats +over their eyes and stretched out under the shadow of the trees that came +down almost to the water's edge. A brooding peace enveloped them, and the +droning of insects and the faint lapping of the water on the shore lulled +them into drowsiness. Insensibly they lapsed into slumber. + +A half hour passed before Bert started up and rubbed his eyes. It took +him a moment to realize where he was. His eyes fell on his sleeping +companions, and he made a movement as though to awake them. Then he +checked the impulse. + +"What's the use?" he said to himself. "There's plenty of time before we +need to start for home." + +He yawned and lay back again. But now the desire for sleep had left him. +After a moment he sat up again. + +"I haven't tried the canoe yet," he thought. "I'll take a little spin +across to the island. They'll be awake by the time I get back." + +Noiselessly he walked down to the water's edge, unfastened the canoe and +took up the paddle. + +There was scarcely a ripple on the lake except that made by the sharp bow +of the canoe. There was an exhilarating sense of flying as his light +craft shot away from the shore. Almost before he knew it he had covered +the distance and was drawing up the canoe on the sloping beach of the +island. + +It was larger than he had thought, at a distance, and toward the center +was heavily wooded. There was a dense tangle of undergrowth, and in order +to avoid this he skirted the shore, intending to make a complete circuit +before returning to the canoe. + +His surprise was great when on reaching the further side he found that it +was not an island at all. A narrow strip of land connected it with the +mainland beyond. It was not over a hundred feet in width, but he noticed +that there was a very distinct path that had been beaten through the +undergrowth. The discovery for a moment startled him. Then he realized +that the woods were, of course, full of all sorts of harmless animals, +who had to come down to the water to drink. This would explain the beaten +path, and in some measure it reassured him. + +Still his gait was quicker as he sped along, intent on regaining the +canoe. It would have perhaps been just as well if he had put his rifle in +when he started. He listened attentively now as he hurried on, but not a +sound broke the stillness of the woods. + +And now his pulses began to drum with that subtle sixth sense of his that +warned of danger. Again and again in his adventurous career he had felt +it, and it had never misled him. It was something like the second sight +of the Highlander. His nature was so highly organized that like a +sensitive camera it registered impressions that others overlooked. Now +some "coming event" was casting "its shadow before," and the mysterious +monitor warned him to be on his guard. + +It was with a feeling of intense relief that he came again in sight of +the canoe and saw that it was undisturbed. He looked across and saw his +friends waving at him. He waved back and stooped to unfasten the canoe. + +Then something that struck him as odd in their salutation caused him to +look again. It was not simply a friendly greeting. There was terror, +panic, wild anxiety. And now they were shouting and pointing to something +behind him. + +He turned like a flash. And what he saw made his heart almost leap from +his body. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +The Grizzly at Bay + + +Tearing down upon him in a rapid, lumbering gallop was a monstrous bear. +It needed no second glance to tell that it was a grizzly. The little eyes +incandescent with rage, the big hump just back of the ears, the enormous +size and bulk could belong to none other than this dreaded king of the +Rockies. + +For an instant every drop of blood in Bert's body seemed to rush to his +head. It suffused his eyes with a red film and sounded like thunder in +his ears. Then the flood receded and left him cold as ice. He was himself +again, cool, self-reliant, with his mental processes working like +lightning. + +He had no time to unfasten the canoe. Long before he could get in and +push off, the bear would have been on top of him. The beast was not more +than thirty feet away and two or three more lunges would bring him to the +water's edge. + +Bert's first impulse was to dive into the lake and seek to escape by +swimming. But this he discarded at once. Fast as he was, he knew that +the grizzly could outswim him. + +With a quick turn to the left, he plunged into the woods, running like a +deer. The bear lost a second or two in trying to check his momentum. Then +he turned also and went crashing through the underbrush in pursuit. + +Had the going been open Bert might have made good his escape. His legs +and wind had once won him a Marathon from the fleetest flyers of the +world. But here conditions were against him. Vines reached out to trip +him. Impenetrable thickets turned him aside. He had to dodge and twist +and squirm his way through the undergrowth. + +But the bear had no such handicaps. His great body crashed straight +through all obstacles. The fearful padding of those monstrous feet came +nearer and nearer. Bert's legs worked like piston rods, but to no avail. +The distance between them steadily decreased, and now he could hear the +labored breathing of his enraged pursuer close on his heels. It was like +a hideous nightmare, and gradually the conviction began to force itself +upon him that he was running his last race. Once in the grip of that +monster, nothing could save him from a frightful death. + +But he would not give up. The old "never say die" spirit that had carried +him through so many tight places still persisted. On, on, he ran, putting +every ounce of speed and strength in one last spurt. He could feel the +hot breath of the grizzly and the padding feet were terribly near. Then, +just as the beast was ready to hurl its huge bulk against him, Bert swung +on his heel like a pivot, doubled in his tracks and flashed back past his +pursuer, just escaping a lunge from the outstretched paw. But that +marvelous swaying motion of the hips that had eluded so many tacklers +on the football field stood him in stead, and he just grazed the enormous +claw that tried to stop him. + +That strategy proved his salvation. The grizzly plunged along for many +feet before he could turn, and in that instant's respite Bert saw his +chance. + +Right in front of him was a tall oak whose lowest branch was full twenty +feet from the ground. Like a streak Bert reached it, whirled around to +the farther side and swarmed up it like a monkey. He reached the fork and +swung himself out on the branch with not a second to spare. The grizzly, +frothing with rage and hate, had hurled himself against the tree and his +up-reaching claw had torn the bark in a vain attempt to clutch the leg +that he only missed by inches. + +But he was balked. He could not climb, and the tree was too big for him +to tear down, as he might have done had it been slenderer or younger. By +the narrowest of margins he had failed to add one more victim to those +who had already fallen before his ferocity. + +Not that he had relinquished hope. He had lost in the open attack, but he +still had the resource of a siege. Soon or late he was sure his victim +would have to descend. His victory was only deferred. Back and forth and +round and round the tree he paced, growling fiercely, at times rearing +himself on his hind legs and tearing savagely at the trunk. His open +jaws, slavering with foam and showing his great yellow fangs, were full +of fearful menace, and his wicked eyes glowed like a furnace. His temper, +evil at all times, had been rendered worse by the fury of the chase and +disappointment at his failure. Baffled rage bristled in every hair of his +shaggy hide. At that moment he would have charged a regiment. + +Bert settled himself in the crotch of the tree and gazed at his thwarted +enemy with a sensation of indescribable relief. He was drenched with +sweat, his clothes were torn by that wild race through the brush, his +breath came in gasps that were almost sobs, and his heart was beating +like a triphammer. He had looked into the very eyes of death and almost +by a miracle had escaped. For the present, at least, he was safe. His +giant adversary could not reach him. + +Had he been entirely alone in this wild section of the mountains, or had +his whereabouts been unknown, his situation would have been hopeless. +The bear might settle down to a siege of many days, and he had powerful +allies in sleep and hunger. If wearied nature should assert her rights +and Bert in a moment of drowsiness topple from his perch, or if, driven +by starvation, he should make a last despairing effort to escape, the +chances would be all against him. The instinct of the grizzly told him +that, if not interfered with, time alone was all that was necessary to +bring his foe within his grasp. + +But there were Dick and Tom to be reckoned with, and beyond them was +Melton, who would surely organize a party and come to his aid. He knew +that his comrades would not leave him in the lurch and that they would +risk their lives to save him from his perilous position. No doubt but at +that moment they were working with might and main to devise some plan of +rescue. + +But what could they do? He had taken the canoe and they had no means of +getting over to him. Had they known of the narrow peninsula on the +farther side, they might have worked their way around the end of the +lake. But they thought the place was an island, only to be reached by +water. Both were strong swimmers and could easily win their way over. But +they couldn't do that and keep their guns dry, and without weapons they +could do nothing. + +In the wild dash through the woods he had described almost a perfect +circle, and the tree in which he was sheltered commanded a view of the +canoe and the shimmering water beyond. It maddened him to see the boat +rocking there idly, as useless to him at that moment as though it were +a thousand miles away. + +If he had only brought his rifle with him! How thoughtless of him to take +such a chance! The words of Mr. Melton at the breakfast table recurred to +him and he fairly writhed in an agony of self-reproach. + +The grizzly had by this time realized that nothing could be done for the +present but wait. He ceased his restless swaying to and fro and squatted +down on his haunches, his murderous eyes never leaving Bert for an +instant. + +On the other side of the lake Dick and Tom were working with feverish +energy, almost beside themselves with fear at their comrade's terrible +plight. + +They had awakened soon after Bert's departure, and had been startled for +a moment at finding him gone. The absence of the canoe, however, followed +by a glimpse of it on the shore across the water, had reassured them, and +they had waited more or less patiently for his reappearance. + +Suddenly Dick started to his feet. + +"What's that?" he cried, pointing to the woods near the water's edge. + +"Where?" exclaimed Tom, startled out of his usual calm by the evident +alarm in Dick's voice. + +"In that big clump of trees over to the right," was the answer, and then +his voice rose to a shout: "Great Scott! It's a grizzly." + +"And there comes Bert," yelled Tom. "Bert, Bert," they shouted wildly, +rushing down to the shore and waving their hands frantically. + +They had seen Bert dart off into the woods with the bear in hot pursuit, +but the outcome of the chase had been hidden from their view. They did +not dare to think of what might have happened, and they looked at each +other in helpless anguish. + +"Quick!" yelled Dick, wrenching himself loose from the paralysis that had +seized him. "A raft. We've got to get over there with the guns. We've +got a paddle left and we can push ourselves over. Oh, Bert, Bert!" he +groaned. + +But Tom intervened. + +"No good," he said hurriedly. "It'll take too long to make it and we'd be +too slow in getting across. The canoe's our only chance. You get the guns +ready." + +He kicked off his shoes, tore off his clothes, dived head foremost into +the lake, and with long, powerful strokes headed for the farther shore. + +He had an almost amphibious love for the water and the task he had set +for himself was easy. But his fear for Bert and his impatience at the +delay before he could help him made it seem to him as though he were +going at a snail's pace, although in reality he was cleaving the water +like a fish. + +Bert, looking out from his perch in the tree, suddenly had his attention +attracted by something on the smooth surface. He thought at first that +it was a water fowl. Then he looked more closely, and his heart gave a +great bound as he recognized that it was one of his comrades, although he +could not tell which one at that distance. He saw that the swimmer was +headed straight for the canoe, and he surmised the plan in an instant. + +"Good old Dick and Tom," he exulted to himself. "They're two pals in a +thousand. I knew they'd get me out of this or die in the trying." + +But the bear, too, seemed to realize that something was happening. His +scent was phenomenally keen, and the wind was blowing directly toward +him from the lake. He sniffed the air for a moment and then, with a +threatening growl, looked toward the water. Then he rose slowly and +backed in that direction, still keeping an eye on Bert. + +The latter took alarm at once. Here was a new complication. If the bear +should discover the swimmer, who was now nearing the shore, it might be +fatal. At all events his attention must be distracted. + +With Bert, to think was to act. He grasped the branch tightly and swung +himself down at full length, so that his dangling feet were almost within +the bear's reach. The grizzly, with an exultant "whuff," galloped +clumsily back to the tree and made a ferocious swipe at his enemy, who +pulled himself up just in time. Snarling and mouthing horribly, the bear +once more moved toward the lake, torn between the desire to investigate +and the fear that his victim might escape. Once more Bert worked the same +maneuver and again the bear "fell" for it. + +But the crisis was past. There was no need now to repeat. Tom had reached +the canoe, climbed into it, and with powerful strokes of the paddle sent +it flying toward the mainland. Not, however, till his heart had been +thrilled with joy by Bert's yell that rang far out on the water. + +"I'm up a tree, old man," called the voice that Tom had feared he might +never hear again, "but I'm all right." + +"Thank God," answered Tom, and tried to add something else, but couldn't. + +Once more on shore he jubilantly reported to Dick, whose delight at the +news of Bert's present safety passed all bounds. + +The first rejoicing over, they hastily laid their plans. + +"Are the guns ready?" asked Tom as he got into his clothes. + +"They're all right," answered Dick. "To make sure, I unloaded and filled +them up with new cartridges. Everything's in perfect shape." + +They did not underestimate the task before them. They were taking their +lives in their hands in attacking this monster of the wilds. But had he +been ten times as big or ten times as savage they would not have +hesitated an instant, with Bert's life as the stake. + +Knowing that the wind was blowing toward the bear from where they were, +they deemed it wise, as a plan of campaign, to paddle to the other side +of the island and come upon the foe from the rear. If they could take him +unawares, and pump a bullet or two into his great carcass before he had +time to charge, their chances of success would be immensely greater. + +Moving as warily as Indians, they dipped their paddles in the water and +made for the upper end of the supposed island. They rounded the point +and disembarked. Clutching their guns firmly and straining their eyes, as +they gazed into the dark green recesses of the woods, they advanced, +scarcely daring to breathe. + +"I'm going to signal," whispered Dick. "That'll warn Bert that we're +coming and he'll keep the bear busy." And the next instant the mournful +cry of the whippoorwill floated through the forest. + +It was an accomplishment that the boys had frequently practised, and the +counterfeit was perfect enough to deceive the birds themselves. + +They waited an instant, and then they heard Bert's answering +"whippoorwill." + +The bear paid no attention to the familiar sound, and it was evident that +his suspicions had not been aroused. + +Guiding themselves by the repetition of the cry Dick and Tom pressed +forward, their guns ready for instant use at the first sight of the +enemy. + +Bert had promptly grasped the meaning of the signal. It was imperative +that the bear's attention should be centered on himself alone. The only +thing he found in his pocket was a jack-knife, but he threw this with +such precision that it struck the bear full on the point of the nose and +evoked a roar of fury. A shower of twigs and branches added insult to +injury, until the great beast was beside himself with rage. He had no +thought or eyes or ears for anything but Bert. + +And now the whippoorwill was close at hand. + +Two spurts of flame leaped from the forest on the right. With a ferocious +snarl the grizzly whirled about in the direction of the shots. As he did +so two more bullets plowed their way into his breast. He tore savagely at +the wounds, and then plunged fiercely in the direction of his unseen +foes. + +But his hour had struck. Another volley halted him in his tracks. He +sagged, coughed, and fell in a crumpled mass to the ground. + +With a wild hurrah, Dick and Tom broke from cover, dropped their guns and +threw their arms about Bert, who had slid down to the foot of the tree. + +The strain had been so great and the reaction was so tremendous that none +of them for a moment knew what he was doing. They shouted, laughed and +grasped each others' hands, too excited for coherent speech. They had +been through many perils together, but none so great and terrible as +this. And now all three were together again, safe and sound, and the +grizzly---- + +"Look out," screamed Bert, his face going white. + +They jumped as though they had been shot. + +Not ten feet away was the grizzly coming down on them like a locomotive. +His mouth was open, his eyes blazing, and with the blood flowing from +his wounds he made a hideous picture as he rushed forward. They had +forgotten to reckon with the wonderful tenacity of life that makes a +grizzly bear the hardest thing in the world to kill. Six bullets were +embedded in his carcass and his life was ebbing. But his fiendish +ferocity was unimpaired, and he had gathered himself together for one +last onslaught. + +There was no time to think, no chance to resist. The guns were on the +ground, and merely to stoop for them meant that the bear would be upon +them before they could rise. With one bound the boys leaped aside, and +scattered through the woods at the top of their speed. + +The bear hesitated a second, as though undecided whom to follow, and then +put after Bert. + +But it was a very different race this time from that of an hour before. +Then the odds had been against the fugitive; now they were with him. +The rage of the bear was greater, but his speed and strength were +failing. Bert easily increased his distance, and as he ran his quick mind +formed a plan of action. + +Running in a circle, he gradually drew his pursuer around to the tree +where he had sought refuge. He had figured on grabbing one of the guns +and shinning up to the friendly crotch, there to despatch his foe at +leisure. But as he rose with the rifle in his hand he saw that there was +no time for this. + +Dropping on one knee he took careful aim, and as the grizzly rose on its +hind legs to grasp him, fired point blank at the spot just below the fore +leg that marked the heart. Then he jumped aside. + +The bear spun around once, toppled and fell with a tremendous crash on +the spot where Bert had been a moment before. + +Once more Bert raised his rifle, looking narrowly for any sign of life. +But the last bullet had done the work. A convulsive shudder ran through +the bear's enormous length. Then he stiffened out and a glaze crept over +the wicked eyes. He had fought his last fight. + +And as Bert looked down at him, his relief and exultation were tempered +by a feeling of respect for the brute's courage. Never for a moment had +he shown the white feather. He had fought gallantly and gone down +fighting. + +Tom and Dick, who had now rejoined him, shared his feeling. + +"Nothing 'yellow' about that old rascal but his hide," commented Dick. + +"A fighter from Fightersville," added Tom. + +When their jubilation had somewhat subsided, they measured their quarry. + +"Ten feet four inches, from the tip of the nose to the root of the tail," +announced Tom. "Gee, but he's a monster." + +"The daddy of them all," said Dick. + +"He must weigh over half a ton," judged Bert. + +They looked with a shudder at the terrible claws and fangs. + +"They say that a grizzly has forty-two teeth," remarked Tom, "but I +thought he had forty-two thousand when he was bearing down upon us with +his mouth open." + +"Well, now the question is what are we going to do with him," said Dick. + +"That's a pleasant way to put it," laughed Bert. "A little while ago the +question was what was he going to do with us." + +"I don't know," he mused, "what we can do. We can't skin him, because we +haven't the proper knives, and then, too, it takes an expert to get that +hide off without spoiling it. On the other hand, we can't leave it here +and expect to find it in the morning. The other animals will feast on +the carcass, and the skin won't be any good when they've got through +tearing it. If it were a deer we could hang it up out of reach. But we +couldn't even move this mountain, let alone lift it." + +"Of course we can come back and get the teeth and claws, anyway," put in +Dick. "But I hate like thunder to lose the skin." + +"I tell you what," suggested Bert. "Let's hustle around and get as many +big stones as we can find. We'll pile up a sort of funeral mound around +him that the animals can't work through or pull away. Then in the morning +we'll get some of the boys from the ranch to come up with us and get the +hide. It may not work, but I think it will, and, anyway, we've got to +take the chance." + +Luckily for the carrying out of the plan, big stones abounded in the +vicinity and a few minutes of hard work sufficed to gather together +enough to make it probable that the body would remain undisturbed till +they came for it. + +"And now, fellows," said Bert, gazing at the sun, "it's the quick sneak +for us if we want to get back to the ranch before dark. Forward, march." + +With a last look at the scene of their thrilling experience, they boarded +the canoe, shot across the lake, and, packing up their traps, set out for +the ranch. They made quick time of it, as the road was now familiar and +led downhill all the way. Yet, despite their speed, dusk was settling +down when they reached the house, to receive a hearty greeting from their +hosts, who were becoming a little anxious at the delay. + +Mrs. Melton paled as she heard the story of their frightful danger, and +Melton himself was deeply stirred at their narrow escape. He, better than +any one else, realized all the horror of the case had victory declared on +the side of the bear. + +"You'll never be nearer death than you were to-day, my boys," he said +gravely; "and a kind of death that I don't care to think about. I'll send +Sandy and some of the men up to-morrow to get the skin, and I hope that +hide will be the nearest you ever come to seeing a grizzly again. You +came through all right to-day, but it's the kind of stunt a man doesn't +get way with twice. But now," he added more lightly, "I'll bet that +you're hungry enough to eat nails. Hurry up and wash and get down to the +table." + +"By the way," said Mrs. Melton, her eyes twinkling, "where are those fish +you promised me for supper?" + +The boys looked at each other in consternation. + +"Great Scott!" exclaimed Bert. "We forgot to bring them." + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +The "Ringer's" Downfall + + +After the boys had been on the ranch some two or three weeks a new topic +of interest came up. It seemed that every Fourth of July a great +celebration was held in Helena, in which cowboys and ranchmen from many +miles around took part. All sorts of competitions were held, such as +roping, throwing, target shooting, and so on. As the day drew near, it +became the chief topic of conversation about the ranch, and everybody, +with the exception of two or three who would have to stay to take care of +the stock, intended to go and take part in the festivities. + +Quite a feature of the present celebration was to be a one-mile running +race. As a rule ranchmen and cowboys are not noted for their running +abilities, generally being more at home upon the back of a horse than +upon their own feet. But among the neighboring ranches there were several +fair runners, and among the townspeople there were others. The last year +or two a hot rivalry had existed between the ranchmen and "townies" over +the outcome of the running race, for in this event everybody, no matter +what his daily occupation, could be interested. + +The last year one of the men from the Bar X Ranch had taken the prize +money, and the ranchers had all been jubilant. They imagined they had +a fair chance to win this year's event with the same runner, and Mr. +Melton's men thought so too. But one day late in June Chip returned from +a trip to town with clouded brow. + +"What do yuh think them low-down Piutes that calls themselves citizens of +Helena has been an' done now?" + +"What's bitin' yuh, Chip?" asked Sandy. "Did somebody get your wad, or +what?" + +"No, nothin' like that," answered Chip. "I'll tell it to you jest the way +one o' the boys handed it to me. He says t' me, 'Waal, Chip, I reckon +you boys on the ranches hereabouts won't pick off the prize money this +year in the footrace, will yuh?' + +"'Oh, I don't know,' I answers him. 