Update for 76660HEAD main

author: pgww <pgww@lists.pglaf.org> 2025-08-09 21:22:01 -0700
committer: pgww <pgww@lists.pglaf.org> 2025-08-09 21:22:01 -0700
commit: 96a600ee389b728cdd8d5e8b1ab5272ea0c7357f (patch)
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+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html lang="en">
+<head>
+    <meta charset="UTF-8">
+    <title>
+      The X Bar X Boys | Project Gutenberg
+    </title>
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+ </head>
+<body>
+<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76660 ***</div>
+<div class="chapter">
+<div class="figcenter">
+ <img src="images/i_left+right.jpg"
+ alt="Endpapers">
+</div></div><!--end figcenter and chapter-->
+
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<div class="figcenter">
+ <img src="images/frontis.jpg"
+ alt="Title or description">
+ <p class="caption">AND TEDDY DID “RIDE ’IM.”</p>
+</div><!--end figcenter-->
+
+<p class="center"><span class="justl"><i>The X Bar X Boys at the Round-Up</i></span>
+  <span class="ss" style="width:2em;">&thinsp;</span>
+  <span class="justr"><i>Frontispiece</i> (<a href="#rideim"><i>Page 210</i></a>)</span></p>
+</div><!--end chapter-->
+<br>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h1>THE X BAR X BOYS<br>
+AT THE ROUND-UP</h1>
+</div><!--end chapter header-->
+
+<p class="center tall"><span class="smaller">BY</span><br>
+<span class="larger">JAMES CODY FERRIS</span></p>
+
+<p class="center smaller"><span class="smcap">Author of “The X Bar X Boys on the Ranch,”<br>
+“The X Bar X Boys on Big Bison Trail,” etc.</span></p>
+
+<p class="p2 center tall"><span class="smaller"><i>ILLUSTRATED BY</i></span><br>
+<span class="smcap larger">Walter S. Rogers</span></p>
+
+<p class="p2 center tall"><span class="smaller">NEW YORK</span><br>
+<span class="larger">GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP</span><br>
+<span class="smaller">PUBLISHERS</span></p>
+
+<p class="center smaller o">Made in the United States of America</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter box">
+<p class="center">
+<span class="larger">WESTERN STORIES FOR BOYS</span><br>
+<br>
+By JAMES CODY FERRIS<br>
+<br>
+<span class="larger">THE X BAR X BOYS BOOKS</span>
+</p>
+
+<ul class="small">
+  <li>THE X BAR X BOYS ON THE RANCH</li>
+  <li>THE X BAR X BOYS IN THUNDER CANYON</li>
+  <li>THE X BAR X BOYS ON WHIRLPOOL RIVER</li>
+  <li>THE X BAR X BOYS ON BIG BISON TRAIL</li>
+  <li>THE X BAR X BOYS AT THE ROUND-UP</li>
+</ul>
+
+<p class="center small">
+(OTHER VOLUMES IN PREPARATION)<br>
+</p>
+
+<hr class="short">
+
+<p class="center small">GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK<br>
+</p>
+</div>
+
+<p class="center small">Copyright, 1927, by<br>
+GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP<br>
+</p>
+
+<hr class="short">
+<p class="center"><i>All Rights Reserved</i><br>
+<br>
+<b>The X Bar X Boys at the Round-Up</b>
+</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak">
+    CONTENTS
+  </h2>
+</div>
+
+<table>
+<tr class="muchsmaller"><td class="tdr pad1">CHAPTER</td>
+    <td></td>
+    <td class="tdr pad2">PAGE</td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdr pad1"><abbr title="One">I</abbr></td>
+    <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">The Pack</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">1</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdr pad1"><abbr title="Two">II</abbr></td>
+    <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Rescue</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">11</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdr pad1"><abbr title="Three">III</abbr></td>
+    <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Roy’s Knife</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">21</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdr pad1"><abbr title="Four">IV</abbr></td>
+    <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Overheard</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">31</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdr pad1"><abbr title="Five">V</abbr></td>
+    <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Hortense Runs Wild</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">41</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdr pad1"><abbr title="Six">VI</abbr></td>
+    <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Mr. Peterson’s Forfeit</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">51</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdr pad1"><abbr title="Seven">VII</abbr></td>
+    <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Pop Waxes Wroth</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">59</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdr pad1"><abbr title="Eight">VIII</abbr></td>
+    <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Something Queer</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">67</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdr pad1"><abbr title="Nine">IX</abbr></td>
+    <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">The Wild Horse</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">76</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdr pad1"><abbr title="Ten">X</abbr></td>
+    <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Roy’s Rope</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">84</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdr pad1"><abbr title="Eleven">XI</abbr></td>
+    <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">The Flying Hat</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">91</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdr pad1"><abbr title="Twelve">XII</abbr></td>
+    <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Voices in the Night</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">101</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdr pad1"><abbr title="Thirteen">XIII</abbr></td>
+    <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">A Down-Grade Problem</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">110</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdr pad1"><abbr title="Fourteen">XIV</abbr></td>
+    <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">The Crystal Gazer</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">123</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdr pad1"><abbr title="Fifteen">XV</abbr></td>
+    <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Mysterious Danger</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">131</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdr pad1"><abbr title="Sixteen">XVI</abbr></td>
+    <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">The Start of the Round-Up</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">138</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdr pad1"><abbr title="Seventeen">XVII</abbr></td>
+    <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Driving in</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">146</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdr pad1"><abbr title="Eighteen">XVIII</abbr></td>
+    <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Teddy Gets His Orders</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">154</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdr pad1">XIX</td>
+    <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Into the Corral</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">161</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdr pad1"><abbr title="Twenty">XX</abbr></td>
+    <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">The Strange Fire</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">167</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdr pad1"><abbr title="Twenty-one">XXI</abbr></td>
+    <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">The Rustlers’ Camp</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">174</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdr pad1"><abbr title="Twenty-two">XXII</abbr></td>
+    <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Captives</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">180</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdr pad1"><abbr title="Twenty-three">XXIII</abbr></td>
+    <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">Too Late</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">186</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdr pad1"><abbr title="Twenty-four">XXIV</abbr></td>
+    <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">The Train of Empties</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV">193</a></td></tr>
+
+<tr><td class="tdr pad1"><abbr title="Twenty-five">XXV</abbr></td>
+    <td class="tdh"><span class="smcap">The Rodeo</span></td>
+    <td class="tdr vlb"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV">201</a></td></tr>
+</table>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <p class="h1head">
+    THE X BAR X BOYS<br>
+    AT THE ROUND-UP
+  </p>
+</div>
+
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I">
+    CHAPTER <abbr title="One">I</abbr>
+  </h2>
+  <h3><span class="smcap">The Pack</span>
+  </h3>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Pulling</span> his pony to a sudden stop, the
+rider gazed intently at a cloud of dust sweeping
+over the horizon. His companion, a slightly
+younger lad, with facial characteristics so similar
+that anyone would have instantly labeled
+these two as brothers, reined in his own mount
+and likewise stared at the dust cloud.</p>
+
+<p>“Coming?” he asked, more to himself than to
+his brother.</p>
+
+<p>“Going,” the other answered decidedly.
+“And he’s not waiting to count his money,
+either. I’d like to get a look at that hombre,
+Teddy.”</p>
+
+<p>“For reasons of your own, I guess,” Teddy
+Manley responded. Then he laughed. “And
+to what may we attribute this sudden curiosity,
+Roy?”</p>
+
+<p>“You know as well as I do,” Roy Manley answered
+shortly. “Just about this time each
+year I get a craving to know every man who rides as close to our cattle as that—and you
+should, too. With round-up so near, this is no
+time for fooling.”</p>
+
+<p>“As the African said when the lion sneezed
+in his face.” Teddy watched the dust disappear
+as the distant rider sank down behind a hill.
+Then he turned his head slowly, his gaze sweeping
+over the panorama of the brown, sun-drenched
+mountains, walling in the uneven
+plains like a gigantic picture frame. “Maybe
+he’s just viewing the beauties of nature,” the
+boy said, and urged his horse forward again.</p>
+
+<p>“Or on his way to Sunday-school on Monday,”
+Roy responded disdainfully. “If he’s
+interested in scenery, what does he ride like
+that for? He was sure burning up the ground.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, well, I give up,” Teddy declared impatiently.
+“Give that active mind of yours a
+rest, will you? Let’s get on the job again.
