diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 7496.txt | 9086 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 7496.zip | bin | 0 -> 134350 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
5 files changed, 9102 insertions, 0 deletions
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/7496.txt b/7496.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a13d867 --- /dev/null +++ b/7496.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9086 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Jack Ranger's Western Trip, by Clarence Young +#2 in our series by Clarence Young + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Jack Ranger's Western Trip + From Boarding School to Ranch and Range + +Author: Clarence Young + +Release Date: February, 2005 [EBook #7496] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on May 11, 2003] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK RANGER'S WESTERN TRIP *** + + + + +Charles Franks + + + + +[Illustration: THE THREE RIFLES SOUNDED AS ONE.] + + + + +JACK RANGER'S WESTERN TRIP + +Or + +From Boarding School to Ranch and Range + + +BY + +CLARENCE YOUNG + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + I. FUN AT WASHINGTON HALL + II. JACK IN TROUBLE + III. A THREATENING LETTER + IV. A LESSON IN CHEMISTRY + V. TURNING THE TABLES + VI. A PLAN THAT FAILED + VII. FOILING A PLOT + VIII. THE BURGLAR SCARE + IX. NAT'S INVITATION + X. A MEETING WITH CHOWDEN + XI. A GRAND WIND-UP + XII. HO! FOR THE WEST + XIII. AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE + XIV. PROFESSOR PUNJAB'S TRICK + XV. SHOOTING AN OIL WELL + XVI. MR. POST'S ADVENTURE + XVII. THE WILD STEER + XVIII. THE OLD STOCKMAN + XIX. A THIEF IN THE NIGHT + XX. A STRANGE SEANCE + XXI. FINDING ORION TEVIS + XXII. JACK HEARS OF HIS FATHER + XXIII. ON THE RANCH + XXIV. THE OLD MAN + XXV. THE COWBOY'S TRICK + XXVI. JACK'S WILD RIDE + XXVII. THE CATTLE STAMPEDE +XXVIII. HUNTING MOUNTAIN LIONS + XXIX. LOST ON THE MOUNTAIN + XXX. A VIEW OF GOLDEN GLOW + XXXI. JACK AND NAT PRISONERS + XXXII. THE ESCAPE +XXXIII. DOWN THE SLUICEWAY + XXXIV. JACK'S GREAT FIND + XXXV. THE ROUND-UP--CONCLUSION + + + + +CHAPTER I + +FUN AT WASHINGTON HALL + + +"Now then, are you all ready?" inquired a voice in a hoarse whisper. + +"Galloping grasshoppers! We're as ready as we ever will be, Jack +Ranger!" replied one from a crowd of boys gathered on the campus of +Washington Hall that evening in June. + +"Nat Anderson, if you speak again, above a whisper," said Jack +Ranger, the leader, sternly, "you will have to play 'Marching Through +Georgia' as a solo on a fine tooth comb seven times without +stopping!" + +"Sneezing snakes! 'Nuff said!" exclaimed Nat, this time in the +required whisper. "Playing combs always makes my lips tickle." + +"Now then, is every one ready?" asked Jack again. "If you are, come +on, for it's getting late and we'll have to do this job quick and be +back before Dr. Mead thinks it is time to send Martin the monitor +after us. Forward march!" + +Then the crowd of boys, from the boarding school of Dr. Henry Mead, +known as Washington Hall, but sometimes called Lakeside Academy, from +the fact that it was on Rudmore Lake, in the town of Rudmore, started +forth on mischief bent. + +It was Jack Ranger's idea,--any one could have told that. For Jack +was always up to some trick or other. Most of the tricks were +harmless, and ended in good-natured fun, for Jack was one of the +best-hearted lads in the world. This time he had promised his chums +at the academy something new, though the term, which was within a +month of closing, had been anything but lacking in excitement. + +"Fred Kaler, have you got your mouth organ with you?" asked Jack, +turning to a lad just behind him. + +"He always has his mouth-organ, or how could he speak?" asked an +athletic looking lad walking beside Jack. + +"That's a poor joke, Sam Palmer," commented Jack, and he ducked just +in time to avoid a playful fist Sam shot out. + +"Want me to play?" asked Fred. + +"Play? You couldn't play in a hundred years," broke in Nat Anderson, +Jack's best chum. "But make a noise like music." + +"Play yourself, if you're so smart!" retorted Fred. + +"Simultaneous Smithereens!" cried Nat, using one of his +characteristic expressions. "Don't get mad. Go ahead and play." + +"Yes, liven things up a bit," went on Jack. "Give us a good marching +tune. We're far enough off now so none at the Hall can hear us." + +Fred blew a lively air and the score of boys behind him began to +march in step. + +"What is it this time?" asked Sam in a low tone, of Jack. "You +haven't let on a word." + +"We're going to administer a deserved rebuke to a certain character +in this town," Jack answered. "You've heard of Old Smelts, haven't +you?" + +"That fellow who's always beating his wife and hitting his little +girl?" + +"That's the old chap. Well, I heard he just got out of the lock-up +for being too free with his fists on the little girl. Now if there's +anything that makes me mad it's to see a kid hurt, girl or boy, it +doesn't matter. I've got a surprise in store for Mr. Smelts." + +"What is it?" + +"You've heard of the Klu-Klux-Klan, I suppose?" + +"You mean that southern society that made such a stir during the +Civil War?" + +"That's the one. We're going to be Klu-Klux-Klaners to-night." + +"But we haven't got any uniforms." + +"You'll find them in yonder wood!" exclaimed Jack in tragic tones, +and he pointed to a clump of trees just ahead. + +"What's this, amateur theatricals?" asked Nat, catching the last +words. + +"Maybe," replied Jack. "Now Fred you can pay off your orchestra," he +added. "I want to do a little monologue." + +The boys crowded around Jack, and he told them what he had related to +Sam. + +"I have provided the necessary uniforms to enable us to take the part +of Klu-Klux-Klaners," he said. "Old Smelts is a southerner and knows +the significance of the thing. We'll throw a good scare into him, and +maybe he'll let his wife and daughter alone. Now we're to put on the +sheets and the tall white helmets, and you leave the rest to me. Do +just as I do when we get to Smelts's house." + +"Hemispheres and hot handkerchiefs!" exclaimed Nat. "This is going +some!" + +Jack went to the foot of a big hollow tree, from which he pulled a +large bundle. This he opened and showed a number of ghostly uniforms. +He distributed these among the boys, who at once donned them, making +a weird looking band in the little glade. + +"Every one stand still until I put the finishing touches on," +commanded Jack. + +With a bottle of phosphorous he outlined waving flame lines around +the holes cut for eyes, nose, and mouth on each white-shrouded +figure, + +"Now we're ready," announced the leader. "Smelts's house is just +beyond this wood. Follow me, and, Fred, when you see me put my hand +on my head that means I want slow tremulous music, like they have in +the theater when, the heroine is dying." + +"Your wishes shall be obeyed," spoke Fred, in hollow tones, whereat +the others laughed. + +"Silence!" commanded Jack. + +It was a good thing those in charge of Washington Hall could not see +the pupils just then. If they had the prank would have cost the +participators dear. But, after all, as Jack said, it was in a good +cause. On they went until their leader held up a warning hand. + +"Arrange yourselves in a circle about me," he whispered. "I am going +to beard the lion in his den." + +He walked up to a small cottage that stood some distance from any +other dwellings on a lonely street in the village, and knocked +loudly. + +"Who's there?" came a voice, in answer, a few seconds later from an +upper window. + +"Tobias Smelts, come forth!" called Jack in deep tones. "We would hold +speech with thee!" + +The boys could see a man thrust his head further out of the casement. + +"Come forth and linger not!" called Jack. + +"Oh! Oh! It's the Klu-Kluxers! It's the Klan! They're after me!" +exclaimed Smelts. "Oh, what shall I do?" + +"Come forth if ye would not have us drag ye out!" cried Jack. "We +have business with thee!" + +"What'll I do?" wailed Tobias. + +"Better go 'fore they come in here after ye," a woman's voice could +be heard to say. "Remember what they did to Pete Baker in South +Caroliny!" + +The head was drawn in, with many a groan. + +"Get ready, he's coming," whispered Jack. + +A few minutes later a very much frightened man, clad in his shirt and +trousers came out on the front steps, around which the boys in their +ghostly disguise were gathered. + +"Advance!" commanded Jack, and Tobias, his knees trembling, walked on +until he stood in the midst of the frolicking students. + +"Bind him to the stake!" commanded the leader. + +A small, pointed stake had been prepared and with a hammer it was +driven into the ground. Then the man was fastened to it with several +coils of clothes line. + +"Now the faggots!" said Jack, and the boys dropped some pieces of +wood at the victims feet. A second later Jack had emptied the phial +of phosphorous over the wood, and the lurid light shone forth. + +"They're burning me alive!" yelled Tobias. "Save me!" + +"This is the fate dealt out to all who beat their wives and +children!" chanted Jack. At the same time he raised his hand to his +head and Fred played tremulous music on the harmonica, lending a +weirdness to the scene. + +"Please don't kill me, good Mr. Klu-Klux-Klan men," begged Tobias. +"I'll never do it again. I promise you I never will!" + +"Do you promise by the great seal of the United States?" inquired +Jack, in sepulchral accents. + +"Yes, Oh yes; I'll promise anything!" + +"'Tis well! This was but the first trial by fire. The next time will +be more severe!" and with that Jack kicked aside the phosphorous +covered sticks and signaled to those holding the ends of the ropes to +loosen them. + +Tremblingly Tobias crawled into the house. + +"Be ye dead, Tobias?" asked his frightened wife, yet she was not a +little gratified that her husband had made the promise the mysterious +visitors exacted. + +"Jest about," was the answer. "Oh, this is a terrible night!" + +"Hence, my brave men," spoke Jack solemnly. "We have work elsewhere. +But remember, Tobias Smelts, if thou dost so much as raise a finger +to a woman or child we shall hear of it through our ghostly messengers +and will visit thee again." + +"I'll be good! Oh, I'll be good!" promised Tobias. + +Then at a nod from Jack the white-robed figures filed away into the +darkness, Fred playing a dirge. + +"Say, that was the best sport yet," said Sam, when they were at a +safe distance. + +"Yes, and it was a good thing," said Jack. "That old codger'll not +beat his wife any more, I reckon." + +And it might be said in passing that he did not for a while. The +visit of the masquerading Klu-Klux-Klan was a most effective remedy, +and the whole village wondered what had cured Tobias temporarily at +least, of his bad habit. + +"Say, but you're all right," remarked Bob Movel to Jack, as the boys +rid themselves of the costumes in the woods a little later. + +"Towering tadpoles! I should say he was!" exclaimed Nat. "What will +you do next?" + +"I guess we'd better be getting back to the Hall," said Jack. +"Professor Grimm might take a notion to sit up late and spot us." + +While the boys were slipping quietly back to their rooms, having +enjoyed a night's fun, which also had its useful side, we may take +this opportunity of introducing them more formally to the reader. + +Those who read the first volume of this series, entitled "Jack +Ranger's Schooldays; Or, The Rivals of Washington Hall," need not be +told how it was that our hero and his friends came to be at that seat +of learning. Jack was a bright American lad, who lived with his three +maiden aunts, Josephine, Mary and Angeline Stebbins, in the village +of Denton. Jack was to inherit some money when he became of age, but +the conditions under which it was to come, as well as the secret of +who his father was, bothered him not a little. + +In the first volume of the series I told of his life in Denton, and +the lively times he and Nat Anderson had before they were sent to the +Academy. There things were even more lively, and there occurs a sort +of sequel to a strange occurrence that happened in Jack's town. + +At Denton, one night, Jack saw a man rob a jewelry store, but the +only thing he took, as it developed, was a strange ring. It was one +with a big moss agate, with the outline of a pine tree on it, and a +lot of emeralds and rubies set around its center. This ring belonged +to Jack's aunts, who had sent it to the jeweler's and when Jack told +his relatives of the theft, and described the appearance of the man, +they were much excited. However, they would tell him nothing. + +At the academy, after many other adventures, including aiding and +abetting the fighting of a mock duel between Professor Garlach, the +German teacher, and Professor Socrat, the French instructor, Jack +made the acquaintance of one John Smith, a half-breed Indian who had +come to the academy for instruction. John had considerable Indian +blood in his veins, as he proved on more than one occasion. +Nevertheless, he and Jack Ranger became great chums. + +One day John Smith disappeared. His friends found that his room had +been entered at the school, and there were evidences of a hurried +search having been made. Nat discovered, in John's absence, a curious +ring under a steam radiator. It was the exact counterpart of the one +the burglar stole in Denton. Jack was much puzzled at this, and more, +when it developed that John had been kidnapped by some mysterious +men. At last the semi-Indian lad was saved by Jack and Nat. + +John Smith told Jack as much of the secret as he knew. It appeared +that his father had given him the ring just before his death, and +told him if he was ever poor or in trouble to take it to a man named +Orion Tevis, and state who the bearer was. + +Some time before that, the elder Smith had been in Oregon and Tevis +came to him to get him to be a guide to a wild forest country in the +far north. There he had bought five thousand acres of valuable land. +Some schemers had stolen the papers connected with it and were making +for the place, to take possession first, as that would give them a +sort of title. + +Tevis was too sick to make the journey himself, and got Smith to go +with some of his own companions. John's father took a man named Clark +and one called Roberts with him. Mr. Roberts, or Robert Ranger, which +was his real name, was Jack's father. Because of some strange +circumstances he had not seen his son in many years. + +Roberts, for so he was known many years, Clark, and Smith succeeded +in claiming the land for Tevis. He gave them each ten thousand +dollars for their work and had three rings made as mementoes. They +were like the one stolen from the jewelry store. + +In addition Tevis said that at any time the men or their relatives +needed his help they could have it. + +Clark, later, was killed, John Smith's father retired on his little +fortune and Jack's father got into trouble. It seemed that the land +schemers offered him a large sum to help them contest Tevis's title. +He refused, but learned that, if they could get him into court, they +could throw the timber claim into litigation, and force Tevis to pay +a large sum to compromise. Rather than do this Roberts told Smith he +would become a wanderer over the earth. + +Mr. Ranger sent his money to his sisters, Jack's aunts, for the use +of his son, and then disappeared. He knew that if he could evade +legal service for eleven years he would be free, and that was why he +never sought to see his boy or sisters. + +The Indian student believed that the man who stole Jack's aunts' +ring, and those men who made an unsuccessful attempt to get his, +thought they could, by use of the emblems send two boys, pretending +to be Jack and John to Tevis, and get a lot of money from him. + +John Smith's only knowledge of Tevis was that his address could be +secured from the Capital Bank, at Denver, Colorado, and that he was +somewhere in the Rocky Mountains, in retirement. Jack having heard +this story, resolved that he and John Smith, would, some day, go in +search of Mr. Ranger. However, Jack's aunts said he must finish his +term at the academy, and this time was nearly up. + +The students returning from their adventure were now approaching +Washington Hall, and walking quietly along. Jack and John Smith were +in the lead, and the others were strung out behind them. + +Suddenly around a bend in the road there swung a big touring +automobile. No lights were on it, and only for the subdued roar of +the motor the car's approach would not have been noticed. As it was, +Jack did not see it until it was almost upon him. + +"Look out!" cried John Smith suddenly. + +At the same time he sprang forward and pushed Jack to one side. To do +this he had to get almost in the path of the car, and was struck by +one of the projecting springs. He was knocked to one side, but not +before he had pushed Jack out of harm's way, the latter being hit +only a glancing blow. + +"Why don't you look where you're going?" called an angry voice, as +the car sped on. + +"Are you hurt, John?" cried Jack, springing to pick up his friend. + +"No, only bruised. They have nerve to go running without lights and +then ask us where we're going. I wonder who they were." + +"I have an idea." said Jack. "That voice sounded like Adrian +Bagot's." + +"What, that sporty new student?" + +"That's who." + +"Well, he'd better go a bit slow, I'm thinking." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +JACK IN TROUBLE + + +The boys crowded around Jack and John, anxious to know if they were +hurt. All were loud in their indignation when they learned what had +happened. + +"Let's pay that snob back!" suggested Dick Balmore. + +"Make him sleep with you one night," suggested Fred, for Dick was so +tall and thin that he had been christened "Bony" by his chums. + +"Dry up!" exclaimed Dick. "I'd rather be thin than a wandering +minstrel like you." + +"Easy now!" suggested Jack. "No noise, we are too near quarters. +Ouch! I think I've sprained my ankle, or that auto did it for me." + +He tried to walk but had to limp, and was forced to accept the aid of +Sam and John, on whose arms he leaned. In this manner he entered the +Hall just as the monitor was closing up for the night. The other boys +slipped to their rooms, but Jack had to be helped upstairs. + +As the trio were passing through the corridors they met Professor +Grimm. Now, Mr. Grimm was an old enemy of Jack's, since Jack had once +caught him smoking, a violation of the school rules. + +"Ha! More skylarking!" the instructor exclaimed. "What does this +mean, Ranger?" + +"I sprained my ankle," replied our hero. + +"What are you doing out at this hour? And what are the others doing?" + +"We had permission to go to the village," replied Jack, truthfully +enough, for Dr. Mead had allowed the boys to go; though the object of +the trip, of course, had not been disclosed to the master. + +"Go to your rooms," commanded Professor Grimm. "I will look into +this." + +"I wish he hadn't seen us," said Jack, when his two chums had taken +him to his dormitory. + +"Why?" asked Sam. "Where's the harm?" + +"I have a sort of queer feeling that something is going to happen," +Jack replied. "I want to finish out the term with a good record, for +my aunts' sakes. If there are any pranks played tonight, Grimm will +be sure to suspect me." + +"Don't cross a bridge until it trips you up," said Sam. "Now, let's +have a look at that ankle." + +They found it was not as bad as Jack had feared. + +"I've got a bottle of arnica somewhere," he said. "I think I'll put +some on." + +His chums found the bottle, and were rubbing the swelling with the +medicine when there came a knock at the door. + +"Who's there?" asked Jack. + +"Professor Grimm," was the reply. "I want to see if you are really in +your room." + +Sam opened the door and the cross-grained professor entered. + +"So you're not fooling this time, eh?" he sneered, as he smelled the +arnica and saw the swelling on Jack's ankle. "It's a good thing you +were not." + +"Nice old party, isn't he?" murmured Sam, when the teacher had +withdrawn. "Well, I think I'll say good-night, Jack. Hope you sleep +good. Say, but that Klu-Klux business was the limit!" and chuckling +over the night's fun, he went to bed, leaving Jack and the Indian +student together. + +"A few weeks more and we'll not have to sneak around this way to have +a little fun," said Jack. "Vacation will soon be here. I hope I can +carry out a plan I have in mind, John." + +"What is it, Jack?" + +"I want to go out west and search for my father. I ought to be with +him in his trouble. Besides, the time must be almost up, so he could +come back to civilization again." + +"I hope you do find him," said the semi-Indian. + +"I wish you could help me, John." + +"I wish so, too. Perhaps I can. But you'd better get to bed now. We +don't want Grimm coming around again." + +Jack fell asleep dreaming he was crawling through a deep canyon after +his father, who was being carried away captive in a birch bark canoe +by Indians. But in spite of this he slept so soundly that he did not +hear a number of unusual noises under his window. Perhaps it was as +well for his peace of mind that he did not. + +It was about half past seven o'clock the next morning when Jack awoke +with a start. + +"I wonder what's the matter," he said to himself. "It seems as if +something had happened. Oh, I know, I haven't heard the morning +bell." + +It was the custom at the academy to awaken the students by ringing +the big bell in the tower every morning, and Jack had come to depend +on it as a sort of alarm clock. + +"I wonder what's the matter," he went on. "Can Martin have forgotten +to sound the tocsin? It's the first time he ever slipped up." + +A little later there came the sound of persons moving in the hall, +and then voices could be heard calling one to the other. + +He got out of bed, finding that his ankle was much better and looked +from the window. There was nothing out of the ordinary to be seen. He +turned toward his door, just as a loud knock came on the portal. + +"Who's there?" he asked. + +"Martin, the monitor," was the reply. "Dr. Mead wants to see you at +once in the office." + +"Trouble! I knew it!" exclaimed Jack to himself. "Well, I wonder what +it is now. Hope word of that Klu-Klux-Klan business hasn't reached +here already. But I'm not afraid of that. Even Dr. Mead will admit we +acted from a right motive. All right, Martin," he called. "I'll be +there as soon as I dress. Anything special?" + +"I'm afraid it is," replied the monitor, as he hurried down the hall. + +Jack made a hasty toilet and then went to the office of the head of +the academy. He found a number of the teachers gathered there, +including Professor Grimm, who looked more angry than usual. The +latter was speaking as Jack entered: + +"This positively has to stop, Dr. Mead," he said. "I will put up with +this no longer. Either Ranger or I must leave." + +"What have I done now?" asked Jack. + +"Something more serious than usual, Ranger, if it turns out that you +are guilty," answered Dr. Mead. + +"Of course he's guilty," burst out Mr. Grimm. "Haven't I proof?" + +"Last night," said Dr. Mead, speaking slowly and sternly, "the big +bell was taken from the tower. It was carried and placed in front of +Professor Grimm's room, and tied to his door so that when he opened +it the bell was pulled into his room. In this way some valuable sea +shells he had on the floor were broken." + +"What makes you think I did it?" asked Jack. "I was laid up with a +sprained ankle." + +"That's just how I know it was you and some of your chums," cried +Professor Grimm. "Tied on the bell, where it had been used, so the +sharp edge would not cut one's fingers, was this rag. There it is. +Smell of it. What does it smell like?" and he thrust it under Jack's +nose. + +"Why--why--it smells like arnica," replied our hero, wondering what +was coming next. + +"Arnica! Yes, I guess it does. What was it you were pretending to put +on your ankle last night, Ranger? Arnica, wasn't it? Of course it +was. I've caught you this time! The evidence is all against you! You +didn't think you dropped that rag, and that the arnica would figure +in the evidence. Dr. Grimm, I repeat, Ranger must leave or I shall!" + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A THREATENING LETTER + + +For a few seconds there was a silence following Professor Grimm's +ultimatum. Jack was so surprised he did not know what reply to make. +The suddenness of the accusation, with the experience of the night +before, and the upset over his sprained ankle, combined to make him +hesitate before he made answer. + +"What have you to say, Ranger?" asked Dr. Mead, in a sterner voice +than he had ever before used toward Jack. "I know you will tell the +truth, for I have never yet known you to lie. But I must tell you +that if I find that you are guilty it will go hard with you this +time. I have put up with a good deal from the students, but this is +too much." + +"I--I don't know what to say, sir," replied Jack, in a sort of daze. +"I'm not guilty, I can assure you of that!" + +"It's one thing to say so and another to prove it," snapped Professor +Grimm. "The evidence is all against you." + +"It's all circumstantial," interrupted Jack. + +"But rather conclusive," went on the irate professor. He detailed how +he had seen Jack and his friends out late, how he had come upon them +using arnica, and mentioned some of their pranks in the past, +including the mock duel arranged between Professor Socrat the French +teacher and Professor Garlach, the German instructor. + +"I admit I have played pranks in the past," said Jack frankly, "but +I'm not guilty this time. All I ask is a chance to prove that I had +no hand in this." + +"You don't deserve a chance!" exclaimed Mr. Grimm. + +"That's hardly fair," spoke Jack indignantly. + +"Don't talk back to me!" burst out the angry teacher. + +"I think your request is a fair one, Ranger," went on Dr. Mead. "I +will give you twenty-four hours in which to prove that you had no +hand in this. That is all now; you may go." + +Dr. Mead was a man of few words, but Jack knew he would be absolutely +fair. So, bowing to the head of the school, and without a glance at +his accuser, Jack left the office. + +"Whew!" exclaimed the youth, as he got outside. "I seem to be up +against it harder than ever. Twenty-four hours to prove something +that may take a week. Well, I've got to get busy, that's all." + +"Hello!" exclaimed a voice as Jack was walking along the corridor +toward his room. "Whasmatternow? Betcher Ic'nguess!" and the voice +evolved itself into a good-natured looking lad, who stretched a big +wad of gum from his mouth, and slowly got it back again by the simple +but effective process of winding it about his tongue. + +"Hello, Budge Rankin!" exclaimed Jack, as he saw the queer, bright +lad who had lived near him in Denton, and for whom Jack had secured +the place of second janitor at the school. "So you think you know +what the trouble is?" + +"Betcherlife," replied Budge, who had a habit of running his words +together, a habit which his gum-chewing did not tend to relieve. + +"What is it?" + +"Accused you takin' that bell," went on Budge more slowly. "Hu! +Wanterbe a detective?" + +"How did you know it?" asked Jack, a little surprised at Budge's +remark. + +"Easy. Heard 'em talk. Transom open," was his answer. + +"What do you mean about me turning detective?" + +"Lookerthis," Budge said, quickly holding out a small object to Jack. +"Found it in Grimm's room, 'sIsweptout." + +"You found it in Mr. Grimm's room as you swept it out?" inquired +Jack, not certain he had heard aright. + +"'Smatter!" exclaimed Budge, that being his short-hand way of stating +that was what was the matter. + +"A spark plug from an automobile," mused Jack. "Well, that doesn't +seem to give me much of a clue." + +"Gotermobe?" asked Budge. + +"No, of course I haven't an automobile," replied Jack. + +"Knowoas?" + +"Do I know who has? Why--By Jove! I believe I see what you mean. Say, +it's lucky you found this. I'll turn detective for awhile now. I +wonder how this got into Grimm's room." + +"Rolled under door, I guess," replied Budge, speaking more rationally +as he threw away his cud of gum. "From hall, maybe." + +"That's it!" exclaimed Jack. "I see it now. Thanks Budge. I hope I +succeed. I'm much obliged to you." + +"'Sallright!" exclaimed Budge, as he hurried away to attend to some +of his duties. + +When Jack got back to his room he found quite a gathering of his +chums there. + +"In for it on account of that Klu-Klux business?" asked Sam Chalmers. + +"Not exactly that," answered Jack, "though if I'd stayed at home It +wouldn't have happened." + +"Ha-ha-ha-has it g-g-gg-got anything t-t-t--" began Will Slade. + +"Whistle it!" exclaimed Bony Balmore. + +"Sing it!" came from Fred Kaler. "Here I'll help you out," and he +began to play on his harmonica. + +"Whole-wheat-whangdoodles!" cried Nat Anderson, "but tell us, Jack. +Don't keep us in suspense." + +"It's the bell," said Jack. "I'm accused of taking it down and +putting it in Grimm's room. They found a rag with arnica on it near +the ding-dong, and Old Grimm jumped to the wrong conclusion, basing +his belief on what he saw here last night in the first-aid-to-the- +injured line. I've got until to-morrow to prove that I didn't do it." + +"We can prove it easily enough," said Sam. + +"Not so easily as you think," spoke Jack. "Grimm saw us out late, you +remember, and if all of you joined in saying it wasn't I who did it, +they wouldn't believe you. I guess they want to make an example of +someone. No sir, I'm going to do some sleuthing on my own hook. I've +got a good line and a bit of evidence to start with. I'm pretty sure +I can make some folks around here sit up and take notice about this +time to-morrow." + +"Good for you, Jack!" exclaimed Dick. "If you want any help call on +us!" + +"Thanks," replied Jack. "Now I guess we'd better get ready for +breakfast." + +His chums left him to complete his dressing, and, when they were +gone, Jack carefully laid aside the spark plug Budge had given him. + +"First link," he said. + +During the noon intermission Jack had a short but earnest talk with +Socker, the school janitor. The latter nodded his head vigorously +several times during the conversation. + +"I'll get it for you," he said as he and Jack parted. + +At the close of school that afternoon the janitor went to Jack's room +with a large bundle. + +"Any trouble?" asked our hero. + +"Not a bit," replied Socker. "He was out and I found it rolled up in +a corner, just where he had thrown it. He hasn't even cleaned it." + +"So much the better," said Jack, as he gave Socker a small sum of +money. "I'll keep quiet about this, don't worry." + +"I hope you will," the janitor went on. "It's against the rules for +me to do what I did, but I want to oblige you, and have you come out +all right." + +"Which I think I will," Jack added. + +When he was alone he opened the bundle Socker had brought. It was a +linen duster, and, as Jack saw several brown spots on it he uttered +an exclamation of satisfaction. + +With his knife he scraped some substance from the garment, and placed +the particles in a test tube. Then, taking this with him, he went to +the laboratory, where he remained for some time. + +Late that afternoon Jack, who had avoided his chums, took a walk +around the campus. As he came near a small building, where some of +the students kept their motor cycles, one or two small automobile +runabouts, and a few of the more well-to-do, their ponies, Jack +assumed a slow and halting gait. He seemed to be limping from the +effects of his sprained ankle. + +"I wonder if he's around," he muttered to himself. "Socker said he +was going to take a spin this afternoon, and it's about time for him +to start, by all accounts." + +As Jack neared the entrance to the combined garage and stable he saw +a group of students approaching from an opposite direction. His limp +became more decided than before. + +"He's there!" he said softly to himself. + +"Hello, Ranger!" exclaimed a number, as Jack passed them. He knew +them fairly well, but was not intimate with them as they belonged to +the "fast set," a good-enough crowd, but lads who had more spending +money than was good for them. + +"Hello!" called Jack in reply. + +"What's the matter?" came several inquiries as the students noticed +Jack's limp. + +"Turned on my ankle," was the reply. "A bit stiff yet." + +The crowd had nearly passed by this time, and, owing to the fact that +Jack had the middle of the sidewalk, and did not turn to one side, +the little group separated. Some went on one side, and some on the +other. Just as Jack came opposite a tall, elaborately dressed youth, +he seemed to stumble. To save himself from falling Jack threw out his +hand and caught the tall student on the wrist. As he did so the well- +dressed youth uttered a cry. + +"Clumsy! You hurt my sore wrist!" + +"I beg your pardon!" exclaimed Jack, struggling to recover his +balance, but still keeping his hold of the other's hand. "Awfully +careless of me!" + +There was quite a little jostling among the students, several trying +to help Jack recover his balance. Then Jack straightened up. + +"I'm all right now," he said. "I bore down on it a little too hard." + +He limped on, thrusting one hand hurriedly into his pocket. As he did +so, the tall student cried. + +"There! I've lost the rag off my sore wrist! I sprained it cranking +my auto yesterday." + +Several of his companions began a search for it, but as Jack hurried +on, as fast as he could, while still pretending to limp painfully he +said to himself: + +"I guess you'll look a long while, Adrian Bagot, before you find that +rag. Maybe I can get even with you for running me down last night," +and Jack pulled a piece of cloth from his pocket and smelled of it. + +"That's the evidence!" he exclaimed, as he turned down a side street. + +Whether it was this change, or whether it was because his ankle +suddenly healed, was not in evidence, but Jack began to walk with +scarcely the semblance of a halt in his step as soon as he was out of +sight of the students. + +The lad hurried back to his room. There he spent a busy half hour, +poring over some books on chemistry. He got several test tubes, and +his apartment took on the appearance of a laboratory, while many +strange smells filled the air. + +While Jack was engaged in pouring the contents of one test tube into +another there came a knock at his door. + +"Who's there?" he called. + +"It's me, Sam," was the reply. + +"Say, Sam, excuse me, but I can't let you in," Jack answered. "I'm +working on something that I can't leave. I may have a surprise for +you in the morning." + +"All right," Sam answered. "Here's some mail, that's all. I'll shove +it under the door." + +There was a rustling of paper and several letters came beneath the +portal. Jack laid aside his test tube and gathered them up. One was +from his aunts at home, another from Judge Bennetty regarding the +payment of certain bills Jack had contracted, while the third was in +unfamiliar handwriting. + +"I wonder who that's from," said Jack. "The best way to find out is +to open it." + +He ripped the envelope down, and, as he did so, a piece of paper +fluttered to the ground. Picking the missive up, Jack read: + +"It's a long lane that has no turns. I'll get even with you for +having me suspended and sent away from the Hall. My time will come +yet. + +"Jerry Chowden." + +"Jerry Chowden," murmured Jack. "So he's trying to scare me, eh? Well +I guess he'll find I don't scare." + +Jack slowly folded the letter and placed it back in the envelope. He +glanced at the postmark, and saw it was stamped "Chicago." + +"Wonder how he got out there," he mused. "Well, I'm glad he's far +away," and he gave little more thought to the matter of the bully, a +nephew of Professor Grimm's, whose vain attempt to cast disgrace on +Jack, in the matter of painting a pipe on the professor's portrait, +had rebounded on his own head. He had been suspended for two months +for the escapade, which Jack was accused of, but which our hero +managed to prove himself innocent of, and, since leaving the Hall, +nothing had been heard of him. + +"Maybe I'll meet him if I get out west on that strange hunt of mine," +thought Jack, as he went on with his chemical tests. + +He worked far into the night, and when he put out his light he said +to himself: + +"I think I've got things just where I want them." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A LESSON IN CHEMISTRY + + +Jack was awakened next morning by a knock on his door. + +"Who's there?" he asked. + +"Martin, the monitor," was the reply. "Dr, Mead wishes to see you at +once." + +"Great Scott! I've overslept!" exclaimed Jack, as he jumped out of +bed and saw it was after eight o'clock. "No wonder, being up half the +night. Tell Dr. Mead I'm sorry and I'll be right down," he went on. + +Jack almost made a record for dressing, and went to Dr. Mead's +office, where he found the same gathering that had confronted him the +previous morning. + +"Well, Ranger," began the head of the school, "the time you asked for +has expired. Have you anything to say?" + +"I have, sir," replied Jack. "But first I would like to request that +this hearing be adjourned to the laboratory. I also request that Sam +Chalmers, Dick Balmore, Fred Kaler, Budge Rankin and Adrian Bagot be +summoned." + +"Do you accuse all of them?" asked Dr. Mead, in some astonishment. + +"I accuse no one," Jack replied. "I want to make a demonstration, and +let the facts speak for themselves." + +"This is all nonsense!" exclaimed Professor Grimm. "This boy is +guilty and he knows it. He is only seeking to delay matters. I demand +his expulsion!" + +"I think it only fair to grant his request," said Dr. Mead. +"Professor Gales, will you kindly summon the students mentioned. +Professor Hall, please see that the laboratory is opened." + +In a few minutes Jack was leading the way to the latter room. He +carried several bundles, while Socker, the janitor, bore a rack of +test tubes he had taken from Jack's room. The lads mentioned +attended, wondering what had happened. + +"What's this all about?" demanded Adrian, haughtily. "I haven't had +my breakfast yet." + +"The time was up an hour ago," said Dr. Mead sharply, glancing at the +new student, who seemed disposed to take life as easily as possible. + +"May I speak?" asked Jack, of Dr. Mead. + +"Since you are the accused it is but fair that you be given a chance +to clear yourself," was the reply. "But as you have given a certain +publicity to this matter, I shall tell these other students what it +is all about." + +Dr. Mead then explained the charge against Jack. There was an uneasy +movement among the other boys, and Adrian Bagot was seen to shift +about. He even started to walk around as though to leave the room, +but the monitor stood at the door and Adrian did not want to make any +confusion by forcing past him. So young Bagot remained in the +laboratory. + +"When Professor Grimm accused me of playing this trick I denied it, +as I am innocent," Jack said, when Dr. Mead had finished and looked +at him as if inviting him to speak. "Perhaps if the matter has been +made public the fellows who took the bell would have come forward and +admitted it. As it is I asked twenty-four hours to prove that I did +not do it. I believe I have succeeded. + +"In the first place," Jack went on, "I wish to exhibit this garment," +and he held up to view a long linen coat, commonly called a duster. +"You will observe," he went on, "that there are several brown lines +on it. I have measured these and they are exactly the shape and size +that would be made by the sharp rim of a bell, if it was rested on +the garment when some one was wearing it." + +"You will have to have better evidence than that," sneered Professor +Grimm. + +"I think I will have," announced Jack quietly. "Of course those marks +might have been made by any sharp, rusty object. Now the bell metal +rusts scarcely at all, but the iron clapper of a bell does. The rust +from that runs down inside a bell, and gets on the edges. I took some +iron rust from the clapper of the stolen bell and placed it in a test +tube. I assumed, for the purpose of experimenting, that I did not +know that it was iron rust, but only suspected it. I applied the +proper chemical tests, and I got the results that showed me there was +iron present in the test tube. Here, I will show you." + +Jack mixed a few chemicals and soon the brown mixture in the tube +turned red. + +"That is from the bell clapper," the young chemist went on. "Here is +a solution made from scraping the lines on the duster. I will apply +the test and see what happens." + +While the others looked on anxiously Jack dropped some of the mixture +into the second tube. In an instant it turned red. + +"There!" exclaimed Jack, holding up the two tubes, side by side. "The +same color coming in both mixtures from the same strength of +chemicals that I used, shows that the iron rust on the duster and +that on the bell clapper are the same." + +"What does that prove, except that you might have worn the duster?" +asked Dr. Mead. + +"That is all, as yet," Jack admitted. "But I will prove that the +duster is not mine, and that I never wore it. I have something else +here," he went on. + +From among a pile of things on the laboratory table Jack took a white +object, with brown spots. Walking rapidly across the room he handed +it to Adrian. + +"The rag off my sprained wrist!" exclaimed the sporty student. "Where +did--" + +Then he stopped, seeming to realize he had said too much. + +"I will ask Professor Grimm to smell of that," Jack continued, +thrusting the rag under the teacher's nose. + +"Arnica!" exclaimed the instructor. "The same that you used, and +which enabled me to discover it was you who played the trick." + +"It is arnica," Jack admitted, "but it happens I was not the only one +who used it that night. I have also to show this article, which was +picked up in your room, Professor Grimm," and Jack extended the spark +plug Budge had given him. + +"Ha! What is that?" asked Mr. Grimm. + +"It is some part of an automobile," Dr. Mead said. "Who, of our +students, has one. Ah! I begin to see," he added. + +"Adrian Bagot, I will return your duster to you," Jack went on, +walking forward and passing the rust-stained automobile garment to +young Bagot. "I had to borrow it from your room, but I am through +with it now. You may also have your spark plug, and this rag I had to +take from your wrist rather unceremoniously last night." + +"You're a thief!" burst out Adrian, but Jack stopped him with a +gesture. + +"I'll not take that from you or any one else," exclaimed Jack. "Dr. +Mead," he went on, "I ask that you inquire of my friends, Sam +Chalmers, Dick Balmore and Fred Kaler when they last saw Adrian in +his auto." + +"When did you?" Dr. Mead asked the boys. + +"The night the bell was stolen," answered Sam, and the others agreed +with his testimony. Jack told the story of the collision and how his +ankle was injured. + +"Is there anything else?" asked Dr. Mead. + +"I think not," was our hero's answer, "unless Bagot has something to +say." + +"So you did it, eh?" asked Professor Grimm, turning to the new +student. "I demand that he be punished, Dr. Mead," and Mr. Grimm did +not even take the trouble to beg Jack's pardon for having falsely +accused him. + +"What have you to say, Bagot?" asked the head of the academy. +"Circumstances point strongly to you," + +Bagot mumbled something about it being only a harmless joke, and +seemed quite confused. + +"I will not ask you to tell on your companions," Dr. Mead went on +sternly. "There must have been several of them. If they choose to +come forward and admit their part, well and good. I will go no +further with this, since the chief culprit is known. Ranger, you are +fully vindicated, and I congratulate you on the