'Yuh never kin tell what's going to +happen, but we-all have a sneakin' idea that our man is jest goin' to +run away from any shorthorn you guys kin put up.' + +"'Oh, is that so?' he jeers, real triumphant-like, 'well, I got a little +piece o' change that I'm willin' to put up on our man. How do yuh feel?' + +"Waal, I wasn't goin' to let the guy bluff me, so I covers his money to +the tune o' fifty bucks. 'I s'pose Jenkins, the feller that nearly pulled +down the prize last year, is goin' to run fer you, ain't he' I asks, +never suspicionin' that he'd say anythin' but 'yes.' + +"'Not any,' he answers, grinnin' satisfied like; 'we've got another man +this year, an' a streak o' greased lightnin' is plumb slow an' ploddin' +alongside him.' + +"'An' who is this yere maverick?' I asks him, feelin' like somebody'd hit +me when I wasn't lookin'. + +"'Johnson is his brand,' says the sport; 'stick around a while an' I'll +point him out t' yuh. There he is now,' he says sudden-like, pointin' to +a guy amblin' along the sidewalk with half a dozen kids taggin' at his +heels, 'there's the guy what's goin' to make your runners look like +candidates from a young ladies' finishing school. Take a good look at +him, Chip, so yuh'll know him the next time yuh see him.' + +"Waal, boys, I took a good look, as this sport suggests, and I'm a +pop-eyed tenderfoot if I didn't recognize the guy right off. I couldn't +jest place him at first, but in a few seconds I remembered where I'd seen +him last." + +"An' where was that?" questioned Sandy, while everybody listened eagerly +for his answer. + +"It was at a function thet come near bein' a lynchin' party," answered +Chip. "I was up in a little town over the Canada border at the time, an' +they had jest had a race like this yere one we-all has on the Fourth o' +July, only they ain't no sech institution there, them folks bein' nothin' +but benighted Britishers and Frenchmen. Howsum-ever, they'd had a race, +and this maverick what's pointed out to me in Helena had won the race, +together with most o' the loose change in the town. Suddenly a guy in the +crowd yells out: 'That feller's a 'ringer.' I seen him run in an Eastern +professional race onct.'" + +"Waal, thet was like puttin' a match to powder, and them people was goin' +to string the guy up, only the sheriff came along jest then and stopped +the proceedin's. So that's when I see this party last." + +"Yes, but he might not have been a 'ringer'," suggested Bert, who had +come up and joined the group while Chip was speaking. "He might have +been square, but the man that accused him probably had lost money, and +may have accused him just to get even. You don't have to prove much to an +angry mob when they want to believe what you're telling them, anyway." + +"Yes, I thought o' that," replied Chip, "but a few weeks arterward I come +across an old newspaper with this party's picture engraved on the +sportin' page, an' underneath it said, 'Albert Summers, the well-known +professional one-mile runner,' or words meanin' the same thing. I'd clean +forgot about it, though, until I sees this yere hoss thief paradin' the +streets o' Helena followed by the admirin' glances o' the populace." + +The cowboys exchanged indignant glances, and Sandy said, "Mebbe the folks +in Helena don't know this maverick's a professional." + +"I suppose most o' them don't," replied Chip, "but the officials thet +have charge o' the race are wise, all right. It looks as though I was +goin' to be out fifty hard-earned dollars, but it will keep the rest o' +yuh boys from losin' any o' your money, anyhow." + +"Seems t' me it's up to us t' give this here shell game away," remarked +Buck; "it riles me plumb fierce t' think of anybody puttin' over a game +like that an' gettin' away with it." + +"The best thing to do, I should think," remarked Bert, "would be to let +this Summers, or Johnson, or whatever his name is, run, and get somebody +to beat him. That would be doing things artistically, as you might say." + +"What do yuh mean?" queried Sandy, speaking for his surprised companions, +"yuh think we ought t' get a 'ringer' on our own account to beat this +professional sharp?" + +"Not at all," said Bert with a grin. "I don't want to seem to boast, but +I've done a little running myself at times, and I think if I entered +against this 'profesh' I might be able to give him a run for his money." + +The cowboys looked somewhat incredulous, and Chip said, "I seen this +feller run, m' lad, and he sure is fast, I got to admit that much. Have +yuh ever done much runnin'?" + +"Quite some," replied Bert with a curious little smile. "The next time +you talk to Trent or Henderson ask them about it, if you don't believe +me." + +He strolled off, and after he had gone the men held a consultation. Chip +was openly skeptical regarding Bert's offer to run. "He's a fine lad an' +all that," he opined, "but it takes more than an amateur to beat this +sharp. The boy would be out of his class, I reckon, if he came up against +this yere sprinter." + +The others seemed inclined to agree with Chip's view of the matter, but +Sandy demurred. "I've been watchin' that lad," he said, "an' I've noticed +he don't usually go around shootin' off his mouth about nothin'. Seems t' +me before we pass up his proposition it might be a good idea to look up +his friends an' see what they say about it." + +"Waal, thet's only fair," remarked one of the cowboys known to his mates +only as "Bud." "I vote we make Sandy an' Chip a committee o' two to see +Trent an' Henderson an' question them on this yere p'int. Yuh don't want +to fergit thet if we _could_ find somebody thet could beat this Helena +candidate we'd have it on them effete citizens so bad they'd wear +mournin' fer a year." + +This consideration had great weight with the others, and they all +assented to Bud's proposition. It was agreed that at the first +opportunity Sandy and Chip should question Tom and Dick on the subject of +Bert's running abilities, and so the matter was dropped for the present. + +The "committee," however, kept it in mind, and when, as they were +returning to the bunkhouse that same evening, Chip and Sandy espied Dick +and Tom at no great distance, riding along in leisurely fashion, they +immediately hailed them. + +On hearing their names called the two friends looked around, and, seeing +the ranchmen beckoning to them, cantered over in their direction, and +quickly reached the spot on which they were standing. + +"What's up?" questioned Dick, "anything wrong?" + +"No, not 'specially," answered Sandy, slightly at a loss as to the best +way to bring up the subject. "Yuh see, it's this way. Some o' the boys +has heard thet your pal, Wilson, is somethin' of a runner, and we was +jest cur'ous to know ef it was so. Can you wise us up on this yere mooted +p'int?" + +Dick looked over at Tom and grinned. "You tell 'em, Tom," he said; "tell +them whether Bert can run or not." + +"Well," said Tom, "Bert isn't such an awful good runner, no. He's never +done a thing in that line except win the Marathon run at the last Olympic +games, break every college record from one to twenty-five miles, and set +up a new world's record for the five mile distance. Outside of that he +can't run worth a cent, can he, Dick?" + +For a moment Dick was too amused watching the faces of the two ranchmen +to answer. "Wh-what are yuh tryin' t' hand us, anyhow," demanded Chip. +"Do yuh really mean he's the same Wilson thet won the big Marathon race?" + +"Straight goods," answered Dick; "if you don't believe it, ask Melton." + +"Whoop-ee!" yelled Sandy, throwing his sombrero high in the air and +catching it deftly as it descended. "No wonder he seemed so confident +when he offered to run fer us. At thet time I kind a' thought he was jest +stringin' us along." + +"You'll find that when Bert says a thing he generally means it," remarked +Dick, "but what is it all about, anyway? What was it that he offered to +run in?" + +Sandy then proceeded to explain all that had occurred that morning, and +when he had finished both Tom and Dick gave a long whistle. + +"So that's how the land lies, is it?" exclaimed Dick; "the old sinner's +never satisfied unless he's winning something or other, is he?" + +"You said something that time," acquiesced Tom, a note of pride in his +voice; "if excitement won't come to him, he goes looking for it. That's +his style, every time." + +The two cowboys did not stop to hear any more, but hurried off excitedly +to take the news to their companions. They burst into the bunkhouse, +where the men had already sat down to supper. + +"Boys, we're all a bunch o' locoed Piutes," yelled Sandy. "Do you know +who this boy Wilson is, eh? He's the feller that won the Marathon fer +Uncle Sam at the Olympic games, an' we never knew it. Somebody kindly +make the remarks fer me thet 're approp'rite on sech an occasion." + +For a few seconds, astonished exclamations of a very forceful character +filled the air, but soon the cowboys quieted down somewhat, and began to +discuss the surprising news in every detail. Everybody was jubilant, and +already they could picture the chagrin of the townspeople when their +favorite was beaten. + +"But we don't want to be too certain of winnin', at that," cautioned Bud; +"arter all, that Helena runner is a professional, an' Wilson is only an +amateur, no matter how good he may be. A feller thet makes a livin' out +of a thing is likely to do it better than the sport thet does it fer fun, +leastwise, thet's the way I figger it out." + +"Thet's all right," spoke up Reddy, "but ef yuh can remember that far +back, you'll rec-lect that his pals told us he held a world's record fer +five miles. Waal, now, they must 'a' been lots o' professionals runnin' +thet distance, and in spite of everythin' they never did no better'n +thet. What've yuh got to say t' that, eh?" + +Thus the discussion raged, and the cowboys stayed up much later than +usual that night arguing every phase of the forthcoming race pro and +con. As is usually the case in such discussions, they reached no +decision, beyond unanimously agreeing that the best man would win, +a proposition that few people would care to argue. + +In the meantime the three comrades had met at Mr. Melton's hospitable +board, and Dick and Tom recounted with great mirth the surprise of +the cowboys on hearing of Bert's athletic prowess. + +"It was better than a circus," laughed Dick. "I never saw two more +surprised faces in my life." + +"I either," said Tom. "I guess they must have thought Bert was champion +of some hick village before they consulted us." + +"I could see that was their idea when I offered to run," grinned Bert; +"that's why I referred them to you." + +"The boys place a lot of importance on the foot race," said Mr. Melton; +"in the other events they're chiefly competing against each other, but in +that they meet the townspeople on common ground, and it means a lot to +them to win. And if the winner comes from their own particular ranch, +that makes the victory all the more sweet." + +"Well," remarked Bert, "if I do run in that race, as it seems very likely +I shall, I'll certainly do my best to win for the ranch. I don't suppose +there'll be much competition outside of this 'ringer,' anyway." + +"No, I don't think there'll be much competition for _you_," smiled Mr. +Melton, "but just the same there'll be some pretty fair runners in that +race, and they may make you hustle a little at that." + +"I hope they do," said Bert, "but the only thing I'm going in the race +for is to show up that crooked runner. It's such fellows as he that give +the sport a bad name. I'll do everything in my power to discourage it +whenever I get the chance." + +"That's the talk," encouraged Tom, "go to it, old boy, and show him up. +Besides, it will put you in more solid than ever with the cowboys here. +They've got a pretty good idea of you already, I imagine, and this will +cinch matters." + +"It will give me an awful black eye if I should happen to get licked," +laughed Bert; "you never seem to think of that side of it." + +"No, we'll have to admit that we don't take that into consideration +much," said Dick; "you seem to have such an inveterate habit of winning +that we rather take it as a matter of course." + +"I don't take it as a matter of course, though, not by a long sight," +said Bert; "many a fellow's got tripped up by being over-confident, and +not waking up until it was too late. I go into anything like that with +the idea that if I don't do my very best I _may_ lose. And then, if a +person does lose a race, that excuse of 'over-confidence' doesn't go a +long way, I've noticed." + +"No, it's better to be on the safe side, I guess," admitted Dick. "But +are you going to train at all for this race?" + +"Nothing to speak of," answered Bert. "The life we're living these days +keeps a fellow about as fit as he can be, anyway. I feel as though I +could start running at a minute's notice and give a good account of +myself." + +They talked over matters in this fashion until they had discussed the +forthcoming event at every angle, and then separated for the night. + +From that time on little else was thought or talked of about the ranch. +Even the roping and riding contests were relegated to the background. +News that the Bar Z boys had a promising candidate had been circulated +among the neighboring ranches, and there was almost as much excitement +rife on them as on Mr. Melton's. The cowboys were always questioning Dick +and Tom in regard to Bert's "past performances," and never tired of +hearing his exploits as told by his enthusiastic friends. + +Never was a day so looked forward to as the Fourth of July that year, and +never did a day seem so long in coming. The last days of June were +checked off one by one on a highly colored calendar suspended against the +wall of the bunkhouse, and at last the impatient ranchers tore the June +sheet off, or, as Chip put it, "took a month off." + +Saddles were gone over, oiled and polished, and when at last the +longed-for day arrived every preparation had been made to celebrate it +fittingly. Everybody on the ranch was up before the sun, and after a +hasty breakfast they sallied forth to town. + +The three comrades rode with them, and the cowboys surrounded them as a +sort of bodyguard. Mr. Melton was not able to accompany them, as he had +some pressing business affairs to attend to, but he had promised to reach +town before the running race, which was not to take place until the +afternoon, was "pulled off." + +It was a beautiful day and the ranchmen were in high spirits. They +laughed and shouted and indulged in rough horse-play like a crowd of +school-boys out for a lark, and the boys did their full share to add to +the general gaiety. The long miles slipped unnoticed behind them, and the +sun was not far above the eastern horizon when the party cantered into +Helena. + +The town was gaily bedecked in honor of the occasion. The houses were +draped with flags and bunting, and in many cases long colored streamers +fluttered from the windows and roofs. + +The cowboys set spurs to their ponies, and swept down the street like +a veritable cyclone. They met other parties who had just arrived, and +exchanged greetings with the many friends among them. There was an air +of merry-making and good-fellowship in the air that was infectious, and +everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves. + +"They certainly know how to have a good time," remarked Dick. "I guess +it's because they have so few holidays that they enjoy them all the more +when they do come." + +Along the streets booths were lined, selling anything from a ten-cent +pocket knife to a blue-barreled Colts revolver. The numerous saloons were +going full blast, and were doing a profitable business. Nobody is more of +a spendthrift than your true cowboy when he is out on pleasure bent, and +the fakirs and saloon-keepers were taking full advantage of that fact. + +The party from Melton's ranch, with the exception of the three boys, lost +no time in slaking the thirst occasioned by their ride over the prairie, +and then they all repaired to the scene of the first event on the +entertainment programme, which proved to be a roping and tying contest. +Chip entered this and narrowly missed winning the prize. + +"Tough luck, old timer," consoled Sandy, "but better luck next time. You +made a good stab at it, anyhow." + +Other events were run off in quick succession, with the excitement +running high and keeping everybody at fever heat. The boys from the home +ranch won their share of the honors and a little over, and were +proportionately jubilant. "An' ef Wilson wins that race this arternoon," +said Sandy, "the boys from the ranch will feel so dawgoned good thet they +won't be able t' kick about nothin' fer a year t' come." + +"Thet's a good one, thet is," jeered one of the townspeople who had +overheard this remark. "Why, that guy Wilson ain't got even a look-in. +Our champ will make him look like an also ran." + +"Is that so?" replied Sandy sarcastically. "Well, yuh just stick around +this arternoon, an' yuh'll realize what a plumb egreg'us idjut a feller +can become by livin' in town a spell. Why, yuh poor boob, the feller +you're backin' to rake in the chips ain't got even a ghost of a show." + +Others of the citizens began to join in the argument, and words were +beginning to run high when Hotchkiss, the sheriff, galloped up on his +horse. "Here, here, boys," he exclaimed, "no hard feelin' on the glorious +Fourth. We're all here to have a good time, an' anybody that don't think +so can talk to me." + +"All right, Bill," said Sandy soothingly; "we warn't allowin' to have +a scrap, but the people o' this yere town is got too big a idea o' +themselves, thet's all." + +"Come away, Sandy," advised Dick, laughing. "Maybe we'll take a little of +the starch out of them this afternoon." + +Sandy at last allowed himself to be persuaded, and the cowboys rode off. +Soon afterward the three boys left them, for they had arranged with Mr. +Melton to lunch with him at the principal hotel. + +When they entered its doors he was waiting for them in the lobby, his +genial face beaming. + +"Well, my lads," he exclaimed, "how do you like the way we spend our +holidays out here, eh?" + +"Great!" exclaimed Bert, speaking for the others; "the boys certainly +know how to make things hum when they get started. There's something +doing every minute." + +"Yes, they're a great lot," said Mr. Melton. "They're hot tempered and +inclined to jump too quickly into a quarrel, but their hearts are always +in the right place, and they're loyal to the core. But how do you feel, +Bert?" suddenly changing the subject. "Have you got your winged shoes on +to-day?" + +"Never felt more like running in my life," smiled Bert. "Anybody that +beats me to-day will have to travel a little, I think." + +"Good!" exclaimed the rancher, "that's the kind of talk I like to hear. +Everybody I've talked to in the hotel here seems to think that this +Johnson is going to have things all his own way, and I want you to give +them the surprise of their lives." + +The fact that Bert was a Marathon winner was not generally known, and +everybody in town thought that their candidate would have an unknown +runner pitted against him, whom he could easily vanquish. It was, +therefore, with feelings of the utmost confidence that they streamed +toward the place where the race was to be held. They bantered the cowboys +they met unmercifully, but the