+Golly, there’s another break! Have the animals
+around here taken to eating wire?”</p>
+
+<p>Sliding off his horse and trailing the reins
+over the animal’s head, Teddy Manley drew a
+pair of pliers from his pocket and walked toward
+the fence. His brother, grumbling to himself,
+followed. Riding fence was not easy work,
+this late in the year. Somehow, there seemed
+more labor to be done in the fall than at any
+other time. They had repaired six breaks in
+the last mile.</p>
+
+<p>“Bring some of that extra wire,” Teddy
+called, fingering the top strand of the fence,
+which dangled loosely. “This will never
+reach.” He looked at the break thoughtfully,
+as though wondering how it had occurred. But
+what he said was: “See if my gloves are hanging
+on my saddle, will you? My hands are cut
+now from this stuff.”</p>
+
+<p>“Here’s the wire,” Roy declared, holding
+out a coil. “And your gloves are in your back
+pocket. I’ll anchor this end while you splice.
+Say, this looks as though it had been cut!” He
+seized the wire excitedly and stared at it.
+“Look how clean this break is, Teddy!”</p>
+
+<p>“Yea, and look how rusty the other end is,
+too,” Teddy said sarcastically. “I just wiped
+this piece off with my hand. Here—pull hard
+now, and we’ll get this together.”</p>
+
+<p>Grunting and straining, Teddy succeeded in
+forcing the two loose strands together and fastening
+them securely. When the task was finished
+he mopped the sweat from his face and
+the two boys remounted.</p>
+
+<p>“Your turn to take the next break,” Teddy
+asserted, as they rode on. “Hope it’s a good
+one.”</p>
+
+<p>“There won’t be any next,” Roy answered.
+“We’ll have to ride in now and let someone
+else start from here to-morrow. We’re supposed
+to be at the ranch this evening to talk
+to those two birds from Iowa—the Lefton
+brothers. Me, I don’t like ’em! But dad
+seems to think that they’ll take at least twelve
+hundred head, so we’ll have to dicker with ’em,
+I guess. Hope we get a good price.”</p>
+
+<p>“Why don’t you like ’em?” Teddy asked
+curiously. Roy glanced over at his brother in
+surprise.</p>
+
+<p>“Teddy, that’s the first remark of mine to-day
+that you’ve taken seriously! So you, too,
+think there’s something funny about them, do
+you?”</p>
+
+<p>“I didn’t say so,” Teddy responded.</p>
+
+<p>“You don’t have to say so. Well, spill it!
+What do you know about ’em?”</p>
+
+<p>“Nothing much,” Teddy answered evasively.
+“Only they sure asked Nick a lot of queer
+questions.”</p>
+
+<p>“Did they?” Roy looked eagerly at his
+brother. “What sort of questions? About
+cattle?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, about cattle—our cattle. Nick said
+that both of them cornered him down by the
+bunkhouse, offered him cigarettes, and tried to
+pump him. Nick told ’em that we had fifty head
+of shorthorns that were being shipped to the
+King of Siam, in trade for a herd of elephants.
+He said that we were going to start an elephant
+farm out here and grow ivory for our own pool
+balls.”</p>
+
+<p>“He did? What did they say then?”</p>
+
+<p>“Nothing. Guess they looked at him as if
+they wondered whether he was crazy, and wandered
+off. I heard next they got Gus Tripp,
+and asked him a lot of questions, too.”</p>
+
+<p>“Mighty inquisitive pair of boys,” Roy
+commented dryly. “Must want to know all
+about the cattle they buy. Well, you can’t exactly
+blame them for that, I suppose.”</p>
+
+<p>“They weren’t asking about the kind of cattle
+they were, but where we grazed ’em. How many
+head here, how many there, and so forth.”</p>
+
+<p>“You don’t say! Nick tell you that?”</p>
+
+<p>“Gus did. But he didn’t give them any satisfaction.
+Gus is too wise for that.”</p>
+
+<p>Roy, his tall body straight in the saddle, his
+head held rigid, remained silent. After a moment
+Teddy glanced at him and grinned.</p>
+
+<p>“Six times six is thirty-six and six is forty-two!
+Come out of it!”</p>
+
+<p>“I was just thinking,” Roy said deliberately,
+“of the Lefton brothers.”</p>
+
+<p>“You don’t tell me! Why, I thought you
+were trying to do mental arithmetic. So you
+were thinking of the Lefton boys! Well, well!
+Now what could have been the cause of that,
+do you suppose?”</p>
+
+<p>“I was wondering if they really intend to
+buy cattle,” Roy went on, refusing to reply to
+Teddy’s sarcasm. “They’ve been hanging
+around two days now, and never once made an
+offer. To me, that seems mighty funny. Of
+course, you, with your superior brain, may
+think of it differently.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, it does look a little like rain, if that’s
+what you said. Well, to tell the truth, my lad,
+I had an idea all along that they were a couple
+of four-flushers. That younger one—Jerry, his
+name is—talks too loud and too freely. Besides
+being loquacious, he says too much. And the
+other—Bill—has a wart on his nose. I don’t
+like people with a wart on their nose—noses, I
+mean, maybe warts.”</p>
+
+<p>“We can’t afford to let a customer go because
+he has a wart on his nose. If they meet
+our price, we’ll give ’em the dogies, irrespective
+of what they look like. Tell that cayuse
+his supper’s waiting for him, will you? We
+want to get home before dark, you know.”</p>
+
+<p>Checking the reply that rose to his lips,
+Teddy Manley clucked to Flash, and the bronco
+lengthened his stride. The brothers were riding
+on the edge of a shallow gully that dipped
+down just the other side of the fence. Far to
+their left the cattle were grazing, content to
+keep to their own territory and not investigate
+these two riders. A quarter of a mile farther
+on, the boys came to a gate in the fence, and
+went through into the gully. For some distance
+they followed the ravine, then cut sharp left,
+and headed home. By riding through the gully
+they had avoided a steep hill which lay just
+within the fence.</p>
+
+<p>The day was drawing to a close. The few
+clouds in the deep blue sky had gathered on the
+horizon, like white sheep flocking to the fold.
+The orange and yellow colors of early sunset
+were already streaking the heavens. A bird,
+flying low, left a streamer of purling song behind
+him.</p>
+
+<p>The landscape was dotted with water-holes,
+some of them dried up from the long summer
+sun, others containing only moisture enough
+to cover the bottom. As the boys rode on, Bitter
+Cliff lookout came into view, and then it was
+only a half hour to the X Bar X Ranch.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, whoever does get our stock will get
+one fine bunch,” Roy said suddenly, breaking
+the silence. “We’ve never had a finer lot.
+Healthy, every one of ’em.”</p>
+
+<p>“Be a tough break to lose any of ’em now,
+wouldn’t it?” Teddy remarked absently. “All
+the summer’s work gone for nothing.”</p>
+
+<p>“Why should we lose ’em?” Roy demanded
+sharply. “Think our men can’t handle a
+round-up? Bet we don’t miss a single cow!”</p>
+
+<p>“Of course, there may be others interested in
+our cattle,” Teddy said mysteriously. “Like
+those two Lefton brothers. There <em>are</em> ways
+of acquiring cows other than buying them, you
+know. In case—snakes! Did you see that
+prairie dog?”</p>
+
+<p>He pointed to a brown streak that was heading
+for a clump of bushes. The next moment
+it was out of sight.</p>
+
+<p>“Prairie dog!” exclaimed Roy. “If that
+was a prairie dog I’m a grasshopper!
+Haven’t you ever seen a wolf before?”</p>
+
+<p>“Wolf? You mean a wolverine?”</p>
+
+<p>“I mean a wolf! A full grown one, too! I
+got a good look at him just before he entered
+that mesquite. Let’s go get him—he’ll kill a
+cow, sure, if he gets away!”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy nodded, and touched his heels to the
+pony’s sides. As they raced over the prairie
+both boys drew their revolvers and held them in
+readiness.</p>
+
+<p>“You take the left, I’ll circle around!” Roy
+panted. “Make sure you don’t miss him. Once
+he gets very deep into the brush, he’s gone for
+good!”</p>
+
+<p>Swiftly the riders dashed toward the brush
+wherein the animal had disappeared. Wolves
+were most uncommon on the ranges of this
+country. This one had probably been driven
+down by hunger from the mountains.</p>
+
+<p>“The one who shoots him gets the pelt!”