effective manner in +which you have proved your innocence." + +"As for you, Bagot, seeing that it is your first offense, I will be +lenient. I will suspend you for one week, and you are to make up all +the studies you lose in that time. That is all." + +With a scowl on his face, and an angry look at Jack, Adrian shuffled +from the laboratory. The teachers followed Dr. Mead out, while Jack's +friends gathered around to congratulate him. + +"Didn't know you were such a chemist," spoke Sam. + +"I'll have to play a march of victory on the jew's-harp and mouth +organ at the same time!" burst out Fred Kaler. + +"Well," admitted Jack, "it came out about as well as I expected." + +"Betcherwhat!" exclaimed Budge, as he walked off, stretching his gum +out at arm's length. + +The news soon spread that Jack had been vindicated, and there was an +impromptu celebration in his room. + +"Lopsided lollypops!" exclaimed Nat Anderson. "We ought to do +something to get even with Bagot, Jack." + +"Oh, I'm satisfied, let it go as it is." "But we're not," Sam +Chalmers put in. "You got vindicated all right, but an insult to you +is one to all this crowd you travel with. I'll bet Dr. Mead has a +sort of idea that some of us had a hand in the joke. We may not be +able to prove we didn't, but we can get even with that sneak Bagot +for making all the trouble." + +"L-l-l-lets puncture h-h-h-is t-t-t-t-ti--" sputtered Will Slade. + +"What's that about his necktie?" asked Sam with a grin. + +"W-w-w-who s-s-s-said n-n-neck t-t-ti-?" + +"I thought you were trying to, and I wanted to help you out," replied +Sam. + +"I-I-I-I ni-m-m-meant his autototototo--" + +"Toot-toot!" sung out Fred. "All aboard! Where does your train stop, +Will?" + +"I know what you mean," put in Jack, coming to Will's relief. "But I +don't want to do anything like bursting his auto tires. That's not my +way." + +"We can easily enough find a plan," Sam went on. "Will you join us, +Jack?" + +"You know I'm always ready for anything that's going." + +"Then I'll try and think up something," Sam concluded. "But we'd +better hustle now. Chapel bell will ring in five minutes." + + + + +CHAPTER V + +TURNING THE TABLES + + +For several days after this there were review examinations so that +all the students at the academy were kept busy, and there was little +time for anything but study. At the end of the week Adrian Bagot +returned from his period of suspension. He did not seem to have +suffered much, and the boys heard him boasting of having ridden +nearly a thousand miles in his auto. + +One evening Sam and some of his chums paid a visit to Jack Ranger. + +"Got anything on to-night?" asked Sam. + +"Nothing special, why?" + +"Well, I'll not tell you the particulars, and then, if anything +happens you can truthfully say you never knew a thing about it. But +if you want to see something, put on an old pair of slippers, so you +can walk through the corridors softly, and follow us." + +"Some fun?" asked Jack. + +"Well, we wouldn't go to all this trouble if it was work or study," +replied Sam with a grin. "But say nothing, only saw wood and come +on." + +Jack, nothing loath, did as he was told. He got an old pair of felt +slippers, and noticed that the others were also wearing similar foot-gear. + +"First to Professor Socrat's room," whispered Sam when the boys, +including Will Slade, Fred Kaler and Bony Balmore were out in the +corridor. + +"He's not going to fight a duel with Professor Garlach, is he?" asked +Jack, recalling an occasion when the two teachers nearly did. + +"Not this time," replied Sam, "but there may be a fight in it." + +With Sam in the lead the boys went to the room of the French +professor. + +"Now stay back in the shadows," advised the leader. "You can see and +listen, but keep quiet." + +Sam knocked on the door, and, in his most polite tones said: + +"I was asked, my dear professor, to leave this with you with the +compliments of the sender." + +"Ah, I zank you extremely, sir," said Professor Socrat, bowing low, +"I zank ze giver, an' I zank you for ze most polite attention you +have bestowed on me." + +"You are very welcome, I'm sure," murmured Sam, as he hurried away to +join his waiting comrades. + +"I don't see anything funny about that," said Jack. + +"Wait until he opens it," whispered Sam. + +A few seconds later the hidden boys heard the door of the French +teacher's room open, and saw him come out. + +"It is some meestake," they heard him murmur. "Zis ees for Professor +Grimm. I will take it to heem," and he walked along the corridor +toward the elderly instructor's apartment. + +"Act one," whispered Sam. "Now for the second." + +Silently in their slippers the boys followed the French professor to +Mr. Grimm's room. + +"What is it?" asked the latter when the Frenchman had knocked. + +"I come wiz a package, left by mistake wiz me," Mr. Socrat remarked, +in his usual polite way. "It is addressed to you inside, but ze +outside wrapper was wiz my name inscribed. I ask your pardon." + +"Thanks," said Mr. Grimm shortly, as, with a polite bow, Mr. Socrat +went back to his room. + +Professor Grimm left his door open a little way, and the boys could +see him quite plainly. They saw him take off the wrapper, and +disclose a small white box. This he opened and, as he took the cover +off, there dropped out something that gave a musical clang. + +"A bell!" exclaimed Jack in a whisper. + +"Hush!" cautioned Sam. "Let's hear what he says." + +"Ha!" exclaimed Mr. Grimm. "So this is a joke, eh, Mr. Frenchman? +Well, we'll see about this!" + +He grasped the bell, which was a small one, by the handle, and +started down the corridor, a scowl on his face, as the boys could see +by a flickering gaslight, as they were hidden around the corner. + +"Now back to Mr. Socrat's room for the third act," said Sam. "Come +on." + +Without the formality of a knock, Mr. Grimm entered the French +teacher's room. + +"So this is your idea of a joke, eh?" he cried, shaking the bell +under Professor Socrat's nose. "I'll report you to Dr. Mead for this. +You frog-eater you!" + +"Sir-r-r-r!" fairly shouted Professor Socrat. "You call me a frog- +eater-r-r-r-r?" + +"Yes, and a donkey also!" exclaimed Mr. Grimm. "You knew how I've +felt since that bell joke, and you dare to send me a miniature one!" + +"I sent nossing!" + +"Didn't I see you just bring this?" demanded Mr. Grimm, holding out +the bell. + +"It was addressed to you on ze paper!" + +"Yes, and you did it!" + +"I did not!" + +"I say you did!" + +"Zen you mean zat I tells a lie?" + +"If you want to take it that way!" + +"Zen I say you also are one who knows not ze truth!" + +"Don't call me that name or I'll--" + +What the excited professor meant to say was not disclosed as, at that +moment, in shaking his fist at Professor Socrat he let slip the bell, +which, with a clang struck the French teacher on the chest. + +"A blow! I am insult!" Mr. Socrat exclaimed. "It must be wiped out +wiz ze blood of my insulter!" + +He caught up a book to throw at Mr. Grimm, and let it fly, just as +Adrian Bagot entered the room. The sporty student caught it full in +the face. + +"Pardon, my dear young friend!" exclaimed the French teacher, seeing +his missile had gone wide of one mark, though finding another. + +"What does this mean?" demanded Adrian, as he saw the two +belligerents. + +"Leave the room, sir!" ordered Professor Grimm. "This is none of your +affair!" + +"I was asked to come here," said Adrian. + +"Ha, so this is another part of your plan to play a joke on me," +cried Mr. Grimm, glaring at the Frenchman. "You ask this student, who +was responsible for the original trouble to come here to see a +repetition." + +"Your talk, it ees of ze incomprehensible!" exclaimed Mr. Socrat. "I +have sent for no one." + +"I got a note, signed with your name, asking me to call at your room +at eight o'clock," said Bagot. + +"Hold me, some one, before I die laughing," whispered Sam to his +chums. In fact they were all laughing so that only the excitement on +the part of the three in Mr. Socrat's room prevented the boys from +being discovered. + +"Let me see ze writing," said the French teacher. + +Adrian showed it to him. + +"I nevair wrote that, nevair, nevair, nevair!" exclaimed the +representative of France. + +"But you brought me the bell," put in Mr. Grimm. + +"I did, because your name, it was on ze covair of ze box. I not write +heem." + +"Then if you didn't, who did?" asked Mr. Grimm. + +"I am no readair of ze mind," replied the Frenchman. + +"I'll bet it is one of Jack Ranger's tricks," said Adrian. "It is +just like him." + +"Are you sure you had no hand in it?" asked Mr. Grimm suspiciously, +turning to Bagot. + +"You don't think I'd risk another suspension with graduation so near, +do you?" asked Bagot. + +"I guess you're innocent this time," admitted Mr. Grimm unwillingly. +"If I discover who did this I'll settle with him." + +"You've got to catch 'em first," murmured Sam. + +"Well I guess I'll go," went on Mr. Grimm. + +"I have been insult, I demand satisfaction," said Mr. Socrat, drawing +himself to his full height and glaring at the other teacher. "Will +you name a friend, sir, to whom I can send my representative?" + +"You--you don't mean to fight a duel, do you?" asked Professor Grimm, +nervously. + +"Of a certainly yes! I have been struck! I have been insult! I must +have ze satisfaction!" + +"If it comes to that so have I," said Adrian, rubbing his face where +the book had hit him. + +"I have apologized to you. I beg your ten thousand pardons, my young +friend," said Mr. Socrat, bowing low. "I know when I am at fault. It +was all an accident. Still, if you demand satisfaction I am bound to +give it you. I will send ze--" + +"Oh, I accept your apology," said Adrian, hastily. + +"But I have been called ze eater of ze frogs, an' I have been struck +by--by a--person!" exploded the Frenchman. u I must see ze blood +flow, or--" + +"Oh, I'll apologize, if it comes to that," said Mr. Grimm, rather +awkwardly. "I didn't mean to hit you with the bell. As for calling +you names, why--why I was all excited. I beg your pardon." + +"Zen you have made ze amend honorable, an' I accept it," said the +Frenchman, bowing almost to the floor. "We will regard ze incident as +closed." + +"I'll not, by a long shot," murmured Bagot. "I want satisfaction from +whoever got me into this and I'll find out sooner or later." + +"Mostly later," murmured Sam. + +"Where did you get the package?" asked the sporty student of Mr. +Socrat. + +"It was brought to me a little while ago, by one of ze students. It +was dark in ze hallway and I could not see ze face of heem." + +"Luck for me," murmured Sam. + +"I see my name on ze wrappair," went on Professor Socrat. "Zen I open +it an' I see ze name of Mr. Grimm. I go to heem. Ha! Zings begin to +what you call happen--after zat!" + +"Vamoose!" whispered Sam. "I guess we've seen all the fun. They'll +disperse now. Everyone to his room and undress. Be studying in bed. +If there's an investigation we can't be accused." + +A little later the boys heard Professor Grimm tramping to his room, +muttering dire vengeance on his tormentors. They heard him open his +window and throw something out. It fell with a tinkle to the ground. + +"The bell," whispered Sam, as he hurried to his room. + +"How did you manage it?" asked Jack an hour or so later when Sam had +entered his chum's apartment, matters having quieted down. + +"It was too easy," explained Sam. "I did up the bell, and left it +with Socrat. I purposely addressed it double. I figured out what +would happen. Then I sent a fake note to Bagot, telling him Socrat +wanted him. It came out better than I expected." + +"I hope there's no trouble over it," Jack said. + +There was none, for neither of the professors cared to have the facts +made public, and Bagot did not want to let it be known that he had +been fooled. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +A PLAN THAT FAILED + + +One afternoon Dr. Mead announced that there would be an evening +lecture, in preparation for final examinations, and he stated that he +expected every student to be present. + +"The only excuse that will be accepted for non-attendance," he said, +"will be illness. As there are no students sick now, I shall regard +with grave suspicion any reports of indisposition between now and the +time for the lecture." + +"What do you say to a swim?" asked Sam, of Jack, as they filed out +from the auditorium where Dr. Mead had made his announcement. + +"I'll go," replied Jack. "Any of the other fellows going along?" + +"Dick, Nat and Bill Slade are coming," said Sam. "I left them going +for their suits. Come on." + +"Wait until I get mine," spoke Jack, and he hurried off, to join Sam +a few minutes later. + +On the way to a quiet spot in Rudmore Lake, where the boys were in +the habit of taking their swimming exercises, Jack and Sam were +joined by the others. + +"Did you hear the latest?" asked Bony Balmore, making his anatomy +rattle in a way peculiar to himself. + +"No, what is it?" asked Jack. + +"Two new students arrived," went on Bony. "They're chums of Sport +Bagot's I guess, 'cause I saw them walking with him." + +"Who are they?" asked Sam. + +"Ed Simpson and John Higley," replied Sam. "I heard they were regular +cut-ups, and got fired out of one school. Their guardians sent them +here to finish the term. I s'pose they'll try some funny work." + +"L-l-l-l-et 'em t-t-t-try it!" spluttered Will. "I-i g-g-g-guess we +c-c-c--" + +"Oh, whistle it!" exclaimed Sam. + +"Pzznt!" exploded Will, which seemed to get his vocal cords in shape +again. "We'll fix 'em if they try any tricks!" + +"Now you're talking," said Jack. + +The boys lost little time in getting into the lake. They were +splashing about in the water, when Jack, who happened to swim near +shore, was startled by a cautious hail. He looked up, to see Budge +Rankin half hidden in the grass, making signals to him. + +"What is it?" asked Jack. + +"Geasynow!" exclaimed Budge, in a hoarse whisper, tossing aside a wad +of gum that he might talk more plainly. + +"Go easy about what?" asked Jack. + +"They're going to play a trick on you," said Budge. + +"Who?" inquired Jack, while the other boys, attracted by the +conversation drew near. + +"Adrian Bagot and the two new students," went on Budge. "They're on +their way here. Goin' t' steal your clothes an' make you late for th' +lecture. I heard 'em talkin' about it. Thought I'd warn you. +'Sthmatterithfoolinem?" Budge had taken a fresh chew of gum, which +accounted for the way in which he inquired what was the matter with +fooling the enemy. + +"True for you!" exclaimed Sam. "How we going to do it?" + +Jack pondered a moment, idly splashing the water with his opened +hand. Then he exclaimed: + +"I have it! How long before they'll be here, Budge?" + +"'Bout ten minutes I reckon." + +"Long enough. Come on boys." + +"What you up to?" asked Nat. + +"Say nothing but follow me," was all Jack replied. + +He scrambled up the bank to where he had left his clothes. Catching +up the garments into a bundle he placed them further along the bank, +on a little bluff that overlooked the edge of the lake. The clothes +were in plain sight. + +"They'll see them there," objected Fred. + +"That's what I want," Jack replied. "Do as I do." + +Wondering what was up the others obeyed. Jack then ran to a small +boathouse, close to the swimming place, and returned with three long, +thin ropes, used to tie the craft to the dock. + +For a few minutes Jack's fingers flew nimbly. Then he placed three +rope circles, hiding them well in the grass, each one just in front +of each of the three piles of clothes. He carefully carried the long +ends of the ropes down the bank and into the water. + +"Oh, I see!" exclaimed Sam, with a chuckle. "Say, this is great!" + +"Now, Budge," said Jack, when he had finished his preparations. "You +hide in the bushes. When you think it's time, you toss a stone into +the water. Do you understand?" + +"Betcherlife!" replied Budge, shortly. + +"Get down under the bank, then, fellows," said Jack to his +companions. "Keep well in shore, and when you hear the stone splash, +pull. That's all!" + +"But they may take our clothes," objected Will, who did not seem to +understand. + +"I don't believe they will," replied Jack, grimly. + +The boys entered the water again, and, crouched close under the bank, +sinking down so that only the tip of their noses were above the +surface. It was almost impossible to tell they were there. + +Had any one been up on the bank a few minutes later he would have +observed three lads come creeping along, as if they were afraid of +being seen. Adrian Bagot was in the lead. + +"I don't see them" spoke one of the trio. + +"Keep quiet, Ed Simpson," cautioned Adrian. "That Ranger chap has +sharp ears. Do you see 'em, John?" + +"There's their clothes in little piles, just ahead," replied John +Higley. "They couldn't have left 'em better for us. Come on; we'll +hide 'em, and then we'll see what happens." + +"Guess they won't be so fresh after this," spoke Bagot. + +Slowly the trio crept forward. Well might Jack and his chums worried +for the fate of their garments had they seen the three conspirators. +But Budge was on the watch. + +Just as the three sneaks were about to reach down and gather the +swimmers' clothes, a stone sailed through the air, and fell with a +splash into the water. An instant later there was a wild scene on the +bank. + +Three youths went flying toward the edge of the lake as though +propelled by unseen hands. They seemed to have ropes attached to +their legs, ropes which were being pulled from below. + +Then three well-dressed lads were struggling in the water, while five +other youths stood up in the shallows looking on. + +"I guess we turned the tables that time," remarked Jack. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +FOILING A PLOT + + +"Save me! Save me!" yelled Adrian Bagot. + +"I'm drowning!" screamed Ed Simpson. + +"I'm sinking!" shouted John Higley. + +The three conspirators were floundering about in the water. Because +of the rope nooses about their feet their efforts to stand upright +were not entirely successful. + +"Who did this?" inquired Bagot angrily, as he tried to get rid of a +mouthful of water. + +"If--if I-I die they'll hang for this!" spluttered Ed Simpson. + +"No danger of your drowning, you're too mean," said Jack. "Besides +it's only up to your knees. Stand up and wade out." + +By this time the three lads, their clothing dripping with water, had +managed to stand upright. They reached down under the dancing +wavelets and loosened the nooses. + +"You'll pay for this, Jack Ranger," shouted Adrian, shaking his fist +at our hero. + +"All right, I'm ready whenever you are," was the cool answer. "Come +on, fellows, we don't want to be late for the lecture," and he +started from the water, followed by his chums. + +"I'll have you arrested for damaging my clothes," exclaimed Ed. + +"And I suppose you'd tell on the witness stand about what you +intended to do to ours," went on Jack. "I guess you'll cry 'quits,' +that's what you'll do. You tried to play a trick on us, but you got +left. So long. Don't miss the lecture." + +He scrambled ashore, his comrades doing likewise, while the three +lads who had taken such an unexpected bath waded out as best they +could. They were sorry looking sights. + +"But I don't exactly un-d-d-d-erstand how it it h-h-h-appened?" +stuttered Will, who had not had hold of one of the ropes. + +"I just made slip nooses, and placed them where they'd have to step +into them before they could lay hands on the clothes," explained +Jack. "Budge gave me the signal when they were inside the ropes." + +"And then we just pulled," put in Nat. "Wow! It was a corker, Jack! +How did you think of it?" + +"It just happened to come to me. Say didn't they come down off that +bank sailing, though?" + +"I pulled as if I was landing a ten pound pickerel," said Fred. "I +wonder who I had." + +"Didn't stop to notice," Jack said, as he slipped on his coat. "They +all came together. What a splash they made!" + +By this time the three conspirators had crawled up the bank. They +were so soaking wet that it was hard to walk. Their shoes "squashed" +out water at every step. They sat down on the grass, took them off, +and removed some of their garments, which they proceeded to wring +out. + +"Better hurry up," advised Jack, as he finished dressing. "Lecture +begins in about two hours, and you're quite a way from home." + +"I'll--" began Ed Simpson, when Adrian stopped him with a gesture. + +"Sorry we have to leave you," Sam went on. "If you'd sent your cards +we would have had the water warmed for you. Hope you didn't find it +too chilly." + +The three cronies did not reply, but went on trying to get as much +water as possible from their garments. Leaving them sitting on the +grass, as the afternoon waned into evening, the swimmers hurried back +to the academy. + +When the roll was called at the evening lecture, which was at an +early hour, Jack and his friends replied "here!" + +For a week or more after the episode at the lake, matters at the +academy went on in a rather more even tenor than was usual. One night +Sam, who finished his studying early went to Jack's room. + +"Boning away?" he asked. + +"Just finishing my Caesar," was the reply. "Why, anything on?" + +"Nothing special," replied Sam. "Do you feel anything queer in your +bones?" + +"Not so much as a touch of fever and ague," replied Jack with a +laugh. "Do you need quinine?" + +"Quit your fooling. I mean don't you feel as if you wanted to do +something?" + +"Oh I'm always that way, more or less," Jack admitted. "I'm not +taking anything for it, though." + +"I'd like to take a stroll," said Sam. "I think that would quiet me +down. I feel just as if something was going to happen." + +"Probably something will, if we go out at this hour," Jack said. +"It's against the rules." + +"I know it is, but it wouldn't be the first time you or I did it. +Come on, let's go out. Down the trellis, the way you did when you +discovered Grimm smoking." + +"I don't know," began Jack. + +"Of course you don't," interrupted Sam. "I'll attend to all that. +Come on." + +Needing no more urging, Jack laid aside his book, turned his light +low, and soon he and Sam were cautiously making their way from Jack's +window, along a trellis and drain pipe to the ground. + +"There!" exclaimed Sam, as he dropped lightly to the earth. "I feel +better already. Some of the restlessness has gone." + +"Keep shady," muttered Jack. "Some of the teachers have rooms near +here." + +They walked along under the shadow of the Hall until they came to a +window from which a brilliant light streamed forth. It came from a +crack between the lowered shade and the casement. It was impossible +to pass it without seeing what was going on inside the apartment. At +the same time they could hear the murmur of voices. + +"Adrian Bagot, and his two cronies up to some trick!" whispered Jack, +as he grasped Sam by the arm. + +The two friends saw the three new students bending over a table, +containing a pot of something, which they seemed to be stirring with +a long stick. + +"What are they up to?" whispered Sam. + +"Experimenting with chemicals, perhaps," said Jack. + +"Don't you believe it," retorted Sam. "They're up to some game, you +can bet. I wonder if we can't get wise to what it is." + +Cautiously they drew nearer to the window. They found it was open a +crack. + +"Will it make much of an explosion?" asked Ed Simpson. + + +"Hardly any," replied Higley. "Only a puff and lots of smoke, but it +will leave its mark all right, and I guess those fresh friends of +Jack Ranger's will laugh on the other corner of their mouths." + +"I'd like to get even with them before the term closes," put in +Adrian. + +"We'll do it all right," went on Ed. + +"Don't be too sure of that," whispered Jack. + +It did not require much effort on the part of Jack and Sam to +understand what the three conspirators were up to. Their +conversation, which floated through the opened window, and their +references to certain localities put the two listeners in possession +of the whole scheme. + +"Well, if that isn't the limit," said Jack in a whisper. "I wouldn't +believe they'd dare to do it." + +"How can we foil their plans?" asked Sam. + +"Hark, some one is coming," said Jack, dropping down on his hands and +knees, an example which Sam followed. Then came a cautious signal, a +whistle. + +"It's John Smith, my Indian friend!" exclaimed Jack. "He must have +just got back," for the half-breed had been away for a few weeks, as +one of his relatives was ill. Jack sounded a cautious whistle in +reply, and soon the Indian student was at his side. There were +hurried greetings, and Jack soon explained the situation. + +"Let me think it over a minute," said John Smith. "It takes me rather +suddenly." + +For a few seconds John remained in deep thought. Then he exclaimed: + +"I think I have it. Have you any chemicals in your room, Jack?" + +"Plenty," was the answer. "I've been boning on that lately, and I got +a fresh supply from the laboratory the other day to experiment with." + +"Then I think we'll make these chaps open their eyes." + +The three friends hurried to Jack's room, where they were busy for +some time, behind carefully drawn shades. At the end of about two +hours, Jack, who had been keeping watch from a window, exclaimed: + +"There they go with the stuff. It's time we got a move on." + +"They'll not set it off until midnight," spoke Sam, "That's what they +said. We'll have time enough to do what we are going to." + +The three friends worked hurriedly. When they had finished they had +several packages. Down the trellis they went and out on the campus, +which was shrouded in darkness. + +They made their way to the foot of a statue of George Washington, +which stood on a broad base in front of the school. There stood the +Father of His Country, with outstretched arms, as if warning invaders +away from the precincts of learning. + +"They've been here!" said Sam in a whisper. + +He pointed to some straggling black lines at the base of the figure, +and to a thin thing like a string: which led over the grass toward +the room of Adrian Bagot. + +"They've put our initials in powder here," said Jack. "Trying to +throw the blame on us when it goes off." + +"We'll soon fix that," replied Sam. The three boys made some rapid +movements around the statue, and then cut the thin thing which led to +the room of young Bagot. + +"I guess when he touches off that fuse he'll wonder what has +happened," observed John Smith. + +"Have you enough of the other fuse?" asked Jack. + +"Plenty," replied the Indian student. "Have you changed the +initials?" + +"Every one," said Sam. + +"Then I think we can go back," said John. "Take care of my fuse. +Don't get tangled up in it." + +The boys made their way quietly to a spot just under the window of +Bagot's room. There they placed what seemed to be a piece of board. + +"Now back to your room, and wait until they start the fun," said +John. + +The three friends had not long to wait. A little after midnight they +heard Bagot's window cautiously open. There was the sound of a match +striking, and then Sam called to Jack: + +"Let her go!" + +A second later a thin trail of fire spurted along + the ground from the sporty student's room. It was followed by a +larger one from the foot of the trellis by which Jack had descended. +A few seconds later it seemed as if a Fourth of July celebration was +in progress. + +Sparks of fire ran along to the statue of the first President. Then +there was a puff of smoke, and in front of the hero of the Revolution +there shot up dancing flames. + +At the same time there sounded several sharp explosions, as though +the British were firing on the Minute Men at Lexington, and the +latter were replying as fast as they could load and discharge their +flintlocks. + +Windows began to go up here and there, and heads were thrust forth. + +"What is it?" "What's the matter?" "Are there burglars?" were some of +the cries. + +Brighter now burned the fire at the foot of the statue, which was +enveloped in a cloud of flame and smoke, and, had the original been +alive he must have delighted in the baptism of gunpowder. + +Then there came a louder explosion. It was followed by a shower of +sparks, and a trail of sparks began running along the ground, toward +the college. + +An instant later there blazed forth on a board as on an illuminated +sign, in front of the room of Adrian Bagot the words in letters of +fire: + +WE DID IT. + +Underneath, in smaller characters were the initials; + +"A.B. E.S. J.H." + +"Wait until Dr. Mead sees that," said Jack, as he looked out on the +campus, which was now a scene of brilliancy. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE BURGLAR SCARE + + +The whole academy was now aroused. Several students and teachers, in +scanty attire, had come from their rooms and were hurrying down to +see if the place was on fire. For several minutes the blazing words +and initials shone out amid the darkness. Then they died away in a +shower of sparks, and windows could be heard being put down. + +"That's excitement enough for one night," remarked John Smith. "It +succeeded better than I thought it would." + +"That was a great idea," said Jack. + +"Glad you think so," the Indian went on. + +"I've seen soldiers at the Canadian forts play all sorts of tricks +with gunpowder and slow fuse so I just adopted some of them. It was +easy enough, after they laid the powder train, with the initials of +you, Sam, and Bony, to change them into a general serpentine twist +with their initials in the midst of it. By ramming some of the powder +down into the holes in the foundation it exploded with quite a +noise." + +"Lucky you had those chemicals in your room, Jack, or I'd never been +able to make that board with the words 'We did it' on and stick it up +in front of Adrian's window. I used part of their own long fuse, and +it was a good one." + +"Seemed to do the work all right," agreed Sam. + +"It sure did," observed Jack. "I wonder what they thought when they +saw the fire coming their way?" + +"Hush! Here comes some one!" exclaimed Sam. and the boys put out +their light, which was burning low. + +"It's Dr. Mead; I know his step," said Jack. + +"I'll bet he's on his way to Bagot's room," spoke Sam. "Cracky! I'm +glad it isn't me." + +"It's only good luck it isn't!" put in Jack. "If we hadn't gone out +they might have exploded their powder, and, in the morning our +initials would have been found at the bottom of the statue, burned in +the stone." + +A little later loud talking was heard from the direction of Adrian's +room. It quieted down, after a while. But there was a strenuous +session at chapel the next morning, and Adrian and his cronies were +given extra lessons to do. + +For a week or more after this all the students had to buckle down to +hard study, as the annual examinations were approaching. Jack and his +chums had little time for sports of any kind, as they had a number of +lessons to master in addition to their regular work. But by diligence +they kept up with the requirements, and, about two weeks before the +time set for the closing of the school, they found themselves on even +terms. + +"I'm ready for some fun," announced Jack, one evening. "I've been +good and quiet so long I can feel my wings sprouting." + +"Better go easy," cautioned John Smith. + +"I'm going to; as easy as I can," replied Jack. "But I've got to do +something or break loose." + +"Shivering side-saddles!" exclaimed Nat Anderson. "Let's have a +burglar scare." + +"How?" asked Sam. + +"I'll think of a plan," Nat went on. "Howling huckleberries, but I +too am pining for a little excitement, Jack." + +"Well, trot out your plan," Jack said. "We haven't got much time." + +"Let me think a minute," begged Nat, and, while he assumed an +attitude as though he was trying to solve a problem in geometry, Fred +drew out a little tin fife and played such a doleful air that Nat +cried: + +"How do you expect me to think with that thing going?" and, with a +quick grab he snatched it from Fred's hand and sent it spinning +across Jack's room. + +"I have it!" Nat exclaimed, when the excitement had somewhat +subsided. "You all know what timid creatures Professors Gale and Hall +are. They room together, and I believe they'd scream if they saw a +mouse. Not that they're a bad sort, for they have both helped me a +lot in my lessons. But men ought not to be such babies. Now what's +the matter with a couple of us disguising ourselves as burglars and +going into their rooms about midnight? The rest of us can hide and +hear the fun." + +"Maybe they'll shoot," suggested Sam. + +"Shoot! They'd be afraid to handle a revolver," was Nat's comment. + +"Well, as long as it won't do any real harm, and as we positively +have to have something happen, let's go on with it," said Jack. +"Who'll be the burglars?" + +"Nat'll have to be one," spoke John Smith, as he proposed it." + +"Ll-l-let me be t-t-the o-o-o-other," said Will Slade haltingly. + +"What? And when you demand their money or their lives how would you +say it?" asked Sam. + +"Nice sort of a burglar you'd make. 'G-g-g-give m-m-m-me y-y-y-your +m-m-mon--'" + +Sam stopped suddenly and dodged back, as Will aimed a blow at him. In +doing so he stumbled over a pile of books and went down in a heap. + +"Serves you right," said Jack. "Just for his making fun of Will I +vote we elect Will as one of the burglars." + +The others agreed, even Sam, and Will regained his good nature. + +"How about masks?" asked Sam. + +"I'll make some," replied Jack, and, from some pieces of black cloth, +he quickly cut two false-faces. + +"I-I-I-I've g-g-got t-t-t have a g-g-g-g--" came from Will. + +"Are you trying to say a pair of gum shoes?" asked John Smith. "I'll +lend you a pair of moccasins." + +"I guess he means gun," volunteered Nat. "But these will do just as +well," and he got a couple of nickel-plated bicycle pumps from a +drawer. "They'll shine in the dim light just like revolvers," he went +on. + +"Guess I'll take a stroll down the corridor and see how the land +lies," said Jack. "We don't want to burglarize a room that has no one +in it, and they may not be in when the second story men get there." + +"That's so, how are we going to get in?" asked Nat. + +"Easy," replied Jack. "Their room is on the ground floor, and you can +just raise the screen up and drop in. They always leave their window +open a bit, as they're fresh air fiends." + +While Jack went to take an observation, the two amateur burglars made +their arrangements. They turned their clothing inside out, and, with +the two pieces of black cloth across their faces, while ragged caps +were drawn down close over their foreheads, they looked the part to +perfection. + +Jack soon returned, to report that the coast was clear, and that both +assistants were in the room. + +"Gales is reading Shakespeare, and Hall is manicuring his nails," the +spy reported. "But it's too early yet. Let's go take a stroll and +about midnight will be the right time. We can hide in the bushes +opposite the room and hear 'em call for help. Then we can rush up and +pretend we came to the rescue. That will be a good excuse in case +we're caught watching the game." + +Both assistants retired early, and the boys knew that twelve o'clock +would find them both sound asleep. After a stroll about the college +grounds, taking care not to venture into the light but keeping well +in the shadows, Jack announced it was the hour for the show to +commence. + +"Better let Nat do the talking," Jack advised Will. "Have you got +anything to disguise your voice, Nat?" + +"I can talk down in my throat." + +"Better put a peanut in your mouth," Jack went on passing over +several. "That will make you sound more like a desperate villain." + +Accordingly, Nat stuffed one of the unshelled nuts into his cheek, +and then, seeing that Will was ready, he led the way from the shadow +of the bushes toward the window of the room where the assistants +slept. It was a dark night, which was favorable to their plans. + +As Jack had said, the only bar to entrance was a light screen in the +casement. Nat raised this, and, listening a few seconds, to make sure +the teachers were asleep, he crawled into the room. + +Will followed him. For a moment after they had entered the boys did +not know what to do. They were unaware of the method of procedure +common among burglars. They were in doubt whether to announce their +presence, or wait until the sleepers discovered it. + +Chance, however, took charge of matters for them. In moving about +Will hit a book that projected over the edge of a table. It fell +down, bounced against a cane standing in one corner, and the stick +toppled against a wash pitcher, making a noise as if a gong had been +rung. + +"Now be ready to throw a scare into 'em!" whispered Nat to Will. +"That's bound to rouse 'em." + +It did. They could hear the sleepers sitting up in bed. Then Mr. Hall +demanded: + +"Who's there?" + +"Don't move as you value your life!" exclaimed Nat, in his deepest +tones. + +"We-we-we!" began Will forgetting the instructions to let Nat do the +talking. His companion, however, silenced him by a vigorous punch in +the stomach. + +"We're after money!" Nat went on. + +There was a sudden click and the room became illuminated. Mr. Hall +had pulled the chain that turned on the automatic gaslight. The two +teachers were sitting up in their beds, staring at the intruders. + +Nat drew his bicycle pump, and Will followed his example. + +"Money or your life!" exclaimed Nat, in dramatic accents. + +"Why--why--I believe they're burglars!" cried Mr. Gales. + +"The impudence of them!" almost shouted Mr. Hall. The next instant he +sprang out of bed and advanced on Nat and Will with long strides. +This was more than the boys had bargained for. + +Seizing Nat, Mr. Hall, who proved much more muscular than his build +indicated, fairly tossed the boy out of the window. Fortunately he +fell on the soft grass and was only shaken up. + +"Get out of here, you scoundrel!" exclaimed the athletic teacher, +making a rush for Will. + +"D-d-don't h-h-h-hurt me!" pleaded the bold burglar. "I-I-I-I we--" + +As Mr. Hall grabbed him the black mask came off and the instructor, +seeing the lad's face cried out: + +"It's Will Slade!" + +He was about to send the burglar flying after his companion, but this +discovery stopped him. At the same instant, the hidden crowd, +thinking it was about time to do the rescue act, had started forward. + +"Keep back!" cried Nat. "It's a fizzle!" and he limped from under the +window as fast as he could. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +NAT'S INVITATION + + +The boys needed no other warning to make themselves scarce. They had +reckoned without their host in planning the trick on the two +teachers. + +"Where's Will?" asked Jack of Nat. + +"I guess they've caught him," the limping "burglar" said. + +"That means trouble," put in Sam. "How did it happen?" + +The conspirators were now some distance away from the Hall, and out +of hearing distance. + +"It happened because they weren't the milksops we thought them," said +Nat; rubbing his elbow. "The way he grabbed me felt as if I was being +hugged by a bear." + +"Then they didn't get frightened?" + +"Not a bit. Came right at me." + +The boys looked back. The brilliantly lighted window of the teacher's +room shone out plainly amid the blackness of the night. As the boys +watched, they saw a figure climb over the sill. + +"There comes Will," spoke Sam. + +"I wonder if they're not going to report us," said Jack. "Say, It +will be the first time a teacher didn't take an opportunity of +getting even." + +As soon as Will found himself on the ground he set off on a run, +toward where he supposed his friends to be in hiding. + +Jack gave the usual signal-whistle of his crowd, and Will, hearing +it, came up quickly. + +"What happened?" + +"Didn't he make a row?" + +"Are they going to report it?" + +"How'd you get away?" + +These were some of the questions to which the throng of boys demanded +answers. + +"I-I-I--c-can't t-t-tell h-h-h--." + +"Here! you quit that!" exclaimed Jack sternly, thinking to frighten +Will out of his stuttering. + +The rebuke had the desired effect, and, for once Will forgot to mix +his words and letters. + +"When he saw it was me," he explained, "he didn't seem to know what +to say. Then he laughed and Gales laughed, and I felt pretty foolish; +I tell you. + +"Gales asked me who was with me, but Hall cut in and said he didn't +want me to tell. I wouldn't anyhow, only it was white of him not to +insist." + +"It sure was," murmured Jack. "Oh, I can see trouble coming our way." + +"Well," went on Will. "He looked at me a little longer, and I heard +Gales mutter something about 'boys will be boys,' then Hall made a +sign to him, and Gales went back to bed." + +"What did you do?" asked Jack. + +"Why, Hall motioned to me to climb out of the windows and I did, +mighty quick, you can bet" + +"Wait until chapel to-morrow morning," said Nat. "Maybe we won't get +it! Never mind, the end of the term is almost here, and they can't do +any more than suspend us. Though I hate to have the folks hear of +it." + +There were several anxious hearts beating under boyish coats when the +opening exercises were held the next morning. The burglar schemers +watched the two assistants file in and take their usual places on the +raised platform. + +"How do they look?" whispered Nat to Jack. + +"Don't seem to have an awful lot of fire in their eyes," was the +answer. + +"Wait until Dr. Mead begins," whispered Sam, a sort of Job's +comforter. + +But to the boys' astonishment, there was no reference to the night's +prank. The exercises went off as usual, though every time Dr. Mead +cleared his throat, or began to speak on a new subject, there was a +nervous thrill on the part of the conspirators. + +"I have one more announcement to make, and that will end the +exercises for the day," the head of the Academy said. + +"Here it comes," whispered Jack. + +"Will Slade and Nat Anderson are requested to meet Professors Hall +and Gales after chapel," was what the doctor said. + +There was a little buzz of excitement among the students, for the +story of the escapade had become generally known. + +"Glad I'm not in their shoes, but I suppose we'll all come in for +it," said Sam, as he and the others filed out of the assembly room. +Will and Nat remained, their spirits anything but pleasant. + +Their companions stayed out on the campus, waiting for them, instead +of dispersing to their rooms to prepare for the first lesson period. +As the minutes dragged away there was a general feeling of +apprehension. + +"Don't s'pose they'll get a flogging do you?" asked Sam. + +"Against the rules of the institution," replied Jack. + +"Here they come," announced Fred Kaler. "I don't know whether I ought +to play a funeral march or 'Palms of Victory.'" + +"Probably the former," put in John Smith. + +"Well?" asked Jack, as the two "burglars" came within hailing +distance, "what did they do to you?" + +"It's all right!" exclaimed Nat. "Say, they're bricks all right, +Gales and Hall are! They took us to Dr. Mead's little private office, +and we thought sure we were in for it. I didn't know how they +recognized me until Gales gave me my handkerchief, which I had +dropped in the room. It had my name on it." + +"Skip those details!" interrupted Sam. "Get down to business. Did +they fire you?" + +"Not a bit of it," replied Nat. "They asked me if I was hurt in the-- +er--the--jump I took from the window. I said I wasn't. They then made +some remarks about the night air being bad toward the end of the +term, and they told us to go to our classes. Not a word about it. I +call that white, I do." + +"Right you are!" came in chorus from the others. + +"We ought to send 'em a vote of thanks," suggested Sam. + +"No, I think I'd let it rest where it is," came from Jack. "They want +to show that they could have made trouble if they wanted to. We'd +better let it drop. I wonder if Dr. Mead knows it?" + +"I don't believe they told him," was Nat's opinion. "You see there +wasn't much of a row, and it was all over in a little while. But it +certainly is one on us." + +To this they all agreed. Yet one good thing came of it, for the boys +had a better understanding of the characters of the two instructors. +They felt an increased respect for them morally as well as +physically, and there came a better spirit between Jack's crowd and +the two professors. The latter never even referred to the burglar +incident, and, whenever any of the other students spoke in rather +slighting terms of either of the instructors, Jack and his friends +were ready defenders. + +On account of preparations for examinations there was only a half +day's session, the boys being given the afternoon off. After dinner +Jack accepted an invitation from John Smith to go out in the Indian +student's canoe on the lake. + +They paddled about for several hours, and were on their way back to +the boathouse, when a rowing craft, in which two youths were seated, +came swiftly toward them. + +"Look out!" called Jack. "Do you want to run us down?" + +Whether the rowers intended that or not was not evident, but they +certainly came within a few inches of smashing the frail canoe. Only +John's skill prevented it. As the rowboat swept past one of the oars +fairly snatched the paddle from Jack's hand. + +"What's the matter with you?" he demanded angrily. + +The only answer was a mocking laugh, and, as the boat was now far +enough past to show the faces of the rowers, Jack looked to see who +they were. + +"Jerry Chowden!" he exclaimed. "I thought + he was in Chicago," and he recalled the threatening letter. + +"Guess he's here to see the closing exercises," remarked John. "Who's +that with him?" + +"Adrian Bagot" replied Jack. "Well, they're a nice team. I shouldn't +wonder but there'd be some trouble for some one if they stay long." + +"Not many more days left," John observed. "Grab your paddle," and he +swung the canoe around to where the broad blade floated. + +In his room that evening Jack's meditations as to what Chowden's +return might mean were interrupted by the entrance of Nat Anderson. +He seemed quite excited and was waving a letter over his head. + +"Great news," he exclaimed. + +"What is?" asked Jack. "Some one left you a thousand dollars?" + +"No, it's an invitation from my uncle, Morris Kent, who has a big +ranch near Denville, Colorado, to come out and spend the summer +vacation with him." + +"Fine!" cried Jack. + +"But that isn't the best part," added Nat. "He says I can bring two +chums with me, and I want you to be one." + +"Do you mean it?" asked Jack. + +"Sure." + +"Who else will you take?" + +There was a noise in the corridor. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A MEETING WITH CHOWDEN + + +"Studying or talking?" asked a voice in the hall outside of Jack's +room, and the door was pushed open to admit John Smith. Jack and Nat +looked at each other. The same thought seemed to come to both of +them. + +"Him!" they exclaimed together. + +"What's this, a game, or a joke?" + +"A little of both," Jack said. "Tell him about it, Nat." + +Nat explained the receipt of his uncle's invitation. + +"We were just wondering who would make the third member of the party, +when you came in," he said, "and we both decided on you." + +"It was very kind of you to invite me," John said. "I guess I can +arrange to go. Where is this ranch?" + +"Near Denville, Colorado," replied Nat. + +John started and looked at Jack. + +"Nothing the matter with that place, is there?" asked Jack. + +"No. On the contrary it couldn't be better," replied John. "That's +where we want to go to settle the mystery--" + +He stopped, evidently on account of Nat's presence. + +"Oh, Nat knows all about it," said Jack. "I see what you're driving +at." + +"Yes," went on John. "Denville is not many miles from Denver, and at +the latter place, you remember, we can go to the Capital Bank, and +get the address of Orion Tevis." + +"Yes, and then maybe we can locate my father," Jack exclaimed. "Say, +Nat, this couldn't have happened better. It's fine of you to think of +me." + +"The same here," put in John. + +"Well, I don't know of any fellows I'd rather have than you two," +replied Nat. + +"Thanks," his two friends answered. + +"I'm going to write a reply at once," Nat went on. "I'll go to town +and mail it to-night. I guess Dr. Mead will let me." + +"Let's all three go," suggested Jack. "I'll ask permission. We've not +been caught in any scrapes lately, and our records are fairly good. +It's early." + +Dr. Mead readily gave permission for the three chums to go to the +village where the post-office was. + +"But you must be in by eleven o'clock," he stipulated. "I shall +instruct Martin to watch out for you, and if you are not in at that +hour it will mean demerits all around. I would not let you go, only +you have had very good records of late." On their way to the village +the three chums talked of nothing but the proposed trip. To Nat it +was enough excitement to think of merely going west. But to Jack, who +wanted to solve the mystery of his father it meant much more. He +hoped since the eleven years of voluntary exile were almost up, to +induce his father to come east and make his home. + +"That is, if I can find him," thought Jack. "I hope I can. First I'll +have to locate Orion Tevis, to see what he knows." + +"I'll be glad to get out on a range once more," said John Smith. +"I've got enough Indian blood in me to feel cooped up in a house. It +will be sport out there, riding ponies and seeing the cattle." + +The boys reached the post-office about nine o'clock and Nat mailed +his letter. + +"It's early to go back," said Jack. "Isn't there something that we +can do?" + +"There's a moving picture show in town," said John. "Let's go to it +for awhile." + +This was voted a good idea. The boys enjoyed the scenes thrown on the +screene, and were particularly taken with a depiction of a cowboy +roping a steer. + +"That's what we'll soon see in reality," whispered Nat. + +They started through the village, and, as they turned down a quiet +street that led toward Washington Hall, Jack saw a dark figure +sneaking along on the opposite side, in the shadow of some buildings. + +"Looks as if some one was following us," said Jack to himself. + +As our hero pulled out his handkerchief there flew out with it a +letter. The sight of it reminded him that he had promised Professor +Hall to mail it that evening. It had slipped his mind, even though he +had been in the post-office. + +"I'd better run right back with it," said Jack. "Mighty stupid of me. +Well, there's no help for it, and I don't want to disappoint Hall. +He's a good friend of ours." + +He picked the letter up, and held it in his hand to insure that it +would not be forgotten again. + +"I say!" called Jack to his companions, who were now some distance +ahead of him. "I've got to run back and mail a letter. Go on and I'll +catch up to you." + +"All right," said John. "We'll walk slow." + +Intent on rectifying his forgetfulness, Jack turned back on the run. +He did not see three figures sneaking into the shadow of a dark +doorway just as he turned. + +"We'll have him just where we want him," whispered one of the youths +who had been following the students. + +"You're not going to be three to one, are you?" asked one of the +trio. + +"No, I guess Jerry Chowden is a match for Jack Ranger any day," was +the answer. "You two can look on, and see me wallop him." + +Jack made good time back to the post-office, and came hurrying along +the street, whistling a lively tune. In the meantime the three +plotters had walked ahead, taking care not to get too near Nat and +John. The latter, however, had walked faster than they intended, so +that they were a good quarter of a mile ahead of Jack. + +As the latter came opposite the last building that stood on the edge +of where there were a number of vacant lots, he was surprised to hear +a hail. + +"Hold on there!" someone cried. + +"Who are you?" asked Jack, looking around. Then, as three figures +emerged from the shadows and blocked his path, he exclaimed: + +"Oh, it's you, is it, Jerry Chowden? Well, what do you want?" + +"I want to get square with you," replied the bully, in an angry tone. + +"And you bring two of your toadies along to help you, I suppose," +said Jack, unable to keep a sneer from his voice. + +"Look here!" exclaimed one of Jerry's companions. "I don't know who +you are, except by name, but I'm not going to have you insult me. +Jerry is a friend of mine--" + +"Sorry for you," interrupted Jack cooly. + +"None of your lip!" exclaimed the other strange youth. + +"Jerry says he has a bone to pick with you," the one who had first +addressed Jack went on. "He told us he was going to have it out with +you, and invited us along. We're not going to take any part, you can +rest assured of that, and there'll be fair play. But if you're +afraid, why that's another matter." + +"Who said I was afraid?" demanded Jack hotly. + +"You seem to act so." + +"I don't know that I ever did you any harm, Jerry Chowden," Jack +said, more quietly, "but if you feel so why I can't help it." + +"I do, and I'm going to get even," spoke Jerry, advancing closer to +Jack. + +"Stand aside," demanded Jack, as the bully almost brushed against +him. + +"Not until you've given me satisfaction." + +"What do you mean?" + +"You know well enough what I mean." + +"Do you want to fight?" asked Jack calmly. + +"Certainly I do!" exclaimed the bully, aiming a blow at the lad in +front of him. Jack stepped quickly back, Jerry nearly lost his +balance and just saved himself from falling. + +"You're a coward!" cried Jerry angrily. + +"I am, eh?" cried Jack. "Well, if I must fight I'm going to do it for +all I'm worth!" + +The next instant he had his coat off, and was ready to defend +himself. Jerry, nothing loath, closed in, and there in the darkness, +illuminated only by the stars, the fight began. + +Jerry was well built and strong, but he had little science. On the +contrary, though Jack was not as muscular nor as heavy as his +antagonist, he more than made up for it in his quickness and his +ability to hit hard. Jerry came up with a rush, and aimed a vicious +blow at Jack's face. Jack cleverly dodged it, and countered, landing +on Jerry's chin with a force that made the bully see stars. + +"I'll pay you for that!" he cried. + +He would have done better to have kept quiet, since he took his +attention from Jack's fists, which, in the darkness, were hard enough +to see at best. A second later Jerry found his nose stopping a solid +blow, straight from the shoulder. + +"Ow!" yelled Jerry, in spite of himself. + +Then he clenched with Jack, and the two went at it rough-and-tumble. +Jack got in a number of good blows, and Jerry tried his best to get +away and deliver some in return. He did manage to punch Jack on the +body, causing that worthy's breath to come in gasps. + +Back and forth went the fighters, the two spectators dancing about to +see all they could of it, They kept their word not to interfere, and +it was a fair struggle between Jack and Jerry. + +Though Jack did his best he could not avoid getting some severe +blows, and one, on his eye, he felt had done considerable damage. But +he more than paid Jerry back for it, and, in a little while the bully +was fairly howling for mercy. + +"Help!" he cried. "He's not fighting fair." + +"Don't be a baby!" Jerry's friends called to him, somewhat disgusted +with his actions. "Give it to him!" + +Jerry made one more effort to deal Jack a blow that would win the +victory, but in his eagerness he lowered his guard. Our hero shot out +a swift left, and it landed full on Jerry's chin. He staggered for a +second, and then went down in a heap. + +He was up again in a couple of seconds, not much the worse, but all +the fight was gone out of him. He held his head in his hands for a +while, and then fairly ran up the dark street, while his two friends, +surprised at the sudden outcome of the fight, followed more slowly. + +"I'll get even with you yet!" Jerry called back. + +"Well, if you do I still will have the satisfaction of knowing that I +trounced you good and proper," Jack said, as he held a cold stone to +his bruised eye. + +Just then, from across the lots there came a hail: + +"Hey, Jack! Where are you?" + +"Coming," was Jack's reply. + +He heard some one running toward him as he began to pick up his coat, +and put on his hat. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A GRAND WIND UP + + +"What's the matter?" demanded John Smith, as he and Nat joined their +comrade. + +"Did you get lost?" asked Nat. + +"No, only sort of delayed," answered Jack. + +"What makes you talk so funny?" inquired John. + +"I expect it's because my lips are swollen," was the reply. + +"Did some one hold you up and try to rob you?" cried Nat, in alarm. + +"Well, it was a hold-up, but no robbery," said Jack, and then he +related what had happened. + +"Why didn't you yell for help?" asked John. "We'd have come back." + +"I didn't need any," replied Jack. "It was a fair fight enough. I +guess he'll not forget that one on the chin in a hurry," and he +laughed in spite of his swollen lips and blackened eye. + +"Much damaged?" asked Nat. + +"I'm afraid I've got a shiner," Jack replied. "They're sure to notice +it at the Hall, and what will I say?" + +"Steal their thunder," advised John. "Let's hurry back, and report at +once to the doctor." + +"Good idea," spoke Jack. + +They made good time back to the academy, and arrived a little before +eleven. + +"Dr. Mead says I'm to mark down just the time you come in," said +Martin, the monitor. + +"That's right," agreed Jack. "Is the doctor in his study?" + +"I believe he is." + +"We want to see him," went on Jack. + +"Been fighting." said Martin to himself. "My, my! What boys they are! +Always into something!" + +"Come in!" called the head of the Academy in answer to Jack's knock +on his door, and the three lads entered. + +"Ah, Ranger! And Smith and Anderson. Well, what can I do--Ha! +Fighting, eh!" and the tone that had been a genial one became stern. + +"Yes, sir," admitted Jack boldly. "I came to tell you all about it, +before you heard a garbled report from some one else." + +Then he related exactly what had happened, Nat and John confirming +what he said. The boys' stories were so evidently true that Dr. Mead +could but believe them. + +"That's enough," he said when Jack had finished. "I believe you. +Don't let it--well, there, I don't suppose it was your fault. +Fighting is a bad business--but then--well boys, now get to bed. You +have plenty of hard work before you go in the next week with all the +examinations. Good night!" + +"Good night!" echoed the lads. + +"That was the best way out," agreed Jack, when they were in the +corridor. "Now I've got to get some vinegar and brown paper for this +optic or I'll look a sight to-morrow." + +Examinations held sway for nearly a week thereafter. But "it's a long +lane that has no turning" and, at last there came a time when the +boys could say: + +"To-morrow's the last day of school." + +The term was at an end, and the whole academy was in a ferment over +it. The students were busy packing their belongings, the graduates +had already departed, and there was almost as much excitement as at +the annual football or baseball games with a rival institution. + +The night before the day of the closing exercises, Jack's room was a +gathering place for all his chums. Fred Kaler was so excited he tried +to played a mouth organ, a jews'-harp and a tin flute, all at the +same time, with results anything but musical, while Will Slade +stuttered as he never had before. + +"What will we do for a final wind-up?" asked Sam. + +"Let it be something worthy of the name of Washington Hall," +exclaimed Jack. + +"We ought to work Professors Garlach and Socrat into it somehow," +suggested Bony. "They're more fun than a bunch of monkeys." + +"Get 'em to fight another duel," put in Sam. + +"They'd suspect something leading up to that," spoke John Smith. + +"Let's see if we can't make one outdo the other in politeness." +suggested Jack. "I have a sort of scheme." + +"Trot it out!" demanded Sam. + +"I'll get Garlach to write Socrat a note," said Jack. + +"Where's the fun in that?" asked Bony. + +"Then I'll have Socrat send a little missive to Garlach." + +"What's the answer?" demanded Nat. + +"Garlach will write in French and Socrat will pen a few lines in +German, and I'll tell 'em what to write," Jack went on. "Do you see +my drift, as the snow bank said to the wind?" + +"Good!" exclaimed Sam. "Go ahead." + +The boys soon got together over the plan, and Jack was given plenty +of suggestions to perfect it. He made up a number of sample notes, +and then, being satisfied, he announced: + +"Now I'm going to start in. Just hang around, you fellows, and see +what happens." + +It was about nine o'clock, but as it was the night before the last +day of school, hardly any of the teachers or the pupils had thought +of going to bed. + +Jack went to Professor Garlach's room. He found the instructor busy +packing up his books preparatory to the vacation. + +"Ach! It iss young Ranger!" exclaimed the German instructor. +"Velcome. Come in. It is goot to see you." + +"Thanks, Professor," said Jack. "I suppose you are all ready for the +long rest?" + +"Sure I am, Ranger." + +"Well, we all are. I saw Professor Socrat packing up as I came past." + +At the mention of the French teacher's name Professor Garlach seemed +to bristle up. There was always more or less ill feeling between them +on account of their nationalities, but of late it was especially +acute. + +"Ach! Speak not of him!" growled Garlach. + +"I think he wants to make friends with you," went on Jack, trying not +to smile. "In fact he said as much to me. He said he would like to +write you a farewell note and apologize for anything that might have +given you offense." + +The German's manner changed. Jack was speaking the truth, though he +had been instrumental in bringing the matter about. He had previously +paid a visit to Socrat, and, broaching the subject of the cold +feeling between the two teachers had suggested that it would be a +fine thing if Mr. Socrat would say he was sorry for it, and would do +all in his power to heal the breach. + +It was no easy task to bring this about, but Jack had a winning way +with him, and really made the Frenchman believe it was more a favor +on his part to apologize than it was of Mr. Garlach to accept it. In +the end Professor Socrat had agreed to write a little note to his +former enemy. + +"Only I know not ze Germaine language," he said. + +"That's all right, I'll do it for you," said Jack. "I can fix it up." + +"Then write ze note and I sign heem," said the Frenchman. + +"So he vill my pardon ask, iss it?" inquired Mr. Garlach when Jack +had explained to him. + +"I believe that's his intention. Why can't you two meet out in the +chapel and fix things up. Exchange letters so to speak. He's going to +write to you in German, and you can write to him in French." + +"I know not de silly tongue!" grunted Mr. Garlach. + +"I'll write it for you," Jack said, turning aside his head to conceal +a grin. "I'm pretty good at French." + +"Den you may do so," said Mr. Garlach. "I haf no objections to +accepting his apologies, and being friends mit him." + +"Then here's the note," said Jack, handing over one he had prepared. +"Sign it and be in the chapel in ten minutes. Mr. Socrat will be +there, and we'll have a sort of farewell service." + +"Fine!" exclaimed the German. "Und we vill sing 'Der Wacht am +Rhein!'" + +"And maybe the 'Marseilles,' too," added Jack softly as he went to +deliver a note written in German to Mr. Socrat. The missives had cost +him and the other boys no little thought. + +"Now, you fellows want to lay low if you expect to see the fun," +cautioned Jack to his chums, when he returned and told of his +success. "Garlach and Socrat will be here in about ten minutes. There +must be only a few of us around. Bony, I'll depend on you to act when +I give the signal." + +"I'll be there," promised Bony. + +A little later all but a few of the boys had concealed themselves +behind benches in the chapel. Jack was out of sight but could see +what was going on, A few students stood conversing in one corner. + +Mr. Socrat was the first to enter. He came in, holding a note in his +hand. + +"It is now zat I prove ze politeness of ze French," he murmured. + +A moment later Mr. Garlach entered from the other side. + +"Goot effning, Herr Socrates," he said, with a stiff bow. + +"Bon jour!" exclaimed Mr. Socrat. "Only, if it pleases you my dear +Professor Garlick, my name ees wizout ze final syllable." + +"Und mine it iss Garla-a-ach, und not like de leek vat you eat!" +exclaimed the German. + +"They're off!" said Jack in a whisper to Sam. + +"Your pardon!" came from Mr. Socrat. "I am in error. But I have here +a note in which I wish to greet you wiz the happiness of parting. It +iss in your own language!" + +"Ach! So! I too have a missive for you," went on Mr. Garlach, +somewhat modified. "It iss in your tongue as I belief, but I am not +so goot in it as perhaps you are." + +"It is charming of you," spoke Mr. Socrat, bowing low. The two +professors exchanged notes, and then stepped over to a flaring +gaslight where they could read them. + +"Now watch out!" exclaimed Jack. + +"Ha!" cried the German. "Vas ist dis?" + +"Pah!" cried Mr. Socrat. "Diable! I am insult!" + +"Dot Frenchman iss von pig-hog!" came from Mr. Garlach. + +"See! So I will treat ze writair!" exclaimed Mr. Socrat, tearing the +note to shreds and stamping on the pieces. + +"I vill crush the frog-eater as I do dis letter!" muttered Mr. +Garlach, as he twisted the slip of paper into a shapeless mass and +tossed it into the air. + +"Scoundrel!" hissed Mr. Socrat + +"Vile dog vat you iss!" came from Mr. Garlach. + +Then, unable to restrain their feelings any longer they rushed at +each other. + +"Ready!" called Jack, and the next instant the lights went out, +leaving the chapel in darkness. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +HO! FOR THE WEST! + + +For a few seconds there was the sound of a confused stumbling about. +Blows were struck, but they seemed to land on desks and tables. +Mingled with them were the murmurs of strong French and German words, +and the heavy breathing of the two teachers. + +Then, as the door at the farther end of the room opened, allowing +light from the hall to come in, a voice asked: + +"What's the matter?' + +"Matter enough! I am terrible insult!" exclaimed Mr. Socrat from +behind a table where he was crouching. + +"I must be apologized by alretty!" muttered Mr. Garlach, in deep +tones. + +"What is this all about?" demanded Dr. Mead, who had made the first +inquiry. "What does it mean?" + +"Ach! I vill tell you!" spoke the German teacher. + +"I will leave at once razzer zan stay where he iss!" came from the +Frenchman. + +"Come to my office," said Dr, Mead. "I am afraid it's another of the +boys' pranks." + +The two Instructors, muttering against each other, followed the head +of the academy down the corridor. + +"Now's our chance to sneak!" exclaimed Jack. "Say, it was the best +ever!" + +"What was in the notes that made them so mad?" asked Sam. + +"Why, the one Garlach got stated that the Germans were a race of +thieves and robbers and would never be anything better. Professor +Garlach, on the other hand, seemed to have written to his French +friend that the latter nation was nothing but a lot of long-legged +frog-eaters, who were more ladies than they were men!" + +"No wonder they went up into the air!" exclaimed Bony Balmore. "It +was like a match to gunpowder." + +"Lucky we could turn the lights out," commented Nat Anderson, "or +they'd be fighting yet." + +"Maybe they will have a duel," suggested + John Smith. + +But in some way Dr. Mead managed to patch matters up. Nor was any +punishment visited on the boys. The doctor evidently made allowances +for the closing of school, and the consequent slacking of discipline +that was bound to occur. The next day, though the French and German +professors glared more darkly than usual at each other, there was no +reference to the notes. + +The closing exercises were soon over and then, after a few formal +words of farewell for the term from Dr. Mead, Washington Hall was +declared closed until the fall. + +"Whoop!" yelled Jack, as he came with a rush from chapel where the +final program had been rendered. "Hold me down, someone!" + +"I will!" exclaimed Nat, jumping on his chum's back, and bearing him +to the earth. + +"I'll help!" cried several, and soon half a dozen had piled upon +Jack, in the middle of the campus. + +"Down!" he cried, half smothered. "That's enough!" + +"Fall in line for a grand march!" shouted Fred Kaler, as he tooted on +a tin fife. "L-l-M-let m-m-m-me--l-l-l--Pzzant!" spluttered Will. +"Let me lead!" + +"Too late!" cried Sam, as he ran out and got at the head of the +impromptu procession. + +"Came on and get Socrat and Garlach in line!" called Jack. "We'll +make 'em march side by side and forget all their troubles." + +The idea was received with shouts of laughter. + Off the lads started on a run for the rooms of the two professors. + +"Come on!" cried Jack to Mr. Garlach. + +"Ach! Vat iss it now?" inquired the instructor, vainly struggling +against the hold Jack had of him. "You boys vill drive me to +distraction!" + +"Got to take part in the grand march!" went on Jack. + +Before Mr. Garlach knew what was happening, he found himself being +hustled out of his chambers and fairly carried along in a rush of the +students. + +Sam Chalmers had in the meanwhile gone to Professor Socrat's study. + +"Come on!" he cried. "Take part in the grand salute to the French +flag." + +"La belle France!" cried the teacher. "Vive l' Republic!" + +"That's the cheese!" fairly shouted Sam. "Hurry up!" + +And, before Professor Socrat could catch his breath he found himself +being hurried along the corridor and out on the campus. + +"Hurrah for France!" cried a score of voices. + +"My compliments!" exclaimed Mr. Socrat, bowing low to the assemblage +of students. + +"Long may the German flag wave!" came another cry. + +"Ach! Dot is goot to mine heart!" said Mr. Garlach. + +"Zat is an insult to me!" spluttered the Frenchman, as Sam hurried +him on. + +"Don't mind 'em. They don't know what they're saying," was Sam's +comment. + +"Vy do they shout for dot frog-eating nation?" inquired Mr. Garlach +of Jack. + +"Mistake I guess," was the reply. "The boys are not very good on +language yet." + +Then, before either of the instructors could protest, they found +themselves side by side, being carried along in a press of students +who marched around the academy, singing at the top of their voices, +and each one rendering a different air. + +"Whoop! Isn't this great!" shouted Jack in Nat's ear. + +"The best ever!" was the answer. "It only happens once in a +lifetime!" + +But all things must have an end, and at last the grand march came to +a close. The students fairly outdid themselves, and had to halt every +now and then to rest from the combined exertion of laughing and +leaping as they paraded. + +"Three cheers for Washington Hall!" called Jack. + +The volume of sound was deafening. + +"Now three for Professor Garlach!" + +How the boys did yell. The professor looked as pleased as a lad with +his first pair of trousers, and bowed low to Mr. Socrat whom he had +detected in the act of cheering for him, + +"Three cheers for Professor Socrat!" yelled Jack. + +Mr. Garlach joined in the cries for his late enemy, and then the two +teachers shook hands, while the boys cheered again. + +"Now good loud ones for Dr. Mead and all the rest of the teachers!" +called Jack, and by this time the cheering habit was so implanted +that the lads cheered everything they could think of from vacation to +Socker the janitor. + +Now the crowd began to break up. Several students found they must +catch trains, and there were general leave takings. Good-byes were +being said on every side, and there were many promises to write +letters and keep up new friendships or cement old ones. + +Jack found so many wanting to bid him farewell for the term that he +was kept busy shaking hands, and the number of boys he promised to +let hear from him during vacation would have kept two private +secretaries busy. + +Finally, however, matters began to quiet down. Most of the students +had left the campus to pack up their belongings while a number had +already departed for home. Jack, Nat Anderson and John Smith found +themselves alone at least for a few minutes. + +"Well, this is like old times," said Jack. + +"Wow!" exclaimed John in true Indian tone. "Heap big time!" + +"Reminds me of a circus broken loose," commented Nat. "But say, Jack, +our train goes in an hour. Are we going to take it or stay over--" + +"Not on your life!" exclaimed Jack. "Washington Hall will be as +lonesome as a desert island in about an hour and I'm off." + +"I think I'll go also," said John. + +"Now, about our western trip," put in Nat. "Where will we connect +with you. John?" + +"Well," replied the Indian student. "I am going up to Canada to pay a +short visit to some friends of my father's, who were very kind to him +before he died. I think I will be with you in a week, and I can come +on to Denton." + +"That will do first-rate," said Nat. "Jack and I will be on the +lookout for you. We'll be ready to start in a week, I guess." + +"The sooner the better for me," put in Jack. + +"That's so, I forgot you are anxious to solve the mystery of your +father's disappearance," Nat said. "Well, perhaps we can hurry a +bit." + +"No, I guess that time will be about right," Jack went on. "I'll have +to spend some time with my aunts, and I want to have a talk with +Judge Bennett and get some further details. I guess we'll let it +stand at a week." + +"Well, good-bye until then," said John, shaking hands with his two +friends, and he was soon on his way to the Rudmore station. The +others followed a little later. Several hours' riding found Jack and +Nat at Denton. + +"I wonder if they'll have the brass band out to meet us," suggested +Jack. + +"Perpetual porous plasters! They would if they only knew what a +reputation we have achieved!" exclaimed Nat, as the train rolled in. +"Hello, there's some of your folks!" + +"That's so! My three aunts!" cried Jack, as he saw from the window +the three maiden ladies with whom he had lived so long. Aunt Mary +caught a glimpse of him, and waved her handkerchief, an example that +was followed by the other two. The next instant Jack was being hugged +and kissed as though he had been away ten years instead of a few +months. + +"We were so afraid the train would be late, or that you wouldn't come +until the night one," said Aunt Josephine. + +"Couldn't think of staying away from you any longer," Jack replied, +his eyes a trifle moist as he realized the love his aunts bore toward +him, and he hugged and kissed them in turn. + +"So long!" called Nat, as he walked up the station platform. "I'll +see you later. Got to pack for our trip." + +The next few days were busy ones for Jack. In the first place he had +to tell his aunts all about his school experience, that is such parts +of it as he thought they might care to hear and this took time. Then +he had to see Judge Bennett, and the family lawyer explained further +details about Jack's father. Jack also asked the judge for the +curious ring, as he thought he might have to use it on his western +trip. + +"You must take good care of it, Jack," the lawyer said. "No telling +what may hinge on it." + +"If anyone gets it away from me he'll have the hardest proposition he +ever tackled," Jack said earnestly. + +In fact our hero was kept so busy, between this, arranging for his +trip, and renewing his acquaintances with the town boys, that he was +all unprepared when, one day, John Smith rang the door bell. + +"Well, where in the world did you come from?" asked Jack. + +"Straight from Canada. Didn't you get my letter?" + +"By Jove! So I did, but I clean forgot to-day was Friday. Come right +in." + +Jack's aunts graciously received John, whom they welcomed for the +part his father had played in the life of Mr. Ranger. It was decided +that the Indian student should stay at Jack's house until Monday, +when the start for the west was to be made. + +Jack's aunts had, after an effort, given their consent to his making +the western trip. More particularly as they felt it might lead to the +discovering of his father. Once they got to this point it was clear +sailing and they helped Jack to pack up. + +There were final instructions from Judge Bennett to Jack. There were +good-byes, said over a dozen times, from the aunts. There were +farewell calls from a host of boys who envied Jack, Nat and John the +experience they were about to have. + +At last, though it seemed it moved on leaden feet, Monday came, and, +at least an hour before train time, the three boys started for the +depot. They had valises with them, but their trunks had been sent on +ahead. + +"Bounding buffaloes and copper-colored cowboys!" exclaimed Nat, as +the whistle of the train sounded. "Here she comes!" + +"Well, I'm glad of it," observed Jack. "I was getting tired waiting +for it." + +"It will seem good to get out on a range again," spoke John. "I'm +counting on it." + +"Westward ho!" cried Jack, as he jumped aboard the train, and waved +his hand in farewell to his aunts, while the other two boys shook +their hats in the air in salute to several lads who had come to see +them off. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE + + +The boys, under the advice of Judge Bennett, had planned to go to +Chicago. From there they would take a train on another road, which +made connections with the line that would land them in Denver. From +Denver they had to change to still another railway to get to +Fillmore, the nearest station to Denville. Nat's uncle had promised +to meet them there a week from the day they started, since he wanted +to allow them plenty of time to get to Colorado, and there were +sometimes delays in connecting with trains. + +From Fillmore the lads were to be driven about twenty miles to where +Mr. Kent's ranch was located. He had written to Nat that in case he +was not in Fillmore when the boys arrived they were to put up at a +hotel and wait for him. Also, in case they missed connections and +were late in getting there, he would wait for them. + +"We want to try and find where Orion Tevis is located," said Jack, +"and to do this we will have to go to the Capital Bank in Denver. +That may take a little time, as we may have to prove our identity." + +"Ought to be easy to do that with the rings you and John have," +answered Nat, the Indian student having secured his gold circlet from +Dr. Mead, who had been keeping it for him. + +"It may be and it may not," John said. + +"There are a lot of things mixed up in this affair, and no one can +see how it will turn out. But I don't expect any trouble in getting +Mr. Tevis's address. The hard part will be to find him." + +"I'll find him if it's possible," Jack put in. "I want to end my +father's wanderings and bring him back with me." + +"And I'll help all I can, and I know my uncle will, too," said Nat, +with ready sympathy. + +The boys had arranged themselves comfortably in the train, which, by +this time, had speeded several miles from Denton. The car was not +well filled as it was early and no large cities had been reached. As +station after station was passed, however, passengers began to take +the seats until the cars were comfortably filled. + +The boys had taken passage in a through sleeper to Chicago, and got +their meals in the dining car ahead. They had supper in Scranton, +where the train waited about half an hour to connect with another. As +the boys came back to their seats in the sleeper, which had not yet +been made up, they saw several new passengers. + +One was a tall, rather rough looking man, who seemed to have suddenly +acquired wealth. His clothes were good but did not fit him well, and +he seemed ill at ease in them. There was a big diamond in his shirt +front, and he had a heavy gold chain across his vest. + +"Guess I'm entitled to the best that's goin'," he said in a loud tone +as he sat in one seat and put his big feet up in the one opposite. +"I've paid for this whole section an' I'm going to use it. I ain't +worked hard all my life for nothing. Just sold my share in a coal +mine," he said to the boys, whose seats were near his. "Now I'm going +to enjoy myself. Going to the 'Windy City'! that's what I am. Got +friends in Chicago that'll be glad to see me an' my pile," and he +pulled out a big role of bills. "My name's Josh Post, an I'm set in +my ways," he added. + +The boys did not make any answer, but, at the sound of the big man's +voice a passenger in the seat ahead of him turned and looked to see +who was speaking. As he did so the former mine owner happened to be +displaying his money, and the eyes of the other passenger gleamed in +a dangerous sort of way. + +As he turned around to get a glimpse of the miner, Jack got a look at +the face of the passenger who had shown such curiosity. The boy +started. "Where have I seen him before?" he thought to himself. "I +can't seem to place him." Then he leaned over and whispered to Nat. +"Make an excuse to go to the end of the car, and on your way back +take a look at the man in the first seat." + +"All right," said Nat, who did not ask the reason. A little later he +sauntered to the water cooler. He could hardly repress a start as he +passed the man Jack had mentioned. + +"Know him?" asked Jack, when his chum had regained his seat. + +"Sure, in spite of his disguise, his new way of wearing his hair, and +the fact that he has shaved off his moustache." + +"Marinello Booghoobally?" asked Jack, in low tones. + +"Otherwise known as Hemp Smith," whispered Jack. "I wonder what he's +up to now." + +"I shouldn't be surprised if he would like to annex the roll of one +Mr. Josh Post," observed Nat. "We'd better keep our eyes pealed. Put +John next to the game." + +Thereupon the Indian student was told the story of the man who had +posed as an Oriental mystic and a professor of whatever he thought he +could delude people into believing, as it suited his fancy, and +netted him cash. + +"We certainly got the best of him in the haunted house affair," said +Jack. "Guess the professor won't tackle another job like that in +hurry," and he silently laughed as he thought of the trick (told of +in the first volume) the students played on the fakir when a +phonograph was used to produce ghostly noises. + +"Yes, sir, I'm out for a good time," said Mr. Post, as if some one +had doubted his word. "Where you boys going?" + +"Out west," replied Jack, thinking it would do no harm to reply +civilly to Mr. Post. + +"Excuse me for coming into this conversation," spoke Marinello +Booghoobally, otherwise Hemp Smith. "I'm going out west myself, and +if I can do anything to help you boys or you, Mr. Post, I'll be only +too glad to do so." + +"Help yourself to our money and his too, I guess," murmured Jack. + +"Well now, that's kind of you, stranger," said Mr. Post, who seemed +ready to accept any one as a friend. "What might your name be?" + +"It might be almost anything I guess," muttered Nat. "Let's hear what +he says. I wonder how he got here, anyhow." + +"I'm Professor Punjab," replied Hemp Smith. "As you can understand by +my name I am from East India, but I have been here so long I have +acquired some of the habits." + +"Most of the bad ones," said Jack, under his breath. + +"What do you work at?" asked Mr. Post. + +"Work? I do not work," replied the fakir. "I am what you might call a +mind reader, a mystic, a foreteller of future events." + +"Ain't no mesmerizer, are you?" asked Mr. Post. + +"Yes, I can do that also," replied Professor Punjab. "Shall I give +you a sample?" + +"I'd rather have you give me a sample of your fortune telling," said +the miner. "What's going to happen now?" + +Professor Punjab seemed to go into a deep thought trance. Then he +gave a sudden start. + +"The train is going to stop quickly because there is an obstruction +on the track!" he exclaimed. + +An instant later, to the surprise of the boys, no less than Mr. Post, +there was a quick application of the air brakes, so much so that the +passengers were nearly thrown from their seats. Then with a grinding +and shrieking the train came to a stop. + +"What did I tell you?" inquired Professor Punjab. + +"Well I'll be horn-swoggled!" exclaimed Mr. Post. + +"What's the matter?" asked several travelers. + +The boys had hurried to the front of the car. They were met by a +brakeman. + +"Don't be alarmed," he said. "There is no danger." + +"What was the trouble?" asked Jack. + +"There was some obstruction on the track, a couple of ties, I +believe, that fell from a passing flat car," the brakeman explained. +"The engineer saw it and stopped just in time." + +Professor Punjab pulled a book from his pocket and began to read, as +if prophesying that trains would suddenly stop was the most natural +thing in the world. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +PROFESSOR PUNJAB'S TRICK + + +"Well, I call that goin' some," spoke Mr. Post. "If you can do that +just sitting still I wonder what you can do when you begin moving" + +"A mere trifle," said Professor Punjab. "I will be pleased to give +you a further evidence of my powers later on. But now I am fatigued. +I have studied hard to-day on the great mystery of the future life, +and I find I must take a little nourishment,--very little. A bit of +cracker and a glass of water," and with that he went forward to the +dining car. + +"Yes, I'd just like to see him get along with a cracker and a glass +of water," murmured Jack. "I'll bet corned beef and cabbage is more +in his line." + +"But how do you suppose he knew the train was going to stop?" asked +Ned speaking aloud. "That looks queer." + +"He's a wonder, that's what he is," said Mr. Post. "I want to see +some more of him," and he got up to go back to the smoking +compartment, leaving the three boys alone in the forward part of the +car. + +"Maybe he just made a guess at it," put in John Smith. "I've seen +some of our Indian medicine men pretend to prophesy and it turned out +they only made good guesses." + +"Perhaps he did." Nat admitted. + +Jack had moved over to the seat vacated by Professor Punjab. He +pressed his face close to the window and looked ahead. As he did so +he uttered an exclamation. + +"Come here, John and Nat!" he said in a low tone. "This will explain +how it was done." + +The two boys took turns looking from the window. + +"See it?" asked Jack. + +"Sure!" they chorused. + +"We were just rounding that curve," Jack went on. "He happened to +look from the window and he saw the ties on the track. Any one could +as the electric light from that freight station is right over them. +He knew the engineer would stop in a hurry, and, sure enough, he did. +It's easy when you know how, isn't it?" + +"But it certainly was strange enough when he made that statement, and +then to have the train slack up," spoke Nat. "I was beginning to +believe that, maybe, after all, he had some strange power." + +"He's a fakir clear through," was Jack's opinion. "You wait a bit and +you'll see him try some trick on this miner. He's after his money." + +"We ought to put a stop to that," said Nat, "Galloping greenbacks! +But we don't want to see the man robbed, even if he isn't as nice and +polite as he might be." + +"And we'll not, either," remarked Jack. "We'll be on the lookout, and +maybe we can make Professor Hemp Smith Punjab wish he hadn't traveled +on this line." + +The ties on the track were soon cleared away and the train resumed +its journey. The porter came in to make up the berths, and while this +was being done the three boys had to take seats in other sections of +the car. + +In the meanwhile Professor Punjab returned. He was picking his teeth +as though he had dined more substantially than on a mere wafer and a +sip of water. + +"You boys going far?" he asked. + +"Quite a way," replied Jack in a low voice. He was afraid the former +experience the man had passed through might be recalled to him if he + heard the voices of the students, and so did not use his natural +tones. + +But Professor Punjab did not seem at all suspicious. Besides he had +never had a good look at the boys, and there was so much talking +going on the time they played the trick on him it is doubtful if he +remembered any one's voice. + +"Where are you from?" the fakir asked next, but Jack was spared the +necessity of replying by the return of Mr. Post from the smoking +compartment. + +"Well, well, Professor," the miner said, "that certainly was a slick +trick of yours. Haven't any more of 'em up your sleeve, have you?" + +"That was no trick," returned the "professor" in an injured tone. "I +do not descend to tricks. If I am gifted with certain powers I must +use them. I can not help myself. There is something within me--some +spirit--that moves me. I saw that the train would have to stop and I +had to announce it." + +"You bet you saw it all right," muttered Jack. "So could any one else +who had been sitting in your seat. It was easy." + +"No offense, no offense, Professor," muttered Mr. Post, seeing he had +made a mistake. "I'm much interested in this thing." + +"I welcome real interest in my work," the fakir went on, "I will be +happy to illustrate matters to you as far as my poor talents enable +me to. You have perhaps heard of the celebrated Indian manifestation +of making a plant grow in a few hours?" + +"Not guilty," said Mr. Post solemnly. + +"Then these young gentlemen have," the professor went on, turning to +the three boys. + +Jack nodded silently. + +"It is a strange power that we mystics have over the forces of +nature," the pretended philosopher went on. "We have but to plant a +seed in the soil, and, lo! a plant bearing fruit shoots up." + +"That would be a good thing to sell to farmers," said Mr. Post. + +"It can not be sold. Only an adept can perform it," said Professor +Punjab. "I would do it for you, only the conditions are not just +right here. But I can, perhaps, show you something you probably never +saw before." + +With a flourish he drew from his pocket a large black handkerchief. +This he shook to show there was nothing in it. He spread it over his +extended left arm, which was crooked at the elbow. Then he placed his +right hand under it, and brought out a large orange. + +"Well I'll be blowed!" exclaimed Mr. Post. + +"Ain't got any more of 'em there, have you, Professor?" + +"There is only one," was the reply, as the man returned the +handkerchief to his pocket and passed the orange to Mr. Post. "It is +difficult to produce one, I assure you." + +"Not when you have them concealed in your coat, where you probably +put it when you were in the dining car," was Jack's comment, made to +himself. + +"Well you're a wonder," exclaimed the miner. "I'd like to take +lessons off you." + +"I can impart the secrets to only those of the inner circle," said +the professor, with an air of great wisdom. "But I am allowed to show +those who appreciate my doings some of the workings of my art. +Perhaps you would like to see a little more of what I am able to do." + +"I sure would," replied Mr. Post. + +"What I am about to do," Professor Punjab went on, "is so remarkable +that I am allowed to show it to but one person at a time. Therefore I +invite you, Mr. Post, into the smoking compartment with me. Later I +will be glad to show my young friends, one at a time." + +"Not any for mine," muttered Jack, as the miner, who was much +interested in what he had seen, followed the fakir to the compartment +he had recently left. + +"I wonder what he's up to," said Nat, when the two were out of +hearing. + +"Something crooked, on the professor's part, you can make up your +mind," Jack answered. + +"Let's find out what it is," suggested Nat. + +"How?" inquired Jack. + +"I think I can manage it," put in John Smith. "I have very good +hearing, and I can move around easily. Suppose I go and hide near the +compartment. Maybe I can hear what they say." + +"Good!" exclaimed Jack. "Then you come back and tell us, and we'll +see what we can do in the way of tricks." + +John put on a pair of moccasins he had in his valise, and moved +through the aisle, now completely hemmed in with the curtains from +the various berths. The other boys began to undress within their +narrow sections but they did not take off all their clothes, so as to +be in readiness for whatever should happen. + +Jack managed to get into an unoccupied berth next to the smoking +compartment. By placing his ears to the partition he could just +distinguish what the professor was saying to Mr. Post. + +"Well, that's about the limit!" John exclaimed softly to himself. "I +think we can spoil that proposition for him." + +Having learned all he wanted to know, the Indian lad returned to his +friends. + +"Professor Punjab is planning to get possession of the miner's money," +he said in whispers, as the three boys held an impromptu conference +in the lavatory, where Nat and Jack had gone to clean their teeth +before retiring. + +"How's he going to do it?" asked Jack. + +"He has told Mr. Post that he has the power of making money increase +over night," John explained. "He says if a certain sum is put in a +mysterious box which he has, it will be doubled in the morning." + +"And the miner believed him?" asked Jack. + +"Sure. He agreed to put his roll in the box the fakir has, and it is +to be placed under Mr. Post's berth. He is not to open it until +morning." + +"And when he does it will be full of brown paper," said Jack. "I've +read about such tricks." + +"It won't if we can help it," put in Nat. "I guess here is where we +get busy." + +The boys held a further conference and agreed on a plan of action. +They went back to their berths, and, a little later, they heard the +fake professor and Mr. Post coming back from the smoking room. + +"Do I put it at the head or foot?" they heard the miner ask. + +"At the foot," replied the plotter. + +"So he can get it easier," muttered Jack. + +Nat's berth was right opposite that of Mr. Post, so it was arranged +he was to do the main work. In a little while the sleeping car became +a quiet place, and deep breathing from one berth after another told +that the occupants were slumbering soundly. Pretty soon Nat heard a +snore from the berth of the miner. + +"I'd better do it now, before Professor Punjab gets busy," he +thought. + +Then with his umbrella, which had a crook for a handle, Nat reached +out between the curtains and began to feel around under Mr. Post's +bed for the box. He had to work cautiously, but at length his efforts +were rewarded. He felt the umbrella crook fasten on the object, and +he pulled it across the aisle toward him. + +When it was near enough he reached his hand down and took it up into +his berth. + +"Have you got it?" asked Jack in a whisper from the next sleeping +compartment. + +"Sure," replied Nat + +"Take out the money and put in our messages," Jack added, and Nat did +so. Then he placed the box back where he had found it. + +In a short time the three boys, who were watching from behind their +berth-curtains, saw a hand protrude from beneath the hangings around +Professor Punjab's bed. The hand felt around a bit, and then went +under Mr. Post's berth. In a few seconds it came out and the box was +in it. A moment later it moved back again, and seemed to replace the +box. + +"That's where he put a dummy in place of what he thinks is the one +with the bills in," thought Nat, who was watching closely. "He'll +skip out soon, I guess." + +His conjecture was right. A few minutes later Professor Punjab, who +had not undressed, stole from his berth and walked softly to the end +of the car. + +"I wonder if he'll jump off," thought Nat. + +But the fakir had no such intentions. The train began to slacken +speed, as he probably knew it would, having to stop at a station, +which fact he could ascertain by consulting a time-table. The cars +came to a halt, with a grinding noise of the brakes, and Nat leaned +over toward the window of his berth. + +He could see the station platform, and caught a glimpse of Professor +Punjab as he jumped from the sleeper. Then, while the boy watched, +the fakir opened the box he had in his hand. + +All he pulled out were three cards, on which were written the names +of the three boys. + +"Fooled!" exclaimed Nat as the train started off leaving the +professor, a picture of rage, on the platform. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +SHOOTING AN OIL WELL + + +The professor made a move as though he was about to jump back on the +train, but evidently thought better of it. He gave another look at +the cards, and then put them into his pocket. + +"Looks as if he wanted to remember us," thought Nat. + +By that time the train moved so far ahead that the professor was no +longer to be seen. + +"How about it?" asked Jack, sticking his head through his curtains +over toward Ned's berth. + +"He was mad enough to bite a ten-penny nail in two," said Nat. + +"Did he find out he was fooled?" asked Jack, who had not been able to +see the fakir from the car window. + +"I guess yes," spoke Nat, and he told Jack the details, which were +related to John, who was in the berth beyond. + +"Had we better tell Mr. Post?" asked Nat. + +"Wait until morning," suggested Jack. "Keep the money safe though." + +"Right you are," came from Nat, and then the three boys quieted down +and went to bed, though it was some time before they fell asleep, so +full of excitement were they. + +They awoke early, and, without dressing kept watch on the berth where +Mr. Post was sleeping. They thought he would soon awaken to see if +his money had increased as he had foolishly taken the fakir's word +that it would. It was hardly daylight before the boys saw a hand +emerge from the miner's berth and grope under his bed. + +"Where is it?" they heard Mr. Post mutter. + +Then, as his fingers closed on the box which Professor Punjab had put +in place of the one the miner had originally left, they could hear +him exclaim: + +"Here's where I double my money!" + +About three seconds later there arose such a yell from Mr. Post's +berth that the porter came running from his quarters in alarm. + +"Who's bin done committed murder?" the darky demanded. + +"Murder!" exclaimed Mr. Post. "I'll murder some one, that's what I +will! Look out! I'm a bad man when I'm mad, and I'm mad clear through +now!" + +"What's de matter?" asked the frightened negro. "Who done sumfin to +yo', boss?" + +"Matter?" cried the miner. "I've been robbed, that's what's the +matter. Did you take my money, you black rascal?" and Mr. Post leaped +from his berth and made a jump for the porter. + +Just as he grabbed the negro by his kinky wool the conductor, who had +been asleep in his berth, emerged. He was struck squarely by the +porter, and the two went down in a heap in the aisle, with Mr. Post +on top of them. + +"What's this all about?" inquired the conductor, as soon as matters +had quieted down a bit. + +"I've been robbed, that's all," replied Mr. Post, who had partly +dressed. + +"Tell me about it," demanded the conductor, and then the miner, +realizing that he had been a bit foolish, explained the +circumstances. + +"Serves you right for trusting a stranger," said the conductor. + +"But he said he was able to double my cash," protested Mr. Post. +"I've got to have it back. It will ruin me to lose it." + +"Here it is," said Nat, who, with the other boys, had donned his +clothes. He thought matters had gone far enough. "We had it for safe +keeping," he explained. + +"Well douse my safety lamp! Where did you get it?" asked Mr. Post, +his eyes big with wonder. + +Nat explained briefly, telling how he and his chums had watched +Professor Punjab, and had fooled him. + +"Say, you boys are all to the good!" exclaimed the miner. "Saved my +money for me, that's what you did. I didn't know I could be so +foolish until I tried. Well, it will take a slick one to beat me +again." + +Mr. Post began counting over his roll. Meanwhile the other passengers +had gathered around, and the story became generally known. + +"Smart lads, them," commented an elderly man. "Ought to get a +reward." + +"And that's what they will, too," put in the miner, overhearing the +words. "Nobody can say Josh Post forgot a good action. Here's a +couple of hundred for you." + +"No, thanks," said Nat firmly, and his companions shook their heads. +"We can't take money for that. Besides, it was pay enough to fool the +professor. We've had dealings with him before." + +Mr. Post tried to force the money on the boys, but they refused to +listen to him, and he finally understood that there was a higher +standard than cash to repay kindness. + +"Then shake hands!" he cried heartily, and the boys were almost sorry +they consented, for the miner's grip was anything but a light one. +However, he showed how much in earnest he was. + +"I'll never forget you boys," he said. "Josh Post never forgets a +favor, and if ever you want a friend just you call on me." + +The boys thought little of this at the time, but there was an +occasion when they remembered it and profited by it. + +The excitement over, the boys went to breakfast. Mr. Post insisted on +going with them, and in fact he did not seem to want the boys out of +his sight. He was continually referring to his narrow escape at the +hands of the fake professor. The boys got to like him better as the +hours passed, for he showed that he had a good heart, beneath a +rather rough and repelling exterior. + +At noon the train arrived at the center of the Pennsylvania oil +region. The evidences of the great industry were on every hand, and +the sight of the tall derricks, the refineries, the storage tanks, +and the pipes where natural gas was continually burning, were such +interesting ones that the lads never grew tired of looking from the +windows. + +They delayed longer than usual at a small station, and some of the +passengers going out to see what the trouble was, reported that the +locomotive had broken down and that it would take three hours to +repair it. + +"Here's a chance to get out and see the country," suggested Jack. +"What do you say?" + +"Fine," replied John. "I've always wanted to see an oil well." + +"Any objection to me going along?" asked Mr. Post, who had overheard +the talk. + +"Guess not," replied Nat heartily. "Come along." + +The four had no sooner alighted from the train than a roughly-dressed +man rushed up to the miner, grasped him by the hand, clapped him on +the back with a sound like a small explosion, and exclaimed: + +"Don't tell me this is Josh Post!" + +"All right, Jim Baker, then I'll not do anything of the sort if you +don't want me to," was the answer. + +"Well land of living! Where'd you come from?" asked Jim Baker. + +"Where you going?" demanded Mr. Post, not answering. + +"Going to do what I've been doing for the last ten years," was the +reply. "Shoot a well." + +"So you're not dead yet?" asked Mr. Post. + +"The day isn't over," was the answer, "and I've got two big holes to +drop the go-devil down." + +Then the two friends began to discuss old times with a vengeance, +until the miner, suddenly remembering himself called a halt and +cried: + +"Jim Baker, let me introduce you to three of the best friends I got. +They saved a fool from being parted from his money," and, introducing +the boys he explained what he meant. + +"You'd better get a nurse," said Mr. Baker sarcastically as his +friend finished. + +"I've put an advertisement in for one. Got to be a good one though, +to keep me straight." + +"Do you really shoot oil wells, with nitroglycerine, the way I've +read about?" asked John Smith of Mr. Baker. + +"I sure do, son. Want to see me?" + +"I would like to, very much." + +"Excuse me," put in Mr. Post. "I think I hear some one calling me," +and he made as if to hurry away. + +"There's not a bit of danger," called Mr. Baker. "Hold on, Josh, +better come along." + +"Guarantee you'll not blow us up?" + +"Sure I will." + +"What, give the guarantee or blow us up?" asked Jack with a laugh. + +"I guess Josh knows he can trust me," said the well-shooter. "Now if +you want to come along I've got room in the wagon, and the first well +is only about a mile out. You'll have time to see it before they get +the engine fixed." + +The boys at once decided they would go. It was a new experience, and, +though they realized the danger, they felt comparatively safe with +Mr. Baker. + +"I'll bring the wagon right around," said the shooter. "Wait here." + +In a few minutes he reappeared with a big two horse vehicle, +containing two wide seats. + +"Get aboard!" he called, and the boys and Mr. Post scrambled up. The +horses started off slowly, Mr. Baker driving, and they turned from +the single street of the little village and emerged into a country +road. + +Arriving at the well which was to be shot the boys saw a number of +men. They had just finished using the borer, and had gone down a +number of hundred feet without striking oil. It was, therefore, +decided to "shoot it," that is, tin cylinders, containing in all +about two hundred pounds of nitro-glycerine, were to be lowered into +the hole, one on top of the other. Then a heavy cylindrical weight +was to be dropped down on them. The concussion would set off the +explosive. + +The powerful stuff, it was expected, would blow a hole down through +the sand and rock, and release the imprisoned oil. + +Mr. Baker lost no time in getting to work. Carefully as though he was +handling eggs, he lowered the tins of nitro-glycerine into the deep +but narrow hole. The boys, as well as Mr. Post and the workmen, had +moved a safe distance away. The final arrangements were made, and +then all was in readiness for dropping the "go-devil," as it is +termed. + +Mr. Baker gave a last look around to see that all were far enough +back. Then, with a wave of his hand he stooped over the hole. The +next instant he was running like a deer. + +"He's dropped it!" exclaimed Mr. Post. "Watch it now!" + +It seemed as if the running man would never get to a place of safety. +The boys watched with their hearts in their mouths. + +Suddenly there sounded a subdued roar. Then came a curious trembling +of the earth, a shaking of the solid ground. Two seconds later there +spouted from the hole a column of black liquid that seemed to +envelope the derrick which had not been taken down. At the same time +there was a roaring, whistling noise. + +Suddenly Mr. Post, who was watching the spouting well, shouted: + +"Run boys! Run for your lives! Follow me!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +MR. POST'S ADVENTURE + + +For an instant Jack Ranger and his two comrades did not realize what +Mr. Post was saying. They could see no danger near them. + +"What's the matter?" asked Nat. + +"Don't stop to ask questions! Run! Run! Run!" yelled the miner. + +The boys needed no further urging, but set off at top speed after Mr. +Post. He halted his run to allow the boys to catch up to him. Then, +as he gave a glance backward, he yelled: + +"Too late! Duck!" + +The boys found themselves being pushed forward. They stumbled and +fell, and it seemed as if some heavy weight toppled on top of them. +Then came an explosion that sounded like a thirteen-inch gun being +set off close to their ears. + +They were stunned by the shock and frightened half out of their wits +by the unknown terror. An instant later it was as if the sky was +raining gravel, stones and sand. + +"You can get up now," Jack heard Mr. Post saying. "That was about as +narrow a squeak as I ever had, and I've been in some pretty tight +places." + +"What's it all about?" asked John Smith, as he rose and began +brushing the dirt from his hair. + +"That's what I want to know," put in Jack. + +"Snooping sand fleas! But I feel as if I had been digging a tunnel!" +cried Nat. + +"Mighty lucky you didn't get blown down into one, or an oil hole," +said Mr. Post. + +"Anybody hurt?" asked Mr. Baker, running up at that moment. "My! I +thought you'd all be killed!" + +"More good luck than good management that we weren't," replied the +miner. "How could you do it, Jim?" + +"First time I ever was so careless," replied the well-shooter. "You +can bet it'll never happen again." + +"What was it?" asked Nat. + +"Just an explosion of about twenty pounds of nitro-glycerine about as +close to us as I ever care to have it," said Mr. Post. + +"Yes, and if it hadn't been for Josh, I don't know where you boys +would be now," put in Mr. Baker. "He saved your lives, all right. +That's what he did." + +"It wasn't anything," the miner interposed. "You see." he went on, +"Jim sort of got careless and left one of his cans of nitro-glycerine +lying on the ground. I didn't notice it, and I guess he didn't +either, until he shot the well. Then, when I saw the shower of rock +and stones, shooting up with the oil, and bearing right over toward +where the can of juice lay, I figured out there was going to be +trouble. That's why I yelled to you to run. + +"I knew if any stones fell and hit that can we had a first-class +passage to kingdom come all bought and paid for, with through +tickets. I could see a lot of stones hurling up in the air, and I +knew, there wasn't anything to stop them from coming down. And the +majority of them were headed right for that can of death and +destruction." + +"That's all right, as far as it goes," said Mr. Baker, when the miner +had ceased. "But he hasn't told you all. When Josh saw there was +going to be an eruption, then and there, for one big stone was almost +on top of the can, he just shoved you boys ahead of him, and then +fell on you to shield you with his body. That's what I call being a +hero." + +"Hi! You drop that!" exclaimed Mr. Post, making a grab for his old +friend. "I didn't do any more than any one would have done. It was +all your fault, anyhow, Jim Baker." + +"I know it was," admitted Mr. Baker, in contrite tones. "But that +don't alter what I said, Josh." + +"Well if I ever hear you making any remarks about it, I'll inform the +oil well authorities how careless you're getting and you'll lose your +job," put in the miner. "Now I reckon you boys have seen enough for +one day." + +"Well, I guess we have," said Jack. "Besides our train will leave +pretty soon." + +By this time quite a number of oil workers had gathered around. There +was considerable excitement, as it had been rumored a number were +killed. As soon as matters quieted down men began attending to the +oil well, which was spouting away at a lively rate, the thick oil +running in many directions. + +The hole was piped, and then the stream of crude petroleum was turned +into a channel whence it flowed into a reservoir. It had been a +successful shooting. + +As they walked back to the wagon, having brushed the dirt from their +clothes, the boys saw a big hole in the ground, not far from where +Mr. Post had protected them from injury by sending them on the run +out of danger. + +"What did that come from?" asked Nat. + +"Nitro-glycerine," replied Mr. Baker. "The juice is powerful stuff." + +The boys agreed with him. + +"Call in and see me any time you're in this direction," said the +well-shooter, as he shook hands at parting with Mr. Post and the +boys. + +"I will," replied the miner, "when you've gone into the grocery +business or taken an agency for a life insurance company. Otherwise +it's too risky." + +When the travelers got back to the station they found the engineer +putting the finishing touches to the repairs he and the fireman had +been making. The train was about to start. + +"Where have you been?" asked the conductor as the boys and the miner +got aboard. + +"We've been having a race with death and it nearly won," replied Mr. +Post, more solemnly than he had yet spoken. + +"What's the matter with him? Is he one of those religious fanatics?" +asked the conductor, as the miner hurried into the car. + +"Not much," answered Jack. "We had as narrow a call as I ever want to +experience." While the train was getting under way he told the +ticket-taker what had happened. + +The next stop of importance which was reached early the next morning +was at Cleveland, and there the boys learned they would have to wait +seven hours for another train, as there had been some change in the +schedules. + +"Couldn't be better," said Mr. Post, when he heard about it. "I've +always wanted to see a big body of water and here's my chance. What +do you boys say to a trip out on Lake Erie? The trolleys go there, I +heard a brakeman say." + +The three chums, who had learned to like their new acquaintance more +and more, thought it would be a fine trip to pass away the time. +Accordingly after dinner, they boarded an electric car which took +them in the direction of the lake. + +"Shall we go inside or ride on the platform?" asked the miner, as he +paid the fares. + +"Let's stay outside," suggested Nat. "Tumbling trolley cars! But this +is quite a town. Let's see all we can." + +So the four remained on the rear platform. It was not crowded, but, +in a little while a number of men got on. The boys and Mr. Post were +obliged to move back into the corner. Still they could see well from +there. + +One of the men who was standing close to the miner was smoking a +large cigar. He seemed particular of the ashes, and appeared to be +trying for a record in the matter of the length of them. They +extended from the burned part of the rolled tobacco more than an +inch, and at every lurch of the car, the smoker was quite solicitous +lest they be knocked off. + +At length the man standing in front of him jostled against him, as +the car gave a sudden jerk. The ashes flew in a shower over Mr. Post, +who was standing directly behind the smoker. + +"What's the matter with you? Don't you know how to ride on a car?" +demanded the man with the cigar, of the one who had jostled him. + +"I beg your pardon, I'm sure," said the other humbly. "It was not +intentional, I assure you." + +"You're a clumsy fellow," the other went on, in a loud voice. "Look +here; you've made me knock ashes all over this gentleman," and he +turned to Mr. Post. + +"That's all right," the miner said pleasantly, for he felt sorry for +the other man. "He couldn't help it." + +"He ought to be made to help it," the smoker went on, as if very +indignant. "People who don't know how to ride on cars ought to keep +off. I shall write a letter to the papers about it. Allow me to dust +the ashes off your vest." + +The man drew from his pocket a large white handkerchief, with which +he began wiping the cigar ashes from Mr. Post's clothing. + +"Awfully careless of me, too," he murmured. "Hope you take no +offense." + +"Not at all," the miner was saying. "It was all an accident, I'm +sure. You--" + +Then, the miner's tone, which had been mild, suddenly changed. He +made a grab for the hand of the young man who was dusting his vest +off, and cried: + +"No, you don't, you scoundrel! Now I see what your game is! Let go my +diamond pin or I'll shoot you!" and he made a motion toward his +pocket, while the other passengers on the platform made hasty +movements to get off. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE WILD STEER + + +Mr. Post had the cigar smoker tightly by the wrist. The young man +tried to break away, but as there were other persons between him and +the car steps he was hemmed in. He made a rapid motion toward the +passenger whom he had so berated for jostling him. + +"Ah, I thought so!" exclaimed the gray-haired man, who had remained a +quiet spectator of the excitement. "It's about time I took a hand in +the game." + +He made a rapid motion, intercepted the hand of the smoker which had +been extended to the original cause of the disturbance, and grabbing +something from it said: + +"There's your diamond, stranger. Take care of it until I put the +nippers on these thieves!" + +The gray-haired man tried to edge his way around the crowd to get +close to the two men who seemed to be the principal actors in the +adventure. As he did so, the man who had been smoking--making a +flying leap over the back platform railing, darted up the street. At +the same time the man who had been accused of causing the cigar ashes +to scatter over Mr. Post's vest, slipped from the steps and made a +hurried run for the sidewalk. + +"After him, some one!" cried the gray-haired man. "I'll get the other +chap. He's the main one. The other is only a confederate," and he was +off in a trice. + +The car did not stop, though several men, understanding what it was +all about, called the conductor. + +"Can't delay," replied the knight of the bell-rope. "If you want to +see the fun, get off. Pickpockets are too common to stop the car +for." + +"Well, I reckon I blocked his game that time," said Mr. Post, as he +looked at the diamond which had lately adorned his shirt front. "I +don't read the newspapers for nothing, and they'll find Josh Post is +hard to beat." + +"What did he do to you?" asked some of the passengers. + +"Tried to frisk me out of my sparkler," replied the miner. "It's a +new way of working an old trick, but I read about it in a New York +paper last week." + +"How did he do it?" asked Jack. + +"There were two of 'em," Mr. Post went on. "That fellow had his +cigar, with lots of ashes on it, already for me. Then the other +fellow bunked into him, and he flicked the ashes on me. Of course he +made a play to pretend it was the other fellow's fault, and he +started to brush me off. But while he was doing it with his big +handkerchief, he was taking out my diamond. I caught him just in +time." + +"But who was the man who chased him, and gave you back your diamond?" +asked Jack. + +"Detective, I reckon," replied the miner. "They're often riding on +the cars on the lookout for just such things as that." + +"That's who he was," the conductor explained. "There's been a lot of +pickpockets here lately, and the detectives are riding back and forth +all day. Hope he catches that fellow." + +"Don't worry me any," said Mr. Post "I've got my diamond back," and +he placed the sparkling stone in his pocket for safe keeping. + +Whether the detective ever caught the slick thief the boys never +learned. They made the trip out to Lake Erie, and when they had +looked at the big body of water and taken a short trip in a launch +they returned to the station to find it was nearly the hour set for +the departure of their train. + +"Things seem to be coming our way," remarked Mr. Post after they had +been riding half an hour. "We've had lively times since we met, boys. +But I'll have to leave you in Chicago." + +"Perhaps we'll see you again," said Nat. "Have you ever been out +west?" + +"In my younger days," replied the miner. "I had a friend once named +Travers--um--no--that wasn't exactly his name either. Travis-- +Trellis--Tennis--" + +"Tevis!" exclaimed Jack, struck by a sudden inspiration. + +"That's it!" cried Mr. Post. "I knew it was something that sounded +like a grape vine. He and I used--" + +But what Mr. Tevis, or Trellis, used to do was not told then, for a +second later there sounded a grinding crash and every one in the car +was thrown from his seat while above the sound of hissing steam arose +the shrill cries of several women. + +"Wreck!" yelled Mr. Post, struggling to his feet and starting up the +aisle of the car, which was tilted at a steep angle. "We've hit +something!" + +By this time, most of the other passengers, who had been thrown here +and there, had extricated themselves from more or less undignified +positions. There were anxious inquiries on every side, and a number +of women fainted. For a while there was a lot of excitement, one lady +going into hysterics at the sight of the bloody hand of a man, who +was cut by a broken window. + +Mr. Post had hurried from the car. He came back in a little while, +just as the boys, who were feeling themselves to discover if any +bones were broken, had made up their minds to follow him and learn +what the trouble was. + +"What is it?" half a dozen asked the miner. + +"We side-swiped a freight car," was the answer. + +"Side-swiped?" inquired John Smith, who was not so well up on +Americanisms as the others. + +"Why a car projected over the end of a switch," explained Mr. Post. +"Our train came along full tilt, and the engine hit it a glancin' +blow, or a side-swipe, as the railroad men call it." + +"Much damage?" asked an elderly gentleman. + +"Well, they can't use that freight car without sendin' it to the +hospital," replied Mr. Post, with a smile. "And our engine suffered +minor bruises and contusions, as the papers say when a man is hurt. I +reckon we'll be delayed a bit and it's somethin' I didn't count on." + +Mr. Post looked at his watch, and then consulted some papers he took +from a big wallet. + +"I've got to be in Chicago at five o'clock to-morrow night," he said +to the boys, "and at the rate we've been delayed I'm going to be +late. It will mean a big loss to me, too, for I counted on putting a +deal through with a friend of mine, Lemuel Liggins. He's to meet me +in the stock yards. I don't suppose you boys are in any great rush, +are you?" + +"Well," remarked Jack, "it doesn't make any great difference when we +arrive, but we're supposed to be in Denville at a certain time. A +little delay more or less will not hurt us, but I have something to +do in Denver, and I may need more time than I'm likely to get now." + +"Then I'll tell you what I'm going to do," said Mr. Post, "I'm going +to transfer to another line." + +"Then we'll do the same," said Jack. + +The Chicago train on the other line was on time, and the four +passengers boarded it and were soon being pulled toward the great +city of the Lakes with more comfort than they had experienced on the +other train. + +"Ever see the Chicago stock yards?" asked Mr. Post, as they pulled +out of the last station before reaching the big city. "It's a sight +worth looking at," and he went on as the three chums admitted they +had not. "I may not get a chance to show 'em to you, but if you want +to you can get out there with me, and look at 'em on your own hook. +Then you can go into the city." + +The lads decided this would be a good plan, and arranged to have +their baggage go to a hotel where they were to stop over night. Mr. +Post prevailed on the conductor to stop the train at a way station, +close to the stock yards, and, when this was reached, he and the +three boys alighted. + +It was about four o'clock in the afternoon, and Mr. Post found he was +a little ahead of time. He hired a two-seated carriage in which he +and the boys drove to where he was to meet Mr. Liggins. + +Soon after leaving the way station the boys were aware of a curious +roaring sound that filled the air. It sounded like distant thunder. + +"What is it?" asked Jack. + +"It's the cattle in the stock yards," said Mr. Post. "There's +thousands of 'em, and they keep that noise up all the while. Look +ahead, and you can see some of the pens." + +The boys looked. In a net work of railroad tracks they saw fenced-in +yards that seemed filled with a living brown mass. From them came +impatient bellows and a shuffling, stamping sound, that told of the +movement of innumerable cows and steers. + +"Drive over that way," said Mr. Post to the coachman. "That's where +Lem said he'd meet me." + +They were now in the midst of the stock yards. The pens extended on +every side, and the strong odor of the cattle, the noise and seeming +confusion, the tooting of engine whistles, the puffing of +locomotives, the movement of trains, and the wild notes of the +imprisoned animals made a scene the boys never forgot. + +"There's my man!" exclaimed Mr. Post. "Hello, Lem! I'm right on +time!" + +"So I see," remarked a tall lanky individual, who was standing near +what seemed to be a small office in the midst of the stock yards. "A +little ahead. It's only half past four." + +"Everything all right?" asked Mr. Post. + +"Sure thing. Who are your friends? Come along to see fair play?" + +"Some boys who are going out west," replied Mr. Post. "Now let's get +down to business. Excuse me for awhile, boys. Make yourselves to +home, and I'll be with you after a bit. Look around all you like." + +Mr. Post and his friend Lemuel Liggins retired into the small office. +The boys alighted from the carriage, which drew up under a shed, and +then the lads began to take in the various strange sights about them. + +"I didn't suppose there were so many cows and steers in all the +world," said Jack. + +"Galloping grasshoppers! Neither did I," admitted Nat. + +"You've just begun to see the west," said John Smith. "It's a great +place, and a big place." + +"Well, we're likely to see some of it in the next few weeks," said +Nat. "I reckon Colorado is a good place to get a wide view from." + +"None better," admitted John. "It has a fine climate, and when we get +there--" + +At that instant the attention of the boys was attracted by a loud +shouting behind them. They turned, to see a crowd of men and boys +running after a big brown animal. + +"One of the cows has got loose," said Nat. + +"Cows?" exclaimed John. "It's one of the wild steers, and it looks +like a dangerous one. Better duck for cover." + +With a bellow the steer, which had broken from one of the pens, made +straight for the boys. In close chase came the crowd. + +Suddenly the pursuing party throng parted, and, with a yell, a +horseman, waving a lasso above his head, galloped after the beast. He +was close to him when the steer, which was near the small office +where Mr. Post and his friend were, turned sharply and darted off to +the right. The horse man, at that instant had made a throw, but the +rope went wild, and, a second later, trying to turn his horse quickly +the steed stumbled and fell. + +The steer, with a mad bellow, turned around and started back for the +crowd, that had halted. With lowered head, armed with long, sweeping, +sharp horns, the angry animal leaped forward. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +THE OLD STOCKMAN + + +"Someone will get hurt!" cried Jack. + +"Here, hold my coat and hat!" exclaimed John, as he thrust those +articles of wearing apparel into Nat's hands. + +"What are you going to do?" asked Jack. + +"I'm going to rope that steer!" yelled the Indian lad. + +He ran to where the cattleman had fallen from his horse. The rider's +leg was caught, and when he tried to stand, as John helped him up, it +was seen that it was broken. + +"Is the horse a fast one?" John asked, pulling in the lariat, and +coiling it. + +"He sure is," was the answer, while the man stretched out on the +ground to wait for aid, which was on the way. + +A moment later John had mounted the horse and was off on a gallop +after the steer, which was circling around in a wild endeavor to +escape into the open. It's wild bellows were producing a panic among +the other animals, that were dashing about in the pens, in imminent +danger of knocking the sides down. + +As John, who seemed to be perfectly at home in the saddle, rode at +the animal, it gave a snort and dashed off down a railroad track. +Just ahead of it a freight train was coming, but the steer did not +see it, as it dashed on, with lowered head. + +Straight down the track after the steer, raced John, urging the horse +to top speed. Above his head swung the lasso, which the boy handled +almost with the skill of a veteran. + +"Come back!" yelled Mr. Post. "Don't you see the train?" + +Evidently John did see, but he was not going to stop. He realized +that unless he stopped the maddened steer it would dash ahead on into +the locomotive. While it could not do the ponderous machine any harm, +there was every chance of derailing it, if the wheels ground over the +lifeless body, and a wreck might follow. + +"He's a plucky fellow!" exclaimed the cattleman, as some of his +friends came to carry him to a place where his injured leg could be +set. + +The pony John was riding entered into the spirit of the race. It was +work for which he had been trained, and, though chasing after wild +steers down a railroad track was not like doing it out on the plains, +it was "all in the day's work." With nimble feet the pony leaped from +tie to tie, on and on and on after the maddened brute. + +The engineer of the freight was blowing the whistle in frantic toots +to warn the steer from the track, but the animal did not heed. + +"He'll never make it," exclaimed Jack. + +"Timbuctoo and turntables!" cried Nat. "He's a brave one. Never knew +he could ride like that." + +John dug his heels into the pony's side to urge it to another burst +of speed. Then, with a shout, he whirled the lasso in ever widening +circles about his head. Suddenly he sent it whirling straight ahead. +Like a thin snake the rope hissed forward, and then fell in coils +about the neck of the steer. John had taken a turn or two about the +pommel of the saddle, and, true to its training, the little pony +settled back on its haunches. + +The next instant it seemed as if the steer had met a cyclone. It went +down in a heap, a wild mixture of horns and flying hoofs. And, not a +second too soon, for, as it rolled from the track, being fairly +snatched from the rails by the taut-ness of the rope, the train came +gliding up, though under reduced speed, and severed the lariat. + +Then John, with a motion of his wrist, guided the pony from the path +to the train, which the engineer was doing his best to bring to a +stop. The boy and steed easily got out of the way, and then, turning +the pony, John rode to where he had left his companions. The steer, +all the desire for fight gone, stood dejectedly beside the track, and +a number of men, who had hurried up, took charge of it. + +[Illustration: IT SEEMED AS IF THE STEER HAD MET A CYCLONE-Page 154] + +"Say, that was the best bit of work I ever saw done!" commented Mr. +Post, as he came from the office where he and Mr. Liggins had been +talking. "I watched you through the window. Put it there, pardner," +and he extended his hand, which John grasped. + +"Where'd you learn to ride, young man?" asked Mr. Liggins, in +business-like tones. + +"Some of my Indian relatives taught me," replied John modestly, as he +dismounted. "I'm not very good at it though. Haven't had any +practice." + +"You don't need it!" exclaimed Mr. Liggins. + "Say, young fellow, I'd like to hire you. I need you out here. We +have accidents like this every day, only not so sensational, and if +you can save a steer that way once in a while you'd more than earn +your salary." + +"Much obliged," John said, "but I can't take your offer." + +"Why didn't you tell us you could rope a steer and handle a cow +pony?" inquired Jack, + +"You never asked me," was John's reply. "You see I have some Indian +traits in me, even if I am only a half-breed." + +"Well, you certainly can throw a rope," Jack admitted. "Wish I could +do half as well." + +"Rollicking rattlesnakes! But I'm going to learn as soon as we get +out on the ranch," put in Nat. + +"I guess you'll both have plenty of opportunity," John remarked. + +"Well, what are you boys going to do now?" asked Mr. Post. "I'm +through with my business, and I've got to stay in town a few days, +but I'll be so busy I'm afraid I'll not get much chance to see you. +Besides you're going right on, aren't you?" + +"That's our plan," said Jack. + +"Well, I'll leave you then," went on the miner, "got to see another +man in the yards. I may meet you again, some day, and I may not. This +world's an uncertain place. Anyway, I'm glad I met you, and if you +ever get into trouble and I can help you, why just wire me. My +general address, for a year or two, will be Chicago, care of Lemuel +Liggins. He'll see that you get into the city from here, all right, +and will take good care of you. Now I'm off," and shaking hands with +the boys and with Mr. Liggins, the miner hurried away down the maze +of stock yards. + +"Come inside the office and rest a bit," invited Mr. Liggins. "You've +got lots of time, and I'll drive you to town later." + + +"Wait a minute!" cried Jack, darting after Mr. Post. + +He ran from the office and started down the maze of tracks in the +direction the miner had taken. But Mr. Post was not to be seen. He +had either met some acquaintance and gone into one of the numerous +small offices and shacks that dotted the yards, or else was lost in +the crowds. Jack soon came back, looking disappointed. + +"What did you want of him?" asked Nat. + +"I wanted to find out more about Orion Tevis," replied Jack. "You +remember he spoke of him just before the accident when we collided +with the freight, and I meant to ask him if he knew the man on whom +the finding of my father may depend. But I forgot about it in all the +excitement. Now it's too late." + +"Who did you want to inquire about?" asked Mr. Liggins, coming +forward. "Excuse me, but I happened to hear you mention a strange +sounding name." + +"Orion Tevis," said Jack. "Do you know anything about him, Mr. +Liggins?" + +"Do I? Well I guess I do. Me and him didn't work as mining pardners +for ten years for nothing. I reckon I do know Orion Tevis. So does +Josh Post." + +"Where is he now?" asked Jack eagerly. "I must find him. He may know +where my father is, who is in hiding because of the scheming of some +wicked men." + +"Well, now you have got me," Mr. Liggins said. "I haven't seen Tevis +for some years, not since he retired from active work. He speculates +in cattle now and then, and I had a letter from him a few months +ago." + +"Where is that letter now?" asked Jack, his voice trembling with +eagerness. + +"Land live you! I guess I burned it up," replied Mr. Liggins. "I +never save letters. Get too many of 'em. But it was from some place +out in Colorado. A little country town, I reckon, or I'd have +remembered the name." + +"Try to think of it," pleaded Jack. "A lot may depend on it. I may be +able to get Mr. Tevis's address from the Capital Bank in Denver, but +they may refuse to give it to me, or may have lost it." + +"Wish I could help you, son," said Mr. Liggins, sympathetically. "But +I reckon I lost that letter. Hold on, though, maybe I can fix you up. +You say his address is at the Capital Bank?" + +"That's what I understand." + +"Well, I wouldn't be surprised. Come to think of it now, he did write +me he transacted all his business through them. More than that he +sent me a sort of card to use in case I ever got out there, and +wanted to see him. Said there was reasons why he didn't want every +one to know where he was, so he instructed the bank to give his +address to only those who showed a certain kind of card. I reckon I +kept that card as a sort of curiosity." + +"I hope so," murmured Jack. + +The stockman began looking through a big wallet he pulled from his +pocket. It was stuffed with papers and bills. + +"Here it is!" he exclaimed, as he extended a rather soiled bit of +pasteboard. "Queer looking thing." + +Indeed it was. The card had a triangle drawn in the center. Inside of +this was a circle, with a representation of an eye. In each of the +angles were, respectively, a picture of a dagger, a revolver and a +gun. On top appeared this: + +"_In Medio tutissimus ibis_" + +"Don't seem to mean anything as far as I've ever been able to make +out," Mr. Liggins said. "Looks like a cross between a secret order +card and a notice from the vigilance committee. And them words on the +top I take to be some foreign language, but I never went to school +enough to learn 'em." + +"They're Latin," said Jack, "and mean, literally, 'you will go most +safely in the middle,' or, I suppose, 'the middle way is safest.'" + +"That's like Orion Tevis," commented the stockman. "He was always a +cautious fellow, and rather queer here,"--he tapped his forehead. +"But now I don't mind giving you that card. It may be no good, and it +may help you. If it does I'll be glad of it. I owe you a good turn. +That was one of my steers that broke away, and I'm glad it didn't +cause a freight wreck." + +"I'll take good care of this," said Jack, as he put the card in his +pocket, "and send it back to you." + +"Well, if you find Tevis, just do as he says about it," the cattleman +answered. "Now I'll drive you back to the city." + +Jack was much pleased at getting the card. He felt it would help him +in his strange quest after his father. + +"It will be additional evidence, for us" he said to John. "Mr. Tevis +might think the rings were spurious." + +"Not much danger of that," the Indian answered. "Still, the card may +come in handy." + +Mr. Liggins drove the boys to the hotel where they were to stay over +night. They consulted the time-tables in the lobby, and learned that +their train did not leave until the next afternoon. + +"Now for a good night's sleep," said Jack, as he and his chums were +being taken up in the elevator to their rooms that night. At the +sound of the lad's voice a tall, dark man, in the corner of the car +started. Then, as he caught a glimpse of the boys' faces, he turned +so his own was in the shadow. + +"Well, well, luck has certainly turned things my way," he murmured. +"Here's where I get even for the trick they played me on the train." + +Little imagining they were menaced by one who felt himself their +enemy, the three chums went to their rooms, which adjoined. + +"Very good," whispered the dark man, who had remained in the corridor +as the boys walked it. "I think I will pay you a visit to-night." + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +A THIEF IN THE NIGHT + + +The boys were so tired from their day's adventures, and their travel +that they did not need a bit of paregoric to make them sleep, as Nat +expressed it, while he was undressing. They left the connecting doors +open between their rooms, and, after putting their money and +valuables under their pillows, soon fell into deep slumbers. + +It was about two o'clock in the morning when a dark figure stole +along the corridor and came to a halt outside the door leading to +Jack's room. + +"Doesn't make much difference which one I go in, I s'pose," was a +whispered comment from the man, who was the same that had ridden up +with the boys in the elevator. + +There was a slight clicking about the lock. Then something snapped. + +"No go that time," whispered the man. "Try another key." + +He selected one from among a bunch he held in his hand, and inserted +it in the lock of the door leading to Jack's room. This time there +was a different sort of click, + +"That's the time I did it," the intruder remarked softly. "Now to see +if I can't get some of the money they made me lose on that other +deal." + +Cautiously the man pushed open the door a few inches. It did not +squeak, but, even when he had ascertained this, the thief did not +enter at once. He paused, listening to the breathing of the three +boys. + +"Sound asleep," he muttered. "No trouble. This is easy." + +On tiptoes he entered the room. The lights were all out but enough +illumination came in from the street lights through the windows, to +enable the intruder to see dimly. He noted that the connecting doors +were open. + +"Easier than I thought," he muttered. "Now if they're like other +travelers they have everything under their pillows. If they only knew +that is the easiest place to get anything from! Pillows are so soft, +and you can get your hand under one without waking up the slightest +sleeper, if you go slow and careful." + +Up to the bedside of Jack the man stole. At every other step he +stopped to listen. He moved as silently as a cat. + +"I fancy the laugh will be on the other side this trip," the man +murmured. "I ought to get considerable from all three of them." + +By this time he had come so near to where Jack was sleeping that he +could put out his hand and touch the bed. An instant later his +fingers were gliding under the pillow. They grasped a leather +pocketbook. Had it been light enough a smile of satisfaction could +have been seen on the face of the thief in the night. + +"Number one," he remarked in a soft whisper. + +He moved into the next room, taking care not to stumble over a chair +or stool. He easily secured Nat's valuables, and then ventured into +John's apartment. + +"Ten minutes more and I'm through," the burglar thought. + +When he got to John's bedside, he listened for a few seconds. The +Indian student could be heard breathing in his slumbers, but at the +sound the man hesitated. + +"A slight sleeper," was his unspoken comment. "Liable to wake up on +the slightest alarm. I've got to be careful." + +His trained observance, despite the evil purpose to which it was put, +had at once told the intruder that John was a light and nervous +slumberer. Nevertheless the thief decided to risk it. He moved his +hand, inch by inch, under John's pillow. A shadow would have made no +more noise. It took him nearly twice as long as it had to get the +pocketbooks from Nat and Jack, but at length he was successful. +Holding the three in his hand he made his way to the door whence he +had entered. + +"I think I'll just take a look at what sort of a haul I made, before +I leave here," the man said. "No use carting a lot of useless stuff +away." + +There was a dim light burning in the hall, nearly opposite Jack's +door. Half concealed by the portal the man paused just within the +room and looked over the contents of the pocketbooks. + +"Plenty of bills," he observed. + +He took the money out and made it into one roll, and this he held in +his hand. Rapidly he went through the other compartments of the +wallets. He came across the queer card which Mr. Liggins had given +Jack. + +"Might as well take that along," he said to himself. "No telling what +it is, but it might come in handy. I might want to pretend I belonged +to the order, for it looks like a lodge emblem. I'll stow that away." + +The thief laid the wallets and the money down on the floor, while he +reached in a pocket to get a card case in which he carried his few +valuables. He placed the odd bit of pasteboard inside this. + +"Now to toss the wallets aside and skip with the cash," he murmured, +and suiting the action to his words he began to move softly into the +corridor. + +It was a good thing that nature had endowed John with a nervous +temperament, and had made him a light sleeper. For, at that instant, +or maybe a little before, some peculiar action on the Indian's nerves +conveyed a message to his brain. + +It was not a clear and definite sort of message, in fact it was +rather confused--in the same shape as a dream. John seemed to be +riding a big cow pony down a steep incline, after a big buffalo on +whose back sat a dark, smooth-shaven man. The same man, John thought +in his dream, he had seen in the elevator that evening. + +And while John was riding for dear life after the buffalo, he thought +he saw the strange man turn back and go to where the three boys had +left their coats on the grassy bank of Lake Rudmore. John fancied he +gave up his pursuit of the buffalo to leap off and run to where the +thief was stealing his own and his comrades' possessions. + +The shock of leaping from the back of a swiftly running pony, and +rolling head over heals as a result, awoke John, or, rather, the +peculiar action of his dream did. He sat up in bed with a jump, just +in time to see the thief putting the money into his pocket, and, with +the three wallets, steal out into the corridor. + +It must have been the continuance of the dream that made John act so +quickly. He leaped out of bed, half asleep as he was, and, with a +yell that sounded enough like an Indian warwhoop to startle his two +companions, he made a dash for the man. + +Out of the room and down the dimly lighted hall dashed the Indian +student. Before him fled the thief. + +"Stop!" yelled John. + +"What's the matter?" cried Jack, sitting up in bed and rubbing the +sleep from his eyes. "Is the place on fire?" + +"What's the matter? Have we missed the train?" Nat demanded to know. + +"Thieves!" was all John replied. + +By this time several guests of the hotel had awakened and there were +anxious inquiries as to what was going on. The thief sped down the +long corridor, with John, clad only in his nightdress, after him. The +fellow tossed the wallets down, but the flat way in which they fell +told John the intruder had taken their most valuable contents from +them. + +Well for the Indian that he was a fleet runner. Few there were who +could have distanced him, and certainly the rascal who was out of +training in athletic lines could not. A few more strides, and John +grabbed the man by the coat. + +"Now I've got you!" the Indian shouted. + +A moment later the two went down in a heap, the man's legs having +slipped from under him. But, even in the fall, John did not let go +his hold. The man kept one hand in his pocket. In the flickering +gaslight the Indian saw this, and rightly guessed that there the +money was. + +Quick as a flash John slipped his hand in and found the man was +grasping something tightly. + +"Let go!" the fellow growled. + +"Not much!" exclaimed John. "I'm after our money!" + +"I'll--I'll--cut you!" panted the thief. + +"Police! Murder! Fire!" yelled a woman outside of whose door the +desperate struggle was now going on. + +With a great effort John loosened the hand that clenched the money. +Then the Indian drew out the bills. The thief tried to grab them +back. As he did so John tried to get up, having accomplished the main +part of his purpose, that of saving his own and his chums' money. +But, as he did so, the thief gave a roll, to get on top. This brought +him to the edge of a flight of stairs, and, a second later the two +were rolling down. + +Bump! Bump! Bump! they went until they reached a landing. John's head +struck the baseboard, and, for a moment he was stunned. There was a +rush of feet in the corridor above. + +"Hold him! We're coming!" was the cry. + +John heard dimly. Then a blackness seemed to come over him. The +lights faded away. He just remembered thrusting his hand containing +the bills into his pocket, and then he fainted away. + +The thief, with nimble feet, was half way down the second flight of +stairs by now, for, finding the hold of his captor loosened, he made +the best of his opportunity. + +"Have you got him, John?" yelled Jack. + +"Hold him until I come!" shouted Nat. + +They had both run out into the hallway in time to see John pursuing +the thief. They reached the top of the stairs just as the fellow +fled. + +The thief, as he ran down the stairs, cast up one look. Jack Ranger +saw him, the light from a gas jet in the lower corridor shining full +on the man's face. + +"Professor Punjab! Hemp Smith!" exclaimed Jack, as he recognized the +fakir who called himself Marinello Booghoobally. + +"Did he get away?" asked Nat, coming up just then. + +"Yes, and I guess he's killed John," said Jack, his heart failing +him. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +A STRANGE SEANCE + + +By this time the corridors, above and below were filled with excited +men, all scantily attired. Nat and Jack ran to where John was lying +on the landing, and lifted his head. + +"I'm all right," exclaimed the Indian, as he opened his eyes. "Got a +bad one on the head, that's all. I can walk." + +He proceeded to demonstrate this by standing up and mounting the +stairs. + +"Did he get our money?" asked Nat. + +In answer John showed the roll he still held tightly clenched in his +hand. + +"Here are some pocketbooks," called a man from the upper hall. + +"Then we're all right, after all," spoke Jack. "Money and pocketbooks +safe. How did it happen? How did you land on him, John?" + +"He was in our room," replied the Indian. "I woke up and saw him. +Then I chased out, that's all." + +The man who had picked up the pocketbooks handed them to Jack. The +boy saw his own on top, and opened it, as he had a number of +souvenirs and keepsakes in it. As he glanced in he uttered a cry of +surprise. + +"The card Mr. Liggins gave me to present to Mr. Tevis is gone!" he +exclaimed. "Here! We must catch Professor Punjab! He has my card. +Come on!" + +Jack was about to rush down the stairs but was stopped by several of +the men. + +"You can't catch him," they said. "Besides, the police may have him +by now. Go back and get dressed." + +The boys decided this was good advice, particularly as they were +getting chilled, for the halls were draughty. They donned some +clothes, and were all ready when several bluecoats and a number of +detectives in plain clothes arrived. + +"Where'd they get in?" asked a big man, with a very black moustache. +"Let's see what sort of a job it was." + +"Right in here," said the hotel manager, leading the way to where the +boys roomed. "From all accounts this was the only place he broke +into." + +"Didn't really lose anything, did you?" asked the black-moustached +one of the boys. + +"He got a valuable card," said Jack. "I would not like to lose it." + +"What do you mean, a playing card; one you carried for luck?" + +"No, I don't carry such things for luck," replied Jack. "It had a +message on it." + +He described the queer bit of pasteboard Mr, Liggins had given him. + +"Oh I see; it was a sort of charm," interposed the detective with the +light moustache. + +"Well, we'll make a round of the pawnshops tomorrow. Maybe we'll +locate it." + +"I don't believe so," said Jack, half to himself. "It's not a thing +that would be pawned." + +The boy felt that Professor Punjab would be very likely to keep the +card, thinking it might be some mysterious talisman, which could be +used to advantage in his peculiar line of work. So Jack had little +faith in what the detective said. + +There was nothing more for the police or detectives to do. No trace +of the thief was to be found, and, after a general look around, the +officers departed and the hotel settled down to normal quietness. The +boys went back to bed, but it was some time before they fell asleep. + +Jack dozed uneasily, wondering how he was going to regain possession +of the card which Professor Punjab had stolen. + +"You ought to be thankful it wasn't our money, which it would have +been, only for John," said Nat next morning. "Penetrating peanuts! +When I think of what might have happened I shudder," and he gave an +imitation of a cold chill running down his back. + +"It's bad enough," said Jack. "Of course we need the money, but we +could get more on a pinch. We can't get another card like that, +though, and we may need it very much. At least I will." + +"Let's go to the police and make them find it," suggested Nat. + +"They'll never find it," put in John, who sat in a chair with his +head bandaged. "We'll have to depend on ourselves." + +The robbery, and John's slight wound, necessitated a change in their +plans. They wired to Mr. Kent, Nat's uncle, that they would be +delayed. Then they arranged to stay several days in Chicago. + +The hotel proprietor insisted on sending a physician, to see the +Indian. The medical man prescribed a rest, and, while John stayed in +his room his chums paid several visits to the police. Jack impressed +them with the value of the card, and the detectives really made +efforts to find it, and to arrest the "professor," but without +result. + +One evening, as Jack and Nat came back from a visit to police +headquarters, they found John much excited. + +"I think I'm on the right track," he said. + +"How?" asked Jack. + +"Listen to this" John went on, holding up a newspaper, and he read: + +"Attention, all who suffer or are in distress. Professor Ali Baba, +one of the descendants of the Forty Thieves, who has devoted his life +to undoing the wrong they did, will give palm readings, star gazings, +trance answers, locate the lost, and, by a method learned from an +Indian Yogi, double your money. Readings one dollar up." + +"You're not going to be taken in by one of those foolish +clairvoyants, are you?" asked Jack. + +"Not exactly," said John. "But if I am right I think this Professor +Ali Baba is Hemp Smith, or Professor Punjab under another name." + +"What makes you think so?" inquired Nat. "Rip-snorting radiators! But +if it should be!" + +"That last clause about doubling your money, by the Indian method +leads me to believe it," said John. "That is how Punjab tried to rob +Mr. Post. Now I'm going to try this and see what it amounts to." + +"But he'll know you as soon as he sees you," objected Nat. + +"Not the way I fix up," replied the Indian. + +The boys talked over the plan, and agreed it would do no harm for +John to attend a seance of the professor, whose address was given in +the advertisement. + +[Illutsration: Give me the card!--Page 177] + +John's best friend would hardly have known him as he sallied forth +the next day. He wore the bandages on his head, which was cut by his +fracas with the fake professor, and, in addition, he had tied one +about his jaw, as though he had the toothache. + +He had no difficulty in finding the place. Outside the door was a +sign reading: + +PROFESSOR ALI BABA. SCIENTIST. + +John was admitted by a rather slick individual, in a shining, greasy +suit of black. + +"The professor is busy just now," he said. "He will see you soon. +Meanwhile you had better give me a dollar, and state on which +particular line you wish to consult him." + +John handed over a two dollar bill and said: + +"Tell him to make it extra strong. I have lost a valuable article." + +"I am sure he can find it for you," the sleek man said. "The +professor has wonderful success." + +"Well he oughtn't to have much trouble finding this if he's the man I +take him for," thought John. As yet he was all at sea. He wanted to +get a glimpse of Professor Ali Baba. + +At last his turn came. Carefully keeping his face concealed, John was +shown into a room gaudily decorated with tinsel and cheap hangings. + +"Who seeks the knowledge the stars alone possess?" asked a deep +voice. + +Jack started. He recognized at once the tones of the recent Professor +Punjab. An instant later he had a glimpse of the pretended +astrologer's face and knew he could not be mistaken. + +"Draw near," said the fakir. "I know what thou seekest. It is that +which thou hast lost, and it is more precious to thee than rubies." + +"In this particular instance it is," thought John, but he did not +answer at once, as he was so excited he could hardly control his +voice. He did not want the swindler to recognize him. + +"Tell me but the veriest outline of that which thou seekest and I +will not only describe it, but tell you where you may find it, if the +stars so will," Punjab went on. + +"It is very difficult," said John, speaking in a sort of whisper. He +wanted to gain a little time, to think best how to proceed. He had +been more successful than he dared to hope. His reasoning had been +exactly right. Now he wanted to make sure of success. + +"No problem is too hard for those who read their answers in the +stars," replied the fakir. "Describe what you have lost." + +"It is square," said John, slowly, and he drew a little closer to +where the pretended astrologer sat on a divan in the midst of +hangings, which let but little light into the room. + +"Yes, square." + +"And flat." + +"Yes. Now one more little detail. I begin to see a glimmering of it +before me," and Professor Ali Baba pretended to go into a trance. + +"It is white with black markings on it," John went on. "In fact it is +something you have right here in this house." + +"What's that?" fairly shouted the professor. + +"It's that card you stole from Jack Ranger!" went on John, coming +close to the fakir and gripping him by the wrists. "The card you took +from his pocketbook the night you broke into our rooms. I want it +back! Give it up, you scoundrel, or I'll call in the police." + +"Let go!" yelled the professor. + +"Give me the card!" shouted the Indian, struggling to hold the man, +who was trying to break away. + +"Help!" cried the professor. + +The curtains parted and the man who had answered John's summons at +the door entered. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +FINDING ORION TEVIS + + +"What's the matter?" exclaimed the slick individual. + +"He's trying to rob me!" shouted the fakir. + +"It's the other way around!" came from John. "I'm trying to get back +something he stole from a friend of mine. Give up that card, you +rascal, or I'll yell for the police!" + +At the same time the Indian youth, who was strong for his age, gave +the wrists of Punjab such a wrench that the man cried out in pain. +Whether it was this, or the knowledge that he could not afford to +have a clash with the officers of the law John never decided, but the +professor muttered: + +"I'll give you the card. Let go!" + +"Want any help?" asked the sleek and shiny individual. + +"Don't you interfere!" exclaimed John, "or I'll have you arrested +too. Better keep out of this. The professor knows when he's beaten." + +"Let go of me," muttered the fakir. + +"Where's the card?" asked John. + +"It's in my pocket, but I can't get it while you hold my hands," the +pretended astrologer said. + +The Indian youth released his grip, but kept close watch of the +professor. The latter lifted up the gaudy robe and disclosed +underneath ordinary street clothing. He reached into an inner pocket +and brought out the card. + +"That's it!" cried John, grabbing it before the professor had a +chance to play any more tricks. "That's what I want!" + +"Now you've got it, you'd better get out of my house," said Punjab, +trying to assume his dignity which John had sadly ruffled. + +"Only too glad to," the Indian student said, and, carrying the +precious card in his hand he hurried from the place, throwing aside +his bandages as he did so. + +"I'll get even with you boys yet," he heard Marinello Booghoobally, +_alias_ Hemp Smith, _alias_ Professor Punjab, _alias_ Ali Baba, call +after him. But John was not worried over this and soon was back at +the hotel where his companions anxiously waited him. + +"Any luck?" asked Jack. + +"The best," replied John, and he told them all that had happened from +the time he entered Ali Baba's place until he secured the card, +which, he had turned over to Jack as soon as he got in. The police +were notified, but the fakir was too quick for them and escaped. + +"Now we'd better go straight for Denver," said Nat. "We're behind in +our schedule now, and maybe my uncle will not wait for us." + +John and Jack thought this a good scheme, so, having settled their +hotel bill, they were soon aboard a train again, and speeding +westward. They made good time, in spite of a few delays by slight +accidents, and arrived in Denver at night. + +"It's too late to go to the Capital Bank," said Jack. "Wish we'd have +gotten in earlier. But we'll make inquiries about Orion Tevis the +first thing in the morning." + +Long before the bank opened the boys had inquired their way to it +from the hotel where they stopped. As soon as the doors were swung, +to indicate that business might be transacted, Jack led the way into +the marble-tiled corridor of the institution. + +"Who do you want to see?" asked a uniformed porter. + +"The president," said Jack boldly, thinking it best to begin at the +top, and work down if necessary. + +"Want to deposit a million dollars I s'pose," the porter said with a +sort of sneer. Evidently his breakfast had not agreed with him. + +"I came here to inquire for the address of Mr. Orion Tevis," replied +Jack sharply, and in a loud tone, for he did not like to be made fun +of. "If the president is not the proper person to ask will you kindly +tell me who is?" + +"What's that?" asked a gray-haired man, peering out from a private +office. + +"I am seeking the address of Mr. Orion Tevis," repeated Jack. + +"Step right in here," the elderly man said. "Johnson, you may go down +into the basement and finish your work," he added to the porter who +hurried away, probably feeling as though he had grown several inches +shorter. + +"Now what is this about Mr. Tevis?" asked the man. "I am Mr. Snell, +cashier of the bank." + +"I want to find Mr. Tevis, in order to ask him if he knows the +whereabouts of a certain person in whom I am interested," said Jack. + +"Are you a private detective?" asked Mr. Snell, with a smile. + +"No sir, I'm Jack Ranger, from Denton, and these are friends of +mine," and Jack mentioned their names. + +"Well, suppose I say we haven't Mr. Tevis's address," spoke Mr. +Snell. + +"I was told it could be obtained here," Jack insisted. + +"If it could be, under certain conditions, are you able to fulfill +those conditions?" asked the cashier. + +"If you mean this, yes," replied Jack, showing his queer ring. + +"Where did you get that?" asked Mr, Snell + +"It's a long story," Jack said. "The last time I got it was when I +recovered it from a burglar. But we have another. Show him yours, +John." + +The Indian student exhibited the odd gold emblem with the pine tree +tracing on the moss agate. Mr. Snell looked at both circlets +critically without saying anything. He glanced at the lettering +inside. + +"I don't believe I am in a position to give you Mr. Tevis's address," +he said slowly. + +"What?" cried Jack. "After all our journey." + +"Show him the card," said John, in a whisper. + +Jack pulled from his pocket the curious bit of cardboard he had +secured from Mr. Liggins. At the sight of it the cashier uttered an +exclamation. He got up and closed the door leading to the bank +corridor. + +"That settles it!" he exclaimed. "Your credentials are all right. +Wait a minute." + +He pressed a button on his desk. A short, stockily built man entered +the room. + +"Perkins, you may feed the red cow," the cashier said gravely. + +"Yes sir," replied Perkins, as calmly as though he had been told to +hand over the city directory. + +"And whisper to her that the goats have come," the cashier went on, +at which Perkins turned and left the room. + +"Now boys I am ready for you," said Mr. Snell, and Jack related as +much of the matter as he thought might have a bearing on his search. + +"I can give you Mr. Tevis's address," the cashier went on. "You must +excuse my caution, but, as you doubtless know, there have been +strange doings in connection with that land deal. So you are Jack +Ranger?" + +"That's me. But now where can I find Orion Tevis and learn where my +father is?" + +"I'm afraid you're going to have trouble," Mr. Snell went on. "All we +know is that Mr. Tevis lives somewhere on a wild tract of land among +the mountains about one hundred miles from Fillmore." + +"Fillmore, that's where we have to go to get to Denville," said Nat + +"So it is," Jack murmured. + +"You see Mr. Tevis is a rather peculiar individual and surrounds +himself with many safeguards," Mr. Snell went on. "We were only to +give his address to those who brought the rings and the card. I was +at first afraid you were impostors, as there have been several such. +We are also required to send Mr. Tevis word as soon as any one comes +here, bearing the proper emblems, and seeking him. You heard what I +said to that man a while ago. It was a code message to be transmitted +to Mr. Tevis." + +"But if you know where to send him a message, why can't you tell us +how to reach him?" asked Jack. + +"I can tell you as much as we ourselves know. We send the messages to +a certain man living in Fillmore. He, in turn, rides off into the +mountains and, from what I have heard, leaves the letter in the cleft +of an old tree, of which he alone knows the location. Then he comes +away. In time Mr. Tevis, or some of his men, come and get the letter. +If he wishes to send an answer he leaves it in the tree. If not that +ends the matter. If he wishes to remain hidden he does so. He seldom +comes to town, and has only been at this bank once in a number of +years. Now, don't you think you have a pretty hard task ahead of +you?" + +"Will you tell me how to find this man in Fillmore, who knows how to +take that letter?" asked Jack. + +"Good!" exclaimed Mr. Snell. "That's the way to talk. I sized you up +for a plucky lad as soon as I saw you. Now if you will take pencil +and paper, I'll give you directions for reaching Enos Hardy, who may +succeed in getting a message to Mr. Tevis for you." + +Jack jotted down what Mr. Snell told him, and, at his suggestion, the +other two boys made copies, in case of accident. Then, having cashed +some letters of credit which they brought with them, the boys went +back to their hotel. + +"What are you going to do, Jack?" asked Nat. + +"I'm going to find Orion Tevis," was the reply. "I think I had better +do it before I go on to your uncle's ranch, Nat. What do you say?" + +"Slippery snapping turtles!" exclaimed Nat. "If I was you I'd do the +same thing. You ought to make that hundred miles and back in a week, +and we can go to uncle's ranch then. We'll go with you; eh, John?" + +"Sure," replied the Indian. + +"Let's hurry on to Fillmore," Nat went on. "If my uncle is there +waiting for us, we can tell him all about it. If not we can send him +a letter, telling him where we are going, and letting him know about +what time we'll be back. It's only twenty miles from Fillmore to +Denville, near where his ranch is." + +This plan was voted a good one, and as soon as the boys could catch a +train out of Denver they were speeding toward what was to be the last +railroad station of their long western trip. + +They were two days reaching it, owing to the poor connections, +because they were now traveling on branch line railroads, but they +got into the little mining town one evening at dusk. So explicit were +the directions Mr. Snell had given them that they had no difficulty +in reaching the Eagle Hotel, where the cashier had advised them to +put up. They registered, and, in accordance with their directions, +left a note with the hotel clerk for Enos Hardy. + +"He'll be in some time to-night," the clerk said. "He comes here +every evening." + +It was about nine o'clock that night when a message came to the boys' +room that Mr. Hardy would see them in the sitting room of the hotel. +Jack went down alone, and found waiting for him a grizzly, heavily- +bearded man, rather stoop-shouldered. He glanced from under his +shaggy eyebrows at Jack. + +"You left a message for Enos Hardy?" the man asked. + +"I did, in reference to Orion Tevis," admitted Jack. + +"Have you the emblems?" + +Jack showed the rings and card. + +"Um!" grunted the man. "What do you want?" + +"I want to see Orion Tevis, and ask him about my father." + +"It will take me three days to bring you an answer," Mr. Hardy went +on. "Will you wait here until then?" + +Jack bowed his assent. + +"You must trust the rings and card to me," Mr. Hardy went on. "Oh, +they will be safe," he added, as he saw Jack give a start of +surprise. "You can ask any one in Fillmore about me." + +Without a word Jack handed over the two rings and the bit of +pasteboard. + +"This is Tuesday," the strange messenger went on. "I will be back +here with an answer Friday night." + +"Then I can start for Mr. Tevis's place the next day," spoke Jack. + +"If the answer is favorable," Mr. Hardy said, as he left the room. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +JACK HEARS OF HIS FATHER + + +For a few moments Jack stood looking at the door that had closed on +Mr. Hardy. The man seemed a link between the boy and his long-lost +father, and Jack felt as if he would not like to allow Mr. Tevis's +confidant to be out of his sight. But he reflected if he was to see +the man who held his father's secret he must follow out the line laid +down. + +He went to where he had left Nat and John, and told them what had +happened. Jack announced anticipation of a favorable reply from Mr. +Tevis, who, he said, would, no doubt, keep his promise made years ago +to those to whom he had presented the rings. + +"Then we'll get ready to go with you," announced Nat. "Hopping +halibut! I forgot to write to my uncle. I heard from the hotel clerk +he had waited here for us two days, and then went back, leaving word +we could come on to the ranch, or wait for him. He'll be back inside +of a week." + +"That fits into our plans," Jack said. "Write and tell him we arrived +and will be ready to go with him a week from to-day, I think I can +learn what I want in that time." + +Accordingly Nat got a letter ready, and intrusted it to the hotel +clerk, who promised to send it to Double B ranch at the first +opportunity. Mr. Kent's ranch was known by the device of two capital +B's, one placed backwards in front of the other, and this brand +appeared on all his cattle. His uncle's place, Nat learned, was on a +big plateau in the midst of a mountain range. Men from it frequently +rode into Fillmore, and it was by one of them the hotel clerk +proposed sending the boy's letter to Mr. Kent. + +This done, the three chums sat in their rooms discussing the strange +things that had come to pass since they had left Washington Hall. + +"Seems as if it was several months, instead of a couple of weeks," +said John. "I'll be glad when we get out where it's good and wild." + +The boys found much to occupy their time in the hustling city of +Denver. They went about viewing the sights, but all the while Jack +was impatiently awaiting the return of Mr. Hardy. + +"I wonder if the days are any longer here than back east," he +remarked. + +"It's you," replied Nat. "Stop thinking about it, and Friday night +will come sooner." + +"Can't help it," Jack went on, with a deep sigh. + +Friday night came at last, though it was nearly ten o'clock before +Jack, who was anxiously waiting in his room, received a message that +some one wanted to see him. He went down and was met by Mr. Hardy. +The man showed the dust and grime of travel. + +"Well?" asked Jack. + +"When do you want to start?" asked Mr. Hardy. + +"To-morrow morning," was Jack's quick reply, and a load was lifted +from his mind. + +"Then I'll have a horse for you here at nine o'clock," Mr. Tevis's +friend went on, as he handed back the rings and the card. + +"Can't John and Nat go along?" inquired Jack, for he had mentioned +his friends to Mr. Hardy. + +"I suppose so," was the answer. "It will take longer if so many of us +go, but I have no orders to keep your friends back if they want to +accompany us. It's a wild trip, and has to be made on horseback." + +"They'll want to go. None of us is a good rider, but we'll do our +best" + +"Very well, I'll have three horses." + +"Do you think Mr. Tevis will have some news of my father?" asked +Jack, a note of anxiety coming into his voice. + +"I shouldn't be surprised," was the cautious answer. "Mr. Tevis can +generally be depended on to produce the goods. Now I'll leave you, as +I have lots of work to do before morning. I'm glad I succeeded in +arranging it for you," + +"So am I," exclaimed Jack, as he held out his hand and met that of +Mr. Hardy's in hearty clasp. + +"Can you two stand a hundred mile ride on horseback?" asked Jack of +his two chums, when he was back in his room. + +"Two if necessary," replied John. + +"And two it will have to be," Jack went on. "I forgot it's a hundred +each way. Well, we're in for it," and he explained what Mr. Hardy had +told him. + +The horses which Mr. Tevis's messenger brought around the next +morning proved to be steady-going animals. Their backs were broad and +they carried easy-riding saddles. Under the direction of the guide +the boys packed up some blankets and enough "grub," to last several +days, since they could not expect to make as good time as had Mr. +Hardy. Leaving their trunks and grips at the hotel the boys, with +their new-found friend in the lead, started for Mr. Tevis's mountain +home. + +"He's a strange man," said Mr, Hardy, as he rode along by Jack's side +a little later. "He had so much trouble with a band of bad men once +that he made up his mind he would have no more. He knows the gang is +still trying to get the best of him, and that's why he takes so many +precautions. It is the same ugly crowd that made your father an +exile, I understand." + +"But his exile is almost up," said Jack earnestly. "The eleven years +will pass this summer, and he can come back to us." + +"If you can only find him to get word to him." + +"Do you think I can't find him?" + +"Well, the mountains are a wild place. It's hard enough to keep track +of men who have no motive for hiding, let alone those who believe +every effort to locate them is made with an idea of doing them some +harm." + +"If I can only get word to him I know my father will wander no +longer. I need him and he needs me." + +Half a day's riding brought them to a wild part of the country. The +trail was a narrow one. Now it led along a high range of foothills, +skirting some deep ravine. Again it was down in a valley, along the +course of some mountain stream that was now almost dry. + +The bracing atmosphere, though it was so rarefied that the boys, at +first, found a little difficulty in breathing, made objects seem +strangely near. Several times Jack and his companions saw a distant +landmark, and wondered why they were so long in reaching it. Mr. +Hardy laughed at their astonishment as he explained the reason for +the seeming nearness. + +They had dinner on the side of a mountain which they had begun to +ascend shortly before noon. Mr. Hardy proved himself an old +campaigner. He had a fire made, and bacon frying before the boys had +the stiffness from their legs, caused by their ride. Then, with bread +and coffee, they made a better meal than they had partaken of in many +a hotel. + +That night they slept in a lonely mountain cabin, the owner of which +Mr. Hardy knew. They pressed on the next morning, their pace being +slow because Nat found he could not ride as well as he had hoped. + +"Galloping gooseberries!" he exclaimed. "I feel as if all my bones +were loose. You didn't see any of 'em scattered back along the trail, +did you, Jack?" + +"You'll get over it," said Mr. Hardy. "Got to learn to ride if you're +going on a ranch. No one walks there." + +They had to sleep in the open the next night, but Mr. Hardy built a +big fire, and, well wrapped in their blankets, the boys were not +uncomfortable, even though it was cold on the mountain from the time +the sun went down. + +It was cold, too, the next morning, as they crawled from their warm +coverings, but when their guide had thrown a lot of wood on the +glowing embers, causing them to spring into a fine blaze, the boys +got up and helped prepare breakfast. + +"We're almost there," said Mr. Hardy, as they mounted their horses to +resume their trip. + +They rode until shortly before noon, when Mr. Hardy suddenly pulled +his horse up and said: + +"Here's as far as we can go, boys, until we get word from Mr. Tevis. +There's the tree where I leave the messages." He pointed to a big oak +that had been struck by lightning, and split partly down the immense +trunk. One blackened branch stuck up. It had a cleft in it, in which +a letter could be placed and seen from afar. + +"Now I'll just leave a note there, and we'll have to be guided by +what happens," Mr. Hardy went on. + +He wrote something on a piece of paper, and asked Jack for the rings +and the card symbol. These, with the message he had written, he +placed in an envelope. The letter was enclosed in a bit of oiled +silk, and the whole deposited in the cleft of the limb. + +"It might rain before it is taken away," he explained. "You can never +tell when Mr. Tevis or his messengers come. He can see that letter +from his house, by using a telescope, but he may not send for it. It +all depends." + +"How will you know if he does?" asked Jack. + +"I will come back here to-morrow at noon," replied the guide. "If +there is an answer, there will be a little white flag where the +letter was, Then I will know what to do." + +There was nothing to do but wait. Mr. Hardy explained that it was +necessary that they move back down the mountain, a mile or more away +from the signal tree. To Jack and his chums this seemed a lot of +needless precaution, but they were in no position to do anything +different. + +Jack passed the night in uneasy slumber, for he could not help +thinking of what the morrow might bring and what effect it might have +on his search for his father. But all things have an end, and morning +finally came. After breakfast Mr. Hardy looked well to the saddle +girths, as he said, if they were to go further on their journey, they +would have to proceed over a rougher road than any they had yet +traversed. + +They started for the blighted oak so as to reach there about noon. +How anxiously did Jack peer ahead for a sight of the lightning- +blasted tree, in order to catch the first glimpse of the white flag +he hoped to see! He was so impatient that Mr. Hardy had to caution +him not to ride too fast. But in spite of this the boy kept pressing +his horse forward. As the little cavalcade turned around a bend in +the trail Jack cried out: + +"I see it! There's the white flag! Now we can go on and hear the news +of my father!" + +"Don't be too sure," muttered Mr. Hardy. "It may be a message saying +there is no news," but he did not tell Jack this. + +The sun was just crossing the zenith when Mr. Hardy took from the +cleft of the branch a small packet wrapped in oiled silk, similar to +the one he had left. Quickly tearing off the wrapping the guide +disclosed a piece of white paper. On It was but one word: + +"Come." + +"Hurrah!" yelled Jack, throwing his hat into the air, and nearly +losing his balance recovering it. + +"Walloping washtubs!" yelled Nat. + +"Let's hurry on," spoke John Smith, more quietly. But he, too, felt +the excitement of the moment, only he was used to repressing his +feelings. + + "Prepare for a hard ride," said Mr. Hardy. "We must make Mr. Tevis's +place by night, as it is dangerous to camp in the open around here. +Too many wild beasts." + +From the blasted oak the trail led in winding paths up the mountain. +It was indeed a hard one. Great boulders blocked the path, and there +were places where rains had washed out big gullies. But the horses +seemed used to such traveling, for they scrambled along like goats on +a rocky cliff. + +It was just getting dusk when, as they topped a considerable rise, +Mr. Hardy pointed ahead to where a light glimmered on the side of the +mountain, and said: + +"There is Mr. Tevis's house." + +Jack's heart gave a mighty thump. At last he was at one of the +important stages of his long trip. As the riders advanced there came, +from out of the fast gathering darkness a command: + +"Halt! Who comes?" + +"Friends!" exclaimed Mr. Hardy. + +"What word have you?" + +"Pine tree and moss agate," was the answer. + +"You may enter," the unseen speaker added. + +There was the sound of a heavy gate swinging open, and following +their guide the boys urged their horses ahead. They found themselves +on a well-made road, which led to a fairly large house. + +"Dismount," said Mr. Hardy, as he brought his steed to a halt in +front of a large piazza that surrounded the residence. "We are here +at last." + +As he spoke the door opened, sending out a stream of brilliant light. +In the center of the radiance stood a tall man, looking out. + +"Good evening, Mr. Tevis," spoke Mr. Hardy. + +"Ah, Enos, so you have arrived. And did you bring the boys with you?" + +"All three, sir." + +"Very good. Come in. Supper is ready." + +Jack sprang from his horse and, with a bound was on the porch beside +the man he had come so far to see. + +"Mr. Tevis!" he exclaimed, "Have you any news of my father? Is he +alive? Can you tell me where to find him?" + +"Yes, to all three questions, Jack Ranger," said Mr. Tevis, heartily, +and Jack felt his heart thumping against his ribs as though it would +leap out. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +ON THE RANCH + + +Some men came up and led the horses of the riders to a stable in the +rear. Mr. Tevis showed the way into his house. It was a big log +cabin, but was furnished with many comforts. On the floors were great +bear rugs, while skulls and horns of other animals decorated the +walls. The light came from two big kerosene hanging lamps. + +"Welcome to Cabin Lodge," said Mr. Tevis. + +"I hope you are all hungry, as we have a fine supper waiting for +you." + +"That's what I want," said Mr. Hardy. "We haven't stopped much for +grub since we started." + +"I'd like to hear more about my father, before I eat," said Jack. + +"I realize your impatience," Mr. Tevis replied, with a smile, "and +I'll endeavor to relieve your mind. I will tell you what I know while +the others are getting ready for the meal." + +Then Mr. Tevis told briefly the history of Robert Ranger, or Roberts, +as he best knew him, with the main facts of which Jack was familiar. +He told of his acquaintance with him and John Smith's father, and how +the bad men had tried unsuccessfully to get control of the timber +claim. Jack found him a peculiar man indeed, but seemingly good +hearted. + +"But what you want to know," Mr. Tevis went on, "is how to find your +father now." + +Jack nodded eagerly. + +"Of course you know I have not seen him in a long time, as he did not +think it wise to come here, fearing the gang would capture him and +get him into court. But I have heard from him, not later than three +months ago." + +"Where is he?" asked Jack, hardly able to sit still. + +"While I can't say exactly," Mr. Tevis went on, "I know he is +somewhere in a small range of mountains called Golden Glow. He has a +small cabin there, and manages to make a living by doing some mining. +He has one companion, whom he can trust, and who goes back to +civilization once in a while to get food and supplies. Your father +will not trust himself in sight of a town. In fact it is almost as +hard to communicate with him as it is with me." + +"Where are the Golden Glow mountains?" asked Jack. + +"The nearest town is Denville," was the answer. + +"Denville!" exclaimed Jack. + +"Yes, what is there strange in that?" + +"Why, we are going to Denville," Jack replied, "That's where Nat's +uncle's ranch is." + +"Yes, but the beginning of the Golden Glow mountain range is about a +hundred miles from there," Mr. Tevis added. + +"What's a hundred miles when I'm going to find my father and take him +back home with me?" asked Jack. "I can travel that." + +"You've got pluck," spoke Mr. Tevis. "I wish you luck, my boy." + +Then he told all the particulars he knew of Mr. Roberts' whereabouts, +how the exile had often written to him of his lonely life, and how +much he would like to see his son and his sisters again. + +"We have both been hounded by that gang of land sharps," concluded +Mr. Tevis, with a deep sigh. "I have found means of evading them by +living in this wild place, and adopting all sorts of precautions in +admitting visitors. That is why I was so careful on your account. I +could not tell who might be trying to play a trick on me. But I +devised that card for a few of my friends. Lucky you met Lem Liggins, +or I doubt if even the sight of the two rings would have convinced +me. But I felt reasonably certain no one could have both the card and +the rings. Even at that you saw how cautious I am, by the details Mr. +Hardy had to go through." + +"How would you advise me to reach my father, and let him know it is +safe to return?" asked Jack. + +Mr. Tevis paused a moment. He remained in deep thought for some time. +Then he spoke. + +"In one of his letters," he said, "your father told me if I ever +wanted to see him, to adopt this plan. There is in the Golden Glow +range one peak, higher than all the others. From a certain place in +it, a place marked by a big stone on which is carved a cross, a tall +pine tree, bare of branches, can be seen. By keeping down the side of +the slope, and in direct line with the pine you will come to a little +valley. At the lower end of this is your father's cabin. Only be +careful how you approach it. In this country men sometimes shoot +first and inquire afterward." + +"How will I know the high peak when I see it?" asked Jack. + +"You can hardly mistake it," Mr. Tevis remarked. "But you can be sure +of it, because, just at sunset, you will see it envelop in a golden +glow. That is what gives the name to the mountain range. It seems +there is a mass of quartz on top of the peak, and the sun, reflecting +from it just before it sets, shines as if from burnished gold. I +think you will have no trouble in finding the peak, and, though it +may be hard, I hope you will find your father. Here, let me give you +this. It may help you." + +He took from his watch chain, a curious little charm. It was in the +shape of a golden lizard, with ruby eyes. + +"Your father gave that to me many years ago," said the timber owner. +"If worst comes to worst, and you can't get to him, but can send him a +message, send that. He will know it comes from me, even if he doubts +the rings. It has a secret mark. Now let's go to supper." + +There were many thoughts in Jack's mind and many feelings in his +heart as he ate at the table at which they all gathered. He did not +join in the talk and laughter that went around. Mr. Hardy told Mr. +Tevis of the trip he and the three boys had made, and Nat and John +added their share to the general conversation. + +"What makes you so quiet?" asked Nat of his chum. + +"I'm thinking of what's ahead of me," Jack replied. + +Mr. Tevis wanted his guests to remain several days with him, but the +boys were anxious to get on to the ranch, and decided they would +start back for Fillmore the next day. That night Mr. Tevis returned +to John and Jack their rings, but he kept the peculiar card. + +"I will send it back to Lem," he said. "He might want to come and see +me some time. I still have to be on my guard. As for you boys, keep a +constant watch. There is no telling when those men may resume their +tricks. They know the time set by law is almost up, and they are +likely to redouble their efforts. Be on your guard, Jack." + +"I will," Jack answered, and then he and his chums bade their host +good-bye. Mounting their horses, and led by Mr. Hardy, they again +took up the trail, and the heavy log gate was shut after them, as +they left the stockade inside of which Cabin Lodge was built. + +When the boys and their guide went back to the hotel in Fillmore, the +return trip having been made in better time than the outgoing, there +was a letter from Mr. Kent to Nat. The boy's uncle said he was so +busy he had no time to come for them, but, he added, he would send +one of his men with three horses which the boys could ride out to the +ranch. Their trunks and baggage had been called for by one of the +Double B ranchmen while they were on their way to Mr. Tevis's, so the +boys had nothing to worry about but themselves. + +They had arrived at the hotel about noon, and having eaten dinner, +sat down to await the arrival of the man who was to escort them. He +had been in town for two days, the hotel clerk said, but, at that +moment, had gone to see some friends. + +"I'll send him up to your room when he comes in," said the clerk, and +the boys went upstairs to pack a few little articles that had not +gone on with their trunks and valises. + +It was while they were in the midst of that that a knock sounded on +their door. + +"Come in," cried Jack, all three being then in his apartment. + +A tall, slightly built man, with a little light moustache, blue eyes, +dressed in regulation cowboy costume, entered, holding his broad- +brimmed hat in his hand. + +"I'm lookin' for Nat Anderson an' his chums, Jack Ranger an' John +Smith," he announced. + +"Right in here," called out Nat. + +"I'm Rattlesnake Jim," announced the stranger, "and I come from +Double B ranch to show you the way." + +The boys were only too anxious to get started. They paid their hotel +bill, and when they got outside found there were three fine ponies +waiting for them. + +"Mount!" called Rattlesnake Jim. + +The lads were very glad of the practice they had in riding with Mr. +Hardy, for they felt their new guide was watching them closely. If he +had any fault to find he did not mention it. + +It was a pleasant afternoon, and, once they were out in the open +country, after ascending a slight rise, the boys let their animals +out. They found them plenty speedy enough. + +"Not so bad for tenderfeet," muttered Rattlesnake Jim, under his +breath. + +The road led along a long level stretch, the big plateau extending +for miles ahead of them. + +"About what time will we get to my uncle's place?" asked Nat + +"Grub time, I reckon," said Rattlesnake Jim, who, as the boys +afterward learned, had gained his name from the hatred he bore to the +reptiles. + +"Very busy now?" went on Nat. + +"Passably so. Been rustlin' after horse thieves for th' last few +nights," replied Jim coolly. + +Before the boys could get over this rather startling remark, Jack's +horse suddenly shied. The lad was nearly thrown off, and, as he +recovered his balance, and looked to see what had scared the animal, +he saw, in the shadow of a big stone at the side of the road, an old +man crawling along. + +"Hold on thar, stranger!" called Rattlesnake Jim, drawing his +revolver and covering the man. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +THE OLD MAN + + +"Don't shoot!" the old man begged, trying to stand up, but toppling +in a heap. "Don't shoot! I haven't done anything!" + +"We'll see about that," went on Jim, as he dismounted. "What are you +sneaking around like that for, hiding under a rock? If it had been a +little darker we wouldn't have seen you. Who are you?" + +"I don't know's it any of your affair," replied the stranger +sullenly, as he sat down on the ground. + +"Shot, eh," remarked Jim, as he noticed that the man's left foot was +covered with blood. "Now you'd better tell me all about it, before I +make trouble for you." + +"It was an accident," replied the man. "I was cleaning my gun. I +forgot I had a shell in it, and it went off and hit my foot. It was +back there, and I thought I'd crawl along until I got to some place I +could get help." + +"Likely story," said Jim with a sneer. "That don't go with me, +stranger. You stay here and I'll send some of the men to have a look +at you." + +"Are you going to leave him here?" asked Jack, who had dismounted, +and was walking toward the old man. + +"Sure. What else can I do?" + +"Let me look at his foot," went on Jack, "I know a little bit about +first aid to the injured. Maybe I can bandage it up," + +"Better let him alone," advised Jim, mounting his horse again. + +But Jack was bending over the man, and had already taken off his +shoe, which was filled with blood. As the boy was drawing off the +sock, the man caught sight of Jack's hand. + +"That ring! That ring! Where did you get it?" he asked excitedly, as +he caught sight of the moss agate emblem on Jack's finger. "Tell me, +who are you?" + +Jack looked at the man in astonishment. His words and manner +indicated that some unusual emotion stirred him. For a moment he +gazed at the ring and then a film seemed to come over his eyes. His +head sank forward, and a second later he toppled over. + +"He's dead!" exclaimed Nat. + +"Only fainted, I guess," replied Rattlesnake Jim coolly. "Lost +considerable blood I reckon. He's left quite a trail, anyhow," and he +pointed to where a crimson streak in the grass showed that the +wounded man had crawled along. + +"What shall we do?" asked John. "We can't leave him here." + +"Don't see what else there is to do," said Jim, as he turned his +horse back into the path. "We can't carry him. Besides, he is +probably only one of a horse-stealing gang, and has been shot in some +foray. Better leave him alone." + +"I'm not going to," declared Jack. "First I'm going to fix up his +foot, and then we'll go for help." + +"I guess my uncle will see that he is taken care of," spoke Nat, with +all a boy's confidence in things he knows nothing about. + +"Well, you can have your own way, of course," Jim said. "I'm only +sent to show you the way, but if it was me I sure would leave him +alone." + +By this time Jack had torn several handkerchiefs into strips to make +bandages. Jim, who began to take interest in what the boy was doing, +even if he did not believe in it, showed him where there was a pool +of water. With this Jack bathed the old man's foot. It had a bad +bullet wound in it, but the bleeding had stopped. Carefully bandaging +the wound, Jack made a pillow out of a blanket he found rolled behind +the saddle and with another covered the senseless form. + +"Now let's hurry on to the ranch, Nat," he said, "and ask your uncle +to send out a wagon. If none of the men want to come we'll drive." + +"Of course we will," spoke Nat, with rather an unfriendly look at +Jim, + +"Oh, I'm not so mean as that," the cowboy hastened to say. "You'll +find out here we have to be mighty particular who we make friends +with, son. But if you boys are so dead set on taking care of this-- +er--well, this gentleman, why I'll volunteer to drive a wagon back." + +"Thanks," said Jack, but from then on there was a better +understanding between the cowboy and the three chums. + +The boys mounted their horses, and, as Rattlesnake Jim put his to a +gallop, they urged their steeds to greater speed. As Nat swung up +along side of Jack he asked: + +"What makes you so anxious about that old + man?" + +"Because I think he may know something of my father. Did you notice +how excited he was about the ring? Well, that gave me a clue. He may +be able to lead me to where my father is hiding. I must have a talk +with him." + +There was considerable activity about the range when the boys and +their guide arrived. A score of the cowboys were coming in from +distant runs anxious for supper. Horses were being tethered for the +night. Half a dozen dogs were barking as though their lives depended +on it. Here and there men were running about, some carrying saddies, +others laden down with blankets, and some hopping around and firing +off their revolvers in sheer good feeling. + +From a little cabin a Chinese in the regulation blouse, with his +queue tightly coiled about his head, came to the door. + +"Wood-e!-Wood-e?" he called. "Me no glet glub me no got wood-e!" + +"Get Chinky the cook some wood!" yelled a man who seemed to be a sort +of overseer. One or two of the cowboys got up from the ground where +they had thrown themselves and brought armsful to the cook's shanty. + +"Here we are," called Rattlesnake Jim, as he and the boys rode into +the midst of this excitement. + +"Hello, Nat!" called a hearty voice. "Land alive, but I'm glad to see +you!" + +The next instant a red-faced, short, stout, bald-headed man was +nearly pulling Nat from his horse. + +"Hello, Uncle Morris!" called Nat. "How are you?" + +"Fine as silk. How about you?" + +"Never better," replied Nat "Here fellows, this is Uncle Morris. +That's Jack and that's John," he added, with a wave of his hand. + +"Howdy!" exclaimed Mr. Kent heartily, shaking hands with his nephew's +companions. "I'd been able to pick you out in the dark from the +description Nat gave. Come on in, grub's almost ready." + +"Will you speak to him about the old man?" asked Jack of Nat, in a +low voice. + +"Oh, yes, sure," and Nat told his uncle in a few words of the wounded +one, and Jack's desire to have him brought in. + +"I'll send some of the men in the wagon," Mr. Kent said. + +"Let me go also," Jack begged, and, after some talk it was arranged +he was to go with Jim and another cowboy. + +"But you must have supper first," said Mr. Kent. "I insist on that. +Besides it's going to be a warm night, and, according to your tale, +you left the stranger pretty comfortable. What do you think about +him, Jim?" + +"Well, there's no telling," the boy's guide said. "He don't look as +though he could do much damage. He's a stranger around here. Don't +talk like any of the usual crowd. I was a bit leery of him at first, +but the lads seemed to cotton to him right off, so I let 'em have +their way." + +"Well, we'll see what he amounts to," Mr. Kent commented. "No harm in +doing him a good turn I reckon." + +It was quite dark when Jack, accompanying Jim and Deacon Pratt, +another cowboy, started on the wagon trip. But after a bit the moon +arose, and the journey was not so unpleasant. Jack was much +interested in listening to the talk of the two men. They discussed +everything from the latest make of cartridges and revolvers to the +best way to rope a steer and brand a maverick. + +"Let's see, we ought to be pretty near the place now," Jim remarked, +after more than an hour's drive. "I think I see the big stone. Hark! +What's that?" + +A low moan was heard. + +"That's him, I reckon," put in Deacon, who was driving. He swung the +horse to one side, and Jim leaped down. + +"He's, here!" Jim called. "Pretty bad shape, I'm afraid. Come here, +Deacon, and lend me a hand." + +The two men lifted the aged man into the wagon, and placed him upon a +pile of blankets, while Jack held the team. + +"Do you think he's dead?" asked our hero. + +"Not yet, but he don't look as if he could last long," Deacon +replied. "I'll give him a bit of liquor. It may revive him," and he +forced a few drops of the stimulant between the cold lips. + +"Don't shoot!" the old man begged in a feeble tone. "I don't mean any +harm." + +"It's all right," said Rattlesnake Jim, more tenderly than he had yet +spoken. + +The trip back was made in quick time, and the old man was put in a +bed Mr. Kent had ordered gotten ready for him. They were rude but +effective doctors, those ranchmen, and, in a little while the +stranger had revived considerably. He was suffering mostly from +exposure, hunger and loss-of blood from his wound. + +The three boys were in the sitting room of the ranch house, taking +turns telling Mr. Kent of their experiences on their trip west. +Before they knew it the clock had struck twelve. + +"Now you must get off to bed," said Nat's uncle. "We'll have more +time for swapping yarns to-morrow." + +At that moment a man poked his had in at the door. + +"What is it?" asked Mr. Kent + +"That party we brought in a while ago, him as is shot in the foot, +seems to want something." + +"What is it?" + +"He says as how he's got to speak to that lad with the strange ring, +calls him Roberts." + +"He means me!" exclaimed Jack. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE COWBOY'S TRICK + + +"I thought you said your name was Ranger," said Morris Kent. + +"It always has been," Jack replied. "But my father has been going by +the name of Roberts. He was known as that to his associates, because +of the necessity for keeping him in exile. So I'll have to consider +myself as the son of Mr. Roberts and Mr. Ranger, until we get this +cleared up. I am trying to find my father, and I think this old man +can aid me. He seems to have a secret." + +"Then you had better go and see what he has to say," Mr. Kent +advised. Jack found the aged man propped up in bed. Though he was +still pale, he was evidently a little better. + +"Let me see that ring again," he said, and Jack, who had taken to +wearing the emblem on his finger, held out his hand. + +"Yes, yes; it is the same," he murmured. "I would know it among ten +thousand, though I have never seen it before." + +"Who are you, and what do you know about this ring?" asked Jack. He +had been left all alone with the old man, the cowboy who had summoned +him, and Mr. Kent, having left the room. + +"I am Peter Lantry," the wounded man replied. "Until a month ago I +lived with a man named Roberts, though his real name was Robert +Ranger. He took his first name for his last one because of some +scheming men. But that you know as well as I do. He told me all about +his son, and how, if he or I ever saw him he could be identified by a +peculiar ring, which he described. As soon as I saw the ring I knew +you must be the boy, and I have a message for you." + +"What is it? Tell me quickly," said Jack. + +"If I was only sure," murmured the old man. "Roberts warned me to be +careful about what I said. If I was only sure. I thought I was,--but +now I remember--he told me to be careful." + +"Careful about what?" asked Jack. + +"How do I know you are Robert Ranger's son?" asked the sufferer. "I +remember now, he said a stranger might get the ring. I wish I had +kept still," and he seemed quite worried. A flush came into his pale +cheeks, and it seemed as if he was in a fever. + +"If you doubt me, I can easily prove that I am Robert Ranger's son," +spoke Jack. "You probably know the story of Orion Tevis, and the +Indian, Smith. His son is here now, and he has a ring just like this. +Wait, I will call him." + +"No! No! Don't!" exclaimed Mr. Lantry. "I must tell you alone. Come +closer. I am weak, and I must whisper to you what I have to say. No +one else must hear." + +Jack sat down in a chair beside the bed, and the old man, looking +carefully around the room, as though he feared some one would hear +his secret, began: + +"Your father and I have lived for the past three years in a little +hut, hidden in the Golden Glow mountains. He never ventured far away, +and what few trips to town were necessary I made. Some time ago your +father became sick. I am a rough sort of doctor, and I knew he needed +some remedies for the heart. I managed to get them, and Roberts (I +always call him by that name) grew better. But about a month ago the +medicine got low, and I knew I must get more. You see, I only made +two trips to civilization a year, one in the spring and one in the +fall. In winter it is impossible to get out of the gorge where we +live. + +"I knew then I must start on my summer trip earlier than usual, for +the medicine in the shack would only last about two months. So I made +ready to go." + +"But tell me how to get to where my father is," interrupted Jack. +"That is important. I must hurry to him." + +"Wait a minute," spoke the old man. His brain was feeble and Jack +realized if he hurried or confused the sufferer he might get no +information at all. + +"I started away from the shack, as I said," Mr. Lantry resumed. "I +rode my horse when I was able and led him when it was too rough. I +had not traveled many miles before I realized that I was being +followed. I caught several glimpses of two men, who kept close on my +trail, and, try as I did, I could not shake them off." + +"Were they members of the timber gang?" asked Jack eagerly. + +"They were," replied Mr. Lantry. "I will be brief now, as I am +getting weak. I hurried on, but the men kept after me. They closed in +on me in a lonely place about fifteen miles from here, I judge." + +"What did they want?" asked Jack. + +"They demanded that I lead them to where your father was. They knew +they could never find the place without a guide, for, doubtless, they +had often attempted it. We had the shack well hidden, your father and +I. Of course I refused to show them the way. And they threatened to +torture me, but I only laughed. Then in sudden anger one of the men +fired at me. The bullet went wild as his companion knocked his arm +down in time, but it struck me in the foot. Then the men rode away. + +"I managed to keep on my horse until I fell off from weakness. Then +my animal wandered away and I had to crawl. I got as far as the rock +and was waiting there, hoping some one would come along, when you +found me." + +"How long is it since you left my father?" asked Jack. + +"It is a little over three weeks." + +"And perhaps he is in want and suffering now," the boy cried. "I must +hurry to him. Tell me which way to go," and Jack sprang up, as though +to start at once in the dead of night. + +"You must ride until--until you--until you see--you see-" + +The old man's voice had been growing weaker and weaker. The last +words came from him in a hoarse whisper, and, with a feeble moan he +fell back on the pillow, with closed eyes. + +"He's dead! Help! Help!" exclaimed Jack. + +Mr. Kent and several cowboys came running into the room. Mr. Kent +placed his hand over the sufferer's heart. + +"He is alive, but that's all," he said. "Jim, ride for the doctor." + +"He never told me how to find my father," said Jack in a low voice. +"Oh, if he would only live until he can tell me that! I must go to +him! He may be sick or dead, all alone in his cabin!" + +"Now don't you go to fretting, son," said Mr. Kent kindly. "You just +come away from here and go to bed. You're all tired out and worried. +This thing will all come out right. The old man may not be so bad off +as he seems. We'll get a doctor for him, and he'll fix him up so he +can tell you where your father is. If he doesn't I'll send the boys +out, and they'll go over all the mountain ranges hereabouts. They can +find a maverick in the wildest country you ever saw, and it would be +a pity if they couldn't locate a cabin, with all you know about where +it is." + +Jack felt encouraged at this, and said he would go to bed and try to +sleep. His companions had retired, as he learned when he got back to +the sitting room. + +"I'll give you a room on the quiet side of the house," said Mr. Kent. +"You can change after to-night if you like." + +He rang a bell, summoning the Chinese cook, who it appeared "was +housekeeper and general upstairs girl as well," and gave orders that +a certain room should be made ready for Jack. + +"That loom, him sleep by Cactus Ike," said the Chinese. + +"Never mind whether Cactus Ike is going to sleep there or not," said +Mr, Kent sharply. "You tell Ike he can bunk in with the rest of the +boys. He's no better than they are." + +"Me sabe," replied the Celestial. + +Jack was too tired to pay much attention to this conversation. Nor +did he attach any significance to a talk he heard under his windows a +little later. + +"What's the matter with Ike?" he dimly heard some one ask. + +"Mad 'cause he got turned out of his room for one of them tenderfoot +kids," was the answer. "I wouldn't want to get Ike down on me." + +"Aw, he's a big bluff." + +"He is, eh? Well, you wait." + +But, in spite of his troubles and worriment over his father, Jack was +soon asleep from sheer weariness, and when morning came he forgot +there was such a person as Cactus Ike. + +A doctor arrived from Fillmore about breakfast time and examined Mr. +Lantry. He said the old man was very sick, and would be for some +time. He was out of his head, from fever, and might be so for three +weeks. With careful nursing he would recover, said the medical man, +and he left some remedies. + +"We'll see that he gets well," spoke Mr. Kent. "I'll have the cook +look after him, for I guess it will be hard to get a nurse out here." + +"If he only recovers his reason, so he can tell me what I want to +know," Jack murmured. + +"Oh, he will," said Nat's uncle, confidently. "In the meanwhile you +will have to be patient. Your father is in no danger now, for his +partner did not count on getting back in over a month, and there was +medicine enough in the cabin to last until then. Otherwise there is +nothing to fear. You tell me the land stealers can't find the shack, +so what else is there to worry about?" + +"Nothing, I suppose," replied Jack, but, somehow, he couldn't help +worrying. + +"Cheer up," said Mr. Kent. "We'll get your father for you. In the +meantime while we are waiting for the old man to get well you must +learn ranch life, and get good and strong, so that if you do have to +take part in a hunt for him you will be able to stand roughing it." + +Jack thought this was good advice, as did his chums. They raced out +of the house after breakfast, determined to see all there was to see. +But this, they found, would take a long time. + +Mr. Kent's ranch took in about a thousand acres. Some of it was on +the first plateau, and part among the hills, where the cattle grazed. +Besides the house, there were stables for the horses, kennels for the +dogs, a cook house, a dining shack, the sides of which could be +thrown open in the summer, barns for hay and grain, and a big tall +windmill that pumped water. + +"Can we have regular horses while we're here?" asked Nat of his +uncle, as he and his chums started for the stable yard. + +"Sure," replied Mr. Kent "You just go over there and tell Rattlesnake +Jim I said he was to fit you out with a horse and saddle each. He +knows which will be the best for you, better than I do. I don't have +time to keep track of the animals. I'm going to be busy all the +morning, so you can do as you please, within reason. Don't stampede +the cattle, that's all," and he turned away with a laugh. + +The boys looked around the stable enclosure for their friend Jim, but +he was not to be seen. + +"Lookin' for any one?" inquired a tall cowboy, who appeared from +under the shed. He had small, black shifty eyes, and when he spoke he +looked anywhere but at one. + +"Where's Mr.--er--Mr. Rattlesnake Jim?" asked Nat. He was not exactly +sure how to address, or speak of the cowboys with their queer titles. + +"Jim? Oh, he's gone over on the Spring range. Was you wantin' +anything?" + +"Only some horses," said Nat. + +"Oh, you're the boys," spoke the man. "Did Mr. Kent say you are to +have 'em?" + +"Uncle Morris said Jim would give us horses to ride," Nat went on. + +"Well, I guess I can pick 'em out for you," the man said. "One of you +boys named Ranger?" + +"I am," said Jack, + +"Oh, yes, you're a friend of the old man who was shot," went on the +cowboy as he entered the stable. "Well, I'll pick out horses I +think'll suit." + +He disappeared into the regions of the stalls, and soon came out, +leading a fine black horse. He threw a saddle over its back. The +animal seemed a bit restive. + +"Here's your horse, Ranger," the cowboy called. + +"Is he safe?" asked Jack. "I'm not a very good rider." + +"A girl could manage him," was the answer. "See, he's as gentle as a +lamb," and so it seemed for the man opened the animal's mouth and put +his hand in. + +Thus encouraged, Jack mounted, and the horse moved off at a slow +pace. + +"I guess he's all right," Jack thought + +In a few more minutes two more horses were saddled, and Nat and John +had mounted. + +"Now for a good gallop over the plain," called Nat, as he led the way +from the stable yard. + +Jack was the last to ride forth. As he was passing the gate that +closed the corral he heard some one call to the man who had just +saddled the steeds: + +"Who'd you give the black horse to, Ike?" + +"None of your business," was the reply. "I'm running this game." + +"Ike," thought Jack. "I wonder where I heard that name before." Then +the memory of the conversation under his window came to him. "Oh, +well, guess it's all right to have this horse," the boy thought. "I +can't harm him." + +As the cowboy turned back into the stable a grim smile passed over +his face. + +"Good gallop!" he muttered. "Lucky if you don't break your neck." + +"Come on! I'll race you!" called Nat, and the three boys were soon +speeding over the level plain. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +JACK'S WILD RIDE + + +The boys thought they had never been on such fine horses. The animals +had an easy gallop that carried one over the ground at a rapid pace, +yet which was not hard for a beginner. + +"Talk about your sport!" exclaimed Jack. "This is glorious; eh, +John?" + +"Best thing I ever struck," replied the Indian. "I feel like my wild +ancestors, riding forth to battle. Whoop! la Whoopee! Whoop ah +Whoope! Wow! Wow!! Wow!" + +It was a regular Indian war-cry that issued from John's mouth, and, +leaning forward on his horse's neck, he urged the beast to a terrific +pace. + +No sooner had the strange cry vibrated through the air than Jack's +horse gave a bound that nearly unseated its rider. It leaped forward +so suddenly that Jack was almost flung off backward. Then the steed, +taking the bit in its teeth, bolted like the wind. Jack recovered +himself with much difficulty. He tried to sit upright, but found he +had not skill enough for the task. There was nothing for it but to +lean forward and clasp the horse about the neck. In this way he was +safe, for a time, from being tossed off. + +The horse turned from its straight course and began to gallop around +in a large circle. Then it made sudden dashes to the right and left, +turning so quickly that several times Jack was nearly thrown off. + +"The horse is mad!" cried Nat, urging his own steed forward, with an +idea of trying to catch the one Jack rode. + +The animal's next move seemed to bear this out. It reared on its hind +legs and pawed the air with its powerful fore-feet. Jack would have +been thrown off, but for the tight neck-hold he had. Next the beast +kicked its hind feet into the air, and Jack came near sliding to the +neck. + +"Drop off!" cried Nat. + +"Stay on!" shouted John, who, seeing his friend's plight, had turned +and was riding back. + +"He'll be killed if he stays on," shouted Nat. + +"Yes, and he'll be trampled to death if he leaps off," called back +John. "He's a balky horse, I guess." + +"I think he's a mad one." + +The next instant the animal, that had been rushing straight ahead, +came to such an abrupt halt that Jack was actually flung from the +saddle. He went right up into the air and slid along the horse's +side. Only the grip he had of the neck and the mane saved him from +falling. Before the horse could make another start the boy had +wiggled back to his seat. + +Then came what was probably the hardest part of it all. The horse +gathered its four feet under it and rose straight up in the air, +coming down with legs stiff as sticks. Jack was not prepared for this +and the resulting jar nearly knocked the breath from him. + +"He's a bucking bronco!" cried John. "Rise in your stirrups when he +lands next time." + +This Jack did, with the result that the jar came on his legs, and was +not so bad. + +Finding it could not thus rid itself of it's persistent rider, the +horse began to run straight ahead again. It went so fast that the +wind whistled in Jack's ears, and he was in fear lest he be thrown +off at this terrific speed, and injured. He held on for dear life. + +But the horse had still another trick. Stopping again with a +suddenness that nearly unseated Jack, it dropped to the ground and +started to roll over, hoping to crush the boy on its back. + +"Get out of the way, quick!" called John, who was watching every +move. + +Jack did so, just in time to escape having his leg broken. + +"The horse must be crazy," said Nat, who had never seen such antics +in a steed before. + +"There's some reason for it," commented John. "There he goes!" + +The horse was up an instant later, and dashed off, but had not gone a +hundred yards before the saddle fell to the ground, the holding +straps having broken. At this the animal stopped, and seemed all over +its excitement. + +"That's funny," said John. He dismounted from his horse and ran +toward Jack's animal. The horse allowed himself to be taken by the +briddle and lead, showing no sign of fear. John bent over and was +examining the saddle. + +"I guess your yell must have scared him," spoke Jack. "It was the +worst I ever heard." + +"It wasn't that," replied John. "Western horses are used to all sorts +of yells. Ah, I thought so," he went on, "this explains it." + +He pulled something from the underside of the pad and held it up to +view. It was a long cactus thorn. + +"That was what bothered the horse," John said. "It must have been +torture to have any one on the saddle. See there," and he pointed to +several drops of blood on the animal's back. + +"Why didn't it act so as soon as I got on?" asked Jack. + +"Some one has played a trick," said John "See, the thorn was trapped +in cloth, so the point would not work through until the horse had +been ridden some distance. I wonder who did it, and what for?" + +"I know," Jack exclaimed, as the memory of the talk under his window +the night previous came to him. "It was Cactus Ike," and he told what +he had heard. "He wanted to get even with me for having been the +cause of his being turned out of his room. No wonder they call him +Cactus Ike." + +"I'll tell uncle Morris," cried Nat. + +"No, say nothing about it," counseled John. "We'll get square in our +own way. Pretend nothing happened. If Ike asks us how we liked the +ride, we'll never let on we had any trouble. It will keep him +guessing." + +The broken straps were repaired and, by making a pad of his +handkerchief Jack was able to adjust the saddle without causing the +horse any pain. The animal seemed quite friendly, after all the +excitement, which was only caused by its efforts to get rid of the +terrible thorn that was driving it frantic. In its roll it had +accomplished this, and had no further objection to carrying a boy on +its back. + +Cactus Ike cast several inquiring glances at the lads as they rode +into the ranch yard about an hour later. But he did not ask any +questions. As the chums were going toward the house Jack heard one of +the cowboys remark to Ike: + +"The black horse looks as if it had been ridden pretty hard." + +"I'll make him ride harder next time," muttered Ike, but whether he +referred to the horse or to himself, Jack was not sure. He watched +and saw Ike looking at the sore on the animal, over which the boy's +handkerchief was still spread. Jack's first inquiry was as to the +condition of Old Peter Lantry. + +"He's no better," replied Mr. Kent "You'll have to be patient, Jack. +All things come to him who waits. Did you have a good ride?" + +"I got lots of practice," replied Jack, not caring to go into +details. + +"Can't get too much of it," replied Nat's uncle. "You can see some +good examples this afternoon." + +"How's that?" asked Nat. + +"Some of the boys are going to have a little sport among themselves," +replied his uncle. "They do every once in a while when the work gets +slack. They're coming in from some of the outlying ranches, about +forty of 'em, I guess." + +"What'll they do?" asked Jack. + +"You'll see," replied Mr. Kent. + +Before dinner time the cowboys began arriving. And in what a hurly- +burly manner did they come! On their fleet horses or cow-ponies they +rode along the trails as if it was in the early days and a tribe of +wild Indians was after them. They came up on the gallop, shouting, +yelling, and firing their big revolvers off into the air. + +Up they would rush, almost to the porch that surrounded the house. +Then they would suddenly pull their horses back on their haunches and +leap off with a whoop, the well-trained beasts standing stock-still +when the bridle was thrown over their heads. + +Then began such play as the boys had never seen before,--such riding +as is not even seen in the best of the Wild West shows. The men +seemed part of the horses they bestrode, as the animals fairly flew +over the ground. + +"If we could only do that!" exclaimed Nat. + +"Maybe we can, with practice," said Jack. "John has learned a lot +already." + +"But he knew some before he came here," replied Nat. + +The men had impromptu contests to see who could pick up the most +handkerchiefs from the ground, leaning from their saddles as their +horses galloped past. They picked up potatoes in the same way. They +roped wild steers, dropping the lariat over a designated horn or leg, +and throwing the animal on whichever side the judge suddenly called +on them to do. + +Then such shooting at marks as there was! The men used their +revolvers with almost the skill of rifles. They cut cards, punctured +cans tossed high in the air, and clipped upright sticks at distances +from which the boys could scarcely make out the marks. + +It was an afternoon of wild, exciting, blood-stirring and yet +healthy, clean fun, and the boys were so worked up they hardly knew +whether they were standing on their heads or their feet. + +The last contest of the day had been called. It was a test between +two of the most skillful cowboys, to see who could lasso the other. +As they were circling around on their horses, each seeking an +opening, there came dashing up the road a man, on a foam-flecked +steed. He put the horse right at the fence, which it leaped, and rode +to where Mr. Kent stood. + +"The cattle on the upper range have stampeded!" he yelled. "They're +headed for the canyon!" + +"Here boys!" shouted Mr. Kent. "Sharp work now! Send my horse here! +We must head 'em off!