latter kept their own counsel, and only +smiled in a knowing fashion. Money was bet freely on both sides, and +those who lost stood to lose heavily. + +After the boys had finished luncheon, they and Mr. Melton repaired to the +meeting place. The race was to be run around a one-mile oval track, and +five men were entered as contestants. Besides Bert and Johnson, the +winner of the previous race, Jed Barnes, was to race, and two other men +from neighboring ranches. As soon as the boys and Mr. Melton reached the +track they parted, the former seeking out the dressing room, and the +latter securing a seat in the grand stand. + +Bert got into his racing togs immediately, and his comrades left him and +walked out to secure seats for themselves. This was soon done, and they +settled themselves, waiting as best they could for the start. + +The stand and field filled rapidly until at last, when the gates were +closed, every available space was occupied by a tightly packed, expectant +throng. Suddenly a whistle blew and a few seconds afterward the runners +walked out and proceeded to draw lots for the choice of position. Bert +drew third from the inside rail, Jed Barnes second, and Johnson secured +the best place next to the rail. + +"That makes a rather bad handicap for Bert," said Tom anxiously. "I wish +he could have gotten a better position." + +"Oh, well, it might be worse," said Dick, but it must be confessed he was +a little worried also. Johnson was a well-built athlete, and seemed to be +in the best of condition. Dick recalled that Bert had not gone through +any special training, and was assailed with misgivings. However, he had +not long to wait. The runners took their places, and the starter raised +his pistol in the air. + +"Get set!" he called, and amid a breathless silence the racers crouched +over, their fingers barely touching the ground. + +Crack! went the pistol, and amid a roar from the spectators the five +athletes sprang ahead as though released from a catapult. Elbows pressed +against their sides, heads up, they made a thrilling picture, and the +crowd cheered wildly. At first they kept well together, but they were +setting a fast pace, and soon one of the men began to lag behind. But +little attention was paid him, for interest was concentrated on Bert, +Johnson and Barnes. Before they were half way around the oval the fourth +man had dropped out, so the race had narrowed down to these three. + +Suddenly Bert increased his stride a little, and spurted ahead. A wild +shout went up from the spectators, and those who had not already done +so leaped to their feet. "Wilson! Wilson!" chanted the cowboy contingent, +while the townspeople no less vociferously reiterated the name of their +favorite. + +But the "ringer" was not to be shaken off, and he in turn put on a burst +of speed that carried him into the lead. As the runners rounded the +three-quarter mile mark he was still leading, and Barnes was lagging far +to the rear, evidently done for as far as the race was concerned. Chip +had said that Johnson could "move some," and the professional did not +belie his reputation. Apparently, Bert was unable to close up the gap of +nearly a yard that now separated him from his rival, and the yells and +cheers of the citizens redoubled, while those of the cowboys died down. +Mr. Melton chewed the end of his cigar fiercely, and swore softly to +himself. + +But Tom and Dick were not deceived. "The old reprobate's only stalling," +yelled Dick into Tom's ear, at the same time pounding him frantically on +the back. "He isn't going his limit, by a whole lot. Watch him, now, just +watch----" but his words were drowned in the shrill cowboy yell that +split the air. "Yi, yi, yi!" they shouted, half crazy with excitement. +For Bert, their champion, suddenly seemed to be galvanized into furious +action. He leaped ahead, seeming to dart through the air as though +equipped with wings. Johnson gave a startled glance over his shoulder, +and then exerted himself to the utmost. But he might as well have stood +still as far as any good it did him was concerned. Bert was resolved to +make a decisive finish, and show these doubting Westerners what a son of +the East could do. Over the last hundred yards of the course he exerted +every ounce of strength in him, and the result was as decisive as even +Dick and Tom could desire. Amid a tremendous pandemonium he dashed down +the stretch like a thunderbolt, and breasted the tape sixty feet in +advance of his laboring rival. + +Words fail to describe the uproar that then broke loose. A yelling mob of +cowboys swept down onto the field, and, surrounding Bert, showered praise +and congratulations. Swearing joyfully, Reddy, Chip, Bud and several of +the others of the cross diamond outfit elbowed their way through the +crowd at one point, while Mr. Melton, Dick and Tom edged through at +another. + +"All right, boys," laughed Mr. Melton, "give him a chance to get his +breath back, though, before you shake his hands off altogether. Let's +work a path to the dressing room for him." + +This was no sooner said than done. Dick and Tom, assisted by Reddy and +the others, fought a path through the excited crowd, and at last got +Bert into the dressing room under the grandstand. + +"Waal, m' lad, yuh certainly put it all over that maverick," exulted +Reddy; "one time there, though, we figgered he had you beaten to a +stand-still. It was sure a treat the way yuh breezed past him at the +finish, it sure was." + +"I was worried some myself," admitted Mr. Melton, "but I suppose I ought +to have known better." + +Meanwhile Bert had taken a shower, and started to dress. In a few minutes +he was ready to leave the dressing room, and they all started out. Just +as Bert was going through the door Johnson, who had had a hard time +getting through the crowd, entered. As they passed Bert said, "Maybe this +will teach you to stick to straight racing, Summers. Take my advice and +cut out the crooked stuff. It doesn't pay in the end." + +The defeated athlete started, and muttered an oath. "I know who you are +now," he exclaimed. "I recognized you first thing, but couldn't place +you. It's just my luck," he continued bitterly. "If I'd had any idea who +I was going to run against I'd have backed out. But I'll get even with +you some day for queering my game, see if I don't." + +"Do your worst," invited Bert. "So long," and he hastened after his +friends, who had gone on slowly during this time. "What did he say?" +inquired Tom, and Bert repeated the substance of the brief exchange of +talk. "But I'm not worrying much over his threats," he finished. "I +imagine he'll be a little more careful in the future." + +They then repaired directly to the hotel, where they had supper. +Afterward they went out again to view an elaborate display of fireworks +given under the auspices of the town. Everywhere were hilarious cowboys, +who as soon as they recognized Bert crowded about the party and made +progress difficult. At last they struggled to a point of vantage where +they could see everything going on, and spent an enjoyable evening. + +About ten o'clock they returned to the hotel, and after securing their +ponies set out on the long ride back to camp, accompanied by such of the +ranchmen as could tear themselves away so early. They straggled in singly +and in couples all the next day, and it was almost a week before the +affairs of the ranch settled down into their usual well-ordered +condition. + +From that time on, the regard in which the three comrades were held by +the rough Westerners never wavered, and the cowboys never wearied of +discussing again and again the details of the great race that clipped the +wings of the "townies." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +The Wolf Pack + + +One evening not long after their arrival at the camp the three friends, +wearied after a day of strenuous activity, were whiling away the time in +reminiscences of some of their past adventures. Mr. Melton, who made one +of the little group, listened in an interested fashion, and seemed little +disposed to interrupt the draught of "memories' mellow vine." + +After a while they ceased talking, and a short silence ensued, which was +abruptly broken by Bert. + +"Look here, fellows," he exclaimed, "here we are monopolizing the +conversation, when we might be listening to some really interesting story +from Mr. Melton. I vote we petition the boss of this outfit to spin us a +yarn." + +"Second the motion," shouted Tom and Dick, and the vote was carried. + +"You fellows seem to think I have a story on tap all the time," he said +with an indulgent smile, "but the fact is I've told you about all the +exciting things that ever happened to me, or that I ever heard of. My +memory is squeezed as dry as a lemon." + +"Just the same, I'll bet if you think real hard you can think of +something worth telling," said Bert; "try to, anyway, won't you?" + +At first their host made no reply to this entreaty, but gazed +ruminatively off into space. At last he spoke. + +"I suppose you boys think," he said, "that this country is pretty wild +and uncivilized. But take my word for it, it is so tame now that it eats +out of your hand compared to what it once was. Why, now it's the rarest +thing in the world that you ever see a wolf--that is, a real wolf," as +Tom started to interrupt. "What I'm thinking of is a real timber wolf, +not one of the slinking coyotes you see every once in a while. There is +no animal I'd go farther out of my way to avoid than a hungry timber +wolf, and anybody else who knows anything at all about them will tell you +the same thing. + +"They are half as big again as a coyote, and twice as strong. Why, a +full-grown timber wolf will throw a running steer. Man is the only thing +in the world they're afraid of, and they're not afraid of him when +they're very hungry or running in packs. When driven to it they'll tackle +almost anything. + +"I remember one time when I had occasion to go to Belford, a little +trading station some twenty or thirty miles from our camp, to secure some +much-needed supplies. It was the middle of winter, and an exceptionally +cold and severe winter at that. Fresh meat was naturally very scarce, and +the wolves were becoming bolder and more fearless every day. At night +they used to prowl close about the camp, and howl until we got up and +plugged one or two of their number, after which they generally dispersed +for a time. + +"Well, as I have said, it became necessary for me to take the journey for +supplies, so one winter's morning I hitched up the team to a rude sort +of home-made sled I had made and started off for Belford. The snow was +quite deep and, needless to say, there had not been enough travel along +the trail to pack it down. The horses made heavy going of it, but we got +there at last, and glad enough I was to get inside the shack that served +as the general store and warm my half frozen hands and feet at the red +hot stove. + +"After I was comfortable once more I made my purchases, and after loading +them into the sleigh said good-by to the boys and started out on the +return journey. + +"It was a mighty long trip for the horses, but they were a young team, +full of fire and life, and I thought we could make back the same day +without much trouble. And likely enough we would have, with time to +spare, if it hadn't started to snow; lightly at first, but getting +thicker all the time. The horses had started out toward home at a brisk +trot, but they gradually slowed down to a walk, and once or twice I had +to stop them altogether to let them gather fresh strength. + +"What with the slow going and the stops, dusk overtook us while we were +still some eight or ten miles from the camp. It couldn't have been later +than four o'clock, but the short winter's day was even at that time +drawing to a close, and the falling snow made it darker still. + +"But no thought of danger entered my head, and I merely swore a little +at the prospect of a late supper, for I was cold and hungry. Suddenly, +however, the danger of my position was brought home to me in a very +sudden manner. Away in the distance I heard the long drawn wolf-howl, +than which I firmly believe there is no more blood-curdling sound in +existence. The horses pricked up their ears nervously and hastened their +lagging pace, and I myself felt a thrill go up my spine. It was not many +seconds before the first howl was answered by a second, and then a third. + +"'A little faster, my beauties,' I said to the horses, 'we're not so far +from home now, and it's up to us to get there pretty pronto.' + +"The faithful beasts seemed to understand my words, and strained forward +in the harness. The snow had stopped by this time, but was pretty deep, +and the sleigh was heavy. After trotting forward at a brisk pace for a +way they dropped back into a walk again. + +"By now the howls had merged into a general chorus, and looking back over +the great expanse of open country over which we were traveling I could +see numerous black specks traveling swiftly toward us, becoming larger +every second. + +"I saw that I was in a mighty tight place, so got out my Winchester +repeater and made sure that it was loaded. Then I stationed myself in +the back of the sleigh and waited for the enemy to approach. + +"On they came, loping swiftly along, silent now that their quarry was in +plain sight. I took careful aim at the foremost brute, and pulled the +trigger. My shot took effect, for with an unearthly scream the animal +dropped, and for a few brief seconds his comrades stopped in order to +devour him. At the sound of the rifle shot and the scream of the stricken +wolf the horses plunged forward, all thought of fatigue gone in their +overwhelming terror. The wolves were not easily to be outdistanced, +though, and were soon after us again. They gained on us as though we were +standing still, and were soon close to the back of the sleigh. I pumped +bullets into them as fast as I could work my repeater, but by this time +they were so numerous that it seemed to have little effect. The horses +were slowing down again, even their fear of death unable to force them +onward. I saw it was a case of lighten the sleigh or go under, so I +commenced throwing our precious supplies out of the sled. Bags of flour +and sides of bacon flew through the air, and the wolves were momentarily +checked while fighting over the prizes. + +"I knew that presently they would be up with us again, however, and then, +with every resource gone, it looked as though my chances would be slim, +indeed. But suddenly an inspiration shot through my mind. + +"I drew up the trembling horses, and with a few slashes of my hunting +knife cut the harness that held them to the sleigh. Then, with my rifle +in one hand, I swung onto the back of the larger of the two horses, and +let the other go. He was off like a streak, with my mount a close second. + +"I glanced back over my shoulder, hoping that we could gain a little +ground before the wolves quit their wrangling over the supplies I had +thrown out to them, but was disappointed. They were after us again in +full cry, and my heart sank. + +"I turned in the saddle and sent shot after shot into the racing pack, +and succeeded in checking them a little, but not much. The horse was +galloping at a good clip now, though, and I knew that if we could keep +ahead for a short time longer we would reach the camp. + +"The wolves overtook us without seeming effort, however, and were soon +snapping about the horse's heels. My rifle was of little use now, and +I drew my revolvers and blazed away at short range. Every shot took +effect, but the wolves were nothing daunted. As I told you before, when +the timber wolf gets his blood up he is absolutely fearless. No sooner +did one of the great gray brutes drop than another leaped into his place, +his green eyes glowing balefully and his jaws snapping. + +"When both my revolves were empty I clubbed my rifle, and lashed away at +the long-pointed heads that were so close to me. Once or twice one would +catch the butt of the gun in his teeth, and the marks are in the wood to +this day. + +"Well, I was so busy fighting off the wolves that I had no time to notice +how near we were to camp. But suddenly my heart gave a great leap as I +heard a yell in front of me and recognized the voice of my partner. + +"I looked ahead and saw that I had almost reached our shack. My partner +was standing in the doorway, rifle in hand, and even as I looked came +running out toward me. In a few seconds the faithful horse had carried me +almost to the shack, and I leaped to the ground. My partner took up a +stand alongside me, and as the wolves came on we cleared a space about us +with the clubbed rifles. We realized we couldn't keep that up long, +though, so we retreated to the cabin. We backed in, but were unable to +shut the door before one big gray brute squeezed inside. He was nothing +dismayed at being separated from his companions, but leaped straight for +us. I fetched him a stunning blow with the butt of my rifle, and before +he could recover we both fell upon him and despatched him with our +hunting knives. That was about as close a shave as I ever had," and as he +finished his story Mr. Melton shook his head. + +"I should think it must have been," said Bert, drawing a long breath, +"but what did the rest of the wolves do when they found themselves shut +out?" + +"Oh, my partner and I shot at them from the window until we had killed +over a dozen, and the rest, finding that they could not get at us, took +themselves off." + +"Did they kill the horses?" asked Tom. + +"No," replied Mr. Melton, "for some reason they didn't chase them. The +next morning we found them both outside the shack none the worse for +their adventure. And a mighty lucky thing for us it was, because the loss +of our horses then would have meant the failure of all our plans." + +"I suppose you went back and got the sled the next day, didn't you?" +inquired Dick. + +"Oh, yes," replied his host, "we recovered it all right, but then we had +to go back to the settlement for more grub, of course. But I was so happy +at having escaped with my life that I didn't mind a little thing like +that." + +The three boys laughingly voted Mr. Melton's story a "curly wolf," and +then, as it was getting late, trooped off to bed. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +With Teeth and Hoofs + + +One of the most important of the many industries of the ranch was the +breeding of horses for the Eastern market. Mr. Melton had a number of +fine horses, but the most valuable of all was Satan, a big black +stallion. His pedigree was as long as his flowing tail, and physically he +was a perfect specimen. His only drawback was a fiendish temper, which it +seemed impossible to subdue. Strangers he would never tolerate, and Mr. +Melton seemed to be the only man on the ranch that could go near him +without running a chance of being badly kicked or bitten. Even he was +always very careful to keep an eye out for mischief whenever in the +neighborhood of the stallion. + +All the cowboys hated Satan, and with good reason. More than one of them +bore marks of the horse's sharp teeth, and all of them could tell stories +of narrow escapes experienced while feeding him or otherwise going +through duties that called them into the neighborhood of the beautiful +but vicious animal. + +He was pastured in lonely grandeur in a spacious corral, shunned by all, +but apparently happy enough in spite of this. The three boys often +watched him at a safe distance, and regretted that his evil temper made +it impossible to be friendly with him. Satan often lost many a lump of +sugar or delicious carrot that he would have gotten had he been of a more +friendly nature, in this way resembling many humans who build up a wall +of reserve or ill-temper about them, and so lose many of the good things +of life. + +Soon after the arrival of the boys at the ranch Mr. Melton decided to +purchase another stallion, as the demand for good horses at that time +was exceptionally great. Accordingly, one day another horse made his +appearance in a corral adjacent to that in which Satan was kept. The new +horse was a good-sized bay, but not quite as large as Satan, although a +little younger. The two corrals were separated by a double fence, so +that, while the two horses could get within a few feet of each other, +they could never get close enough to fight. + +From the very beginning they exhibited a mutual hatred, and it was +evident that if they ever got within striking distance of each other +there would be trouble. Everybody on the ranch was strictly enjoined to +keep the gates between the corrals securely fastened, however, and there +seemed no possibility of the two rivals meeting. + +"But if they ever should," one of the men had remarked, "there'd be some +scrap, take it from me. There's nothing in the world worse than a fight +between two stallions." + +"Why, are they so vicious about it?" Bert, who was standing near, had +asked. + +"Vicious!" exclaimed the cowboy, "why, vicious ain't no word for it, +nohow. They're just devils let loose, that's all." + +It was only a few days after this that, as the boys were seated around +the table in the ranch house eating luncheon, in company with their host, +one of the cowboys dashed into the room, breathless and red of face. + +"Satan an' the bay are fightin'," he cried; "somebody must 'a' left the +gates open an'----" + +But Mr. Melton did not wait to hear any more. Leaping to his feet he +dashed through the door in the direction of the corrals. The three +comrades followed close on his heels. As they reached the open they could +hear shouts and cries and the thudding of hoofs. Mr. Melton increased his +pace, and in a few moments they had reached the scene of action. + +And it was a fearsome sight that met their eyes. The two big stallions, +the black and the bay, were both in Satan's corral, fighting furiously, +with a rage and viciousness that words are inadequate to describe. They +circled rapidly about, biting at each other with their long yellow teeth, +and lashing out with their hoofs. Each was quick as a flash of light, but +every once in a while a sharp hoof would find its mark, or the deadly +teeth would rip into the other's skin. Blood flowed freely, but neither +seemed to notice the wounds that the other inflicted. They had longed to +decide the question of supremacy ever since the newcomer's arrival, and +now they were determined to settle the matter. + +Satan was the stronger of the two, however, and probably in addition +possessed a more evil temper than his rival. Biting, screaming, kicking, +he circled about his enemy, his savage heart bent on the destruction of +the upstart who had dared to invade his domains. As Mr. Melton