+Teddy yelled. “Let’s go!”</p>
+
+<p>The two brothers swung apart. About three
+hundred yards from the mesquite stood a group
+of quakermasts, and they wanted to cut the
+animal off from this protection. Even as they
+neared the brush, however, they saw the wolf
+dart toward the trees.</p>
+
+<p>Crack! Teddy’s gun spoke, and a spurt
+of dust arose behind the running animal.</p>
+
+<p>Roy fired. The beast faltered, and dropped
+to his haunches. From his throat came a peculiar
+wailing cry.</p>
+
+<p>“You got him!” Teddy shouted. “He’s—”
+The sentence was never completed. As if in
+answer to a call, another wolf leaped from the
+grove of quakermasts. Then another, and another—almost
+tumbling over each other in their
+efforts to reach their fallen comrade, a full pack
+of snarling, yelping, savage wolves!</p>
+
+<p>The horses, squealing in terror, planted their
+forefeet in the turf and came to a back-jerking
+stop. Wildly they swung about, their riders
+unable to control them in the face of this charging
+death.</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t shoot—no time—get away!” Teddy
+yelled. “There’s hundreds of ’em—”</p>
+
+<p>Glancing swiftly around, Roy saw that this
+was scarcely an exaggeration. The pack seemed
+to increase every second. As they reached the
+wounded beast, a few stopped, but the rest
+came on. Foam was dripping from their jaws
+in huge flakes.</p>
+
+<p>“They’re mad—crazy with hunger!” Roy
+gasped. “They’re starved! If they catch
+us—”</p>
+
+<p>He bent low over Star’s back. There was but
+one thing to do—ride, and put their faith in
+their broncos. In the steel-like muscles of Star
+and Flash lay the boys’ only hope of safety.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II">
+    CHAPTER <abbr title="Two">II</abbr>
+  </h2>
+  <h3><span class="smcap">Rescue</span>
+  </h3>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">With</span> necks outstretched, flesh quivering, and
+eyes white from fear, the ponies flashed across
+the prairie. Direction was forgotten in the mad
+rush to escape those dripping fangs now so
+close.</p>
+
+<p>The ground was uneven, treacherous, and
+each rider knew that a single misstep would send
+his horse crashing to earth, the only hope, then,
+being that the fall, and not the teeth of the ravenous
+animals, would bring death.</p>
+
+<p>Desperately the boys sought to guide their
+mounts so as to avoid the frequent badger holes.
+In a single moment, it seemed, they had left the
+group of quakermasts behind, and were mounting
+the side of a small hill.</p>
+
+<p>The broncos were racing side by side, not ten
+feet apart. After the first hot wave of panic,
+that minute they had come face to face with
+what had seemed certain destruction, Teddy and
+Roy quickly regained control of themselves.
+The paralyzing shock of fear passed, and left
+a cool, clear mind, which seemed to register
+impressions more vividly than ever before.
+Each rider knew just what he was to do if he
+hoped to escape alive. It was as though a huge
+screen were before them, with the words:
+“Over this hill—swing left—turn—and shoot.”
+Neither boy said a word to the other, yet almost
+as one rider they mounted the incline and bore
+to the left. Then Teddy yelled:</p>
+
+<p>“Now! We’ve gained a little, Roy. You
+take that big gray hunky. I’ll get the next
+one—”</p>
+
+<p>Reverberating from the closeness of the hills,
+the guns roared their challenge. The gray
+wolf, that appeared to be the leader, whirled
+about in a circle, snapped at his side, fell, and
+lay still.</p>
+
+<p>“There’s one down!” Roy shouted, gripping
+with his knees the sides of the bobbing pony
+and raising his revolver for another shot.
+“That may stop ’em!”</p>
+
+<p>The pack, seeing their leader down, hesitated
+for a moment. Then with the vicious savageness
+of their breed, they fell upon him.</p>
+
+<p>“Wolf—eat—wolf!” Teddy panted hoarsely.
+“We’ve got a chance, Roy! A chance!”</p>
+
+<p>Useless it was to dig frantic heels into the
+ponies’ ribs. They were expending every ounce
+of energy they possessed, seeking to lose those
+horrible yappings. Farther and farther away
+from that surging mass of bodies they coursed,
+the wind carrying snarls that drove the frightened
+horses ever onward. For a moment Roy
+had a vision of a mangled shape in the midst of
+digging, prying claws and eager teeth, and the
+boy grew sick with the thought, feeling that
+perhaps Teddy or himself might be lying there
+not motionless, but turning and twisting in
+obedience to a tug here, a pull there!</p>
+
+<p>“Steady, Flash, steady,” Teddy was breathing,
+the reins tight as iron bands in his hand.
+“We’re all right now, old boy.”</p>
+
+<p>“We can’t keep this pace up!” Roy called
+tensely. “We’ll kill the broncs! Pull him up,
+Teddy!”</p>
+
+<p>Leaning forward, Roy grasped Star’s neck
+muscles, just below the mane. He talked in a
+low tone, as evenly as he could, keeping the
+trembling gasps out of his voice. Behind them
+the fierce yelps were growing fainter. Gradually
+the horses took on a calmer, more controlled
+gallop. Flash snorted noisily.</p>
+
+<p>“All right—I guess,” Roy said doubtfully.
+He exhaled his breath in a peculiar whistle.
+Star shook his head and whinnied.</p>
+
+<p>“Easy, easy,” Roy soothed. “Save it, bronc.
+Teddy, keep your gun out. That pack won’t
+stay put very long. They’ll come again. We’ve
+got to head for home as quickly as we can. No
+time to waste.”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy nodded silently. He, too, realized that
+the danger was not yet over. But the horses
+were rapidly recovering their strength, and
+the boys knew they would be able to respond
+with another dash when the time came. These
+riders understood their mounts thoroughly—understood,
+and loved them.</p>
+
+<p>When a man and a horse are together through
+long hours of loneliness on the wide plains of
+the West, when they ride into and out of perils
+of all sorts, there springs up between them a
+strange bond, which seems to have something
+in it other than mere friendship.</p>
+
+<p>So it was with Teddy and Flash, and Roy and
+Star. Ever since that day they had lost them,
+when the horses had been stolen from the hitching
+rail at Eagles, and the boys had risked their
+lives more than once to recover them, the
+broncos had come to mean more than mere
+saddle horses. The story of how they finally
+caught the horse thieves who had stolen the
+ponies, and in doing so rid the range of a desperate
+gang of rustlers, is told in the first
+book of this series, called “The X Bar X Boys
+on the Ranch.”</p>
+
+<p>These exciting adventures were followed by
+many others, when Teddy and Roy searched the
+mysterious Thunder Canyon for Belle Ada,
+their sister, and her two friends, who had been
+kidnapped. Then came a hazardous journey
+down Whirlpool River, to recover some cattle
+that had been rustled by Denver Smith and
+his gang. In the book, just before the
+present volume, “The X Bar X Boys on
+Big Bison Trail,” the tale is related of a
+moving picture company on location and of
+the part Teddy and Roy played in its affairs.
+How they aided their cowboy friend, Nick
+Looker, to recover a legacy left by his uncle, is
+also told.</p>
+
+<p>Throughout all these experiences the two
+Manley boys had, as their constant companions,
+Flash and Star. Many times the horses had
+been the means of saving the lives of their
+masters. Thus Teddy and Roy came to know
+them as few masters know their horses—to
+know their weaknesses, their strength. And
+both boys realized that, at this moment, should
+they be compelled to drive them forward before
+the wolves, they would again answer as
+they had before.</p>
+
+<p>Teddy saw that Roy, who was leading, had
+swerved to the right and was listening intently,
+his hand cupping his ear.</p>
+
+<p>“They’re still making plenty of noise
+back there,” Teddy called, but Roy shook his
+head.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s a different sort of noise. We’ve got to
+swing pretty wide. They’re on the run again.
+Listen! Notice that new note?”</p>
+
+<p>Truly there did seem to be a change in the
+yapping sounds the wolves were making. The
+boys were on the other side of the hill now, out
+of sight of the animals, but every moment they
+expected to see the pack appear over the crest.
+Teddy rapidly replaced with cartridges the
+shells that had been exploded, and seized his
+weapon more firmly.</p>
+
+<p>“It would be worse than useless to face that
+pack,” he said with a slight shudder. “Where
+in thunder could they have come from? There
+hasn’t been a wolf in these parts for years.”</p>
+
+<p>“We’ll talk that over later,” Roy answered
+shortly. “The thing to do now is to get out
+of their way. Let’s make time.”</p>
+
+<p>Their shadows had lengthened into long, dark
+blots as the two boys threw their mounts into
+a gallop. They rode diagonally away from the
+pack, gradually edging toward the X Bar X.