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +THE CATTLE STAMPEDE + + +If there had been confusion and excitement before there was more of +it now. Yet no one lost his head. There was a way of going about it, +and though it seemed as if everyone was running here and there, +without an object, there was a well-worked-out system evident. + +The cowboys began looking to their saddle girths, for there was hard +riding ahead of them. Some ran to the supply house for extra +cartridges, and these were hurriedly thrust into belts or pockets. +Coats and hats that had been discarded were donned, and several men +began packing up some bacon and hardtack, while others strapped +simple camp outfits back of their saddles, for there was no telling +how long they would be obliged to be on the trail. + +"Come on! Let's go!" cried Jack, and he and his two chums raced for +the stables. + +"Will they let us, do you think?" asked John, whose eyes sparkled at +the thought of the chase. + +"Of course," replied Nat. "Uncle said he wanted us to learn the ranch +business. I'll ask him." + +But Nat did not get a chance. Mr. Kent was too busy preparing to ride +after his stampeded cattle to pay any attention to the three boys. It +is doubtful if he thought of them. + +So the chums, without further permission than Nat's idea that it +would be all right, saddled their horses, Jack taking the black which +he had come to like very much. They rode from the corral and out on +the road that led to the north where the upper range lay. The lads at +once found themselves in the rear of a galloping throng of cowboys. + +"Come on, let's get up ahead," shouted Nat, and they urged their +horses forward, passing the others. When they were almost in the van +a voice hailed them: + +"Where you boys going?" + +They turned, to see Mr. Kent riding toward them. + +"Oh," said Nat, a little confused. "We thought you'd want us to go to +learn how to manage a herd of cattle." + +"Manage stampeding cattle," muttered Mr. Kent. "You boys must be +crazy. But it's too late to send you back, I suppose. Only don't ride +your horses to death the first thing. You've got lots of work ahead +of you." + +With this encouragement the chums dropped back, listening to the talk +of the cowboys about what was ahead of them. + +"Remember the last stampede," one tall lanky rider asked his +neighbor, who was nearly the same build. + +"The one where Loony Pete was trampled to death?" + +"That's the one. The steers sure made mincemeat of him all right. +Hope no one gets down under foot this trip." + +The boys looked at each other. This was a more dangerous undertaking +than they had anticipated. + +The riders advanced at an even, if not rapid pace. The cowboys as +their horses ambled on were loading revolvers, looking to their +lariats, tightening the packs which they carried on the back of their +saddles, and making ready for the hard task ahead of them. + +From listening to the talk, the boys learned that the upper range was +about five miles distant, and was where the choicest cattle were +herded, preparatory to being shipped away. The range was a big one, +but, about ten miles from it, was a deep and dangerous canyon, at the +beginning of the hills, which as they grew larger became the range of +Golden Glow mountains. It was toward this canyon that the steers were +headed, in a wild, unreasoning rush. + +It seemed impossible for the cowboys to get ahead of them in time to +head them off. But the cattle had a longer way to travel than did the +men, and the latter could take a diagonal course and, if they had +luck, reach the edge of the canyon first. It was planned to get +between the oncoming herd and the edge of the gulch, and turn the +steers back, if possible. + +"Better hit up the pace!" exclaimed Mr. Kent, when they had ridden +several miles. "We don't want to be too late." + +The boys, realized, as did the men, that if the cattle, in their +rush, reached the canyon, they would pile up in the bottom, and +hundreds would be killed. + +The horses were now galloped and the cavalcade raised quite a dust as +it hastened over the prairie. The men began lossening the revolvers +in their belts, and several unslung their lariats, ready for instant +use. In about half an hour they began to ascend a slight rise that +led to a plateau which extended into the range. Ahead of them, and +about two miles to their right, lay the gulch. + +"Well, we're here first!" exclaimed Mr. Kent, as he topped the rise +and glanced to the left. + +"Hark!" cried Rattlesnake Jim, who rode next to him. "I hear 'em!" + +A noise like distant thunder sounded over the plain. Then, about +three miles away, there arose something that looked like a dark +cloud. + +The sound of thunder came nearer. The dust cloud was plainly to be +seen. Right ahead, so as to cross it on the slant, rode the group of +men. The boys were in the rear. Mr. Kent gave a glance back and saw +them. He shouted something but the chums could not hear him amid the +pounding of hoofs. They saw the ranchman make signals, but did not +understand them. + +Then they saw several men from the front rank of the cowboys circle +around and come up behind them. + +"You young rascals!" exclaimed Rattlesnake Jim. "You ought to be +spanked for coming along! Mr. Kent says to keep in the middle now. +We're going to ride behind and keep your horses on the go. If they +lag behind you're liable to be killed!" + +Things began to look serious now. The lads found themselves in the +midst of a throng of cowboys, and the horses of the chums, being +surrounded by steeds ridden by experienced cattlemen, picked up their +pace and went forward on the rush. + +Closer and closer approached the dark cloud. Nearer and nearer +sounded the thunderous pounding of hoofs. Then, as the boys looked, +they could see through the dust that was blown aside by a puff of +wind, thousands of cattle, with heads on which flashed long, sharp, +wide-spreading horns, rushing madly along. + +"Wow! Wow! Wow!" yelled a score of cowboys. + +Bang! Bang! Bang! spoke a score of big revolvers. + +"Right across now!" yelled Mr. Kent. "Try and turn 'em! If we don't +do it, then back again, once more!" + +Then began such a ride as the boys had never dreamed of. Across the +ragged front of the maddened animals the men urged their horses on a +long slant. Lying low in their saddles, holding on with one hand, and +firing revolvers with the other, the cowboys rode, there being no +need to guide the trained horses. + +Bang! Bang! Bang! It was like a skirmish line firing on the enemy. +The boys, who had secured revolvers as they rushed to the stables, +fired as the men did, right in the faces of the advancing steers. The +cartridges were blank, but so close were some of the men that the +burning wadding struck the cattle. + +Could they stop the rush? Could the maddened and frightened steers be +halted before they plunged over the cliffs? + +The line of cattle was about a quarter of a mile wide. In less than +two minutes the cowboys, with the three chums in their midst, had +swept across it. But the steers had not stopped. They were several +hundred feet nearer the canyon, which now was but a mile away. There +would be time for but one, or possibly two more attempts, and then it +would be too late. + +But the cowboys never halted. Wheeling sharply, they dashed once more +across the front of the steers. Their yells were wilder than ever, +and the shooting was a continuous rattle. + +"Rope some on the edges!" yelled Mr. Kent. + +At that some of the cowboys rode back and, whirling their lariats +above their heads, sent the coils about the horns of some on the left +fringe. The animals went down in a heap, right in the midst and under +the hoofs of the others. Of course they were trampled to death, but +this was the means of causing a number to stumble and fall, and so +halt those back of them. + +This could only be done on the two outer edges. To have attempted +this in the center of the stampeding herd would have meant death for +the cowboy who tried it. + +The second dash across the front had been made, and the frightened +cattle had not been more than momentarily stopped. They were still +rushing toward the cliff. + +"Once more!" called Mr. Kent. "This is our last chance!" + +The canyon was hut a quarter of a mile away, If the rush was not +stopped now, it meant the death of many valuable animals, and the +possible scattering of the herd. + +Again across the front, bristling with waving horns, rode the brave +men. Their revolvers spat out fire and the smoke almost obscured the +oncoming steers. The men yelled until their throats were parched. + +"Make a stand! Make a stand!" yelled Mr. Kent. + +The cowboys bunched together, riding their horses in a circle, the +center of which was the boys. For a moment it seemed as if death was +coming to meet them on the wings of the wind. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +HUNTING MOUNTAIN LIONS + + +"Wow! Wow! Wow!" yelled the cowboys, in desperation. + +To the noise John added his Indian warwhoop, and again the men began +firing revolvers, which had been rapidly reloaded. It was a critical +moment. It was the turning point of the stampede. Back, back, back +the rushing cattle forced the men, who still kept circling. Now the +canyon was but two hundred feet away. + +And then, almost as suddenly as it had been started, the stampede was +over. The foremost cattle slowed up. They raised their heads, and +bellowed. For a few seconds the front line was pushed ahead by those +behind. Then all through the herd seemed to go a message that the run +was over. + +Plowing the dirt up with their feet, as they vainly tried to stop, +but could not because of the push that still was exerted behind them, +the foremost cattle advanced nearly to the knot of horsemen. But the +cowboys did not budge, knowing it was ended now. Then, with loud +shouts and waving hats they turned the herd so that it circled around +and was started back toward the range. + +So close were the rear men to the canyon, when this had been done +that they could have tossed a stone down into the depths. + +"Narrow squeak, that!" observed Rattlesnake Jim, as he wiped the +sweat from his forehead with a big red handkerchief. "'Bout as close +as I want 'em," observed Mr. Kent. "I wonder what started 'em off +this way." + +"Maybe it was mountain lions," said Jim. "I heard there was quite a +few around lately, looking for nice juicy young calves." + +"It wasn't lions that started 'em this time," said the man who had +brought word of the stampede, and who had ridden with the others from +the ranch. + +"What was it then?" asked Mr. Kent. + +"It was done by two men, so some of the boys told me, just before I +started out," replied the messenger. "They said they saw a couple of +strangers hanging about the range the other night, but didn't think +anything of it. We were all in the range house this morning, getting +breakfast, when, all of a sudden, the steers started off." + +"But what made 'em &o?" asked Mr. Kent. + +"Some of the boys saw these strange men starting a fire close to some +of the cows," explained the messenger. "The grass was dry, and, in +one place it burned quite hard. Some of the steers got scorched +before they knew what was happening, and they went off on the dead +run. The two men trampled out the fire, and ran away. The + boys started after the cattle, and sent me on to tell you." + +"This will have to be looked into," murmured Mr. Kent. "But now let's +get the cattle back on the range." + +It was nearly dusk when this had been accomplished, and it was a +tired and weary throng of men and boys that started for the ranch +house in the gathering twilight. The horses could only amble along, +for the strain had been hard on them as well as on the men. + +The next few days the boys spent in going about the ranch, close to +the house. They were much in company with Rattlesnake Jim, who took +pleasure in telling them things all good cowboys should know. He +showed them how to make a lariat, and even instructed them a bit in +its use, though John needed but few lessons to become almost as +expert as his teacher. Jim told them the best way to camp out on the +plains at night, how to make their fires, and warned them to be +careful not to set the grass ablaze in dry weather. He also showed +them how to tether their horses, the best way of adjusting a saddle, +and instructed them in the art of finding their way at night by the +stars. + +In short the boys learned more in a few days from Jim than they could +have picked up alone in a month. They were so enthusiastic that they +would have sat up all night listening to their new teacher. + +As for riding, the lads improved very much as Jim showed them how to +mount, how to sit, how to guide the horse by the mere pressure of the +knees, and other tricks of which a "tenderfoot" never dreams. + +After supper, one evening, when the boys, Mr. Kent and Rattlesnake +Jim were in the sitting room, a common resting place for all on the +ranch, Jack asked: + +"Are there really mountain lions around here?" + +"There used to be," said Mr. Kent, "but I haven't seen any lately." + +"I heard some of the boys from the upper range say they heard 'em, a +few nights ago," spoke Jim. + +"That ought to be looked into," said Mr. Kent. "They're nasty +customers to get among a herd." + +"Can't we go hunting 'em?" asked Nat. + +"What do you know about hunting mountain lions?" asked his uncle. +"They'd eat you up." + +"Not if we took Jim along," put in Jack. + +"I shot a lynx once," said John. + +"That's nothing like a mountain lion," Mr. Kent remarked. + +"Can't we go?" pleaded Nat. + +"I'll see about it," his uncle answered. + +He did see about it, with such good effect that, a few days later he +called the boys in and showed them three fine rifles. + +"Can you shoot?" he asked. + +"A little," they replied, wondering what was coming. + +"Then take these and see if you and Jim can bag a few lions," Mr, +Kent went on. "I hear they got a couple of calves last night. Now-- +now--never mind thanking me," as the boys fairly stuttered their +expressions of surprise and happiness. "Better see Jim and get +ready." + +The boys lost no time in doing this. They found Jim almost as pleased +as they were. The cowboy at once began preparing a camping outfit, +and that night he announced they would start in the morning. + +"For how long?" asked Mr. Kent. + +"We'll make it four days, if the boys can stand it," Jim replied. + +The haunt of the lions was in a range of low foothills to the north +of the range from which the herd had stampeded. It was planned to +ride to the house where the cowboys in charge of that bunch of cattle +lived, and there leave the horses. They would proceed on foot up into +the hills, where the trails were so rough that horses were of little +use. + +They camped that night at the ranch house, and the boys hardly wanted +to go to bed when Jim and some of his acquaintances began to swap +stories around the fire. + +"Better turn in," advised Jim, about ten o'clock. "Have to be up +before sunrise, you know." + +The next morning they tramped for several miles, the country getting +wilder and wilder as they proceeded. The trail was up now, for they +had entered the region of the foothills. Beyond them lay the +beginning of the Golden Glow mountain range. + +"That's where my father is," Jack thought "I hope I can soon find +him." + +It was almost noon when they reached a spot that Jim decided would be +a good place to camp. It was under a sort of overhanging ledge, and +well screened by trees. + +"We'll leave our stuff here," he said, "and, after dinner, the real +hunting will begin." + +Little time was lost over the meal, and, having seen to their rifles +and knives, the four hunters started along the trail, making their +way through low brush and over big boulders. Jack who had forged +ahead, with Jim close behind him, was suddenly pulled back by the +cowboy's hand, + +"Look there!" exclaimed Jim. + +In a soft place in the ground, just where he was about to set his +foot, Jack saw some peculiar marks. + +"The tracks of a mountain lion!" Jim exclaimed in a whisper. "He's +been here only a short time ago, for the marks are fresh. Look out, +now, boys!" + +The three lads needed no other caution. They got ready with their +rifles, while Jim advanced a bit to see in which direction the beast +had gone. + +"Follow me," he said in a whisper as he came back. "He must be just +ahead of us, and the wind is blowing from him to us. We ought to get +him!" + +Stepping as cautiously as possible, and taking care not to tread on +loose stones, or sticks, that would break and betray their presence, +the four began stalking the lion. That they were coming closer to the +beast was evidenced by the increasing plainness of the tracks. + +"He's heading for his den," whispered Jim. "We must get him before he +reaches it or we'll lose him." + +There was a sort of path along which the hunters were traveling, and +which seemed to be one regularly used by the lion. It made a sudden +turn, to get past a big boulder that jutted out from the side of the +hill. As Jim and the boys rounded this, they came to an abrupt halt, +and each one gazed with startled eyes at a ledge of rock, just beyond +and ahead of them. + +There, in full view, with the sun streaming down on him, was an +immense mountain lion. He was facing away from the hunters, and this, +with the fact that the wind was blowing from him to them, had enabled +them to get within a hundred yards. + +Slowly Jim leveled his rifle. Then he seemed to think of something, +and stopped. + +"You boys try, all together," he said in such a faint whisper that it +sounded like the breeze. "If you miss I'll bowl him over." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +LOST ON THE MOUNTAIN + + +Up to that time the boys had been as cool, almost, as Jim himself. +But, at the idea that they were to slay the big and fierce creature +standing so majestically before them, they experienced a touch of +what is called "buck fever." Their hands shook so they could not +sight their rifles. Even John, half Indian as he was, showed the +effects of it. + +"Steady," whispered Jim. "You're only shooting at a mark!" + +At once the nerves of the boys quieted. Their hands became firm, and, +raising their rifles they all took careful aim at the lion. Jim was +watching them. + +"Fire!" he suddenly exclaimed in a whisper, and the three rifles +sounded as one. + +Following the report, and mingling with it, came a scream so shrill +and full of terror that the boys could not help jumping. Through the +smoke they could see a big, tawny, yellow body leap high into the +air, and then, falling back, begin to claw the earth and stones, +while the screams continued to ring out. + +"You nailed her!" cried Jim. + +Hardly had he spoken before there was a rattling sound behind them. +All four turned, to see, crouching, not twenty feet away, a big, male +mountain lion, ready to spring. It was the mate of the female the +boys had just mortally wounded, and the big beast's eyes flashed fire +as it saw the death struggles of its den-mate. + +For a moment the hunters stood as if paralyzed. The sight of the lion +in their rear had unnerved them. The male must have been stalking +them, just as they had followed the other. As they watched, a sudden +tremor seemed to run through the big brute's body. + +"He's going to spring!" said Jim, in a low voice. At the same moment +he brought his gun up, ready to fire. + +An instant later the lion launched itself forward, propelled by +muscles like steel springs, straight at the group, anger blazing in +its eyes. + +Bang! spoke Jim's rifle, and the big cat seemed to turn completely +over in the air. + +But the momentum of the spring was not checked by the bullet which +had struck it in the throat. On it came, and Jim yelled: + +"Duck boys!" + +He had no time to do so himself, so, before he could throw himself to +one side, the lion was upon him and the cowboy went down in a heap, +the beast, snarling and growling, on top of him. There was a +confusion of man and lion, a vision of flying legs, fast-working +claws and the sight of a yellow body in convulsions. + +"Fire at the lion!" yelled Jack. + +"Don't! You might shoot Jim!" exclaimed Nat. + +"Get your knives out!" cried John, drawing his own blade. + +But they were not needed. A moment later the big cat rolled over off +Jim, and, in a few seconds the cowboy rose from the ground, covered +with dirt and blood, but, apparently unhurt. + +"Did he bite you?" asked Jack, + +"He was dead when he landed on me," said Jim. "It was only the dying +struggle. Might have clawed me up a bit, but not much." + +In fact the cowboy had several long and deep scratches on his hands +and legs, where his heavy trousers had been cut through by the +terrible claws. Aside from that he was not hurt. + +"Good thing I had a load in my gun," he remarked, as he threw out the +empty shell and fired a bullet through the head of the lion to make +sure it was dead. + +"I guess the other one's done for," said Jack, as he looked toward +where the lioness had stood. + +"I'd hope so, with three of you firin' at her," spoke Jim as he went +over to a little spring and washed some of the dirt and blood from +him. + +"This isn't half bad," spoke Nat. "I wish some of the fellows at +Washington Hall could see us now." + +"Maybe they would think we were some pumpkins," put in Jack. + +"Oh we'll do better than this," said John. "We want to get one +apiece, instead of a third each." + +"That's so," admitted Jack and Nat. + +It was decided they had enjoyed sport enough for one day, so they +went back to their little camp and prepared to spend the night. In +the morning they journeyed to the small ranch house and some of the +cowboys went for the dead lions and skinned them. The boys were a +little anxious as to who would have the trophies, but there was no +need of this, as, in the next two days three more of the lions were +slain. Jack and John each bowled over one, not so very large, to be +sure, but enough to make the lads feel several inches taller. Nat had +poor luck, missing two fine chances. However, he was not discouraged. + +The boys were congratulated on all sides when they got back to Mr. +Kent's house, even the oldest plainsman admitting they had not done +so bad for tenderfeet. + +Aside from long rides, in which they learned to be more proficient on +horses, the boys did little for the week following the hunt. Jack +made anxious inquiries every day after the condition of Peter Lantry, +hoping the aged man might have regained his senses enough to give +directions for finding Mr. Ranger's cabin. But the fever still held +the old miner (for such his delirious talk showed him to have been) a +captive, and locked his brain in an impenetrable mantle. + +"It's hard to sit around and do nothing, when you know your father +may need you," Jack said, one day. "I'm going to ask Mr. Kent if I +can't go myself, alone, and find the cabin. I believe I could, from +Mr. Tevis's directions." + +"What do you want to go alone for?" asked Nat. "Why can't John and I +go along?" + +"I didn't want to take you on a dangerous trip," Jack replied. + +"Well, I guess you'd find it hard to leave us behind," John put in. +"Come on, let's ask if we can't go." + +At first Mr. Kent would not hear of it. But the boys pleaded so hard, +and Jack seemed to feel so badly at the delay, that Mr. Kent gave in, +He admitted there was no telling when Mr. Lantry would recover enough +to give directions, and it would certainly be a very long time before +he would be able to guide a party to the scene. + +So it was arranged that the three boys were to make the hundred mile +trip to Golden Glow. It was not as venturesome as it sounded. They +had come west in safety, and gone through a number of perils with +credit to themselves. Then, too, it was in summer, and camping in the +open was fun, more than anything else. It was true the trail was a +hard one, but, by going a roundabout way, horses could be used for +the greater distance. Mr. Kent wanted to send Rattlesnake Jim with +the boys, but they would not hear of it. + +"I guess we can look out for ourselves," said Jack. "If we can't, +it's time we learned." + +Three days later saw them on the trail. They had sturdy horses, used +to mountain roads, a camping outfit and provisions that would last +them two weeks, with plenty of ammunition, and each one carried a +fine rifle. + +They rode along for four days, camping at night in such sheltered +places as they could find. The morning of the fifth day they awoke to +find the mountain shrouded in fog. + +"That shan't delay us," exclaimed Jack, though it was hard to see a +rod ahead of the horse's nose. "We have a compass and we can follow +the general direction Mr. Tevis gave us." + +So they traveled on after breakfast, though it was dreary riding. +They plodded on for mile after mile in silence. All at once Jack, who +was ahead exclaimed: + +"Doesn't that tree look familiar?" + +He pointed to one that had been struck by lightning, and which had a +peculiar spiral white mark running down the trunk. It was close to +the edge of the trail. + +"It sure does," admitted John. + +"I remember passing that before," Nat said. "What of it?" + +"It means that we have wandered around in a circle," Jack answered. +"We are lost on the mountains!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +A VIEW OF GOLDEN GLOW + + +For a moment Jack's words struck a chill to the hearts of his +companions. The fog seemed to wrap around them like an impenetrable +blanket, from which they sought in vain to escape. A little breeze +stirred the wreaths of vapor, but did not disperse them. + +"Lost!" repeated Nat, as if he could not believe it. + +"I guess you're right," admitted John. "Now wait a minute. Where's +the compass?" + +"Here," spoke Jack, feeling in his pocket for it. A blank look came +over his face. He hurriedly looked through several pockets. "I've +lost it!" he exclaimed. + +"Well, never mind," John went on calmly. He seemed to rise to the +emergency, and become collected in the face of the danger that +confronted them. "I guess I haven't got Indian blood in me for +nothing. I can tell which way is north, anyhow." + +"You can?" asked Nat. "How, in all this fog?" + +"There's more moss on the north side of a tree than on any other," +John replied. "We were going in a northerly direction so, all we have +to do is to keep on, stopping once in a while to see how the moss +is." + +It sounded like good advice, and Nat and Jack felt better after +hearing it. They started off again, more hopeful, and went slowly for +a while, stopping now and then, to see about the moss, or "nature's +compass," as Jack called it. + +They must have traveled a number of miles, when they decided it was +time to camp and eat something. They looked around for some dry wood +for a fire, seeking for it under overhanging rocks as Jim had showed +them how to do. They managed to start a blaze, and John was frying +some bacon, incidentally trying to keep the smoke from his eyes, when +Nat, who had gone a short distance off the trail, exclaimed: + +"Say fellows; look here!" + +"See a bear?" asked Jack. + +"No, but here's our old friend, the queer tree!" he called. "We're +back in the same place." + +Jack and John ran to where Nat stood. There was the lightning-scarred +trunk. Once more they had traveled in a circle. They had not read the +moss signs aright. + +It was such a shock that, for a few moments, the boys did not know +what to say. They had been so sure they were journeying in the right +direction, that, to find they had merely gone back on their own +trail, was more than discouraging. + +"Thought you said you knew how to read signs, and where north was," +spoke Jack, looking at John. + +"Well, I thought I did," the Indian replied. "I'm sure I am right, +only I think we must have made a mistake in our directions." + +"Well, we're here, and what are we going to do?" asked Nat. + +About them the fog swirled, lazily moving this way and that, in +response to gentle puffs of wind, but never lifting enough to enable +them to get a glimpse of the sun, to determine where they were, or in +which direction to travel. + +"Let's eat, anyhow," suggested Jack. "We'll feel better after that." + +It was no very cheerful meal, and they were three very much worried +boys. They said little while partaking of the bacon, bread and +coffee, the horses cropping the sparse grass near by. But, in a +little while, Jack laughed. + +"What's the use of feeling blue?" he asked. "We're lost, that's sure +enough, but we're in a civilized country, and we'll get home, or +somewhere, sooner or later. Come on, let's have another try." + +"Then you can lead the way, I'll not," spoke John a little sharply. +"I'm not going to be blamed again." + +"Oh, come now!" exclaimed Jack. "Don't mind what we said. Of course +it wasn't your fault. It would happen to any one!" + +All that afternoon they traveled, until it was hard work to urge the +horses on, as they were becoming tired. The boys spoke but seldom, +and John seemed more glum than ever. Once or twice Jack tried to joke +with him, but it was a failure. The half Indian lad was exhibiting +some of the traits of his ancestors. + +Gradually it grew darker, until, with the thick fog, and the +overhanging trees, it was almost like twilight. + +"How much further?" asked Nat. + +"I guess we can camp any time you want to," Jack said. + +"Do you think we are any further along the trail, or have we just +traveled in a bigger circle?" Nat inquired. + +"Hard to say," replied Jack. "At any rate I don't see our old friend +the queer tree. We must have ascended some for it's been up hill the +last two hours." + +They found a well sheltered place, underneath a big clump of trees, +that would serve as a canopy for themselves and the horses. The +animals were tethered, after being allowed to feed on a patch of +grass, and then they had supper. After the meal John seemed to be in +better spirits, and took a more cheerful view of things. + +"I guess the fog will lift by morning," he said. + +But it did not, and, when the boys arose to prepare breakfast, after +an uncomfortable night, the white curtain was thicker than ever. + +They traveled all that day, but, whether they made any real progress, +or whether they went back or around in a circle, they could only +surmise. They tried to keep ascending the mountain, and this was the +only means they had of telling which way to go. + +"If we could only see something," said Nat, "it wouldn't be so +lonesome. A fox, or a rabbit, or even a mountain lion. I don't +believe I'd shoot one, I'd want his company." + +"I'm sorry I got you fellows into this scrape," Jack put in. "I'd go +back with you, and begin over again, all alone, only I guess it would +be just as bad to go back as it is to go ahead, so we might as well +keep on." + +"Well, I reckon you'll not go on alone," said Nat, decidedly, and +John, who had recovered his former good-natured, nodded in assent. + +As their horses stumbled on, once more the curtain of night began to +descend, hastened by the thick fog. Would it never rise? How long +were they to be hidden under the white vail? + +Suddenly, as they urged on their tired animals, a spear of light +seemed to pierce the gathering gloom ahead of them. At the sight of +it the horses threw up their heads and put forward their ears. The +spear grew brighter. Then it pierced the mist. All at once a puff of +wind brushed aside the white clinging wreaths of vapor that had so +long enshrouded them. The fog rolled away, and there, in front of +them was the setting sun, in a halo of glory. As it shone the beams +were caught and reflected from a distant peak. + +"Golden Glow! Golden Glow!" cried Jack. "There is the mountain we +have been searching for! Now to find my father!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +JACK AND NAT PRISONERS + + +The three travelers came to a halt on the shelf of a high cliff that +towered above their heads. It was a wide and safe road they had +emerged upon, and it could be seen winding on and up, until it was +lost in the mist which was rapidly being driven forward by the wind. + +"There is the road to Golden Glow!" exclaimed Jack. "Come on. We are +on the right trail now." + +"Better go easy," cautioned John. "It's getting night, and we can't +travel far. Here's a good place to camp, and we can start early in +the morning. I guess the fog has lifted to stay." + +Though Jack was impatient to press forward, he realized that what +John said was sensible. He stood for awhile looking at the shifting +light as it was reflected from the sun on the top of the lofty peak. +He felt that at last he had reached the beginning of the end of his +long search. Would it be successful? Would he find his father? Would +he be in time to see him alive? All this Jack thought, and much more. + +Then the light faded as Old Sol sunk behind a mass of clouds, the +stern mountains hiding his welcome face, + +"Now for supper!" cried Nat, in a more cheerful tone than any of the +boys had used in the last two days. "I'm as hungry as a bear. I wish +I had a nice fresh chicken--" + +Bang! It was John's gun that had been fired, and, before Nat could +ask what the matter was he saw a plump bird fall to the ground, as +the result of the Indian lad's quick aim. + +"I don't know whether it's a chicken or not," John said, "but it +looks good to eat." + +And so the boys found it, though they did not know what kind of fowl +it was. They fried it with crisp bacon, and with big tin cups of tea, +as a change from coffee, they made a meal that caused them all to +feel better. + +Jack could hardly start early enough the next morning, but the others +insisted that he take time to eat a good breakfast. They were on the +move again, almost before the sun had begun to tinge the mountain +with the morning glow, arid they found the trail an easy one for +several miles. + +It dipped down a bit, after one high shoulder of the range was +passed, and then began a straight assent up to where they could see +the peak they knew must be the Golden Glow, though it did not shine +then. They camped at noon, and hurried on after a brief rest. + +Up and up they went until the shadows began to lengthen and they knew +evening was approaching. Above their heads towered the high peak, +and, as they rounded a turn they saw the top of the mountain suddenly +seem to burst into flame above their head. The sun had again caught +the mass of quartz and was reflecting from it. + +Now the trail turned. They had reached the highest point in the range +where it was almost impossible to go further with horses. Jack, who +was in the lead, pulled up his animal. Then, as he looked down he +gave a cry. + +"There!" he exclaimed. "There is the stone Mr. Tevis told us about!" + +"Yes, and there is the cross carved upon it!" cried Nat. + +"Where is the tall pine tree?" asked John. + +"There!" came from Jack, and he pointed down the slope ahead of them. +"It is just in line with that other peak!" + +The two boys looked to where he pointed. Sure enough, they saw the +landmark Orion Tevis had mentioned. + +"To-morrow I may see my father!" said Jack in a low tone. + +Hardly had he spoken the words when there was a noise behind them, +and the boys turned to see two horsemen riding up. + +At first the chums did not attach much significance to the appearance +of the two riders. The men were coming on as fast as their horses +could travel, but the boys thought they were ranchmen or herdsmen. + +"The two first ones! They're the ones we want!" exclaimed the +foremost of the men, and at that Nat and Jack, who were in front of +John, started. "Grab one Nate, and I'll tackle the other!" + +Before Nat and Jack could make a move to defend themselves they found +a rope circling their arms just above their elbows. The men had cast +their lariats and pinioned the boys. The resulting jerk nearly pulled +them from their horses, but when the men saw this, they urged their +steeds close to their captives, and held them in their saddle, while +they deftly bound their hands. + +There was a clatter of hoofs at which Jack and Nat turned their +heads. If they expected to see some one coming to rescue them they +were disappointed, for all they beheld was John, swinging his horse +around on the trail and making off at top speed. + +"Come back!" yelled one of the men, making a move as if to reach for +his gun, but at this Jack wiggled so he had to give all his attention +to the captive youth. + +"I'll come back--" yelled John, and the rest of what he said was lost +in the clatter his horse made as it sprang over stones. Then John +disappeared around a big ledge of rock. + +"Never mind," said one of the men, whom his companion had addressed +as Nate. "We don't need him." + +"Guess not, Sid," was the reply. "We've got the main ones. He don't +count." + +"What do you mean by this?" burst out Nat, who, as was Jack, had been +so surprised by the sudden turn of events that he did not know what +to say. "Who are you, anyhow?" + +"Now, don't get excited, sonny," spoke Nate. "This is a high +altitude, remember, and you might bust a blood vessel. That would be +too bad." + +"Yes, the fewer questions you ask the better off you'll be," put in +Sid. + +"If my uncle hears of this you'll suffer for it," Nat went on. He +thought the men might be cowboys out for a lark. + +"Don't worry, your uncle will never hear of it," Nate replied. "Now I +guess we'll travel." + +There was nothing to do but to obey. The boys were fairly tied on +their horses, so quickly and so deftly had the men used their ropes. + +"Did you get the rings?" asked Nate of his companion. + +"Almost forgot it," replied Sid. "I'll do it now." + +Before Jack was aware what the man was up to he had grabbed from his +finger the curious moss agate emblem. + +"Here's one," exclaimed Sid. "Now for the other." + +He looked at both of Nat's hands. + +"Where's your ring?" he demanded. + +"Never had one," said Nat defiantly. + +"No fooling now, give it up or you'll be sorry." + +"I tell you I haven't got any," Nat replied impatiently. "You're up +the wrong tree." + +"Give me that ring or I'll--" began Sid, when his companion broke in +with: + +"Never mind now. It's getting late and we don't want to be caught out +here at night. Bring him along. I guess we'll find a way to make him +talk." + +Then, having seen that their captives were securely bound, the men +attached long ropes to the bridles of the boys' horses, and led the +animals back down the trail. + +The two men were some distance in advance, and, as the boys rode side +by side, they had a chance to converse in low tones without being +overheard by their captors. + +"Are they brigands, like you read about?" asked Nat. + +"Not much," replied Jack. "I think they are the same men who chased +poor old Mr. Lantry, and shot him. I'm sure they are some of the bad +men who tried to get my father, or else how would they know about the +rings?" + +"They didn't get one from me," spoke Nat. "They must have made a +mistake and got me instead of John. I say, Jack, you don't s'pose +he's in with the gang, do you?" + +"What do you mean?" + +"He didn't lead us into a trap, did he? Bought off by the enemy, you +know. He's part Indian, and you never can trust an Indian. Maybe +these men hired him to fetch us this way. You know he acted sort of +queer, lately." + +"Never!" said Jack, in as loud a whisper as he dared use without +being overheard. "I'd trust John Smith with my life, Indian or no +Indian. He's not in this game." + +"Then what made him run away and leave us?" asked Nat. "I don't call +that sticking by your friends." + +"Maybe he went for help," suggested Nat. + +"I'll believe that when we see the help," Nat responded, in no gentle +tones. "It looks queer." + +In fact the whole proceeding was a mystery to both boys. They could +not imagine what the men would want to hold them captives for. Only +Jack had an inkling. He believed the men were members of the band +that had tried so long to get his father so they might play a trick +on Mr. Tevis and gain the land. He believed they had been on his +trail and that of his companions for some time, and had seized the +first opportunity of capturing them. The seizure of his ring showed +that, though he could not understand how they had mistaken Nat for +John. However, that was natural, seeing the three boys were alike in +general appearance, and Nat was almost as brown as John, from +exposure to the sun. + +Down the trail for some miles the men led their captives and then +they turned and ascended another way. The boys' hands and legs were +beginning to get numb from the pressure of the thongs, and they were +very tired. It was getting quite dark, but still they were led on. +Suddenly, from the gathering darkness, there sounded a challenge: + +"Who's there?" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +THE ESCAPE + + +"Two kings," was the answer from one of the men. + +"What kings?" was the query. + +"King Nate and King Sid," replied the first named, "and they have two +loyal subjects with them." + +"Let the kings and their subjects proceed," the unseen voice went on, +and a moment later the boys found themselves in front of a sort of +cave in the mountain side, from the depths of which a fire glowed, +disclosing the figures and shadows of several men. + +"Had luck, eh?" asked some one, and Nate replied with a grunt, at the +same time asking if "grub" was ready. + +"Of course it is," one of those grouped about the fire replied. "But +you might tell us how you made out." + +"Couldn't be better," replied Sid. "We got the two boys and one of +the rings. We don't need two. I guess I can fix up a duplicate that +will fool Tevis." + +"What you going to do with the kids?" another man inquired. "They're +going to be a nuisance." + +"No, they won't," Sid answered. "We'll keep 'em here until we get +what we want, and then we'll turn 'em loose. I'm not going to harm +'em." + +By this time several men had surrounded the captives. Jack and Nat +could see that the cave was a large one, extending back some distance +under the mountain. Far back was another fire, about which were one +or two men. It looked like the mountain cavern of a band of brigands. + +"Take 'em inside," Sid ordered one of those in the group about Nat +and Jack. "Take care of their horses and whatever they have about +them. Then give 'em a bit of grub. I reckon they're hungry." + +The boys were grateful for the relief they experienced as their bonds +were loosened and they were allowed to dismount from their horses. +They were so stiff they could hardly walk and the men helped them, +roughly, along over the rock-strewn entrance to the cavern. The boys +were led inside the cave, and then, their guide turning sharply, +conducted them into a sort of gallery branching off from the main +one. There the lads found some animal skins on the floor, and were +glad enough to lie down. + +Hung about the cave were several lanterns, and by the light of them +the two lads could see they were in the power of a gang of rough men. +There were a half dozen of the fellows and when the boys had +stretched out on the skins in a corner, they gathered near the +entrance to the inner cave for a conference. The boys could not hear +what their captors were talking about, but that it concerned them +seemed certain, as the men glanced frequently in the direction of the +prisoners. + +"They must be planning something desperate," said Jack in a low tone. +"Probably they're going to hurry to Orion Tevis and make trouble for +him." + +"Do you think they'll hurt us?" asked Nat. + +"I don't believe so," Jack replied. "I think they want to keep us +here until they can get at Mr. Tevis. Guess they'll have their own +troubles though, finding him." + +Further conversation was interrupted by the approach of a man with +some cold meat and chunks of bread. He also had a tin pail of water +and two cups, and, though the meal was anything but a good one, Nat +and Jack made the best of it, for they were hungry, and, though they +were worried, they did not let it interfere with their appetites. + +If they had any hope of escaping that night they must have been +disappointed as one of the gang was constantly on the watch, and the +boys knew it would be useless to try to leave the cave. + +"I wonder where John is," said Nat, just before he fell asleep. "Why +did he desert us?" + +"He hasn't deserted us," said Jack, speaking with conviction. "I'll +bet he's gone for help." + +"Looked as if he was running away," remarked Nat, who had not lost +the sudden distrust he felt on the Indian's part. + +In spite of their plight the boys slept well, and when morning came +they were given some boiled eggs, bread and coffee, a meal, which, as +Jack remarked, would have been a credit to a city hotel, to say +nothing of a cave in the mountains. It made little difference, the +boys thought, that the eggs were of some wild bird, and not of the +domestic hen. + +After breakfast the man who had been addressed as Sid came to where +the captives were, in the smaller cave. + +"If you boys will promise not to try to escape," he said, "I'll let +you out for a breath of fresh air." + +"You mean not try to escape at all?" asked Jack. + +"That's what," Sid replied. + +"Then we'll stay here," announced Jack. + +"We're going to get away just as soon as possible, and the longer you +keep us here the worse it will be for you." + +"My, but you have a quick temper," remarked Sid, not unkindly. "Well, +I think I'll take a chance. You'll get sick if we keep you cooped up, +and that isn't what we want. You can go out, but I warn you the first +time you try to make a break for liberty you may get shot. Some of +the men are pretty quick with a gun." + +"We'll go out, but we don't promise," Jack replied, as following Sid, +he and Nat left the cave. + +Once outside the boys found there was little chance of getting away. +There were half a dozen men about, all armed, and the camp was +surrounded by a natural wall of high rock, which to any one crawling +over presented difficulties that would delay him long enough to +permit of capture. The entrance to the camp was guarded by a man with +a rifle. + +But, what astonished the boys more than the appearance of the +stronghold, was the work at which the men were engaged. This seemed +to be mining, but of a kind the boys had heard very little about, +though it is more or less common in the west. + +A man was directing a stream of water, from a big pipe against the +side of a gravelly bank, and the dirt and fluid that washed down ran +into a big sluiceway. This was formed of boards, there being a bottom +and two sides. The top was open, but was braced with numerous cross +pieces. The sluiceway was about four feet wide and three feet deep, +and there was a great quantity of water flowing through it. + +Part of the sluiceway was wider and more shallow, and this part had, +nailed across the bottom, narrow strips of wood, in the shape of +cleats. They were placed to catch the heavier dirt, containing the +gold, as it flowed down in the water. + +As the boys watched the stream was turned off, and men took from the +cleats quantities of mingled muck and gravel, which they proceeded to +"wash" to extract the gold. + +The boys were so interested in this that they forgot the plight they +were in, and, almost, their desire to escape. They looked at the +miners with their pans, as the men swirled them around to cause the +water and dirt to flow over the edge and the gold to remain. + "Is it goin' to pay?" Jack heard one miner ask of another of the +gang. + +"Don't look so," was the reply. "Yet they say there's a fortune +locked up in that hill. An old hermit showed Sid the place, but it's +been most a year since we repaired this old sluiceway which was here +before we came and begun washing, and not more than enough to pay +expenses have we had out of it. I'm gettin' tired." + +"Maybe there's better luck ahead." + +"How do you mean?" + +"Why in the capture of these kids. Didn't you hear Sid tell? He +expects to get a hold on a fellow named Tevis now and maybe some rich +timber lands that he's been after for ten years or more. There's a +fellow named Ranger or Roberts mixed up in it, but Sid has never been +able to land him, though he tried hard enough. Some of the boys +nearly got Roberts' partner here not long ago, but he got away, +though he was shot. Then Sid and Nate got on the trail of the boys, +and here--" + +"Shut up!" exclaimed the other miner, as he noticed Jack and Nat +taking in what his companion was saying. "They're too close now." + +At that the miners went on with their "washing" operations, and the +two boys, pondering over what they had heard, walked away. + +"What do you think of that?" asked Nat, in a low voice. + +"Just as I expected," Jack rejoined. "I hope John brings us help in +time to warn Mr. Tevis and help rescue my father. Maybe we could have +a whack at this gold mine then." + +The boys were allowed to wander about the camp at will, but they +noticed the men kept close watch over them. They were much interested +in the sluiceway, and went to where they could see it stretching for +a long distance down the mountain side. + +"Quite a piece of work," observed one of the men, a short, stocky, +rather jolly looking individual, who seemed out of place in a gang of +ruffians. "It runs for five miles," he went on, "all the way down to +a big gulch they say, though I've never been to the end of it. It was +built a long while ago, but we changed it a bit, and only use the +upper end. We get our water from a little lake on the top of the +mountain, and only the overflow goes down the sluiceway. Still that's +enough," and he looked at the solid stream, flowing swiftly but +silently between the heavy planks. + +"It would make a good shoot-the-chutes," observed Nat. + +"Rather risky," observed the miner. "You couldn't stop until you got +to the end of it and it's a long ride. Have to look out for the cross +pieces, too." + +A sudden light seemed to come into Jack's eyes as he turned away. He +motioned to Nat to follow him, and, when they were out of earshot he +whispered: + +"That's how we can escape." + +"How?" asked Nat in an excited whisper. + +"Wait," answered Jack, "Here comes Sid." + +"Haven't got away yet, eh?" the man asked with a sneer. + +"Not yet," was all Jack answered. + +That night, as he tossed restlessly on the pile of skins in the cave, +Jack thought over a plan of getting away. It seemed practical enough, +if he could only elude the vigilance of the men. But there was the +hard part. He got up softly about midnight to see if he could sneak +from the cave. No one was in sight. He called Nat and both crawled +out into the open. + +"Now we're free!" whispered Jack. "Come on, Nat." + +"Where?" + +"Down the sluiceway. I know where there are two big planks." + +Leading the way, and keeping in the shadows as much as possible, Jack +went to where two planks, each about seven feet long, lay near the +boarded race. + +"We'll float down the sluiceway to freedom!" he cried, as he placed +the plank on the edge of the flume. Nat did likewise, and, when Jack +climbed over into the big oblong box, his companion followed. They +had entered the sluiceway at a place where there was scarcely any +current. Then they moved forward, crouching to avoid the cross +pieces. + +"Here we go!" whispered Jack, throwing himself on the plank, an +example which Nat followed. The next instant the two boys were being +whirled down the sluiceway on top of the water at a swift pace. And, +as they shot ahead they, heard a voice calling: + +"The kids have got away!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +DOWN THE SLUICEWAY + + +Almost with the speed of an arrow from the bow the two boys flew +forward on the swiftly-moving water in the sluiceway. The planks were +submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, +and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill +on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt +themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power. + +At first it was so dark in the big box they could see nothing. Then, +as their eyes grew accustomed to the gloom, they could note the sides +of the flume slipping past them. A glance over their heads showed +them the stars, and there was a confused blurr of the many cross- +pieces. + +"Are you all right, Nat?" called Jack. + +"Sure," was the reply. "Say, it took my breath away at first, but +it's all right now. This is going some!" + +Faster and faster the boys were whirled along. The water was +beginning to chill them now, and they were wet through. Once or twice +a sudden change in the direction of the sluiceway nearly brought them +to grief, and on one occasion Nat slipped off his plank. It was +floating away from him, but his cry warned Jack, who managed to stop +it, while Nat struggled forward, stooping to avoid the braces, and +secured it again. + +This occurred in a comparatively level place, where the current, +after a quick descent, was not so rapid, otherwise there might have +been a different ending to this story. For a mile farther the two +boys floated along at an easy pace. + +"I guess we've left 'em behind," Nat observed. He was riding his +plank alongside of Jack now, as the flume was broad enough to permit +this. + +"Yes, but they're not going to give up so easily," Jack rejoined. +"There's too much at stake. They'll chase us, but it's another thing +to catch us. Hark! What's that?" + +From down below in the moonlit valley, into which the flume dipped +there came a roaring sound. It was like a mighty wind blowing, and, +as the boys were carried on and on, it increased in intensity. + +"Sounds like a waterfall," observed Nat. + +"So it does. I hope this flume doesn't do any stunts like that. We'll +be dashed to pieces." + +"Maybe we'd better stop now, and get out," said Nat. "I wonder where +we are?" + +"Haven't the least idea. We must have come about three miles though. +Let's see if we can stop ourselves," + +Owing to the fact that the cross-pieces were above and close to their +heads, the boys could not peer over the edge of the flume. The water +filled it to within a foot and a half of the edge, and they had to +keep their heads well down. + +"Try and grab a cross-piece," said Jack. The sticks were about six +feet apart. + +Nat cautiously raised his hand. His fingers brushed under the sides +of several braces, but he had to move his arm up very slowly as a +sudden contact with them would have broken his wrist. Jack was doing +the same thing. + +The roar was growing louder now, and the water could be heard +tumbling and crashing down. + +"The flume must be broken just below here!" cried Jack. "We must stop +or we'll be killed!" + +He made a desperate effort to grasp a brace. He got his fingers on +one. Then came a sudden rush of water, caused by a sharp decline in +the level of the sluiceway, and Jack was torn from the cross-piece. +At the same time his plank was swept from under him, and he was +buried in an overwhelming rush of water. Over and over he was rolled +along the bottom of the flume. Then he was tossed to the surface. For +an instant he had a glimpse of Nat also struggling in the murky +flood, on which the moon shone brilliantly. + +[Illustration: JACK WAS SHOT FORWARD AS THOUGH FROM A CATAPULT.] + +The next instant Jack was shot forward as though from a catapult, +feet foremost, and, as he fought and struggled to get his breath, he +saw that he was in the midst of a giant waterspout, as it leaped from +the end of the broken flume and plunged, like a stream from an +immense hose, into a swirling pool which the freed sluice water had +dug in the soft soil. + +Forward and down went Jack, and, though it seemed like an hour while +he was being shot out with the water as it spurted from where the +flume was raised on a high trestle, it was only a second or two +before he was plunged into the pool. + +As he sank down and down the lad was aware of a splash close beside +him, and he dimly thought it must be Nat. And so it proved. Nat, +also, had been spouted from the flume into the pool, and, when Jack, +after a fierce fight with the bubbling water came to the surface and +began swimming, he saw Nat bob up a moment later. Both boys worked to +get away from the plunging stream. + +"Are--you--hurt?" asked Jack, pantingly. + +"No--are--you?" inquired Nat. + +"Nope! Wonder--what--sort of--a place--this--is." + +"Kind--of--wet," remarked Nat, and, in spite of his peril Jack could +not help smiling. + +When the water had cleared from their eyes the boys saw they were in +the midst of a miniature lake. It was formed of the water that +escaped from the broken pool, and had filled a big hole, a sort of +basin on a ledge of the mountain. They struck out for the nearest +shore, reaching it after some little difficulty, for their wet +clothing hampered them. + +Reaching the bank they crawled out, for the little lake shoaled +rapidly, and shook themselves like big dogs to get rid of what water +they could. Then they turned to gaze at the curious scene. + +Before them was quite a large sheet of water. Right to the edge of it +came the flume trestle, and it could be seen, in the moonlight, where +it had broken off. Beyond the lake, on the other side, the sluiceway +continued on, but there was a gap of several hundred feet. + +"Looks as though there was less water coming down," said Nat, as he +began taking off his outer clothing to wring it out. + +"That's so," agreed Jack. + +As they stood looking at the spurting water it was perceptibly +diminishing. The volume was greatly decreased from that which had +shot them into the lake. Rapidly it grew less until it stopped +altogether. + +"What made that, I wonder," came from Nat. + +"They probably shut it off at the mine," Jack replied. "They think +they can strand us in the flume. Lucky they didn't try it sooner." + +This, as the boys learned later, was what had been done. When the +news of their escape was known several of the gang started in +pursuit. They kept it up for awhile, until some one suggested +shutting off the flow of the stream by means of a gate in the +sluiceway. + +"Well, now we're here, what's to be done?" asked Nat. + +"Get rid of some of this water," suggested Jack, "and then see if we +can't find a place to stay until morning." + +The boys wrung as much of the fluid as possible from their clothes, +and then, donning the damp garments, looked to see in which direction +it would be best to travel. As Jack was looking about for some sign +of a trail, he gave a cry of astonishment. + +"See!" he exclaimed. "There is Golden Glow!" + +There, back in the direction of the flume, towered a high peak. As +the moonbeams rested on it they were reflected back from the shining +top, just as the sun rays had been, only in a less degree. + + "This must be the valley where my father has his cabin," he said. +"It is in line with the mountain, and, I remember it was in this +direction we were looking when the men captured us. Oh Nat! Perhaps I +shall soon find him. Come on. Mr. Tevis said it was at the end of the +valley. I am going to find him! Hurry, Nat!" + +But Nat needed no urging. He followed close after Jack, who was +moving around the edge of the lake, to reach the other part of the +broken flume. There was no path, but the way was comparatively +smooth. + +As the boys passed under the sluiceway trestle Jack exclaimed: + +"See, here is a sort of path, and it leads right up the valley. We +are on the right road." + +"Be careful," cautioned Nat. "Remember what Mr. Tevis said about men +shooting first and inquiring afterward in this country." + +"I am going to find my father," was Jack's answer, as he hurried on. + +The boys forgot their wet clothes. They forgot their recent peril, +and their escape from the bad men. They thought of nothing but what +might be before them. They had traveled about two hours. The valley +was growing darker as the moon was sinking lower and lower behind the +cliffs. All at once Jack, who was in the lead, stopped. He pointed +ahead to a dark shadow. + +"See; there is a cabin," he whispered. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +JACK'S GREAT FIND + + +For a moment the boys stood still, contemplating the small log +building, which was now but dimly visible. All was silent about it. +There was no sign of life. Was it occupied? Was Jack's father there? + +These were questions that flashed through the mind of the two lads as +they stood there in the darkness. Then Jack, with a long-drawn +breath, that showed how great was the strain on him, whispered: + +"Let's see if any one is there." + +Cautiously they moved forward, stopping every now and then to listen. +But no sound came to them. The cabin remained as dark and as silent +as when they first saw it. Foot by foot they moved nearer, until Jack +was so close he could put out his hand and touch the door. He knocked +loudly, and the echo sounded almost like thunder in the quiet night- +enshrouded valley. + +But no answer came, though the boys waited several minutes. Then Jack +pushed on the door. It opened, with a squeaking of hinges that must +have alarmed any occupant, unless deaf. No challenge came, and the +two lads stepped inside. + +"Look out where you're going," said Nat. "Hold your hands in front of +you, and feel with your feet. You may tumble down a hole." + +Jack did as directed, and, a moment later, his outstretched hand +knocked over something that fell with a crash to the floor. + +"What's that?" exclaimed Nat, in a startled whisper. + +"Candlestick and candle," replied Jack, as he stooped down and picked +up what he had knocked down. "Matches too," he added, as he found +them scattered over the floor. + +An instant later he had struck a light, and in the gleam of the +tallow dip the boys saw they were inside a comfortably furnished +cabin. It consisted of two rooms, one a sort of kitchen and general +sitting apartment, and the other a bedroom, with two bunks against +the wall. There was a rough table, a few chairs and a fireplace. +Cooking utensils scattered about, and the appearance of the bunk +room, showed it had been lately occupied. + +"I wonder if my father could have lived here," Jack remarked. "Where +can he have gone to? Perhaps he is dead." + +"Must have been some one here recently," said Nat. "That food looks +fresh." + +He pointed to some roast beef on the table, and to some slices of +bread. + +"It looks good enough to eat," Jack said, "and I'm going to tackle +it, for I'm as hungry as a bear, and cold, too," for the ducking was +beginning to tell on him. + +The boys made a rude but satisfactory meal, and, building a fire on +the hearth, with some dry wood in the cabin, they made their clothing +more comfortable. They had just donned their dry garments, when Jack, +looking from the door of the shack, said: + +"Hello, it's almost morning. The sun is beginning to rise." There was +a faint light in the east, over the tops of the mountains. + +"Yes, and some one is coming up the valley," remarked Nat, as he +peered over Jack's shoulder. + +The two boys saw, walking slowly along the trail that led to the +cabin, the dim figure of a man. Over his shoulder he carried a gun, +and, as he approached, he stopped every few feet to listen, the while +regarding the cabin intently. It was growing lighter every minute, +and the boys could see him quite well. + +Suddenly, when the man was within a hundred yards of the shack, he +dropped to one knee, and leveled the gun straight at the opened cabin +door: + +"Who's there?" he cried. "Speak or I'll fire!" + +Jack, who was in the center of the portal, uttered an exclamation. He +caught his breath sharply. Then, as the sun, mounting nearer the +mountain tops, threw more light into the valley, showing clearly the +figure of the crouching man, Jack cried: + +"Father! Father! It's me! It's your son Jack!" + +He was about to rush toward the figure, which he recognized from his +aunts' description as that of his parent, when the voice of the man +halted him: + +"If you come a step nearer I'll fire!" the kneeling one exclaimed. +"I've been fooled too often to have any tricks played on me now. I +know you. You are members of the gang that has been hounding me so +many years. But my time is almost up. Stand back or I'll fire!" + +"Father! Father!" cried Jack. "Your time is up now. I have come to +take you back with me!" + +"Who is this, who says he is my son?" the man asked, his rifle +trembling. "My son is thousands of miles away from here. You can't +deceive me again." + +"But I am your son! Your Jack!" the boy cried, hardly knowing what to +do. "See I have the ring--" + +Then he stopped, for he remembered that his ring had been stolen from +him. + +"What is that about a ring?" asked the kneeling man. + +With a quick motion Jack pulled from his pocket the golden lizard +with the ruby eyes which Mr. Tevis had given him. He threw it toward +his father, and it fell near the man. + +"What is that?" the latter asked. + +"Look at it," exclaimed Jack. "It will prove who I am. It is from Mr. +Tevis. See, don't you recognize me?" + +The old man, still keeping his eyes fixed on the cabin, and his gun +in readiness, rose to his feet and, going forward, picked up the +golden charm. As he caught sight of it he uttered a cry. + +At the same time Jack, who had been standing in the shadow of the +door, stepped into the morning light. The man, with a sudden motion, +threw aside his gun. He ran toward Jack, who sprang forward to meet +him. The next moment father and son were locked in each other's arms. + +"Jack! Jack!" exclaimed Mr. Ranger. "I was afraid I would never see +you again." + +"I'm so glad I've found you at last, father," murmured the boy, while +his eyes filled with tears. Nat suddenly developed a bad cold, and +had to blow his nose so violently that Mr. Ranger's attention was +attracted to him. + +"Who's there?" he asked, in startled tones. + +"It's only Nat," Jack said. "Come Nat, and see my father. He's the +best prize exhibit I ever had." + +There was such an interchange of talk among the three a moment later +that the best stenographer would have found himself at a disadvantage +in taking it down. Jack and Nat told as much as possible of their +trip from the time they started until they escaped by the sluiceway, +and Mr. Ranger told how he had been watching in vain all night at the +end of the trail for the return of old Mr. Lantry. He had done so for +the last few nights, he said, as he was afraid to go far away in the +daytime. + +He was much surprised to learn of his partner being pursued by the +bad men, and startled to hear that the scoundrels were so near his +hiding place. He said he had been much startled, on his return from +his night vigil, to see lights inside his cabin. + +"But now you must come home with me," said Jack, when there came a +lull in the talk. "The time limit has nearly expired and you will be +safe back in civilization." + +"Yes, I guess my long exile has ended," said Mr. Ranger. "At any rate +I must leave here. The rascals may find me at any moment, when they +come down after you." + +Jack agreed with his father it would be best to leave the locality. +Mr. Ranger said he could depart from the valley by a little-used +trail, and come out on the one that led to the ranch of Nat's uncle. +It would be slow going, without horses, he said, but they decided to +try it. + +Accordingly they began to pack up what few belongings Mr. Ranger +wanted to take away with him. There was a simple camping outfit in +the cabin, and plenty of food, so they would not suffer hunger on +their way. + +"I have but a little of the heart-medicine left," said Mr. Ranger. "I +got two or three bad spells the last few days, and had to take +considerable of it. But perhaps I will be all right until we get to a +town, if we go slowly." + +At last all was in readiness for the start. Each one bore a small +pack, and Mr. Ranger had his rifle. Jack insisted that his father +take the lightest of the camp stuff, while he and Nat shouldered the +most of it and the food. + +With a last look at the cabin, that had sheltered him for the last +few years, Mr. Ranger turned to go. Then he exclaimed: + +"I almost forgot my bag of gold." + +"Your bag of gold?" asked Jack. + +"Yes, it is all I have to show for my stay here. I have managed to +live, and that is all. My partner and I got a little gold from the +washings that came down the flume, but we had to spend most of it to +live. I have only a few ounces left." + +He was about to go back into the cabin when a cry from Nat warned +him: + +"Some one is coming!" the boy explained. + +The next instant a group of horsemen swept forward around a turn in +the trail, straight for the cabin! + +"Here come the bad men!" yelled Jack. "Come on father!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +THE ROUND-UP--CONCLUSION + + +Mr. Ranger ran back to join his son. At the same time Nat and Jack +sprang forward, and together the three raced down the valley. With +loud shouts the horsemen pursued them. + +"Here they are!" some of the riders exclaimed. "We'll get the boys +and the old man, too! Come on!" + +For a little while the three fugitives, from the start they had, and +from the rough nature of the ground, which precluded speed on the +part of the horses, kept in the lead. They had just made a turn in +the trail, which, for a moment hid the horsemen from sight, when Mr. +Ranger exclaimed: + +"I can go no farther, Jack. My heart! Oh, my heart!" + +He sank down, staggering under the weight of his rifle. + +"Quick!" cried Nat. "Get behind this big rock! Maybe we can hold 'em +off!" + +The two boys half carried Mr. Ranger around to the rear of an immense +boulder that bordered the trail. Then Jack ran hack and caught up the +rifle. He had just time enough to spring hack of the rock when the +riders swept fully into view. Jack leveled the rifle over the top of +the big stone and cried: + +"Don't come any nearer or I'll shoot!" + +The riders pulled up in confusion. + +"Go ahead!" cried those in the rear, + +"He's got the drop on us!" exclaimed those in front. + +Jack held the rifle steady. For several seconds there was an intense +strain. Mr. Ranger was resting his head on Nat's knee, panting for +breath. + +"You'll--find--some medicine--in--my pocket," he gasped, and Nat, +searching where the sick man indicated, found a small bottle of white +pills. He gave Mr. Ranger one, and, in a few seconds the color came +back to the sufferer's pale face. + +Now there was a movement among the horsemen. Some of them rode back +on the trail, while others dismounted and went to the left and right. + +"They're going to surround us," Jack thought. "I guess it's all up +with us!" + +He kept close watch of the men he could see. Those directly in front +of him remained on their horses. + +Suddenly there sounded a confused shouting from back on the trail. +Dimly Jack tried to recall where he had heard those voices before. He +glanced along the rifle barrel which was trembling like a leaf in the +wind. + +Then there came a fulisade of shots, mingling with the shouts. The +approaching horsemen seemed thrown into confusion. One or two of the +steeds went down in heaps, throwing their riders. The shooting and +yelling continued. + +All at once there galloped into view a band of cowboys. At their head +rode John Smith and Nat's uncle. Both were firing their revolvers as +fast as they could. + +"Hurrah!" cried Nat. "We're saved!" + +"Just in time!" muttered Jack, as, weak and shaking, he dropped the +rifle and sprang to his father's side. + +There was a short, sharp struggle between the armed force from the +ranch and the bad men. Some of the scoundrels got away, but the +majority were rounded up. In the melee some were hurt. + +"Are you all right?" asked John, as dust-covered and powder-begrimed +he sprang to clasp his chums by the hands. + +"Thanks to you, yes," said Nat heartily, and he was ashamed of the +brief suspicion with which he had regarding the Indian. "How did you +do it?" + +"As soon as I saw you captured, I knew I could do more good free than +a prisoner with you," John said. "I made the best time I could to the +ranch, and I guess all the cowboys who could be spared came back as +fast as their horses could carry them. We easily traced the gang to +here, and,--well you saw the rest." + +The cowboys, even Cactus Ike, who had played the horse trick on Jack, +were busy binding their prisoners on their horses. Mr. Kent was so +excited he did not know what to do. He insisted on shaking hands with +Jack, Nat, John and Mr. Ranger every other minute. As for Jack's +father, he soon felt better because of the medicine, and when the +securing of the prisoners was completed, he found he was able to +mount a spare horse and proceed. + +It was decided to take an easy trail, some of the cowboys knew of, +back to a place near where the boys had been held captive, and about +noon the cavalcade reached the cave near the mine, from which the +lads had escaped. + +But a great change had taken place. The breaking of the flume, and +the shutting off of the water had backed up the stream, which had +been allowed to run all night, and in consequence, the whole surface +of the hill, against which the hydraulic operations had been +directed, was washed away. + +It was difficult to get the horses past it, for there was a big hole. +As Mr. Ranger was passing the spot where the band had so lately been +at work, he looked at the ground, and uttered a sudden exclamation. +Then he jumped from his horse and began digging in the dirt. + +"What is it?" asked Jack in some alarm. + +"Gold! Gold! Gold!" cried Mr. Ranger. "See it sparkle! Here is a mine +of wonderful wealth! The water uncovered it, or they might have +worked for years without discovering it. See the gold!" + +In another instant the cowboys were off their horses examining the +find. Mr. Kent looked at it critically. + +"Well, this is luck!" he said. "It's an ill wind that blows nobody +good!" + +There was a hurried consultation, which resulted in some of the men +being left on guard, while the others proceeded to the ranch with the +prisoners, the boys and Mr. Ranger. + +There were three days making the trip, owing to the fact that Mr. +Ranger had to ride slowly. As he descended from the higher altitudes, +however, he got stronger. When the ranch was reached, the physicians +who had been attending old Mr. Lantry, prescribed for the former +exile, and took charge of him. + +The members of the band from one of whom Jack's ring was taken, were +sent to jail, under a strong escort, and, eventually were given long +terms. As soon as Mr. Kent and his men, including the boys and Mr. +Ranger, had proved their claim to the mine, arrangements for working +it were made. It turned out even better than it had appeared at the +first glance, so that every one interested received a large sum. + +As for Jack he could not bear to let his father out of his sight. Mr. +Ranger, too, wanted to be with his son all the while. The return of +the exile had such a good effect on Mr. Lantry that he recovered much +sooner than the doctor had expected, having regained his senses from +the delirium, the day after Mr. Ranger reached the ranch. The old man +was given some shares in the mine, enough to keep him comfortably. + +Then it was that the boys really began to enjoy life. The long sunny +days on the plains, riding here and there, soon restored Mr. Ranger +to ruddy health, and the physician pronounced him almost cured of his +heart ailment. + +The boys spent happy hours on the ranch, entering into friendly +contests in everything from roping a steer to saddling a frisky +horse. The cowboys could not show them enough attention, and Cactus +Ike even apologized to Jack for the trick he played on him. Jack +forgave him, and said it had probably learned him more about a horse +in ten minutes than he could otherwise have picked up in a week. + +It was some time after this, when, as they were all seated on the +porch, one warm evening, that Jack remarked: + +"Well, we'll have to be getting back east, soon." + +"How good that sounds," said Mr. Ranger. "I was afraid I might never +see the east again. Yes, we must go back soon. I am anxious to see my +sisters." + +"Sorry to have you go," said Mr. Kent. "There's no place like the +west." + +"Perhaps not, for a young man," Mr. Ranger admitted, "but I'm getting +old." + +"I wonder if we'll ever again have adventures like those we +experienced out here," said Nat "Lannigan's lassoes! But we certainly +had some sport!" + +"Maybe not the same kind, but I s'pose they'll be just as exciting," +Jack remarked. "We seem to run into 'em." + +The boys did have more adventures, and, what they were will be +related in the next volume of this series, to be called, "Jack +Ranger's School Victories; Or, Track, Gridiron and Diamond." + +A week later Jack, his father, Nat and John started east. They +stopped on the way to see Mr. Tevis, who expressed his delight that +Mr. Ranger's period of exile was over, that the bad men had been put +where they could do no more harm, and that the unexpectedly +discovered mine had panned out so well. + +"You are to be congratulated on having such a son as Jack," said Mr. +Tevis to Mr. Ranger. + +"If it hadn't been for John and Nat I guess I wouldn't have had much +success," Jack remarked. + +"Now that I look at it, I cannot understand how those men had such an +influence on me," said Mr. Ranger, thoughtfully. + +"I'll tell you what I believe," answered Jack. "One of them was +something of a hypnotist. He tried his game on me when I was at the +cave." + +"It may be that you are right, my son. It is true that I was afraid +of them--and just why I cannot tell," returned Mr. Ranger. "But that +is a thing of the past now," he added, with satisfaction. + +"And now for home!" cried Nat, the next day. "Won't we have lots to +tell when we get there!" + +"I'll be glad to see Washington Hall again," said John. + +"Yes, indeed!" answered Jack. "But I'm going home to Denton first, +and you must come along, John." + +"Very well, I will," said the semi-Indian youth. + +Twelve hours later the happy party was on its way to the nearest +railroad station. And here, bound for home, we will leave them. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Jack Ranger's Western Trip, by Clarence Young + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JACK RANGER'S WESTERN TRIP *** + +This file should be named 7496.txt or 7496.zip + +Produced by Charles Franks + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +We are now trying to release all our eBooks one year in advance +of the official release dates, leaving time for better editing. +Please be encouraged to tell us about any error or corrections, +even years after the official publication date. + +Please note neither this listing nor its contents are final til +midnight of the last day of the month of any such announcement. +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg eBooks is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. + +Most people start at our Web sites at: +https://gutenberg.org or +http://promo.net/pg + +These Web sites include award-winning information about Project +Gutenberg, including how to donate, how to help produce our new +eBooks, and how to subscribe to our email newsletter (free!). + + +Those of you who want to download any eBook before announcement +can get to them as follows, and just download by date. This is +also a good way to get them instantly upon announcement, as the +indexes our cataloguers produce obviously take a while after an +announcement goes out in the Project Gutenberg Newsletter. + +http://www.ibiblio.org/gutenberg/etext03 or +ftp://ftp.ibiblio.org/pub/docs/books/gutenberg/etext03 + +Or /etext02, 01, 00, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90 + +Just search by the first five letters of the filename you want, +as it appears in our Newsletters. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +time it takes us, a rather conservative estimate, is fifty hours +to get any eBook selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. Our +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If the value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar then we produce $2 +million dollars per hour in 2002 as we release over 100 new text +files per month: 1240 more eBooks in 2001 for a total of 4000+ +We are already on our way to trying for 2000 more eBooks in 2002 +If they reach just 1-2% of the world's population then the total +will reach over half a trillion eBooks given away by year's end. + +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away 1 Trillion eBooks! +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is only about 4% of the present number of computer users. + +Here is the briefest record of our progress (* means estimated): + +eBooks Year Month + + 1 1971 July + 10 1991 January + 100 1994 January + 1000 1997 August + 1500 1998 October + 2000 1999 December + 2500 2000 December + 3000 2001 November + 4000 2001 October/November + 6000 2002 December* + 9000 2003 November* +10000 2004 January* + + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been created +to secure a future for Project Gutenberg into the next millennium. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +As of February, 2002, contributions are being solicited from people +and organizations in: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, +Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, +Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, +Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New +Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, +Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South +Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West +Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. + +We have filed in all 50 states now, but these are the only ones +that have responded. + +As the requirements for other states are met, additions to this list +will be made and fund raising will begin in the additional states. +Please feel free to ask to check the status of your state. + +In answer to various questions we have received on this: + +We are constantly working on finishing the paperwork to legally +request donations in all 50 states. If your state is not listed and +you would like to know if we have added it since the list you have, +just ask. + +While we cannot solicit donations from people in states where we are +not yet registered, we know of no prohibition against accepting +donations from donors in these states who approach us with an offer to +donate. + +International donations are accepted, but we don't know ANYTHING about +how to make them tax-deductible, or even if they CAN be made +deductible, and don't have the staff to handle it even if there are +ways. + +Donations by check or money order may be sent to: + +Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +PMB 113 +1739 University Ave. +Oxford, MS 38655-4109 + +Contact us if you want to arrange for a wire transfer or payment +method other than by check or money order. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation has been approved by +the US Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization with EIN +[Employee Identification Number] 64-622154. Donations are +tax-deductible to the maximum extent permitted by law. As fund-raising +requirements for other states are met, additions to this list will be +made and fund-raising will begin in the additional states. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +You can get up to date donation information online at: + +https://www.gutenberg.org/donation.html + + +*** + +If you can't reach Project Gutenberg, +you can always email directly to: + +Michael S. Hart <hart@pobox.com> + +Prof. Hart will answer or forward your message. + +We would prefer to send you information by email. + + +**The Legal Small Print** + + +(Three Pages) + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this eBook, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you may distribute copies of this eBook if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS EBOOK +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +eBook, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this eBook by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this eBook on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM EBOOKS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBooks, +is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor Michael S. Hart +through the Project Gutenberg Association (the "Project"). +Among other things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this eBook +under the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +Please do not use the "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark to market +any commercial products without permission. + +To create these eBooks, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's eBooks and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other eBook medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] Michael Hart and the Foundation (and any other party you may +receive this eBook from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm eBook) disclaims +all liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this eBook within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS EBOOK IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU AS +TO THE EBOOK OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT NOT +LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A +PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold Michael Hart, the Foundation, +and its trustees and agents, and any volunteers associated +with the production and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm +texts harmless, from all liability, cost and expense, including +legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of the +following that you do or cause: [1] distribution of this eBook, +[2] alteration, modification, or addition to the eBook, +or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this eBook electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + eBook or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this eBook in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word + processing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The eBook, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The eBook may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the eBook (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + eBook in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the eBook refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Foundation of 20% of the + gross profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation" + the 60 days following each date you prepare (or were + legally required to prepare) your annual (or equivalent + periodic) tax return. Please contact us beforehand to + let us know your plans and to work out the details. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +Project Gutenberg is dedicated to increasing the number of +public domain and licensed works that can be freely distributed +in machine readable form. + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions of money, time, +public domain materials, or royalty free copyright licenses. +Money should be paid to the: +"Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +If you are interested in contributing scanning equipment or +software or other items, please contact Michael Hart at: +hart@pobox.com + +[Portions of this eBook's header and trailer may be reprinted only +when distributed free of all fees. Copyright (C) 2001, 2002 by +Michael S. Hart. Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be +used in any sales of Project Gutenberg eBooks or other materials be +they hardware or software or any other related product without +express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN EBOOKS*Ver.02/11/02*END* + diff --git a/7496.zip b/7496.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..96860d3 --- /dev/null +++ b/7496.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4695830 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #7496 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/7496) |