and the +boys dashed up, the black horse whirled like lightning and planted both +hind hoofs with deadly effect. The bay horse staggered, but his spirit +was still unconquered, and, recovering himself, he rushed for Satan with +a ferocity almost as great as his. + +"Stop them! separate them!" shouted Mr. Melton; "what are you standing +around watching them for? One or the other of them will be killed soon, +if we don't do something." + +It was but a few moments since the horses had started fighting, although +it had seemed much longer. At first the cowboys had seemed in a sort of +stupor, so suddenly had the thing happened, but at Mr. Melton's words +they sprang into activity. Some of them ran to get pitchforks, while +others secured lariats from their saddles and hurried back to the scene +of battle. + +The bay horse was now getting much the worst of it, and it became evident +that if the two infuriated animals were not separated soon the later +arrival would either be killed or else so badly hurt that he would have +to be shot eventually. + +Some of the cowboys rushed into the corral and with shouts and cries +endeavored to separate the combatants. The stallions took not the +slightest notice of them, however, except to lash out savagely at them +whenever they came within striking distance. + +"They can't do anything that way," muttered Mr. Melton. "Here," he +exclaimed, snatching a coiled lariat from one of his men, "I'll get in +there myself and put an end to this business, or know the reason why." + +Lasso in hand he rushed toward the corral, and in a few seconds was +inside. Fortunately, just as he entered the inclosure, the stallions, +exhausted with their efforts, drew apart and stood snorting and pawing +the ground. Mr. Melton realized that here was his opportunity, and +grasped it on the instant. Swinging the loop in great circles about his +head he took careful aim and let go. The rope whizzed through the air, +and the lithe coils settled about Satan's neck. + +For a second the black stallion was taken by surprise. He rolled his +bloodshot eyes toward his owner, but for a brief space made no move. +Then with a loud snort of rage he rushed toward the ranchowner, his +foam-flecked jaws gnashing and the breath whistling through his red +nostrils. Mr. Melton stood quiet, but alert, every muscle tense. Then, +when the infuriated stallion was almost upon him, with an agility that +it seemed impossible one of his bulk could possess, he leaped to one +side, and started running backward. + +At the same moment he threw the whirling, writhing coil of rope with such +sure aim that it settled with beautiful precision over Satan's powerful +shoulders. Before the rope could tighten, however, the black stallion had +whirled, and was again making for the ranchman. + +When the horse was almost upon him Mr. Melton once more leaped aside, and +with a dexterous flick on the rope pulled the loop down over Satan's +back. Before the horse could check his headlong speed Mr. Melton had +worked the loop down about his legs. With a quick jerk he pulled it +taut, and Satan, suddenly hobbled, fell to the earth with a crash. + +Several of the cowboys ran up, and in a few seconds the stallion was +securely trussed up. The bay stallion in the meantime had retreated to +the farthest corner of the corral, and was standing there dejectedly, all +the fight gone out of him. He was quickly secured and led back into his +own inclosure. Very carefully Satan was then loosed a trifle, and allowed +to struggle to his feet. He was still "hunting trouble," as one of the +men expressed it, but with the confining ropes about his fetlocks was +powerless. He was left hobbled, and the gate to his corral was fastened +securely this time. + +"That was sure a great ropin' stunt you pulled off, boss," said "Curley" +to Mr. Melton. "I never seen the trick done neater, nohow." + +"It was great!" Bert exclaimed. "I didn't know you were such an expert +roper, Mr. Melton." + +"It wasn't so bad for an old fellow," admitted his host with a smile; +"it took some pretty quick sidestepping to get out of Satan's way, I'll +admit. But when I was twenty years younger I used to rope cattle for a +living, and narrow escapes were part of the business." + +He turned and gave a few directions to the men, together with strict +injunctions to keep the two gates between the corrals closed. + +"If anything like this happens again," he warned, "somebody's going to +get fired pretty pronto, savvy? And do all you can for the bay. I don't +think he's seriously hurt, and if we're careful we can bring him back +into shape all right." + +After this, he and the boys returned to the ranch house, where they +discussed the recent exciting happenings pro and con. The boys had +planned to take an exploring expedition that afternoon, but all thought +of this was banished from their minds. After a while they returned to the +stables, where the stallions were having their wounds doctored. It +appeared that, as Mr. Melton had surmised, neither was very badly injured +physically, but the bay stallion's spirit seemed utterly broken. After +many days, however, he regained the pride which had been so rudely +shattered in his encounter with Satan, and proved to be a valuable horse. +He was of a more gentle disposition also, and accepted the overtures of +friendship that the boys made toward him, so that before their visit at +the ranch came to a close they were on very good terms with him. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +The Indian Outbreak + + +"They seem to be having trouble with the Indians on the reservation," +remarked Mr. Milton one evening, just after his return from a trip to +town; "everybody in Helena seems to be talking about it, and there was +a big article in the 'Despatch' this morning, too." + +"What kind of trouble?" asked Bert, his interest at once aroused. "You +don't mean there's talk of an outbreak among them, do you?" + +"That's exactly what I _do_ mean," replied Mr. Melton seriously. "The +young bucks are discontented, and are continually making 'war medicine.' +Of course, the old men of the tribes do all they can to keep them within +bounds, for they know how useless any outbreak would be. But the young +men have never had the bitter experience of their fathers, and at present +they seem very restless." + +"But I thought the days of Indian outbreaks were over," exclaimed Tom +excitedly; "why, they wouldn't have a ghost of a chance if they started +anything now." + +"Just the same there are enough of them to make trouble, if they ever got +started," said Mr. Melton soberly. "Of course, as you say, the uprising +would be suppressed quickly enough, but not perhaps without considerable +bloodshed and loss of property. At any rate, the prospect of such an +outbreak is enough to keep people living anywhere near the reservation +boundary on the anxious seat." + +"But I should think," remarked Dick, "that the authorities would make +such preparations to subdue an uprising among the Indians that it would +be crushed before they had a chance to get off the reservation." + +"Well, the authorities _have_ taken every possible precaution," replied +Mr. Melton. "Jim Hotchkiss, the sheriff, told me that word had been +passed to officers of the forts to have the troops in readiness for +instant action. But the 'noble red man' is cunning in his own way, and +lays his plans carefully. And when he is ready to strike he strikes +quickly, like the snake. A marauding band will attack and sack a +farmhouse, and be forty miles away before the troops arrive on the scene. +And in a country as large and wild as this it is something of a task to +corner and subdue them." + +"There hasn't been any trouble of the kind for a long time, has there?" +asked Dick. + +"No, not for a good many years," answered Mr. Melton; "and that inclines +me all the more to take the present situation seriously. These uprisings +come only at long intervals now, but it seems impossible to prevent them +altogether. After an outbreak has been put down the Indians are very +quiet for a time. They have probably suffered considerable loss of life, +and been severely punished by the government. For years the memory of +this lingers, but gradually it fades away, and the rising generation of +young bucks, with the inherited lust of fight and warfare running riot in +their blood, become restless and rebellious under the restraints of +civilization and government. They hear stories of their ancestors' +prowess from the lips of the old men of the tribe, and they long to go +out and capture a few 'pale face' scalps on their own account. After a +while they work themselves up to the required pitch, and some fine day a +band of them sallies forth on the 'war path.' Then there is a brief time +of plundering and murdering, until the troops can come up with them. Then +there's a scrimmage, in which most of the band is exterminated, and the +rest are herded back to the reservation, with most of the fight gone out +of them." + +"I should think a few experiences like that would teach them wisdom, and +keep them from repeating the experiment," commented Bert. + +"It would seem so," assented Melton, "but," with a smile, "youth is +always prone to disregard what is told it by its elders, and to insist on +finding out the why and wherefore of things by bitter experience." + +"I hope there's nothing personal in that," grinned Dick. + +"Oh, not at all," replied his host with an innocent expression on his +face, but a twinkle in his eye. "I wonder what could have given you that +idea." + +"Nothing," replied Dick. "I just thought it barely possible, that's all." + +"Oh, no," disclaimed Melton, "nothing could have been further from my +thoughts." + +Dick looked suspicious, and Tom and Bert laughed heartily. + +After this little interruption, the talk went back to the subject of the +threatened Indian uprising. After a time Mr. Melton said: "It might be a +good idea for you boys to ride to town to-morrow and get the latest news. +There'll be very little going on about the ranch to-morrow to interest +you, and it will be a good way to spend the day. Besides, there are one +or two things I forgot when in town, and while you are about it you can +get them and bring them back with you." + +This plan was received by the boys with acclamation, and they immediately +set to making preparations. It was a considerable distance to the town, +and they planned to make an early start, before the intense heat of the +day set in. + +They accordingly packed their "war-bags" that same evening, and before +retiring had made every preparation for the morrow's trip. + +The next morning they were up with the sun, and after a hasty breakfast +leaped into their saddles and were off. It was a glorious day, and the +exhilarating air made them feel "right up on their toes," as Tom +expressed it. Bert felt called upon to reprove Tom for using this +expression, for, as he gravely pointed out, they were not on their own +toes at all, but on the horses', so to speak. + +"Aw, forget it," retorted Tom flippantly; "it's toe bad about you, +anyway." + +Having delivered this shot Tom chirruped to his horse, and set off at a +smart gallop, followed by Dick and Bert. The two latter hadn't decided +what they would do to Tom when they caught him, but they were longing for +a canter, anyway, and this gave them a good excuse. But after traveling +in this rapid manner for a short distance they pulled in their steeds, +for it would never do to tire them thus early in the journey. Tom, seeing +that the pursuit had been abandoned, also reined in his horse, and +allowed his companions to gain on him. + +"Don't shoot," he called. "I'll promise to be good and never do it +again--not till the next time, that is." + +"All right," laughed Bert, "we'll suspend sentence this time, but at the +next offense we won't be so lenient, will we, Dick?" + +"Not by a long shot," said Dick; "we'll toe him along at the end of a +lariat if he does, that's all." He grinned feebly as he got off this +atrocious pun, but Bert and Tom refused to be beguiled into smiling. + +"I never thought it of you, Dick, honest I didn't," mourned Bert, sadly +shaking his head. "I naturally expect such things from Tom, but I had a +better opinion of you. I suppose I'll have to let bygones be bygones, but +just the same you deserve nothing less than ptomaine poisoning as +punishment." + +At this Tom and Dick gave utterance to a howl of execration that made +their horses jump, and two tightly rolled sombreros came flying toward +Bert's head. But he ducked just in time, and then had a good laugh as Tom +and Dick were forced to dismount and secure their misused headgear. + +Soon his two friends were back in the saddle, however, and then they set +off at a steady trot, discussing in a more serious vein the probability +of such an uprising as Mr. Melton feared. + +"I don't want it to happen," summed up Bert at last, "but if it's got to +happen anyway, I hope it does while we're out here. I feel like a small +boy going to a fire. As long as the house has to burn anyway, he wants to +be Johnny-on-the-spot." + +In this manner the time passed quickly, and before eleven o'clock they +were nearing the town. A few minutes later they were riding through its +streets, alertly on the lookout for any signs of impending trouble. All +seemed much the same as usual, though, except that about the telegraph +and newspaper offices there seemed to be unwonted bustle and excitement. +Here and there knots of men had congregated also, who appeared to be +discussing some important matter. + +The three boys rode until they reached the post office, and then, +dismounting and hitching their horses, went inside. The post office also +served as a telegraph station, and there were various news bulletins +posted about the room. + +They hastened to one of these, and their faces grew grave as they read. +It appeared from the bulletin that the Indians were on the very eve of an +outbreak, although they had made no actual hostile moves as yet. Troops +had been summoned to the reservation, however, and were expected to reach +Helena that evening. They were ordered to stay in the town overnight, and +press on for the reservation the following morning. + +"It begins to look like business now, all right," said Bert, after he and +his friends had digested this information. + +"It sure does," agreed Dick, "but likely as not it will all blow over +before anything really serious happens." + +"Oh, of course, there's always that chance," said Bert, "but let's go +outside and find out what the opinion of the townspeople is. They must +understand the situation pretty thoroughly, and we can soon find out +whether or not they regard this as a false alarm. But it looks to me as +though real trouble were brewing." + +Bert's opinion seemed to be shared almost unanimously by the citizens. +Everywhere men were getting out and overhauling their firearms, and there +was a run on the ammunition stores. + +"I'm glad we brought our revolvers," remarked Tom; "there seems to be a +chance of our having use for them by and by." + +"I'm mighty glad we did," acquiesced Bert, "and I brought something +beside my revolver, too. Just before we left the ranch I packed my +Winchester repeater inside my blankets. I wasn't even thinking of the +Indians then, but I thought we might have a chance at a little game, and +it would be just as well to pack it along. There's not a chance in a +thousand that we'll need it, but you can't always tell." + +"It's lucky you did," said Dick; "have you got plenty of ammunition for +it?" + +"None too much," replied Bert. "I think while we're here I'll buy a few +boxes of cartridges." + +Acting upon this thought, they bought the ammunition, together with some +extra cartridges for their revolvers. This done they made the purchases +for Mr. Melton that he had requested of them, and after a satisfying meal +at the best hotel set out on their return journey. + +It was about two o'clock as they jogged out of town, and as they knew +they had ample time in which to reach the ranch before dark they let the +horses set their own pace. They had many things to talk about, although +the heat of the sultry afternoon made even conversation a task. But +nothing could subdue their spirits, and with never a care in the world +they rode gaily on. + +"It's quite near stage time," Bert remarked suddenly, "we're pretty near +the trail, and if we meet it we can get the latest developments of the +reservation situation from Buck, the driver. He always has a supply of +the latest news. He knows more than the local newspapers of what's going +on, I believe." + +"I'll bet that's the coach now," exclaimed Dick, pointing to a cloud of +dust in the distance. + +"Yes, I guess it is," returned Bert, gazing intently at the distant +smirch against the clear blue background of sky; "come along, fellows. +Ride hard and we'll reach the trail before the coach comes along." + +Accordingly they set spurs to their horses and galloped rapidly over the +sunburned prairie. In a short time they reached the travel-hardened +trail, beating the coach by a good half mile. Then they drew rein, and +waited impatiently for the lumbering vehicle to reach them. + +With rattle of harness and creak of complaining axle-tree the coach +toiled over the endless trail, drawn by four raw-boned mules. As it drew +near, the boys waved their sombreros to the driver, who returned the +salute with a flourish of his long snakeskin whip. + +At last it reached them and the driver rumbled a hoarse greeting. "How +goes it, pards," he said, "an' what's the good word?" + +"That's just what we were going to ask you," said Bert with a friendly +smile. "We've been hearing a lot lately of the expected redskin uprising, +and we wanted to know if you had a line on the real situation, Buck. Is +there anything really doing, or is it all just talk?" + +"I dunno," answered the driver, "some says yes an' some says no, but +if you want my honest opinion I'd say thet the Injuns ain't got nerve +enough to start trouble no more. Why, they're so all-fired meek an' lowly +thet----" + +Zip! A bullet whizzed through the sultry air and whirled the stage +driver's slouch hat from his head. Zip! Zip! Zip! and the air was alive +with the whine and drone of bullets. + +"Hold-ups, by the 'tarnal," yelled the driver, accompanying his words +with a whirl of oaths. "Down behind the coach, Sam!" addressing the +guard, who always rode beside him on the box with loaded rifle; "we'll +stand 'em off, or I'm a greaser." + +The guard leaped down behind the coach at the same moment that Bert and +Dick and Tom made for the same shelter. There were only two passengers +in the coach, and they, pale of face and with chattering teeth, joined +the little group. + +"Them shots came from that bunch of chaparral over there," said Buck, +"but it's an almighty queer way for road agents to go about a job. They +ginerally----" + +"Injuns!" shouted the guard, who had been peering cautiously around the +end of the coach. "Injuns, by the Lord Harry, shoot me if they ain't!" + +A thrill passed over the three comrades, and they looked warily forth in +the direction in which the guard had pointed. Sure enough, over the top +of the chapparal they could discern a number of hideously painted faces +surmounted by tufts of eagle feathers. The guard, recovering from his +first paralysis of astonishment, took careful aim at one of them and +pulled the trigger. A yell of pain followed the report of his rifle, and +a savage shout went up from the band of redskins. They answered with a +volley that bored through the sides of the coach, and narrowly missed +several of the little group gathered behind it. + +"We got to turn the coach over," exclaimed Buck, "the top an' floor's a +whole lot thicker than the sides, and besides, as it is there's nothin' +to prevent the bullets from comin' in underneath. Lend a hand, everybody, +and we'll get 'er over." + +He crept in between the mules and commenced unharnessing them. Bert and +his friends leaped to his assistance, although during the process they +were much more exposed to the fire of the Indians. The latter were not +slow to perceive this, and they opened a steady fire. But fortunately +they were poor shots, and most of their bullets went wild. Several struck +the mules, however, and the unfortunate animals plunged and kicked so +wildly that the three friends and the driver stood in almost as much +danger from them as from the bullets. Finally the traces were unfastened, +and the mules, released from the harness, raced wildly away. + +Bert and the others dodged nimbly back behind the coach, and then all +hands set to the task of overturning it. By dint of exerting all their +strength they finally managed to lift one side of the clumsy vehicle +until it toppled over with a crash. + +"There," exclaimed Buck, wiping the perspiration from his face with a big +bandanna handkerchief; "so fur, so good, but we got to do more than that. +Them Injuns will start to surround us as soon as they see they can't pick +us off from the front, and we want to be ready for them." + +"What do you think we'd better do?" asked Bert. + +"Fust thing is t' get the trunks and mail bags out o' the coach and build +a barricade with them," replied the driver, "an' it looks as though we +stood a good chance o' gettin' shot full o' lead doin' it, too. If them +Injuns hadn't been sech all-fired poor shots we'd a been winged before +this, I reckon." + +"Well, as long as it's got to be done, we might as well get it over +with," said Dick; "come on, fellows, one, two----" + +"Wait a minute!" exclaimed Bert. "I think it would be a good plan for +those of us who have rifles to be on the lookout and pick off any of the +redskins who show themselves. Even if we don't get any, it will prevent +them from taking good aim." + +"We ain't got but one rifle, though," objected Buck. "Sam, here," +motioning toward the guard, "is the only one in the bunch with a rifle." + +"No, I've got one in my blanket roll," replied Bert, and before the +driver could answer was busily engaged in undoing the tightly rolled +blanket. + +"I reckon you two had better get anythin' you want off your horses," said +Buck, addressing Tom and Dick, "an' then set the critters loose. They +ain't a mite o' good here, an' they only take up valuable space." + +The boys were loath to act on this advice, but they saw the wisdom of it, +and so did as the driver suggested. They knew that the horses, as soon as +released, would make for the ranch, and they had little fear of the +Indians being able to catch them. Accordingly, a few minutes later the +three trusty animals were turned loose, each receiving a smart slap to +start it on its way. They galloped off across the plain, and were soon +lost to sight in the distance. + +Meantime the Indians had been keeping up a straggling fire in the +direction of the stage coach, and Bert and the guard set themselves to +the task of silencing it. Lying flat on the ground, and aiming their guns +cautiously around each end of the coach, they fired with sure aim every +time a dusky arm or leg was exposed by their attackers. They were both +crack shots, and their bullets seldom failed to reach their mark. +Gradually the fire from the enemy died down, and at last stopped almost +altogether. The precision of the white men astonished them, and they drew +behind cover and held a conference. + +"Now's the time!" exclaimed Buck. "Into the coach, boys, and rustle out +the baggage. Lively's the word!" + +All the little party, with the exception of the passengers, who seemed +too paralyzed with fright to move, dashed into the coach, and before the +Indians realized what was happening returned, each staggering under some +bulky article, trunk, or mail bag. + +The savages sprang into life, and a hail of bullets struck against the +coach. But they were too late, and the defenders set to work to construct +a circular rampart, using the coach as part of it. After arranging the +baggage to their satisfaction they dug up earth and covered the +improvised ramparts with it. + +"So far, so good," said Buck, when at last they stopped to draw breath. +"That will hold the red devils off for a time, anyway. But unless we get +help in some way I'm afraid we're done for, anyway. There's a big party +o' bucks there, and chances are that more will join them before mornin'. +Then they'll come at us in earnest, and it will only be a question o' how +long we can stand them off. After that----" he ended with a silence more +eloquent than words. + +"Isn't there--isn't there some way to summon aid?" asked one of the +passengers, with blanched cheeks. + +"I don't see how," replied Buck; "it would be jest plain suicide fer one +of us to make a break now. Besides, it's twenty miles to the nearest +town, and the Injuns'll be on us long before anybody could get to town +and bring back help, even supposin' the Injuns didn't pot him before he +got fairly started. O' course, we couldn't do anythin' before dark, +nohow." + +"Don't you think they'll attack before that?" asked Dick. + +"No, I don't," replied the driver; "they'll want to surround us first, +an' they won't start to do that until after dark, 'cordin' to my way o' +thinkin'. What do you say, Sam?" + +"Them's my sentiments exactly," answered that individual. "There ain't a +chance in the world o' their doin' anythin' before that." + +As the opinions of these two veterans coincided the matter was regarded +as settled, and the boys commenced overhauling their pistols to make sure +they were in perfect shape. + +There was no further movement on the part of their besiegers, but Buck +and Sam knew full well that the Indians were far from giving up their +attack. To them the respite was more ominous than an active sally, for +they knew that the braves were hatching some scheme for their +destruction. + +"They're foxy as they make 'em," opined Sam grimly; "the critters are +cookin' up some deep plan to circumvent us, or I'm a Dutchman. Jest wait +an' see if they ain't." + +"If anybody thinks them red devils ain't watching us closer than a cat +watches a mouse," said Buck, "I'll just prove it to 'em mighty pronto." + +He snatched his sombrero from his head, and placing it on the muzzle of +the guard's rifle, held the piece up in the air so that the hat projected +above the edge of the over-turned coach. Instantly a sharp fusillade broke +from the Indian's position, and one bullet, better aimed than the +majority, passed clean through the sombrero, whirling it off the rifle. + +"I reckon that shows they ain't asleep," remarked Buck grimly; "ef they +don't get our scalps it won't be from lack o' tryin'." + +"We've got to figure out some way of getting word to town," exclaimed +Bert fiercely. "There must be some way, if we could only think of it. +I have it!" he shouted. "Listen! The new branch they've been putting +through from the railroad is almost completed, and a foreman I was +speaking to a few days ago said they had almost finished stringing the +telegraph wires. They're probably up by now, and if I could only get to +them I'd have help here in no time!" + +"By all that's holy, the lad's right," exclaimed Buck, "an' it ain't far +from here neither, considerin' jest the distance." + +"But the chances are you'd never reach the railroad, Bert," said Dick +anxiously; "they'd wing you before you got anywhere near it." + +"I'll have to take a chance on that," responded Bert. "Besides, if I +don't go our condition is hopeless, anyhow, so I might as well attempt +it." + +The two Westerners nodded their heads at this, and Buck said: "O' course, +it's only a ragged chance, but it might go through at that. The best +thing will be for him to make the try the first second after dark. The +redskins won't start to surround us until then, and by quick work he +might get out before they'd finished postin' a ring around us." + +"But even if you get to the railroad how are you going to telegraph +without an instrument?" inquired Tom. + +"Leave that to me," replied Bert; "if I can only get that far I'll manage +to telegraph all right, never fear." + +By this time the sun was low in the west, and a short time afterward it +dipped under the rim of the prairie. For a short time the sky was painted +in vivid colors by its reflected rays, and then the sudden prairie +twilight descended swiftly. + +"Now's your time, son," said Buck; "are you all ready?" + +"I'll start the first second you think it best," replied Bert, and then +turning shook hands all around, ending up with Dick and Tom. + +"We'd go with you, old friend, if it would do any good," said Dick, +wringing Bert's hand. "I guess you know that without my saying it." + +"I know it, all right," replied Bert; "but don't you worry about me. The +Indian isn't born yet that can get my scalp." + +As he finished speaking Buck said: "You'd better start now, my lad. It's +so dark they can't see you, and I don't think they've had time to +surround us yet. If you do get through and send the message make for +town. Don't try to get back here, because you'd never make it, and if you +did it would do no good. There's no use sacrificing your life along with +ours." + +"Well, I'll get there first," said Bert, "and then there'll be plenty of +time to think about whether or not to come back." Needless to say, in his +own mind there was little doubt that if it lay in his power he would +return and fight, and if need be die at his comrades' side. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +In Fearful Extremity + + +With the stealthy tread of a panther, Bert climbed over the improvised +rampart, and a few seconds later his form merged into the enveloping +darkness and was lost to the view of his anxious friends. They listened +with straining ears for any sound of shot or struggle, but the deep +silence of a prairie night remained unbroken. + +Bert pursued his way swiftly, but at the same time he exercised all the +knowledge that a life of adventure had given him to detect with ear or +eye the presence of a lurking enemy. He had traveled several hundred +yards when suddenly he heard what seemed to be a stealthy rustling, off +somewhere to his right. He dropped to the ground like a flash, and, +scarcely daring to breathe, peered through the velvety blackness, +straining his eyes in an attempt to make out the cause of the sound. + +For the space of perhaps a minute all was as still as the grave, and Bert +had almost made up his mind that the noise must have been occasioned by a +snake or lizard, when suddenly, within three feet of where he lay he made +out the form of an Indian, a mere black splotch against the slightly +lighter background of the sky. The savage did not move, and Bert knew +that he had not been discovered as yet. But the dark form seemed to +have no intention of going any further, and Bert came to the conclusion +that the brave was one of the band that had been detailed to surround the +devoted little party of whites. + +Bert knew that it would be impossible for him to move without being +discovered by the Indian, so he resolved on a swift, deadly attack as the +only way out of the dilemma. + +Gathering his muscles for the spring he suddenly launched himself like a +thunderbolt at the Indian. With the same motion he drew his revolver and +aimed a blow at the savage's head, for he knew that a single shot would +give the alarm and frustrate all his plans. + +But the wily redskin was not to be so easily caught off his guard. With +a grunt of surprise he half turned to meet the attack, and the butt of +Bert's revolver dealt him only a glancing blow. Before the savage had a +chance to shout a warning, however, Bert had grasped him by the throat +with one hand, while he rained blows from the clubbed revolver on him +with the other. The Indian made a desperate attempt to loose his +assailant's hold and secure the knife from his girdle, but Bert's attack +was too fierce and deadly. In a few seconds the struggling form of the +brave grew limp and fell to the earth. + +Without giving him a moment's further notice, Bert started out over the +desert at a swift run, guided by his almost instinctive sense of +direction. He ran quickly and lightly with the speed and silence of a +wolf, and he breathed a heartfelt prayer of thanksgiving when he realized +that he was clear of the besiegers. + +In a short time he reached the line of newly laid rails that marked one +more stride of civilization into this far western country. He scrambled +up the steep embankment, and was not long in locating a telegraph pole. +He climbed this quickly and once securely seated in the crossbars made +ready to send the message that meant life or death to himself and the +little party back there by the over-turned stage coach, dependent on him +for their very lives. + +He drew from a pocket a pair of cutting pliers that he had secured from +the coach's toolbox, and donned a pair of thick leather gloves that he +had borrowed from the driver. With the pliers he severed the single +telegraph wire, and grasped the two ends in his gloved fingers. + +"Now," he thought, "if there's no current in the wire everything will +have gone for nothing. But if there is----" + +He brought the severed ends together, and was overjoyed to see a snapping +little blue spark play about them. + +"Great!" he shouted aloud, and then set himself to send the message. He +was an expert telegrapher and knew the Morse code as well as he knew his +own name. Of course, he had no means of telling whether or not anybody +was receiving his sending, but had to go ahead on the chance that they +were. + +"Attacked by Indians," he sent. "Near stage-coach trail--twenty miles +east of Helena. Send help, quick." + +He repeated this message again and again, until he felt sure that +somebody must have received it. Then he twisted the two ends of the wire +together, and slid down the pole. + +"Now to get back with Dick and Tom and the others," he thought. "It's +going to be no easy matter, either. I have an idea it's going to be +harder to get in than it was to get out." + +He retraced his course with the utmost caution, until he judged that he +must be nearing the Indian outposts. Then he dropped at full length on +the ground and commenced crawling forward at a snail's pace, pausing +every few yards to listen intently for any indication of danger. At one +time he heard a murmur of guttural voices at no great distance, and +proceeded with redoubled caution until he left the sound behind. +Gradually he worked himself along until he knew he could be at no great +distance from his friends. The danger of being caught by the Indians now +seemed to be passed, but Bert realized that it would never do to approach +his party without giving warning of his coming, as the chances were they +would take him for an enemy and shoot before he could make himself known +to them. + +For a time he was at a loss to think of some signal that would be +recognized by those within the improvised fort, but at last had an +inspiration. Softly he whistled a bar of one of the old college songs. +There was no reply at first, but he repeated the refrain a little louder +this time, and was overjoyed to hear the tune taken up by a whistle that +he recognized as Tom's. He waited a few minutes, to give Tom time to warn +the others of his coming, and then ran swiftly forward until he reached +the inclosure. + +Dick and Tom almost hugged him in their joy at his safe return, and then +questioned him anxiously as to whether he had sent the message. + +"I got it through, all right," said Bert, "and I don't think there's much +doubt that somebody received it. Now it's only a question of holding out +until help comes." + +"It'll have to come mighty soon," declared Buck, who had seemed much +surprised at Bert's safe return; "at dawn or jest before is the time the +varmints will close in upon us." + +The hours dragged on and, as Buck had predicted, just before dawn a +hideous yell rent the air, and a shower of bullets whined over the heads +of the besieged party. + +They grasped their firearms and prepared for a desperate encounter. But +for a few minutes after the outbreak all was silent as the grave, and in +the slight respite the first pale streaks of dawn appeared in the eastern +sky. + +"Thank God for the light, anyway," exclaimed Dick fervently; "at least +we'll be able to see what we're doing." + +Before anybody could reply to this there was another shrill yell, and +against the rapidly lightening sky the defenders could see a vague body +of horsemen charging toward them. + +"Shoot!" yelled Buck, suiting the action to the word. "Make every bullet +tell." Outside of the two passengers, who were unarmed and could do +little to aid the defense, there were five men behind the ramparts who +were excellent marksmen. Dick's and Tom's revolvers barked viciously, and +the deadly rifles wielded by Bert and the stage driver made havoc in the +ranks of the attacking braves. Sam, the guard, wielded his heavy Colts +with the skill and sure aim of a veteran, and the Indians broke ranks +under the withering hail of bullets. They wheeled their horses off to +either side of the stoutly defended fortification and galloped out of +range, leaving a number of still figures on the ground. + +"First blood for us," shouted Bert exultantly. "I guess we gave them a +warmer reception than they figured on." + +"Yes, but they'll be back pretty soon," said Buck. "There's a hundred of +them if there's one, and they would never dare face the tribe again if +they let themselves be beaten by half a dozen 'pale faces'." + +Nothing could have suited the three comrades better, for their fighting +blood was aroused, and all thought of danger was swallowed up in the +primitive love of battle that is inherent in every man. + +"Here they come," shouted Dick, and come they did, but more cautiously +this time. They had learned their lesson, and realized how deadly was +the white mans' aim. They hung low from the saddle, on the side farthest +from the defenders, thus interposing the bodies of their horses as +shields between themselves and the defenders. + +In this fashion they galloped and wheeled back and forth in front of the +breastworks, firing over and under their horses, and drawing ever a +little closer, a little closer, until they should close on the devoted +little band of whites and annihilate them. + +Bert's unerring rifle never failed of its mark, and whenever an Indian +raised his head ever so little over his horse's back the Winchester spoke +and one more still form was added to the many already strewed over the +ground. The revolvers barked steadily and terrible havoc was wrought +among the ranks of the attacking redmen. + +But now their savage blood was up, and death itself had lost its power +to daunt them. Slowly the circle about the besieged constricted, and +suddenly the attackers, at a given signal, abandoned their horses +and, springing to the ground, rushed forward, shooting and emitting +blood-curdling yells as they ran. + +"Stand together, boys," yelled Buck, "we'll stand back to back and fight +it out to the bitter end." + +Nobody had time to answer, but they did as he suggested. The Indians were +now close upon them, and with wild yells mounted the low embankment that +had hitherto protected the white men. Rifles were useless at this short +range, and Bert and the stage driver clubbed theirs and met the first +savages over the embankment with death-dealing blows from the clubbed +weapons. The savages pressed forward so fiercely and in such numbers that +soon even this became of no avail, and they had recourse to their +revolvers. The six-shooters barked steady streams of fire, doing fearful +execution among the packed ranks of the attacking redmen. + +The Indians were now fighting chiefly with knives, and the defenders +began to suffer, too. One of the passengers dropped to the ground under +a wicked thrust from the knife of a giant Indian, who seemed to be the +leader. Then the big redskin, encouraging his fierce followers by voice +and action, threw himself toward Dick, who happened to be nearest him. +Dick had just fired the last shot from his revolver, and he had no time +to reload. As the Indian sprang at him Dick clubbed his revolver, and +made a terrific swing at the shaven head of his attacker. The savage +dodged with the agility of a cat, and the blow merely glanced from his +shoulder. With a yell of exultation the Indian raised his sharp knife, +still dripping with the blood of its last victim. But before the weapon +could descend, Bert's fist shot out like lightning, catching the redskin +a terrific blow under the chin. The Indian's head snapped back, and he +was almost lifted from the ground by the impact. Then he fell limply, and +the fight waged on over his unconscious form. + +The attackers, instead of being daunted by the fall of their leader, +seemed spurred to an even greater pitch of ferocity, and fought like very +demons. The whites, fighting silently and grimly, resolved to sell their +lives as dearly as might be, presented a solid front and battled with the +grim courage and ferocity of desperation. Bert and Dick and Tom fought as +one unit, and again and again repelled the assaults of their swarming +enemies. + +But they were battling against overwhelming odds, and the end could not +be far off. Sam, the guard, was down, whether dead or only wounded they +did not know. All of them were wounded, and Tom's left arm hung useless +at his side. They had no time to load their revolvers, and, with the last +shot fired, drew their sharp hunting knives and fought like cornered +wildcats. Eyes bloodshot, the odor of blood and sweat in their nostrils, +they time and again flung back the leaping, yelling hordes pressing in on +them. + +But there is a limit to human endurance, and their arms were beginning to +weaken, their aim to be less certain. Then suddenly the fierce attack +wavered and weakened. To their dazed senses came the noise of rifle +shots, and the sound of a bugle's strident note. Before they could +realize that help had at last arrived the Indians had broken away and +with wild yells were making for their horses. A detachment of cavalry set +out in pursuit, while the commanding officer and his staff rode over to +the exhausted defenders. + +As they rode they looked wonderingly at the numbers of Indians scattered +over the bloodsoaked ground. They galloped up to where the defenders, or +what remained of them, lay panting on the ground, ringed about by a +circle of those who had fallen by their hands. + +"Well, boys!" exclaimed the captain, "I guess we came just in the nick of +time. You were about at the last ditch, but from all the signs you must +have put up a corking fight." + +Before any one could answer, the surgeon, who had accompanied the +rescuing party, arrived on the scene, and immediately took charge of the +wounded men. One of the passengers was past all aid, and the other was +badly wounded. The doctor shook his head when he examined the senseless +but still breathing form of the guard, but finally announced that he had +a chance to recover. Among the three boys Tom's wounded arm was the most +serious injury sustained, although they had all suffered cuts and slashes +and were weak from loss of blood. + +By the time their wounds had been dressed and bandaged the first of the +pursuing cavalry returned with the prisoners they had captured. An hour +later the last of them rode in, reporting that the braves who had escaped +capture had scattered to the four points of the compass, making further +pursuit useless. + +"Very well," said Captain Graham, their leader; "we'll return to Helena +with the prisoners. But you lads," he said, turning to the three friends, +"where were you bound for when you were attacked?" + +Bert told him, and the captain told off half a dozen troopers to escort +them to the ranch. "You deserve the highest praise for the plucky fight +you put up," he said, "and I don't want your lives put in jeopardy by any +of the redskins who may return to this neighborhood after we leave. I +imagine they've had all the fight taken out of them by this time, +however, and they'll probably make a bee line for the reservation. But +it is best to be on the safe side, at all events." + +The boys thanked him heartily for his timely aid, and then, each mounted +on a trooper's horse, they and the escort set off in the direction of the +ranch, first shaking hands with Buck, the stage-coach driver. + +"You're plucky lads," he exclaimed, wringing their hands, "and we all put +up the scrap of our lives. I don't know about old Sam"--here a shadow +passed over his face--"but he's a tough old sinner, an' I reckon he'll +pull through all right. I hope I'll see you lads again some time, I sure +do." + +It was with real regret that the friends parted from him, and more than +once they turned in their saddles and waved their hats to him, until his +sturdy figure was swallowed up in the distance. + +Shortly after this they descried an approaching dust-cloud in the +distance, and the troopers, thinking it might be a new band of Indians or +some of the survivors of the dispersed one, unslung their rifles and made +preparations to give them a warm reception. + +As the cloud drew nearer, however, figures began to emerge from it, and +in a few minutes the boys were able to make out the familiar faces of the +ranch cowboys, headed by Mr. Melton. They were all armed to the teeth, +and were spurring their horses along at a gallop. + +Soon they were within hailing distance, and as the cowboys recognized the +three boys among the troopers they emitted joyful yells, and by way of +salute many of them fired their revolvers in the air. Mr. Melton appeared +more overjoyed than anybody else, however, and as the two parties met and +drew rein he exclaimed: + +"Thank the Lord you're safe! When your horses galloped in late last night +without you I feared the worst. Tell me what has happened." + +The cowboys crowded around, and listened eagerly while Bert gave an +account of the attack by the Indians and its result. When he had +finished, but before anybody had time to say anything, the corporal, who +commanded the escort, broke in: "From the way he tells it," he said, "you +might imagine that it had been a good deal less of a fight than it was. +But we counted over twenty dead redskins, besides a lot that were more +or less badly wounded. It must have been _some_ shindy, take it from me." + +"I'm sure proud of you boys," exclaimed Mr. Melton, with glistening eyes; +"but I'm not so much surprised, after all. I always knew you were grit +clear through, anyhow." + +"Oh, there was nothing very wonderful about it," disclaimed Bert. "We had +to fight, whether we wanted to or not. It wasn't a matter of choice." + +"Well, we won't argue the matter," smiled Mr. Melton; "what you need now +is food and rest and a little nursing. We'll ride back home just as soon +as we can, where you'll get plenty of all three. I guess we won't need to +trouble you any more," he continued, addressing the corporal commanding +the detachment; "there's enough of us here to hold our own in case of an +attack, I think." + +"I reckon so," said the corporal, sizing up the score or more of lean, +square-jawed cowboys, "and in that case we might just as well return to +camp." + +He took leave of the three comrades, who thanked him for his escort, and +with the troopers at his heels galloped off. + +On the trip to the ranch the cowboys crowded around the boys, and plied +them with innumerable questions, which they answered to the best of their +ability. On their arrival they were turned over to motherly Mrs. Melton, +who insisted on redressing their wounds, and then, after they had made +a hearty meal, packed them off to bed. + +"Gee, boys!" exclaimed the foreman, before the cowboys dispersed to their +alloted tasks, "those lads are sure _there_ when it comes to deliverin' +the goods, ain't they? An' to think that once in a moment of besotted +ignorance I referred to them as 'tender-feet.' Why, it don't seem possible +them boys can be Easterners at all. It seems like they jest _must_ 'a' +been born west o' the Rockies." + +As this was the highest eulogium any of them could think of, they +acquiesced in their foreman's words and dispersed to work. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +Within an Ace + + +Work about the ranch went steadily on, and there were few interruptions +to the daily course of events. But one day a small black cloud appeared +on the western horizon, and grew larger with amazing rapidity. Soon it +had so increased in size that it obscured the sun, and a gloomy twilight +settled over the earth. + +Bert and Dick and Tom were in the neighborhood of the branding pen, +watching the men throw the cattle and brand them with Mr. Melton's +mark. At first they did not notice the gathering storm, but as the sun +grew dimmer and dimmer they looked up, as did many of the cowboys, and +saw the ominous-looking cloud. The cattlemen gave it but one glance, and +then quit their tasks and began to securely rope and tie the animals +inside the corral and make everything trim and shipshape. + +The boys were somewhat surprised to see such precautions being taken +against what they thought was merely going to be a thunder shower, but +they had gained experience enough to know that when anything was done on +the ranch there was generally some good reason back of it, and they had +also learned not to ask direct questions. + +They wished to know the cause of the evident anxiety on the part of the +ranchmen, however, so Bert set about getting the information in the +manner they had learned by experience was best. + +"Looks as though there were going to be something doing pretty soon, +doesn't there?" he remarked to "Chip," one of the most experienced +members of the working force. + +"Somethin' doin'?" exclaimed Chip. "Waal, I reckon they will be somethin' +doin', and mighty soon, too. We're goin' to beat it for the bunkhouse +some soon, and you'd better come along with us. Chances are you won't +have time to make the ranchhouse. When a norther once gets started, +things happens pretty fast, so ef you don't want to get soaked an' run a +good chance o' gettin' blown away you'd better come along with us, all +three o' you." + +A "norther!" The boys had heard tales of the fury of these storms, and +now they would have an opportunity to judge for themselves the truth of +these stories. They had always believed them exaggerated, but the haste +and anxiety of the ranchmen told them that something out of the ordinary +was expected. + +The air was close and oppressive, and not a breath of wind rustled the +dry prairie grass. The boys mopped their foreheads, and hurried along +with the men. By this time the entire sky was overspread with a funeral +pall, and it was so dark that they could hardly see. When they were +within a few hundred yards of the bunkhouse they heard a weird whining +noise far off over the prairie, and suddenly a little puff of cool air +struck against their heated faces. + +At this moment Sandy, followed by several cowboys, dashed up, and they +all leaped from their horses. "We'll jest have time to make the +bunkhouse," he said; "the wind will reach us in another minute. Lively's +the word, boys." + +He and the others with him who had horses dashed behind the bunkhouse, +and tethered the frightened animals where they would be sheltered in some +measure from the wind and rain. They dashed around the end of the +building and ran through the door, preceded by the party with which the +boys had started from the corral. The door of the bunkhouse was slammed +shut just in the nick of time. + +With a shriek and a roar the norther was upon them. The wind blew with +terrific violence, and rain dashed in great sheets against the windows +and drummed on the roof with a noise that made it difficult for the men +to hear the sound of each other's voices. The building quivered and +trembled as the fierce gusts shook it in their grasp, and it seemed as +though it must be torn away from its foundations. But it had been stoutly +built with an eye to resisting just such storms, and held firm. The air +was filled with grass, bits of planking, and other wreckage that it had +picked up in its furious course. The boys gazed out the windows, +wondering mightily at the tremendous force of the gale, which closely +approached that of a cyclone. They had been in storms at sea, and a +gale was no new thing to them, but this surpassed anything of the kind +they had ever seen. + +"I'm mighty glad we weren't caught out in this," shouted Bert into the +ears of Tom and Dick. "I never thought it _could_ rain so." + +And his astonishment was shared by his friends. "Rain" hardly seemed an +adequate word to describe the torrents that poured down. The sky seemed +fairly to open, and the rain descended in solid sheets. The ranchmen took +it all calmly, however, and loafed lazily in their bunks, smoking pipes +and gazing contemplatively up at the roof. Weather conditions they had +learned to take as a matter of course, as all men do who earn a living in +the open, and they accepted philosophically what Dame Nature meted out to +them. + +The fury of the storm continued unabated for perhaps half an hour, and +then began to slacken perceptibly. The wind still tore at the rude +building and the rain continued to fall heavily, but with less of their +former violence. The rattle of the rain on the roof grew less deafening, +and it became possible to make one's self heard without being under the +necessity of shouting. + +"I reckon the worst of it's over," remarked Sandy, after a time; "but +this here rain ain't goin' to stop fer an hour or more, and I vote that +to while away the ted-ium of this here interval some one o' you +shorthorns tells us a yarn. You're all good liars, and yuh ought to be +able to make somethin' up if yuh can't rec-lect nothin' thet really +happened." + +"Ef it comes t' that," exclaimed Chip in a resentful tone, "what's the +matter with you goin' ahead and turnin' the trick. There ain't nobody +here that knows better'n you how to keep the recordin' angel workin' +double shifts." + +There was a laugh at this, but when it subsided Sandy had his answer +ready: "It ain't a question o' lyin' with me," he explained. "I've been +in so many scrapes that only a man of extraordinary intelligence and +iron nerve like myself could 'a' pulled out of, that there ain't no call +for me to make up nothin'." + +"That stuff sounds all right as long as you're sayin' it," said Chip +skeptically; "but jest to prove it, supposin' you take the bit in your +teeth an' spiel off one o' these here adventures o' yourn." + +"Well, mebbe I will," replied Sandy thoughtfully, "mebbe I will." He +paused reflectively a few moments while he filled and lighted his pipe. +The rain still beat steadily against the roof and windows of the +bunkhouse, but the wind now came only in fitful gusts. + +Everybody, with the exception of the three boys, was smoking, and a blue +fog drifted and eddied through the atmosphere. At last Sandy appeared to +have collected his thoughts, and after a few vigorous puffs to get his +pipe drawing well began his story. + +"What I'm goin' to tell yuh about," he said, "happened before I became a +cattle puncher. Then I was workin' in the lumber business up in the +Michigan woods fer Dodd & Robertson, one o' the biggest concerns in the +line. We'd had a pretty successful winter, the boys were all in good +humor, an' the daily cuts averaged pretty high. But the weather was cold, +mighty cold, I can tell yuh. We'd swing an axe until we had to take +off our coats, and we'd be wet with sweat, but if we stopped work fer as +much as a minute we had to skip back into our coats again, or our clothes +would freeze on us as we stood there. Take it from me, boys, it was cold +with a capital C. + +"But all this ain't gettin' me any further along with my yarn. As I say, +the winter was a bitter one, and the wild things, panthers an' wolves an' +sech, were pretty hard put to it to rastle enough grub to keep them +alive. Natchally, this made 'em plumb ferocious, and they used to come +right into the clearin' around the camp, hopin', I suppose, to pick up +somethin'. The cook had to watch out to keep the supply house closed up +tight, or there'd 'a' been a famine in camp, sure. + +"Waal, one day the foreman sent me out to look over a section of timber +land some distance from the camp, an' I set off right after breakfast. +I took my axe along, o' course; no lumberman ever thinks o' goin' +anywhere without his axe, any more than you boys figure on travelin' +around without packin' a six-gun with yuh. I took enough grub with me to +last the day out, fer, as I said, it was a longish distance, an' I didn't +reckon t' get back much before dark. It was the middle o' winter, an' the +days up there in the woods were mighty short. + +"The snow was pretty deep, but I traveled on snowshoes, an' didn't have +much trouble gettin' along. I made tol'able time, an' made a rough survey +o' the timber before I unpacked my grub. After eatin' I started back to +camp, congratulatin' myself that I'd reach it with time an' to spare. But +as some poetry sharp I once heard of says, 'Man proposes, but the +Almighty disposes,' or words that mean the same thing. I'd gotten pretty +well along on the return journey when suddenly I heard somethin' snap, +and before I had time to even jump aside a big dead tree slams down, +knockin' me over an' catchin' my left leg under it. + +"Waal, I saw stars fer a few minutes, but as soon as my head cleared off +a mite I tried to wriggle myself loose. But the tree couldn't seem to see +it that way. It had me good an' tight, and appar'ntly meant to enjoy my +company fer a spell. At first, though, I couldn't seem to understand that +I was really caught hard an' fast, an' it took a little time fer the idea +t' sink in. When it did filter through to me I pretty near went crazy, I +guess. I remember turnin' and twistin' until my leg felt like it was +goin' to break clean off, an' I almost wished it would. But after a while +I pulled myself together a little, an' tried to think o' some way out. As +soon as I lay still even fer a minute the cold began to gnaw through me, +and I knew I'd have t' do whatever I was goin' to do mighty quick, or I'd +freeze to death. + +"An' that warn't the only danger, neither. It was beginnin' to get dark, +and suddenly, 'way off to the north, I heard the yell of a painter (or a +panther, as you lads might call it)," turning toward the three comrades, +who were listening intently. + +"Waal, when I heard that yell somethin' that seemed colder even than the +icy air clutched at my heart. O' course, I didn't have any weapon with +me, except as you might call my axe one. I looked around fer it, and saw +that it had fallen about three feet farther than I could stretch, and lay +half buried in the snow, only the haft stickin' out. + +"I made up my mind that I'd have to have that axe, anyway, an' I set to +work gettin' it. After thinkin' a few minutes I took off a long leather +belt I was wearin' and made a loop by runnin' it through the buckle. From +where I was layin' it was an almighty hard job to throw that loop around +the axe handle, an' I reckon I must 'a' tried twenty times before I +finally made to throw it over. Then I started pullin' easy-like on the +belt to tighten the loop, so it would hold on the slippery handle. The +belt was a leetle stiff, though, an' the loop wouldn't tighten very +close. When I tried to pull in on it, the axe stuck in the crust that +covered the softer snow underneath, an' the belt slipped off the handle. + +"Waal, boys, I've had my share o' disappointments in this world, I +reckon, but I think that was the hardest o' them all to bear. Howsomever, +I knew there was nothin' to do but to keep at it until I got that axe, so +after a lot o' false throws I got the loop over the handle agin. This +time it held better, and at last the head o' the axe broke through the +snow crust an' then it was easy t' pull it up to me. When I felt the haft +in my hand a little hope come back to me, an' I figgered there might be a +chance t' cut myself loose. But I was lyin' in sech a way that I couldn't +rightly get at the tree noway, an' finally I had to give up tryin'. + +"I've hearn more'n once of wild animals caught in traps gnawin' their own +feet off fer the sake o' goin' free, an' the thought come to me of tryin' +to chop myself loose in the same way. I think the only thing that kept me +from doin' it was the thought that I'd rather be dead than be a cripple, +anyway. An' o' course, I knew that arter a while, when I didn't show up +at camp, the boys would suspicion thet somethin' was wrong an' make up +a searchin' party to look for me. There's somethin'in all of us, I +reckon, that keeps right on hopin' up to the very minute that we cash in +an' leaves this here vale o' tears. + +"But the worst was yet to come, as the story-book fellers say. It had +begun t' get real dark, when I thinks I hears a rustlin' sound in the +dead underbrush. I grabbed my axe, an' made up my mind to die fightin', +anyway. I knew sooner or later some hungry critter would come along an' +find me laid out there nice an' invitin', without a chance o' protectin' +myself, and I figgered that arter that the end wouldn't be a long ways +off. + +"In a few minutes I heard the rustlin' sound again, only this time +nearer. I twisted as far around as I could, and then I saw what was +makin' the noise. Not thirty feet from me one o' the biggest painters I +ever laid eyes on was creepin' stealthily along, sizin' me up with his +glistenin' green eyes as he went. + +"When he saw thet I had spotted him he stopped, crouchin' down clost t' +the ground, ready to fight or run, accordin' t' the way things looked +to him. Chances are he was half minded t' run, anyway, fer all the wild +critters is mighty shy of a man, an' as a rule will go the long way +around to keep out o' his way. But this brute was hungry, as I could tell +by his lean flanks, an' he didn't scare as easy as usual. I yelled at +him, but he didn't move, jest sat there an' looked at me with them +unwinkin' eyes, tryin' his best to figger out the way things stood. Every +onct in a while his eyes would leave mine, an' he'd glance casual-like +around him, but they always came back. + +"I knew it wouldn't be long before he got next t' the fact that I was +down an' out, an' I was right. I've hearn people say thet animals don't +reason, but they're a long ways from hittin' the bull's-eye. It warn't +long afore thet painter had everythin' settled in his own mind, an' had +decided thet I was helpless fer some reason an' would be easy pickin's +fer him. He got up on all fours, and began to growl a little an' switch +his tail. I knew then that it wouldn't be long before he came fer me, an' +I took a fresh grip on the axe. I knew I didn't have a chance, but I +figgered on puttin' my mark on the critter before he did fer me, anyway. + +"He crept closer an' closer, growlin' and spittin' away fer all the world +like a big tomcat gettin' ready t' fight. I makes a swing at him with the +axe, an' he jumps back a little, and fer a few seconds jest crouches an' +glares at me, his eyes like two big, gleamin' emeralds. Then he gathers +himself fer a spring, an' I gets ready fer what I knows is comin'. + +"Suddenly he shot through the air, an' as he comes down I slams out at +him with the axe. The critter dodges even while he's in the air, but he +couldn't squirm aside altogether, an' the sharp axe caught him a gash +that laid his shoulder open. He gives a great yell, and then all I can +remember is his landin' on me like a cyclone, fetchin' me a blow on the +side of the head with his paw that it's a wonder didn't do fer me then +an' there. After that everythin' went dark, an' the next I knew I was +lyin' in my bunk at camp, with my leg done up in splints, my left arm, +that had been chawed by the painter, done up in bandages, an' my head so +bound up that there wasn't much left out but my nose. + +"The boys told me that when I didn't show up at supper-time they began to +get anxious, and when I hadn't showed up an hour later they got up a +searchin' party and set out to look fer me in the direction they knew I'd +be comin' from. They'd gone quite a ways when they heard the yell the +painter gave when I slashed him with the axe, and rushed over in the +direction o' the sound. They got there jest in the nick o' time, too, I +reckon. Two minutes more an' I'd 'a' been done fer, sure." + +Sandy ceased speaking, and everybody drew a long breath. "Did they kill +the panther?" inquired Bert. + +"No, worse luck," replied Sandy; "it was dark, and when they got close +the critter made off before they had a chance at a shot. But, say!" he +exclaimed, "the storm's over an' the sun is out, an' here we are loafin' +in here yet. Vamoose, boys! scatter!" and they all piled out into a fresh +and made-over world. Everything was washed clean by the torrential +rainfall, and, strange to say, comparatively little damage had been done +by the terrific wind. The ranchmen set about repairing whatever had been +destroyed, and the three comrades walked toward the ranchhouse, +discussing Sandy's tale as they went. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +Quick on the Draw + + +Sandy rode up to the house, threw himself from the saddle and went into +that room of the ranch that served as Mr. Melton's library and business +office combined. + +His employer looked up from some accounts he was going over and motioned +the foreman to a seat. + +"Well, Sandy," he said, as he noted the worried look in the latter's +eyes, "what seems to be the matter? Out with it and get it off your +chest." + +"It's about them derned rustlers," said Sandy, with his usual directness +coming straight to the point. "I'm afraid they're gettin' away with a +good many of our beeves." + +Mr. Melton's brows met in a puzzled frown. + +"What makes you think so?" he asked. + +"A heap of things," was the reply. "In the first place, the boys have +found a lot of motherless calves galloping around and bleating for their +mas. Of course, we always look for a few of those, but lately the +number's been beyond all reason. Then, too, there's been quite a bunch of +ornery fellers that the boys has caught sight of hangin' round where they +didn't seem to have no business to be. Of course, that doesn't prove +anything against them, and aside from givin' them a pretty sharp lookin' +over, we couldn't do nothin' just on suspicion." + +He took another bite from his plug of tobacco and hitched his chair a +little closer. + +"But yesterday," he went on, "Buck was riding herd up in the north +section, and he saw a place leadin' up a gully where the ground was +trampled down in a way that made it look almost as if there had been a +stampede. He could see that a big drove had passed through there and that +it must have been goin' in an almighty hurry. He thought at first they +might have got scared of a grizzly or somethin', but if that had 'a' been +so, some one of them would 'a' been caught and pulled down and there +wasn't any sign of anything like that. Then he looked a little closer at +the trail and he could see the track of hosses. Somebody was drivin' that +herd. + +"He come in a flyin' with the report, but it was after midnight and I +didn't want to wake you up. + +"But there's one thing more," he added, "that makes me dead sure. Chip +meandered in from town last night, a little the worse for wear. He'd +been celebratin' some and lookin' upon the likker when it was red, and he +was so far gone that I guess he'd have slept somewhere on the road if his +broncho hadn't had more sense than him and brought him home. He was too +soused to know his name, and he didn't need no urgin' to tumble into his +bunk and sleep it off. He's got an awful head this mornin', too, but when +he heard Buck talkin' at breakfast about what he seen, he called to mind +somethin' that one of his pals that works on the Bar Y Ranch off toward +the east told him about, when he was a boozin' with him last night. + +"It seems that this feller was comin' back from a round-up to his ranch +the other day, and he saw the body of a steer, a little off to the right. +He rode over to look at it, and, lookin' close, saw that the first brand +had been burned over by another one. Of course, he knows most of the +brands in this section of the country, and after he studied it over a +spell, he knew for sure that the first brand was ours. Knew it by the +little curlicue in the top corner of the O. The second brand had been put +on kinder careless, in a hurry, as if the fellers that did it wanted to +mosey along right quick. Then, too, he could see that the steer had died +from bein' overdriven." + +Mr. Melton rose and paced the floor in growing anger as he pondered the +situation. + +Like all Westerners, he hated cattle rustlers only less than he hated a +horse thief. In years past he had had frequent battles with them when +they had tried to raid his stock, and the dire punishment that he +inflicted had made them willing of late to leave his ranch alone. For +several years he had had immunity and had been inclined to think that he +would be henceforth free of that particular pest. When Sandy had first +begun to speak, he had thought there might be some mistake, and that +the depletion of his stock might be traced to other causes. The last +incident, however, had furnished positive proof and it was evident that +the miscreants were due for another lesson at his hands. + +"Was there any clue on that steer, outside of the changing of the brand?" +he demanded. + +"No," replied Sandy, "except just this. Chip's pal said that he thought +the feller that did the branding was left-handed. The edge that was +deepest burned was on the other side from what it usually is when a +right-hander does it. Course, on account of the brands bein' mixed up +like, he couldn't say for sure, but that's the way it looked to him." + +"Do you know of anybody round these parts that is left-handed?" asked his +employer. + +"Can't say as I do," replied Sandy after a little meditation, "leastways, +on any of the ranches around here. I know some of the boys that is almost +as good with their left hand as the right, but not what you could call +p'intedly left-handed. And anyway them fellers is as straight as a +string, and I know they wouldn't mix up with any dirty work like that." + +"Who had been riding herd on that north range before Buck saw the trail +of the drove?" asked Mr. Melton abruptly. + +"Let me see," answered Sandy, cudgeling his memory. "Why," he said after +a moment, "it was Pedro. He had been up there three days before Buck +relieved him." + +"Ah, Pedro," echoed Mr. Melton. + +There was a significance in his voice that caused Sandy to look up +quickly, and, as he caught the look in his employer's eyes, a sudden +suspicion leaped into his own. + +"What!" he exclaimed. "Do you mean that Pedro was in cahoots with the +gang?" + +"I don't mean anything--yet," replied Mr. Melton slowly. "I don't want to +do any one an injustice, and I haven't a particle of evidence that Pedro +isn't as innocent as a new-born babe. He's a good rider and a good +herder, and we've never had any fault to find with the way he does his +work. But you know as well as I do that we didn't know a thing about him +when he came riding along looking for a job. We were short-handed then +and needed men desperately, and so we hired him, but I made up my mind +that as soon as things got slack, and we had to lay some of the men off, +he'd be the first to go. There may be good Indians and good Mexicans, +and it may be my misfortune that I never met them. But Pedro is a +half-breed--half Mexican and half Indian--and I've always noticed that +that kind is apt to have the worst qualities of both. I've never liked +him, but I've set that down to prejudice, and always tried to treat him +exactly like the rest of the men. Now, as I said, I may be entirely +wrong, but somehow I've got the notion in my head that those rustlers +knew just who was to be riding herd on that section when they made their +raid. But don't breathe a word of this to any one till we've got +something more to go on. Keep your eyes wide open and see too if you can +pump anything more out of Chip about that steer. I'll think it all over, +and after dinner we'll get together and fix on some plan to get after +those infernal scoundrels." + +Sandy took his departure, and Mr. Melton was left alone with his problem. +That it was a perplexing one was evident from his knitted brows and air +of intense concentration. + +With the exception of Mrs. Melton and Bert, he was alone in the house. +The other boys were absent, having started out soon after breakfast. +Dick and Tom had gone off with Buck to have a little experience in +"riding herd." Bert, who had intended to go with them, had found it +necessary to go to town to make some purchases. He had just finished his +preparations and brought his horse to the door, in order to say good-by +to his host before starting. At the first glance he saw that something +had disturbed Mr. Melton's usual composure. + +To his anxious inquiry as to whether anything was wrong, the latter +responded by telling him the news Sandy had brought, carefully +refraining, however, from mentioning his suspicions about the half-breed. + +"Of course, it's nothing very important in one way of looking at it," he +said. "The mere fact that I've lost a few head of cattle doesn't worry +me at all. They might take a thousand and I wouldn't miss them. But those +rustlers are the rattlesnakes of the West, and no man steals from me and +gets away with it until I'm weaker and older than I am now. I suppose the +fact is that my pride is hurt more than anything else," he smiled grimly. +"I'd rather flattered myself that I'd built up a reputation in these +parts that would keep those vermin at a distance. It galls me horribly +that they should have the nerve to come up and rustle my stock right +under my very nose. But if they think that they are going to get by +with it, they have another guess coming," and into the eyes of the old +warhorse came the look that Bert had learned to know in Mexico. + +"Are you going to organize a force and go after them?" asked Bert +eagerly. + +Mr. Melton's eyes twinkled. + +"Hit it right the first time," he said. "I suppose I ain't far out in +guessing that you'd like to go along." + +"You bet I would," replied Bert emphatically. + +"Well, we'll see about it," answered his host. "But you'd better get +along now if you expect to be home before dark. You've got a long way to +go, and you'll have to give your horse a good breathing space before you +start back. I promise that we won't start out for the rustlers without +you, if you're really bent on going." + +Bert thanked him, touched his horse with the spur, and, with a last wave +of his hand was off on his journey. + +In due time he reached the town, hitched his horse to the rail in front +of the general store, and went in to make his purchases. This consumed +some time, and when he was through, his vigorous appetite reminded him +that it was time for dinner. There was only one place in that primitive +town where it could be obtained and that was in a little annex to the +leading saloon. Drinks of course were the things chiefly dealt in, but a +meal also could be obtained at any time desired, and Bert went in, seated +himself at a table in the corner, and ordered steak and eggs and coffee. + +While this was being prepared he had ample time to look about him. The +building was a mere shack of the roughest kind. The bar took up one whole +side of the room, and the bartender was kept busy most of the time in +serving drinks to the crowd lined up before it. At a number of small +tables, miners, prospectors and cowboys were seated, with piles of poker +chips heaped up before them. Some of the men were already drunk and +inclined to be ugly, but most of them at that early hour were sober +enough, though drinking freely. All without exception were armed, and +the weapons peeped from their holsters within easy reach. Among these +reckless and, in many cases lawless, dwellers on the borderland of +civilization, the difference of a fraction of a second in offense or +defense might mean the difference between life and death. + +Still, matters were proceeding peaceably enough at the moment, and there +was no indication of impending trouble. Bert's food was brought to him +after a considerable wait, and he "waded" into it with characteristic +vigor. The cooking was none too good nor was the food itself of +superlative quality. But "hunger is the best sauce," and he was not +inclined to be critical. He had, moreover, been too much of a traveler +not to be able to adapt himself philosophically to any condition in +which he found himself. + +He was about to pick up his hat and go to the bar to pay for his meal, +when he was struck by the tones of a familiar voice. He looked about +quickly and saw Pedro, the cowboy employed at the ranch. He was surprised +at this, as he was sure Pedro was supposed at the time to be on herd +duty. Had Mr. Melton intended that he should be in town, he would have +suggested to Bert that the half-breed might do his commissions for him +and save him the long journey. + +Bert's first thought, therefore, was that Pedro was "lying down on his +job" and shirking duty for the sake of a day's debauch in town. It roused +his indignation, as he always hated anything that savored of sneaking or +disloyalty. Still, it was not his affair and Pedro was safe as far as he +was concerned. He would not act as talebearer. + +He had never liked the half-breed from the moment that he had met him. +There was a sullen reticence that checked advances, and although he had +always tried to be friendly, Pedro had held him at a distance. He was +tall and swarthy, and, for one of his mixed race, not bad looking. But +there was a furtive shiftiness in his eyes that were set too close +together, that awakened distrust, and although Bert reproached himself +for it and never revealed it by word or look, he could not help an +instinctive aversion. + +His first impulse was to approach and speak to the man, who had not seen +him as he came in and was now standing with his back partly toward him, +tossing down a drink that he had poured out generously from the bottle +the bartender placed before him. + +Bert checked himself, however, as he saw that Pedro had just greeted a +man who had risen from a table where he had been sitting apart from the +others, as though waiting for some one. An almost imperceptible sign +passed between them that aroused Bert's curiosity. Nor was this lessened +when the newcomer took from his pocket a pouch, such as gold dust is +usually carried in, and slipped it over to Pedro, who placed it carefully +in the breast of his buckskin shirt. + +Here was the beginning of a mystery. Why should this man be giving money +to the half-breed? To be sure, it might be in payment of a loan or a +gambling debt. But, if so, why the air of secrecy? + +The conversation with Mr. Melton that morning recurred to him. He pulled +his hat over his eyes, half turned in his seat, and, picking up a greasy +pack of cards that lay on the table began to lay them out before him as +in solitaire. But under the brim of his sombrero, his keen eyes stole +frequent glances at the two, who had now adjourned to a table in the +farther corner and were engaged in a low and earnest conversation. + +The stranger had before him what seemed to be a diagram, drawn on the +back of an old envelope, and both studied it with care, Pedro especially, +as though seeking to engrave it on his memory. Then he nodded assent to +what the other had been saying, and they shook hands, evidently in +confirmation of a bargain. Once more they adjourned to the bar, gulped +down several glasses of the fiery liquor that masqueraded as whiskey, +and then Pedro, with a gesture of farewell, went outside. A moment later +Bert heard the clatter of hoofs as he rode away. + +There was no further need of concealment, and with exceeding care Bert +studied the features of the man who he felt sure was involved in some +plan that boded no good to Pedro's employer. + +The fellow was tall and heavily built, and dressed in a more gaudy style +than that usually affected by the cowboys. Bert could not remember having +seen him among the employees of the neighboring ranches. His face bore +traces of drink and dissipation and was seamed with evil passions. There +was a lurid glow in his eyes that brought back to Bert the memory of the +men who had tried to hold up the train. He seemed naturally to fall into +that class. Instinctively Bert felt that in some way he was to be ranked +with the outcasts that war upon society. A cruel mouth showed beneath a +hawk-like nose that gave him the appearance of a bird of prey. To Bert he +seemed a living embodiment of all that he had ever heard or read of the +"bad man" of the Western frontier. + +The stranger stood a little while longer at the bar. Then he strolled +over to a table where four men were playing, and watched the game with +the critical eye of an expert. + +Soon one of the men kicked his chair back and rose with an oath. + +"Busted," he growled. "Not a dinero left. That last hand cleaned me out." + +"Aw, don't go yet, Jim," protested one of his companions. "Your credit's +good and you can play on your I. O. U.'s." + +"Yes," agreed another. "Or you can put up that Spanish saddle of yourn. +I've allers had a kind of hankerin' fur that. It's good fur eighty plunks +in chips." + +"Nuthin' doin'," announced the first emphatically. "Any time I hold four +kings and still can't rake in the pot, it shore is my unlucky day. But +I'll be here with bells on next pay day. So long," and he strode out of +the room, slamming the door behind him. + +The others were preparing to go on three-handed, when the stranger +intervened. + +"If it's an open game, gents, and you've no objections, I'll take a +hand," he said. + +As no one demurred, he slid into the vacant chair, bought a hundred +dollars worth of chips and the game proceeded. + +For a time Fortune seemed to divide her favors impartially, and the chips +before each player remained about the same. Then the luck changed and the +stranger began to win heavily. He raked in one pot after another, losing +only occasionally, and then, generally, when the stakes were small. The +atmosphere about the table became tense and feverish, and gradually most +of the others in the room gathered about the players and watched the +progress of the game. + +It was the newcomer's deal. The pack had been cut, and he was dealing out +the cards, when suddenly one of the players leaped to his feet. + +"Foul play," he shouted. "You dealt that last card from the bottom of the +pack." And at the same instant he threw over the table and reached for +his gun. + +But quick as he was, the stranger was quicker. Like a flash his revolver +spoke, and his opponent fell to the floor. But the others now had started +shooting and there was a fusillade. The spectators dropped behind +anything that promised shelter and the bartender went out of sight under +the counter. Only after the revolvers had been emptied did the firing +cease. + +When the smoke lifted, three were lying on the littered floor, one dead +and two desperately wounded. The stranger was not to be seen, but the +pounding of hoofs outside told of his escape. He had gone, but not till +Bert had seen one thing that registered itself indelibly on his mind. + +The stranger had drawn and shot _with his left hand_. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +Trailing the Outlaws + + +For a few minutes the wildest confusion prevailed in the saloon. The +noise of the shooting had emptied the other bar-rooms, as well as the +houses of the little settlement, and from all quarters people came +flocking to the scene of the tragedy. The dead man was removed to a +room in the rear, and the wounds of the others were bound up with rude +surgery, pending the arrival of a doctor, for whom one of the cowboys had +ridden off post haste. + +Bert's quick mind was busy piecing together the events of the past +crowded hour. That the stranger was left-handed, although unusual in that +region, proved nothing by itself. But the dead steer had borne the mark +of a left-handed man--and Pedro was in charge of a part of Melton's +stock--and he had sneaked away from his work to talk with this ruffian, +apparently by appointment--and the latter had given the half-breed money. +Had Bert known the additional fact that Pedro had been riding herd in the +section where a large drove had recently disappeared, the conclusion +would have been irresistible that he and the stranger had been in league +to "rustle" Melton's cattle. But even without this last fact, the +evidence was strong enough. All of these happenings, taken together, +pointed unerringly toward the identity of one at least of the rustlers +and gave the clue to the mystery. + +His first impulse was to follow the fleeing murderer and either try to +capture him or find out the rendezvous of the gang to which he belonged. +But when he ran out to his horse, the fugitive had vanished, and there +was nothing in the dusty road that gave any inkling of the direction he +had taken. + +Pursuit being impossible, there was but one thing left for him to do. He +must get back to the ranch at once and reveal all he knew or guessed of +the conspiracy. Pedro, at any rate, would be within reach, and a +judicious application of the "third degree" could probably wring from +him enough to put them on the track of the rustlers and bring the gang to +justice. And his blood tingled at the thought of the fight that was +probably coming, for the rustlers, brought to bay, would not surrender +tamely. It was better to die from a bullet than dangle at the end of a +rope, and they would battle with the fierceness of cornered rats. + +He untied his horse, sprang into the saddle and set out for the ranch. +His horse had had a good rest and was full of running, especially as his +face was turned homeward. But, despite his own impatience, Bert subdued +his mount to a trot that he could keep up indefinitely, and gave himself +up to reviewing the stirring scenes from which he had just emerged. + +He was passing through a patch of woodland, from which a deep gully +diverged to the right, when he heard the whinny of a horse. Instantly he +clapped his hand over the nostrils of his own mount to keep him from +answering. Then he slid to the ground, tied a rope around his horse's +jaws to keep him quiet and secured him to a tree. On hands and knees he +crept forward through the underbrush in the direction of the sound. He +reached the bank of the gully and peered over. + +A little brook ran over the stones at the bottom of the gulch. Stooping +over it was a man with his back toward him. A horse was picketed near by, +contentedly munching the grass that grew thick and lush on the border of +the stream. The man's right arm was bared to the elbow, and he was +dashing water on a wound just above the wrist. Then he tore a strip from +his shirt and proceeded to bandage the arm as best he could, accompanying +the action with groans and curses that told of the pain he was enduring. + +Bert's first thought was to steal down upon the man and at the point of +his revolver demand his surrender. He had the drop on him, and, quick as +the ruffian had proved himself on the draw, he would be at too great a +disadvantage to resist. But, after all, what right had he to arrest the +man? As far as the shooting in the saloon was concerned, the dead man had +started the fight, and the other had acted in self-defense. The question +of cheating was an open one that could probably never be determined. It +had not been a murder, but a duel, and the quicker hand and better shot +had won. There was no call for Bert to interfere. + +As to the charge of cattle rustling, he had absolutely no proof to go +upon. He had the moral conviction that the man was mixed up in the +affair, but not a scintilla of evidence that would stand for a moment in +a court of law. It would be high-handed and indefensible to make this man +a prisoner, and take him on to the ranch for questioning by Melton. He +would simply stand on his rights and defy them to prove anything against +him. They would be forced to let him go, and, being henceforth on his +guard, it would be doubly difficult to trap him and his gang. + +No, the waiting game was the only one to play under the circumstances, +and Bert replaced the revolver that he had half drawn from his belt. But +he had no intention of resuming his journey to the ranch. Fate had +brought him in contact with this man, when he had given up all +expectation of finding him, and he was too good a sportsman to overlook +any point in the game. He would keep him in sight, hang on his flank, +follow his trail wherever it led, in the hope of finding the rendezvous +of the gang. Then he would ride with whip and spur to the ranch, Melton +would gather his men together, and they would swoop down on the outlaws' +camp and catch them red-handed with their booty. + +While he was settling on this course of action as promising the best +results, the man had completed the task of bandaging. Bert looked for +him to unhobble his horse and resume his journey. But, to his surprise, +the fellow stretched himself out on the grass as though in no particular +hurry. Yet there was an air of expectancy about him, and it flashed +across Bert that he was waiting for some one. And this impression was +heightened by the glances he cast toward the upper end of the gully, and +the way he lifted his head from time to time as though listening for a +signal. + +It came at last, a whistle three times repeated. Instantly he sent back +an answering call, and a moment later two men emerged from the farther +end of the ravine and rode their horses slowly toward their waiting +companion. + +They were dressed in ordinary cowboy fashion and rode as though they had +been born to the saddle. In addition to the revolvers in their holsters, +each carried a rifle slung in the hollow of the arm. One was of enormous +bulk and a shock of flaming red hair showed beneath his sombrero. The +other was of medium build, but wiry and quick as a cat in his movements. +Both were of the same evil stamp as the first, although they lacked the +look of authority that marked him as a natural leader. + +They gave an exclamation of surprise as they saw the bandaged arm, and +were off their horses in an instant. + +"What's the matter, cap?" inquired the smaller man. "Did they get you +bad?" + +"Bad enough," snarled the other with a string of blasphemies. "I guess +they've broken a bone in my wrist. But the feller that did it will never +do no more shooting." And in fervid words, interrupted by curses as his +sore arm gave a worse twinge than usual, he related the events leading +up to the affray. + +The others listened with