+Night must not overtake them here on the range,
+while the frenzied beasts were still close upon
+them. Their best chance lay not in out-distancing
+them, but in throwing them off their
+track.</p>
+
+<p>“Stick to this trail,” Roy said. “We’re getting
+nearer home each minute. Golly, I think
+we’ve beaten them! Listen! Aren’t they farther
+away?”</p>
+
+<p>Shrewdly realizing that often one hears that
+which he hopes to hear, Teddy would not admit
+that the danger was past. The cries of the wolf
+pack could still be plainly heard, and there was
+no means of telling whether they were coming
+toward the boys or running at right angles to
+them. It was not necessary for the animals to
+see the riders to follow them. Both Roy and
+Teddy knew that a wolf can track a man by the
+scent, as a dog does, and unless something occurred
+to shift the attention of the pack they
+might chase the boys to the very yard of the
+ranch.</p>
+
+<p>“Provided we can last that long,” Teddy
+said grimly, finishing his thought aloud. “We
+may not have a chance to slow ’em up again.
+Snakes, they sound like a convention!”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll tell a maverick they do! Well, we can
+keep going only so far, and then—” Roy
+dropped his hand to the butt of his gun, which
+he had replaced in its holster. “We’ll have it
+out with ’em, I guess. We can never hope to
+keep this pace up till we reach home.”</p>
+
+<p>The two horses were running freely now, but
+not with the easy lope natural to them. It was
+more of a forced canter, as though the steeds
+could feel their riders’ anxiety, the tense,
+dogged helplessness of the hunted. Teddy
+prayed that they at least might keep the beasts
+out of sight. To hear them is bad enough, but
+to see them coming on remorselessly was infinitely
+worse.</p>
+
+<p>Teddy and Roy were riding silently. Their
+attention was concentrated on keeping their
+broncos running smoothly and avoiding all ruts
+and holes which might interrupt the stride. In
+these moments their skill was invaluable—they
+sat on their horses as though they were part of
+them, directing them by slight changes in the
+position of the reins, by the pressure of their
+knees.</p>
+
+<p>Before them a small ravine opened. They
+nosed their horses down, carefully, and headed
+for the other side. Teddy turned his head as
+they struck the upgrade.</p>
+
+<p>“Roy! Roy! Flash is limping! I’ll never
+make it! Here they come!” The boy’s voice
+was hoarse, cracked. Roy swerved suddenly.</p>
+
+<p>He saw that his brother had spoken the
+truth. Flash was limping badly, and over the
+top of the gully poured a tossing flood of brown
+wolves.</p>
+
+<p>“I reckon, Roy, I’ll stay here,” Teddy panted.
+His horse faltered, missed a step, and slid backward.
+Teddy turned him, and halted. “You
+go on,” he said through clenched teeth. “I’ll
+take my chances. I can hold ’em back for a
+while. Take it, you mangy dogs!” He raised
+his gun, and pulled the trigger viciously.</p>
+
+<p>“Teddy, save it! We’ll stand right here,
+and if they want us, they’ll have to plough
+through hot lead to get us! Steady, bucko!
+Wait till they—”</p>
+
+<p>Yelping triumphantly, the pack reached the
+bottom of the gully. Roy could see blood on
+their jaws, still wet from their recent feast made
+from their dead comrade. Soon, perhaps, they
+might obtain another food supply. Roy’s eyes
+narrowed, and drawing his gun he took careful
+aim.</p>
+
+<p>“We’ll fire together,” he said in a low voice.
+“And keep on shooting. But they’ll never
+stop now to feed. We either win this fight or
+we don’t. Good luck, ole hoss!”</p>
+
+<p>“Good luck, Brother,” Teddy whispered. It
+was the first time he had ever used the term.</p>
+
+<p>The wolves came on. They reached a spot
+fifty yards from the waiting horsemen, who sat
+quietly, holding their mounts with one hand
+and their guns with the other. The broncos
+were trembling violently, but still they stood,
+not panic stricken now, but placing implicit
+faith in their masters.</p>
+
+<p>“Let ’em have it!”</p>
+
+<p>Crack! Crack!</p>
+
+<p>The roaring thunder of the guns filled the
+ravine, drowning the savage cries of the
+wolves. One of the animals was down, another
+snapping fitfully at his shoulder. But the
+pack did not halt, nor even hesitate. Before
+them was prey far sweeter than their own kind.</p>
+
+<p>“Reckon it’s curtains!” Teddy yelled. “Stick
+to it, kid! Blast ’em!”</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly, directly behind Roy, a wild shout
+arose. Guns—many of them—split the air with
+their reports. There were more yells. A torrent
+of lead struck into the advancing horde,
+halted them, turned them, and sent them scampering
+away, leaving five dead upon the ground.
+The fight was won, but the bullets that had
+stemmed the tide had not come from the guns
+of Teddy and Roy Manley.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III">
+    CHAPTER <abbr title="Three">III</abbr>
+  </h2>
+  <h3><span class="smcap">Roy’s Knife</span>
+  </h3>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">As</span> an encore to the heavy cracks of the guns
+came a voice—low, amused, and dryly sarcastic:</p>
+
+<p>“Reckon you’ll hang the ‘Welcome’ sign on
+your door for us, hey?”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy and Roy swung quickly around. Facing
+them, guns out and still smoking, were three
+men. One of them had a wart on his nose. The
+second was shorter, and looked a great deal
+like his disfigured companion. The other horseman,
+who had made the remark, was a lean grizzled
+vaquero, whose mouth drooped at the corners,
+and whose eyes were mere slits in his
+leathern skin.</p>
+
+<p>“Why, you’re the Lefton brothers!” Teddy
+exclaimed. “How did you—”</p>
+
+<p>“The same, at your service,” the taller one
+answered. “And this is Mob Jamisson. You’ll
+have to figure out for yourself why they call
+him Mob.”</p>
+
+<p>“Howdy,” Mob said curtly. “Seems like you
+boys were ready to furnish them animals with
+a meal, hey?”</p>
+
+<p>“We were,” Roy answered, speaking for the
+first time. A puzzled frown creased his forehead.
+Somehow, these rescuers were sneeringly
+contemptuous of the thing they had
+done, as though the two lives they had saved
+scarcely mattered. But at all events they
+had prevented a dangerous, if not fatal, issue,
+and Roy’s face cleared as he held out his
+hand.</p>
+
+<p>“We owe you plenty,” he said heartily.
+“My brother’s pony would never have been
+able to make the top of this hill—he went lame.
+I’m afraid to imagine what would have been
+the outcome of a scrap with those crazy animals.”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy, who was staring hard at the Lefton
+brothers, shoved his gun back in the holster and
+likewise held out his hand, which was grasped
+by each in turn, as Roy’s had been.</p>
+
+<p>“We were ahead of them, with a fair chance
+of escape, when my bronc stumbled in a hole,”
+the boy explained. “Not enough to throw me,
+but I knew if I forced him he’d cave in. So we
+turned and decided to fight it out.”</p>
+
+<p>“Pretty sights you’d be if we hadn’t come
+along,” Mob Jamisson declared. He glanced
+down at Teddy’s horse. “Left front, ain’t it?
+Better get off an’ see if it’ll last you till you
+get to the—till you get home.”</p>
+
+<p>“We’re from the X Bar X,” Teddy said,
+watching the man closely. “You’ve heard of
+it?”</p>
+
+<p>“Slightly,” Mob drawled. He rolled and lit
+a cigarette. “Well, the excitement seems to be
+about over. Where’d you pick up them wolves,
+anyhow? Didn’t know they ever traveled
+much in this country.”</p>
+
+<p>“Neither did we,” Roy answered. “We saw
+one, and decided to get him, and before we knew
+what was happening the whole pack was on
+top of us. They ran us ragged.”</p>
+
+<p>Jerry Lefton, the shorter of the two brothers,
+spoke for the first time.</p>
+
+<p>“If you want to,” he said, “you can come
+over to our camp and rest your bronc.”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s nice of you,” Teddy answered. “But
+it’s getting pretty late. Say, by the way, I
+thought we had a date with you fellows this
+evening to talk over a cattle deal? We were
+hurrying home, trying to make it on time—”</p>
+
+<p>“Teddy, I think we’d better rest Flash a bit,”
+Roy interrupted hastily. “Which way is your
+camp? If it isn’t too much trouble—”</p>
+
+<p>“None at all,” Mob declared. “Guess you
+can pay for what you eat.”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy and Roy stared at him in surprise,
+and Jerry Lefton made haste to put in:</p>
+
+<p>“He was just fooling. We’ll be glad to have
+you. Over this way ’bout a mile. Guess your
+bronc can make that all right.”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure,” Teddy answered. “He’s not hurt
+badly.” A question was trembling on his lips,
+but, noticing Roy’s face, he refrained from asking
+it. “Those wolves will wander away soon,”
+the boy substituted. “I don’t reckon they’ll
+hang around here.”</p>
+
+<p>“Not long,” Bill Lefton, he with the wart
+on his nose, added. “They travel where there’s
+the most chance for food. Say, your range is
+near here, isn’t it? Hope your cattle stay
+bunched. I pity the cow that walks alone with
+that pack around.”</p>
+
+<p>“They’ll bunch,” Teddy declared shortly.
+“We don’t aim to have any of ’em injured, or
+taken.”</p>
+
+<p>Bill Lefton looked at him quickly, but Teddy’s
+head was turned away. He seemed to be intent
+on some object down the gully.</p>
+
+<p>The five riders swung about, and, led by Mob
+Jamisson, made their way slowly along the
+steep side of the ravine. After a short journey
+they turned sharp right, and ascended.</p>
+
+<p>During the ride Teddy had an opportunity to
+study his companions. The Lefton boys he had
+met several times before, and a more intimate
+acquaintance had not increased his liking for
+them. He realized, of course, that they had
+earned the gratitude of himself and Roy. But
+he could not free his mind from a vague distrust
+of them.</p>
+
+<p>This Mob Jamisson, now—Teddy had never
+seen before, but he had heard of him. Among
+the cattle ranches his reputation was none too
+savory. There were certain incidents of
+strange marking of cows, of selling diseased
+stock, in which his name had figured. Nothing
+definite, but in the West a rumor of that sort
+usually has some basis in fact. Teddy wondered
+how the Lefton brothers had met him.
+Then he recalled that they were new to this
+section, and, like as not, had run across him
+accidently. It seemed well to give them the
+benefit of the doubt.</p>
+
+<p>Whatever had been Roy’s motive in accepting
+the invitation to visit the Lefton camp was not
+brought out as they rode along. The talk was
+purely general—of weather conditions, of the
+possibility of the wolves returning. All agreed
+that it would be a good thing to chase the
+beasts out of that region as soon as possible.
+They were a constant menace to man and
+cattle.</p>
+
+<p>The conversation that followed continued
+until the camp was reached, and as they
+sighted the three pup tents, darkness was fast
+approaching.</p>
+
+<p>“We’ve been making this our headquarters
+for a while,” Jerry Lefton explained, as he
+saw the look of surprise on the faces of Teddy
+and Roy. “You see, Bill and I may locate
+here permanently, and we wanted to get a
+look at the country.”</p>
+
+<p>Even this, thought Roy, was scarcely a reason
+for staying out on the prairie when much
+more comfortable accommodations could be
+had at Eagles. But he kept his thoughts to
+himself and accepted the explanation at its face
+value.</p>
+
+<p>“Better let me look at yore bronc’s laig,”
+Mob Jamisson suggested. He dismounted, as
+did the others, and raised Flash’s front foot.
+The horse shied slightly, but when Teddy put
+a hand on his neck he stood quietly. “She’s
+sprained, but not bad,” Mob pronounced.
+“Won’t hurt to ride him. Fact is, it’ll keep it
+from gettin’ stiff.”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s how I figured,” Teddy answered.
+“So I reckon we’d better be getting along
+home. I guess we won’t have any more trouble
+with the wolves.”</p>
+
+<p>“Stay and have some grub with us,” Jerry
+said loudly. “You’ll miss your supper anyhow,
+and there’s no sense ridin’ on an empty
+stomach. What say?”</p>
+
+<p>“I guess we’d better—” Teddy began, when
+Roy interrupted.</p>
+
+<p>“Sure we’ll stay! I’m hungry, I don’t mind
+saying. If you like, we’ll pay you for whatever
+we eat.”</p>
+
+<p>“Certainly not!” Bill Lefton said angrily.
+
+“Mob was joking when he said that. Weren’t
+you, Mob?”</p>
+
+<p>“Um—suppose so,” Mob answered ungraciously.
+“Great little joker, me. Sit down
+boys, an’ fill up.”</p>
+
+<p>While Jerry started a fire, Mob and Bill
+“rustled” the food. When twilight made its
+farewell bow, the bacon and beans were sizzling
+over the flames. The boys had no fear that
+they were causing worry at home by staying on
+the range longer than they had expected to.
+Early that afternoon they had started riding
+fence, and they knew Mr. Manley would realize
+that something had occurred to delay them. He
+was confident of their ability to take care of
+themselves under all circumstances; they had
+proved that, many times. And whatever fears
+Mrs. Manley had for them she kept to herself.
+Never would she let them see that she worried
+when they were unaccountably absent. Long
+ago she had determined that the best way to
+bring up her sons was to make them independent,
+self-reliant. She knew that continual expressions
+of worry would only hinder their
+growth into what she wanted them to be—true
+men, sons of the West. They never realized
+that she had spent many sleepless nights wondering,
+praying for their safety when they
+were from home on a mission of danger. She
+wished them to be brave, and she, herself, held
+forth the shining example. What she was, her
+sons would be.</p>
+
+<p>The meal at the Lefton camp was soon concluded.
+No mention was made of buying or selling
+cattle, although Teddy several times suggested
+that the round-up was soon to take place
+and that his father expected several buyers
+from the East. Each time either Jerry or Bill
+Lefton changed the subject rather hurriedly,
+and when Teddy and Roy arose to start their
+journey home both realized that it was practically
+useless to count on these brothers to
+take any of their cattle.</p>
+
+<p>They remounted, and turned their broncos,
+homeward.</p>
+
+<p>“Yore horse all right now?” Mob inquired,
+motioning with his head toward Flash’s
+leg.</p>
+
+<p>“Sure! O.K.,” Teddy replied. “He’ll step
+lively on the way to the ranch. Thanks, again,
+for all you’ve done for us. If ever we get the
+chance, we’ll repay you.”</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t reckon you’ll get the chance,” Jerry
+answered, a bit gruffly. “We’d do that for
+anybody. So long!”</p>
+
+<p>“So long! Much obliged!”</p>
+
+<p>The boys rode out of the circle of the firelight.</p>
+
+<p>The three men were standing, watching them
+depart. Soon they were swallowed up in the
+moonless night.</p>
+
+<p>Silently the lads rode, for fully five minutes,
+and then Teddy said:</p>
+
+<p>“Get what you went after, Roy?”</p>
+
+<p>“Huh? What I—oh! Yep, I did. I found
+out one thing—they’re not cattle buyers. It
+may have seemed foolish to hang around when
+we should have started home, but I figured we
+might as well learn all we could about the
+Lefton brothers. And I learned enough.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yea?”</p>
+
+<p>“I learned, for one thing, that they did not
+intend to go to the X Bar X to-night to keep
+their appointment with dad. They’d rather
+drop in unexpectedly, it seems.”</p>
+
+<p>Another period of silence. Then:</p>
+
+<p>“It was lucky they showed up when they did.
+We’ve got that to thank them for,” said Teddy.</p>
+
+<p>Roy nodded.</p>
+
+<p>“Check! Well, if we get the chance, we’ll
+wipe the slate clean. I don’t like to be in their
+debt. Something tells me we may have to put
+them on the other side of the books soon.”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy was about to question this enigmatical
+statement when Roy suddenly uttered an exclamation.</p>
+
+<p>“Hang the luck, my knife’s gone! I must
+have dropped it out of my pocket when we were
+sitting around the fire. Snakes! I hate to lose
+that. It was the one dad gave me for my birthday
+last year—silver mounted, you know. Say,
+I’m going back for it. You wait here. Soon
+as I get it I’ll shoot back. No use both going—and
+Flash has a sore leg. You stick right by
+this bush. I won’t be a minute.”</p>
+
+<p>“Wait! I might as well go along! Flash is all
+right. He’s—”</p>
+
+<p>But Roy had started. Teddy shook his head
+and prepared to wait as he had been told to do.</p>
+
+<p>“Funny brother I got,” he murmured. “He
+can’t tell me he didn’t drop that knife on purpose.