perfunctory grunts of sympathy, although they +seemed less concerned about him personally than over the changes the +wounding might make in their plans. + +"It's lucky it's the right arm, anyway," consoled one of them. "Yer'll +still be able to shoot as well as ever until yer get all right again." + +"Yes," assented the captain grudgingly, "it's the first time I've ever +felt glad that I'm left-handed. And I'm shore glad that I fixed that deal +up with the half-breed before the scrap came off. Handed him over his +share of the last swag, and got it all settled to pull off another trick +a week from to-morrow." + +They gathered eagerly about him to learn the details, and Bert strained +his ears to catch the fragments of conversation that floated up to him. +He could detect the name of "Melton" and "Pedro" as often recurring, but +to his intense disappointment could get no coherent idea of the felony +the rustlers had in view. Had he done so, his quest would have ended then +and there. It would then be simply a matter of laying an ambush at the +given time and place, into which the rascals would walk blindly, and from +which there would be no escape. But when at last the conference was over, +he was no wiser than before, except that his suspicions as to the +half-breed had become a certainty. + +The afternoon was well along now, and the captain, casting a glance at +the sun, rose hastily to his feet. + +"Come along," he growled. "We can do our chinning later on. We'll have +all we can do now to get to camp before dark." + +"Before dark." Bert looked at his watch. It was nearly six o'clock. It +would not be fully dark until eight. That meant that the rendezvous of +the gang was within two hours' ride. Allowing ten miles an hour, it meant +a distance of perhaps twenty miles. + +But that was assuming that they went on well-traveled roads, where the +horses could be given their head. Bert felt sure that they would not do +this. The conditions of their lawless life made it necessary for them to +seek refuge in the wilds, where riding would be hard and slow. Their lair +was doubtless in some secluded valley or coulee, where they could hide +the stolen stock, secure from discovery until a favorable opportunity +offered to drive it out at night far from the plundered ranches. The +place, therefore, might not be more than fifteen miles distant. Otherwise +the outlaws would hardly be able to make it in the time mentioned, over +the rough trails they would probably follow. That this conjecture was +correct was proved by the fact that, instead of returning to the broad +road up which Bert had ridden, the men mounted their horses and turned +their heads in the opposite direction up the ravine. + +But how could he follow without detection? If he let them get too far +ahead, he might lose track of them altogether. On the other hand, if he +followed too closely they might hear the sound of his horse's feet, or, +turning in the saddle, might see his figure outlined against the sky. In +that case the game was up. It would be a matter of flight, or an +encounter in which, against such odds, he could look for nothing but +capture or death. And in either event, his plans for the breaking up +of the band would come to nothing. + +There was but one alternative. He must follow on foot. + +He was in superb condition and could do it easily. Running was his game. +He had taken the measure of the fleetest runners in the country, and had, +by so doing, won the right to represent America in the Olympic Games. And +when he had carried off the honors in the Marathon race over the crack +flyers of all the world, he had made the distance of twenty-six miles, up +hill and down, in a trifle over two hours and thirty minutes, or a +sustained rate of more than ten miles an hour. To be sure, he was then +trained to the hour and at the top of his form. But even now, although +not strictly in training, his outdoor life and clean living had kept him +in fine fettle, and he was fit to "run for a man's life." A horse could +beat him in a sprint, but there were few mustangs on the ranch that he +could not have worn down and beaten in a stretch of twenty miles. + +It was with no lack of confidence, therefore, that he reached his +decision. + +He hurried back to his horse, tore a scrap of paper from his note-book +and hastily scribbled a note to Dick. It was in cipher, so that if it +fell into hostile hands no one else could understand its purport. He told +him of his discovery and urged him to have Melton put Pedro under guard +until his return. He adjured him not to worry, as he would probably be +back before twenty-four hours. + +A word of greeting to Tom and the Meltons, and he placed the paper +securely under the saddle, with just an end protruding to attract notice. +Then he released the horse, untied his jaws, gave him a smart slap on +the back and sent him off toward home. The delighted broncho threw up +his heels and set off at a pace that promised soon to get him to his +well-filled manger. Then, with a last glance at his weapon, to see that +it was in perfect trim, Bert vanished into the woods and set out upon the +trail as silently and swiftly as an Indian. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +The Race for Life + + +He could hear the crackling of the shrubbery as the horses of the outlaws +pushed their way through to the higher ground, and it was not long before +he caught sight of them, riding in single file, the captain leading the +way. + +With the utmost caution he followed, taking advantage of every bush and +tree, ready to dodge behind them or fall to the ground as the case might +demand. For a time they proceeded at a walk, owing to the rough going, +but as soon as they got to more level ground they put the spurs to their +horses and galloped on at a rapid gait. Bert drifted after them like a +ghost, never letting them get more than half a mile a head, for fear that +they might turn into some byroad and give him the slip. Twice one of the +men turned in the saddle and looked behind him, probably more as the +result of habit than from any real fear that they might be followed, but +each time Bert had discounted the movement and was lying flat on the +ground. + +As the latter had surmised, the most of the way lay through a genuine +wilderness, over mountain trails and through ravines that lent themselves +admirably to the lawless purposes of the outlaws. Probably since the old +Indian days, no human feet beside their own had trodden these wilds that +offered no temptations to the farmer or grazier. + +Before long the sun had vanished over the western rim and twilight came +on rapidly. This rendered Bert's task, easier by diminishing the chances +of detection, and as the twilight deepened into dusk, he gradually +decreased the distance until, when it was fully dark, he had ventured +to draw so near that he could hear the jingle of their trappings and an +occasional monosyllable that passed between the riders. + +Suddenly, as they rode into a little valley, a light gleamed out from a +shack half a mile distant. It was the first sign of a human habitation +Bert had seen. At the sight, an oath of satisfaction broke from the +leader, and the three urged on their horses, who responded willingly. +It was evident that they had reached the end of their journey. + +As they dashed into the clearing in front of the house, the door was +thrown open and several men came out to greet the newcomers. The saddles +were taken from the horses' backs and they were turned loose to graze. +Then the party entered the house and the door was closed. + +For a few minutes Bert remained perfectly motionless. There had been no +barking of dogs, and, after listening intently, he became convinced that +no living thing was out of doors in the vicinity of the shack. With +infinite caution he wormed his way along the ground and, reaching a +window in the rear of the house, drew himself to the sill and peered over +the edge. + +There were six men gathered about a table in the center of the room, upon +which a seventh, who seemed to be the cook, was placing dishes of bacon +and beans. The chief, whose arm had been bathed and rebound in a cotton +bandage, was seated at the head of the table. A bottle of whiskey was +passing from hand to hand as a preliminary to the more substantial part +of the meal, and the men who had just arrived were evidently retailing +to their fellow rascals the events that had led up to the shooting. + +So engrossed was Bert in watching the outlaws, that he did not see or +hear the approach of a dark figure stealing up behind him. An arm shot +out and a pistol butt came down on his head with a crash. A myriad of +sparks flashed before his eyes, there was the roar of a cataract in his +ears, and he fell to the ground like a log. + +When consciousness came back to him it was morning. He was lying on the +floor of the shack and the hot sun was streaming in upon him. His head +ached horribly, and for a moment he wondered where he was. Then gradually +he recalled the events of the day before, the fracas in the saloon, the +tracking of the rustlers, the looking in at the window. But then it was +night, and now it was broad daylight. What had happened to him? + +He put his hand to his head and felt that his hair was matted with blood. +Then he tried to rise to his feet, but found that they were tied +together, and sank back with a groan. The wall of the house was just +behind him, and he edged painfully toward it, until he was able to sit up +and have some support for his back. Then with swimming eyes he looked +around him. + +As his vision cleared, he saw that there were two men sitting in the +center of the room. They had not spoken a word, but had watched with a +sort of amused interest his gradual coming back to life. In one of them +he recognized the outlaw captain, and the other was the burly, red-haired +giant, whose trail he had followed the afternoon before. There was no +trace of the others and they had evidently gone to attend to the stock, +or on some errand connected with the operations of the band. + +The leader's eyes fastened on Bert with a penetrating glare, as though he +sought to read the secrets of his soul. The captive met his look calmly +and defiantly, and for a moment there was a silent duel. But Bert's gaze +remained level, and the captain, a little disconcerted at his failure to +make his prisoner cringe, resorted to taunts. + +"Feel kind o' wobbly, eh?" he jeered. "Got a bad little hangover from +last night? Perhaps we were a little playful, but it's just our hearty +way of welcomin' strangers. 'Specially when they come without an +invitation and we ketches them peepin' through the winders. But we don't +mean no harm, do we, Red?" and he leered at his companion, who grinned +dutifully in response to his leader's humor. + +Bert made no answer. + +"Now look here, young feller," snapped the speaker, dropping his +elaborate sarcasm and veering round to his natural ferocity, "you ain't +tongue-tied, I reckon, and I want to know right quick, pronto, what +you're doin' round these diggin's, anyhow. One of our men comin' in from +the stables caught you spyin' through the winder. He gave yer one on the +nob, and dragged yer in here. Now, who are yer, where do yer come from +and what are yer doin' in these parts. Speak quick now, or by----" and he +broke into a torrent of vile oaths and death-dealing threats, while he +fingered nervously the knife that hung in his belt. + +Before Bert could reply one of the band entered the room. He glanced at +the prisoner, and a sudden recognition leaped to his eyes. + +"I know that feller," he exclaimed excitedly, turning to his chief. "I +couldn't just place him last night when his eyes was shut, but now I'm +plumb sure of him. He's livin' over to the Melton ranch with a couple of +pals of his'n. Seen him there more than once. Ain't that straight?" to +Bert. + +"Yes," said Bert boldly, "that's straight." + +The man's identification was absolute and the time for silence or evasion +was past. He was trapped and absolutely in their power. That they would +kill him he had little doubt. A life more or less meant little to these +ruthless scoundrels. But if he had to meet death, he would meet it +unafraid. + +The name of the ranch owner acted on the chief like an electric shock. He +leaped to his feet with a curse. + +"So Melton sent you to spy on us, did he?" he demanded furiously. + +"He did not," answered Bert. + +There was a conviction in the tone that checked the headlong rush that +the captain had seemed about to make. He sat down again and pondered, his +face working with rage and apprehension. At last he reached a decision, +and Bert read in his eyes that his doom had been pronounced. + +"It don't make no difference whether yer tellin' the truth or lyin'," he +snarled. "Ye've learned too much fur me to let yer live. If I turned yer +loose, ye'd have Melton and his bunch down on us in no time. Keep a close +watch on him, Red," he commanded as he rose to his feet. "I've got some +things to look after that'll keep me busy till dinner-time, and after +that we'll put this maverick where he won't do no more spyin'." + +"How about breakfast?" asked Bert coolly. "You're not going to starve me +to death, are you?" + +The outlaw looked at him with astonishment, not unmixed with a sort of +grudging admiration. + +"Ye're a cool one," he responded after a moment's hesitation. "Ye'd +better be thinkin' of sayin' yer prayers instead of eatin'. Rustle a +little grub fer 'im, Red, though it seems plumb sinful to waste good +chuck on a feller that's as good as dead already." And with this ominous +remark he went out, accompanied by the man who had identified the +captive, leaving Bert alone with his jailer. + +"Red" got together some cold meat and beans and placed them on the floor +within Bert's reach. He ate heartily, knowing that above everything else +he must preserve his strength. And while he ate his mind was busy. + +At any rate, he had a little respite. It would be at least two hours +before noontime, and many things might happen before then. He did not +disguise from himself that his situation was desperate. But, though there +might be but one chance in a thousand of escape, he was determined to +find and seize that chance. + +His feet had been tied in such a manner that while, if he stood up, he +would be able to take steps a foot apart, he could by no possibility run +away. The knot at each ankle was skillfully looped in cowboy fashion, and +under the watchful eyes of "Red" there was no chance to unfasten them. +His knife and pistol had been taken from him, as well as his watch and +money. So thoroughly had he been "frisked" that, as he felt his pockets +carelessly, he found that nothing had been left except a bunch of keys +that the rustlers had disdained as booty, and a convex piece of glass +that belonged to an old telescope that he had been taking apart a day or +two before. + +As his hand came in contact with it a thought sprang into his mind that +sent his pulses leaping in wild delirium. Could he do it? Why not? + +Without any pretence of concealment he drew it with the keys from his +pocket and fingered it idly, looking out of the window as though his +thoughts were far away. "Red" looked at the articles, recognized their +harmless character, and with an indifferent grunt went on smoking. + +The fierce sun of the dog days was coming hotly through the open window. +Still handling the glass dreamily, Bert brought it in such a position +that its convex surface gathered the rays of the sun into one blistering +shaft. This he directed on the center of the rope that stretched between +his feet. + +Slowly but surely it began to darken. The tiny threads of which it was +composed twisted and shriveled and broke. Bert hunched up his knees, +and sat as though rapt in brooding contemplation, while all the time that +tiny shaft bored deeper and deeper into the rope like a red hot iron. + +For half an hour this continued until Bert was convinced that the rope +was burned to the core, and that under a vigorous effort it would snap +like thread. + +He moved around uneasily, fidgeting and twisting with an occasional groan +until "Red" unbent sufficiently from his surly indifference to ask him +"what was eatin' of him." + +"I'm in a fearfully cramped position," explained Bert, meekly. "Do you +mind if I stand up for a minute and stretch?" + +"Red" cogitated a moment. + +"No law agin it, I reckon," he conceded ungraciously. + +Bert labored painfully and clumsily to his feet, yawned wearily and +stretched his arms above his head. Then with one quick jerk he burst the +rope and went into "Red" like a thunderbolt. Before that crashing impact +of bone and muscle that had triumphed on many a football field, the +startled outlaw hit the floor with a tremendous thump, while Bert's +sinewy hands tightened on his throat. + +But there was no resistance, and after a moment Bert relaxed his grasp. +The rustler's head had struck on the sill of the door and the blow had +rendered him unconscious. + +Springing to his feet, Bert grasped the knife that lay on the table, and +sawed desperately at the ends of rope that dangled about his feet. A +few minutes sufficed and he was free. Then he took the revolver from the +belt of his fallen enemy, and, after a swift glance round the clearing, +bolted for the woods like a deer. + +He had almost reached cover when he heard a yell behind him and a bullet +zipped past his head. He turned and saw one of the outlaws rushing from +the corral behind the house, while others, attracted by the shot, were +running to mount their horses. Then he dived into the woods and ran for +his life. + +Through the forest aisles he slipped like a shadow, and for a time he +more than held his own. But his pursuers had the advantage of knowing the +ground, while he had to choose his course on the spur of the moment. He +lost precious seconds in dodging obstacles, and he could hear the clatter +of horses coming nearer and nearer. At any moment a bullet might bring +him down. + +The wound in his head was bleeding now under his tremendous exertions, +and he began to grow dizzy and faint. But, although his strength was +ebbing, his heart was as high and his spirit as undaunted as ever. He +would never surrender. As a last resource he had his revolver, and, if he +had to die, he would take some of the outlaws with him. The thud of hoofs +was nearer now, and bullets began to whiz past him. A voice that he +knew was that of the leader of the gang shouted to him to halt. Before +him was a thinning of the woods that indicated open country. On a level +course they could never get him. His second wind was coming back and he +would distance them yet. On, on, he went, running like the wind. + +A few rods ahead the trail bent round in a sweeping curve, and as Bert +approached it on flying feet, he heard horsemen coming from that +direction. With a groan he halted. They had him surrounded, then. He had +no chance. The game was up. He drew his revolver and dropped on his knee +to aim. + +And then round the curve with a rush and a roar, riding like fiends, came +Melton, Dick and Tom, with twenty cowboys at their back. + +There was a wild whoop when they caught sight of Bert, and his comrades +flung themselves from the saddle and rushed toward him. Melton, without +dismounting, reached over and gave him a bear grip that said more than +words. Then he straightened up and rode on at the head of his men to meet +the rustlers. + +The latter, however, did not await his coming. They broke and ran, +bending low over the necks of their horses. But Melton's blood was up and +he rode them down relentlessly. Rifle and revolver shots merged into one +crackling fusillade. The cornered outlaws fought to the last ditch when +overtaken, and no one asked for quarter. And when at last the fight was +over, five, including the captain, lay stretched lifeless upon the +ground. One, by hard riding and his knowledge of the country, had +escaped, and "Red," still looking dazed and foolish, was a prisoner. + +The cowboys were for stringing him up on the spot, but Bert, who had +swung up behind Dick and been in at the finish, pleaded hard that his +life might be spared. + +"You win," conceded Melton. "You've done too much for me to refuse you +anything. We'll turn him over to the sheriff, and he'll have all the +chance that's coming to him, which, between you and me, I think is mighty +little." + +Then he turned to Pedro, who, as Bert now noticed for the first time, was +sitting tied upon his horse and guarded by two of the ranchmen. + +"Cut his ropes," he commanded, "and turn him loose. I promised the hound +his life if he led me to the rustlers' camp, and I keep my word." + +Melton gathered his force together and they took up their march for home, +jubilant at the success of the expedition. + +"It's all due to you, you young dare-devil," said Melton, as he and the +reunited comrades rode back at the head of the squad. "Sandy found your +pony neighing to get in the corral, and brought your note to Dick. I +nabbed Pedro and handled him some savage until the fellow wilted. Then we +saddled and started out at the first sign of daybreak and you know the +rest. And I guess, by thunder, that we got here just in time." + +And when they reached the ranch, motherly Mrs. Melton folded him in her +arms with tears in her eyes, unable to speak. She washed and bandaged the +wound, which proved to be not serious, and sent him straightway off to +bed. Bert laughingly protested, but he had to yield. + + * * * * * + +It was with immense regret, a few days later, that the boys parted from +their warm-hearted host and hostess. But duty and the East were calling, +and they had to go. They had passed a glorious summer, full of the +excitement in which their adventurous souls delighted. Far out from the +car windows they leaned and waved their hands, until the kindly figures +on the platform were lost to sight. + +The cowboys too had turned out in a body to bid their friends good-by, +and, as the train started, they tossed their hats in the air and fired +their six-shooters till their cartridges gave out. Then they wheeled +their bronchos and headed for the ranch. + +"No use talkin'," Sandy broke out suddenly that night as they were +smoking their pipes in the bunkhouse, "that Wilson is the finest feller +that ever wore shoe leather." + +Buck, who was half asleep, roused himself. + +"Oh, I wouldn't go quite so far as that," he drawled, mistaking the +reference. "Still, he's makin' a pretty fair President." + +"Shucks," snorted Sandy, "I didn't mean _him_. I was talkin' of Bert." + + +THE END + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Bert Wilson in the Rockies, by J. W. 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