+He should have been a detective.” Then
+he chuckled. “Wonder what sort of story he’ll
+have when he gets back?”</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV">
+    CHAPTER <abbr title="Four">IV</abbr>
+  </h2>
+  <h3><span class="smcap">Overheard</span>
+  </h3>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">When</span> Roy Manley left Teddy alone by the
+bush and went through the night toward the
+camp he had just left, two thoughts were paramount
+in his mind. One was that he hated to
+trick his brother with the knife story. The
+other was that Mob Jamisson had not met the
+Lefton boys accidentally.</p>
+
+<p>As to the first, he had no need to give himself
+concern. Teddy had not been fooled. He
+knew, he was sure, that the tale of the lost knife
+had been only a ruse to allow Roy to return
+without being laughed at if his efforts at spying
+bore no fruit. And as to the second thought,
+it was based on sound reasoning.</p>
+
+<p>A man who has just become acquainted with
+another does not pitch camp with him on the
+prairie unless they agree to be partners in some
+sort of enterprise. Hence the three pup tents
+indicated one thing—that the two Lefton boys
+and Mob Jamisson had joined forces. For what
+purpose Roy could not even speculate, but he
+was satisfied that it had nothing to do with
+Sunday-school—not with Jamisson having a
+hand in it.</p>
+
+<p>By this time Roy could see the red haze of
+the campfire, and he dismounted and led Star
+forward. He felt uneasy at repaying the hospitality
+of his hosts with such a questionable
+procedure, but, telling himself that the end
+justified the means, he went on.</p>
+
+<p>Star, he knew, would be as silent as himself,
+and he had no fear of discovery until he chose
+to show himself. If, by chance, they did find
+him out, he could always claim that he had returned
+after the lost knife.</p>
+
+<p>As to the exact reason of this night sally, Roy
+was not even certain himself. It was on impulse
+that he decided that this was the one time
+to learn as much as possible about the Lefton
+brothers.</p>
+
+<p>Why had they asked all those questions of the
+X Bar X hands when they did not intend to buy
+cattle? And surely it was plain now that all
+thought of purchasing cows had departed from
+their minds, if, indeed, they had ever held such
+thoughts.</p>
+
+<p>When they had first come to the X Bar X,
+they purposely gave the impression that they
+were cattle buyers. Why? It seemed now to
+Roy that they had never had any real intention
+of entering into negotiations. If they had
+meant actually to buy cattle, why had they
+dropped the project, even before terms were
+mentioned?</p>
+
+<p>Thus it seemed to Roy that his conduct now
+was perfectly logical. He knew that Teddy
+would scoff at the idea of spying on the Leftons
+and attempt to dissuade him from his purpose.
+But Roy, romantically inclined, saw things in
+a different light. He determined to play the
+part of investigator.</p>
+
+<p>The low tones of the three men reached him
+as he drew nearer the camp. As yet he could
+not distinguish words, but placing his hand over
+Star’s nose to avoid any possibility of discovery
+he walked quietly closer.</p>
+
+<p>He saw that Mob Jamisson sat with his back
+toward him and that the other two faced Mob.
+Jerry was talking in excited tones.</p>
+
+<p>“—easily six hundred head,” he was saying.
+“Fine, splendid cattle! Healthy! I tell you
+that you people out here don’t realize what it
+means to have cattle like that.”</p>
+
+<p>“But how?” Bill questioned. “The cars—”</p>
+
+<p>“Getting cars would be a cinch! Nothing to
+it! Why, it’s only an eight mile run, you
+know.”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s a fact!” Mob broke in. “Eight
+miles isn’t far. The old Jarmey place—”</p>
+
+<p>“Wait!” Bill raised his hand. “I heard
+something. If it’s—You! What the mischief—”</p>
+
+<p>“I dropped my knife,” Roy answered steadily,
+moving closer to the fire. His hands hung
+at his sides, limp, innocent of weapon. “Just
+rode up this second. See it around here, any
+of you? Silver, with my initials on it.”</p>
+
+<p>“You just rode up, you said?” Mob demanded
+springing up and striding forward.
+“How comes we didn’t hear you, hey? First
+thing we know you’re on top of us. You’ve
+been listening—”</p>
+
+<p>“What difference does it make?” Roy asked
+calmly.</p>
+
+<p>“What? Say, you—”</p>
+
+<p>“I said, what difference does it make how I
+came up? I tell you I lost my knife and came
+back for it. Why all the argument? What’s
+wrong about losing a knife? The way you talk
+you’d think I’d overheard something I should
+not have. What do you think I am, anyhow?”</p>
+
+<p>“He’s right, Mob,” Jerry said quickly. “You
+must be pretty nervous to-night. I can’t figure
+out why you’re making such a fuss myself. Go
+ahead, look for the knife, Manley. We’ll help.”</p>
+
+<p>Mob Jamisson, realizing that he was beaten,
+subsided. He looked at Roy intently. Just how
+much of their conversation had the boy heard?
+He could not ask without indicating that there
+was something he wished to keep secret.</p>
+
+<p>As Roy bent over the ground, Mob’s hand
+fell to his gun—then came slowly away. He
+had seen the firelight glitter on metal at Roy’s
+side—and guns in holsters do not reflect light.
+Chin in hand, he stood contemplating the youth.</p>
+
+<p>“Got it!” Roy exclaimed suddenly, and
+straightened. He held an object in his hand.
+“Found it hidden under a stick. Lucky, hey?”</p>
+
+<p>“It is lucky,” Bill said quietly. “It would
+have been too bad for you to come all the way
+back and then not find the knife.”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll tell a maverick it would!” Roy answered
+easily. If the Lefton brothers had expected
+him to show embarrassment at the
+pointed statement he was disappointed. “Well,
+I’ll be getting along. Thanks for helping me.”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure you got everything now?” Mob asked
+truculently. “Yore hat? Belt? Ain’t lost
+yore pants, have you?”</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t think so,” Roy answered seriously.
+“Nope, I’m sure I haven’t. But thanks for
+asking. Hold still now, bronc, while I climb up.
+Right. So long!”</p>
+
+<p>There was no reply. Chuckling, Roy rode
+off into the night.</p>
+
+<p>He found Teddy easily, and together the two
+boys started homeward. After some moments
+Teddy inquired:</p>
+
+<p>“Find it, Roy?”</p>
+
+<p>“Uh-huh.”</p>
+
+<p>Silence, except for the hoof-beats of their
+mounts. Then, Teddy:</p>
+
+<p>“Nice night, isn’t it?”</p>
+
+<p>“Wonderful!”</p>
+
+<p>“See here, you secretive bronco-buster, if you
+think I’m going to ask all sorts of silly questions—”</p>
+
+<p>“All right, laddy!” Roy burst out laughing.
+“All I needed was coaxing. Now you tend to
+your knitting and I’ll tell you the story of my
+journey to Walla-Walla land. I arrived all
+safe and sound, and stood on the door-step a
+moment before ringing the bell. Voices came to
+me from an open window.” Suddenly he became
+serious. “Teddy, what has the Jarmey
+place got to do with autos? Are there any cars
+kept there?”</p>
+
+<p>“Cars? Not that I know of. Unless you
+mean freight cars. There’s a siding near
+there, you know.”</p>
+
+<p>“Freight cars! Golly, I never thought of
+that! Cars! Well, yes, they might be freight
+cars. Anyway, that’s what the voices were
+talking about. Cars and the Jarmey place and
+something about an eight mile run. And—oh,
+yes, cattle. Six hundred head.”</p>
+
+<p>“Who said that?”</p>
+
+<p>“Jerry Lefton. Can you figure out what he
+may have meant?”</p>
+
+<p>“Not me. We’ll see what dad has to say
+about it. Got your badge on?”</p>
+
+<p>“What badge?”</p>
+
+<p>“Detective.”</p>
+
+<p>Roy chuckled and urged his pony on.</p>
+
+<p>As they rode into the ranch yard, past the
+bunkhouse, Nick Looker called to them:</p>
+
+<p>“You fellers must have been puttin’ up a
+new fence.” He came closer, and they waited
+for him. “What happened to Flash? Fall?”</p>
+
+<p>“Not quite,” Teddy answered. “He stuck
+his leg in a hole at a very embarrassing moment.
+We almost had supper with a pack of wolves.”</p>
+
+<p>“Wha-a-a-at?”</p>
+
+<p>“Fact! We met a whole gang of ’em. You
+and Gus had better do a little hunting in the
+morning.” And the story was told.</p>
+
+<p>Nick expressed his surprise that the animals
+should be in this region, and promised to see
+that they were driven out. When he heard
+about the Leftons’ part in the affair he nodded
+sagely.</p>
+
+<p>“Thought they might be around here somewhere.
+With Mob Jamisson, hey? Better tell
+the boss. He’ll be interested.”</p>
+
+<p>Of all the cowboys on the X Bar X Ranch
+Teddy and Roy liked Nick Looker as well as
+anyone. Nick was generous to the core, as had
+been evinced when he had inherited quite a sum
+from an uncle and had promptly helped one
+cowboy out of a financial hole, squared up with
+another for losing his six hundred dollars, and
+then aided some distant relatives who suddenly
+came to light and proved to be poor. And on
+top of all this he had distributed some of the
+cash between his bunkhouse friends not by giving
+it to them direct but by pretending to lose to
+them at cards.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Manley was not quite so interested as
+Teddy and Roy thought he would be, even after
+hearing of the remarks about “six hundred
+head” and “Jarmey’s place,” and “cars.”</p>
+
+<p>“Just talk, I reckon,” he declared. He
+pulled the ends of his long black mustache and
+looked at his sons quizzically. “No need to tell
+mother about the wolves. She’s got enough to
+think about.”</p>
+
+<p>“But, Dad,” Teddy persisted, “what do you
+make of the Lefton brothers?”</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t make anything. I’m certain that they
+don’t want to buy our cattle, for all their questions,
+an’ that’s all that interests me. Let’s go
+in.” They had been standing on the porch of
+the ranch house. “See Nick when you came
+by?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, he’s over at the bunkhouse. Come on,
+Teddy, we’ll say hello to mother. Guess my
+detective work went for nothing; hey, Dad?”</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Manley laughed and placed a hand on
+his son’s shoulders. He was tall, this ranch
+owner, with a pair of eyes that were as keen
+as the day he rode the ranges as a puncher.
+“You stick to it, Roy. Never mind what Teddy
+says. I suppose he laughed at you for sneaking
+back for your knife?”</p>
+
+<p>“I did at first, Dad. But not when Roy told
+me what he had heard,” Teddy answered seriously.
+“I’ll bet that meant something—about
+the cars and the rest of it. But I reckon you
+know best.”</p>
+
+<p>“We won’t say anything to mother about the
+wolves. We’re glad enough to forget ’em,”
+added Roy.</p>
+
+<p>“So it was that close, eh?” Mr. Manley looked
+at his sons keenly. They had not told him exactly
+how near they had been to death, not
+wanting to seem important. Their father
+guessed, however, what they left out.</p>
+
+<p>“Pretty close, Dad,” Roy answered in a low
+voice. “We have the Lefton brothers and Mob
+Jamisson to thank that we’re here.”</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Manley drew a corncob pipe from his
+pocket and filled it. He lit it and exhaled a
+cloud of smoke before he spoke.</p>
+
+<p>“I’d rather see wolves on four feet than on
+two,” he said slowly. Then, raising his voice:
+“Belle Ada wants to visit at the 8 X 8 to-morrow.
+You two go along with her. See you
+later.” He strode down the steps and walked
+toward the bunkhouse. Teddy, watching him
+go, grinned.</p>
+
+<p>“Dad is getting your habit, Roy. I’d like
+to know just how much he does think of that
+conversation you heard. Two-legged wolves!
+Well, the more we learn the less we know. Come
+in, my child, your bed-time approaches. Oh-h-h,
+snakes, but I’m sleepy!”</p>
+
+<p>Stretching high, he kicked open the door and
+entered the house.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V">
+    CHAPTER <abbr title="Five">V</abbr>
+  </h2>
+  <h3><span class="smcap">Hortense Runs Wild</span>
+  </h3>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">When</span> the Manley boys came down to breakfast
+the next morning they found their mother
+waiting for them at the foot of the stairs. Her
+soft blue eyes, her blond hair, with never a
+streak of gray in it, her pretty, unlined face,
+would make one doubt that she could have two
+such large boys as Teddy and Roy for sons.</p>
+
+<p>“Good morning, night-hawks,” she gaily
+greeted and kissed them. “I suppose I’m not
+to know what kept you out until all hours? Last
+evening you said hello and good-night to me.
+No, never mind. We have corn bread and bacon
+for breakfast. Mrs. Moore made it especially
+for you. Did your father tell you where you
+were going to-day?”</p>
+
+<p>“You mean to the 8 X 8 with Belle?” Teddy
+asked.</p>
+
+<p>“That’s right. I hope Curly and Nell are
+there.”</p>
+
+<p>“Why? Have they gone back to the city?”
+Roy opened his eyes wide.</p>
+
+<p>“No, Roy, they haven’t,” Mrs. Manley
+laughed. “You rose to the bait splendidly,
+however. I’m sure you’ll see them.”</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t worry about that, Mom,” a girl’s
+voice called from the next room. “Think they’d
+visit the 8 X 8 without seeing Nell and
+Ethel?”</p>
+
+<p>“Come out here, Miss Manley, and say that,”
+Teddy laughed, blushing. “It’s a good thing a
+wall is between us.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, is it?” Belle Ada, her face wreathed in
+a grin, came to the door. “Mother, protect me!
+Now how about it, Mr. Smarty?”</p>
+
+<p>“Get to the left of her, Teddy,” Roy said in
+a loud whisper. “I’ll take the other side.
+Now!”</p>
+
+<p>“Let go my hair! Moth-er! They’re spoiling
+my—my coiffure!”</p>
+
+<p>“Your what?” Teddy demanded, halted in
+his tracks. “Say that again!”</p>
+
+<p>“Coiffure!”</p>
+
+<p>“Where’s that book?” Roy shouted, making a
+dive into the room Belle had just left. He reappeared
+in a moment, holding a volume in his
+hands. “Look at this, Teddy! ‘Lady Gwendemere’s
+Secret!’ Oh, boy! So that’s where
+you get your big words from, sister mine?
+Let’s see—” He opened the book. “There
+was a moment of silence as Lord Morleigh
+raised his glass. Then, in a voice fraught with
+passion, he cried: ‘To the fairest woman in
+the world! A jewel incomparable! May
+she—’”</p>
+
+<p>“Give me that book, Roy Manley!” Belle,
+her face aflame, snatched it from him. “Don’t
+you go snooping into my affairs! I guess I can
+read what books I want to.”</p>
+
+<p>“Within limits, my dear,” Mrs. Manley corrected,
+and smiled. “It wouldn’t do for you to
+feed on too much silly fiction, you know.
+Upstairs I have a volume containing essays
+by famous writers.” Mrs. Manley had
+been a school teacher before her marriage.
+“Suppose you get that and read it for a
+while?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, Mother,” Belle said dutifully, and
+started for the stairs. Then, with an expressive
+grimace, she shook her fist at Roy. “I’ll fix
+you for that, Roy Manley!” she threatened in a
+vibrant whisper. “You’ll see!”</p>
+
+<p>“Better get some of that corn bread, quick,”
+Teddy laughed, as he started toward the
+breakfast room. “You’ll need it, when Belle
+has decided what form her revenge will
+take!”</p>
+
+<p>The meal was soon concluded, and the boys
+made ready for their trip. They were to go
+in one of the ranch cars, although Belle wanted
+to ride her pony. But due to the fact that she
+would have to take a bag with her, Mr. Manley
+said the auto would be more convenient. Perhaps
+he did not care to have his daughter take
+the long ride to the 8 X 8 with wolves in the
+vicinity.</p>
+
+<p>“You can borrow a pony from Mr. Ball,” he
+told her. “The weather looks a bit uncertain,
+an’ I don’t want you to get caught in a storm.
+Yes, I think you’d better take the car.”</p>
+
+<p>By nine o’clock the young folks were on the
+road. Life on a ranch begins at seven in the
+morning, and to a cowboy anything between nine
+and twelve is the “forenoon.”</p>
+
+<p>To all outward appearances, Belle had forgotten
+the debt she owed Roy. But Teddy
+noticed her staring frequently at his brother
+with a speculative look in her eye.</p>
+
+<p>“She’ll make him pay somehow,” he chuckled
+to himself. “I hope she doesn’t include me in
+her plan of vengeance.”</p>
+
+<p>They reached the 8 X 8 a little after twelve.
+They were compelled to drive slowly on account
+of the condition of the roads, and arrived at
+the Peter Ball ranch later than they had expected.
+Nell Willis and Ethel, or “Curly,”
+Carew, who had been informed of their coming,
+were sitting on the porch as they drove up.
+These two girls were nieces of Peter Ball. Their
+home was in New York, and they had been
+staying with their uncle while their parents
+were traveling in Europe.</p>
+
+<p>“Greetings, voyagers!” Ethel called out, and
+ran to meet them. “How’s the sacred chariot
+running?”</p>
+
+<p>“Great!” Teddy answered. “Hitting on all
+thirteen. Hello, Nell—here’s Roy.”</p>
+
+<p>“I see him,” Nell laughed. “Belle, these
+brothers of yours haven’t changed much, have
+they?”</p>
+
+<p>“Well—” Belle considered. “Teddy is
+about the same. But Roy, you see, he’s—Oh,
+excuse me, Roy, I almost forgot. It nearly
+slipped out.”</p>
+
+<p>“What’s all this?” Ethel answered curiously.
+“Nell, here’s something we must look into!”</p>
+
+<p>“It’s nothing. She’s only kidding,” Roy
+declared, his face red. “She’s getting back
+at me for finding her book at home this morning.”</p>
+
+<p>“Finding my book at home—that’s right,”
+Belle said demurely. “Come, boys, take your
+little sister’s bag into the house. What are you
+blushing about, Roy?”</p>
+
+<p>“I’m not blushing,” Roy retorted furiously,
+and quite inaccurately. “Don’t pay any attention
+to her, Nell.”</p>
+
+<p>“But, Roy, there’s really no need of your
+getting flustered,” Belle said seriously, looking
+up into his face. “I didn’t tell—what I wasn’t
+supposed to—did I?” she finished in a thrilling
+whisper.</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t know what you’re talking about,”
+Roy said, turning his head away. “Hand me
+that bag, will you, Teddy?”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure,” Teddy answered, grinning. “Methinks
+your sins are finding you out, young
+man!”</p>
+
+<p>“But what <em>is</em> all this about?” Ethel demanded.
+“Roy, have you been up to tricks?”</p>
+
+<p>“No, I haven’t! I told you Belle is only getting
+even! All right, go ahead, have your fun.
+Some day you’ll—” he was walking rapidly up
+the steps with the bag and the rest of the sentence
+was lost.</p>
+
+<p>“I guess we’re square now,” said Belle,
+chuckling gleefully. “Poor Roy! He gets excited
+so easily! Teddy, you go and console him.
+He’ll set fire to the house with that face of his.”</p>
+
+<p>A hail from across the path caused Teddy to
+abandon his intention of following Roy into the
+house. Bug Eye, grinning from ear to ear,
+stood waving at him.</p>
+
+<p>Bug Eye had always been a character and
+was getting more and more so every day. Ordinarily
+he was a cow puncher; but he drove
+Mr. Ball’s auto and spent all of his odd hours
+in inventing things or in improving his mind—so
+he said.</p>
+
+<p>“Go see what he wants,” Nell suggested.
+“He’s been pestering us for two days wanting
+to know just when you were coming over. I
+think he has something he wants to show you.”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy answered the call, and walked over
+to the young puncher just as Roy came down
+the steps.</p>
+
+<p>“Howdy, Bug Eye!” Roy shouted, as he saw
+his friend. “What’s the news?”</p>
+
+<p>“Nothing much,” Bug Eye answered, and,
+stepping forward, he grasped a hand of each of
+the boys. “Long time since you visited us,
+ain’t it?”</p>
+
+<p>“Been kind of busy. Near round-up time, you
+know,” Teddy replied. “But what happened
+to you? Every day I expected to see that old
+flivver of yours come rolling in. Where have
+you been?”</p>
+
+<p>“Workin’,” Bug Eye said mysteriously.
+“On a new invention.”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy looked significantly at Roy.</p>
+
+<p>“What sort of an invention, Bug Eye—perpetual
+motion?”</p>
+
+<p>“Nope—tain’t that. Though some day I’m
+gonna work on that. This here is a machine for
+cuttin’ grass all by itself!”</p>
+
+<p>“Cutting grass!” Roy exploded. “But where
+under the sun is any grass you can cut around
+here? Not counting on—”</p>
+
+<p>“It ain’t fer use here,” Bug Eye interrupted
+pompously. “This is for importation. You
+wait here. I’ll show you.”</p>
+
+<p>While Teddy and Roy stood in mute expectation,
+Bug Eye disappeared within the bunkhouse,
+to reappear in a moment dragging something
+heavy behind him.</p>
+
+<p>“Give us a hand,” he panted. “I had it hid
+behind the door. Golly, she’s some heavy!
+Pull, now! Here she comes! Look out!”</p>
+
+<p>In obedience to a strong tug, a strange and
+fearsome contraption rolled out of the doorway,
+rumbling as it came. Four wheels were
+mounted on what had once been the square top
+of a table. Set in the center of the table top
+was a gasoline motor from a flivver. This
+motor had two flywheels, each with a belt, one
+to drive the machine along the ground by turning
+the rear wheels, and one to cause a series
+of long knives beneath the table top to revolve.</p>
+
+<p>“There she is!” Bug Eye said proudly. “The
+wonder of the age! What do you think of her?”</p>
+
+<p>“Well,” Roy began, looking at “her” dubiously,
+“I can’t tell just yet. Will it grind
+coffee?”</p>
+
+<p>“Can’t say—never tried her out for that,”
+Bug Eye replied seriously. Then his face
+brightened. “But I’ll bet she would, at that!
+Now I’ll show you how she works. Let’s see—we’ll
+run her across the yard an’ back for a
+starter.”</p>
+
+<p>“Where do you sit to drive it?” Teddy inquired
+curiously.</p>
+
+<p>“Who, me? I don’t sit no place! That’s the
+beauty of it—she drives herself! Goes along,
+cuttin’ the grass, then when she gets to the end
+of the yard she turns an’ comes back. Wish we
+had some grass to cut, but you’ll get the general
+idea. First I gotta prime ’er.”</p>
+
+<p>Holding an oil can in his hand, he bent over
+the motor.</p>
+
+<p>“What’s that you have there?” Teddy asked.</p>
+
+<p>“Gas. She runs on kerosene the rest of the
+time. Economical, hey?”</p>
+
+<p>He squirted gasoline liberally over the motor,
+and enough of it evidently reached the petcocks,
+for in a moment he laid the can aside and busied
+himself with the numerous levers set in the side
+of the machine.</p>
+
+<p>“Now she’s ready!” he proclaimed, straightening.
+“Just stand aside, for we don’t want
+no accidents to happen. When Hortense gets
+goin’ she just naturally mows down everything
+within reach.”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s our cue to move,” Roy muttered.
+“All right, Bug Eye, let ’er rip!”</p>
+
+<p>The puncher seized the larger flywheel and
+swung it over. The motor coughed twice, then
+was silent. Once more he turned the wheel.</p>
+
+<p>The machine awoke with a sullen roar. Bug
+Eye had not thought to put a muffler on it, and
+the sounds of its resurrection could be heard
+for at least a mile. Then, slowly, ponderously,
+it started to move.</p>
+
+<p>“Yip-ee! Watch her go! Step on it,
+Hortense! Show ’em what yo’re made of!”</p>
+
+<p>The machine seemed to take Bug Eye at his
+word. There was a sudden shriek of metal upon
+metal, and some part of the contraption went
+sailing into the air. As though Hortense had
+gotten rid of something that had been bothering
+her for years, she took a new lease on life
+with this eruption. Her wheels—all of them—spun
+rapidly around. The knives underneath
+whirred and flashed. Like a being with a single,
+definite purpose in view, she leaped across the
+yard.</p>
+
+<p>“Her reverse is busted!” Bug Eye yelled.
+“She won’t turn now! Snakes, I can’t stop
+her! Watch out!”</p>
+
+<p>With a metallic bellow, Hortense continued
+on her wild career. Suddenly, midway on her
+journey, her front wheels turned and she swung
+to the left. As she plunged along Teddy gave a
+cry.</p>
+
+<p>Hortense was headed directly for Mrs. Ball’s
+favorite bed of lilies!</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI">
+    CHAPTER <abbr title="Six">VI</abbr>
+  </h2>
+  <h3><span class="smcap">Mr. Peterson’s Forfeit</span>
+  </h3>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">“Good-bye</span>, flowers!” shouted Teddy Manley,
+and ran closer to the scene of impending
+disaster with a vague notion of doing something
+to stop the onrushing monster. But as he took
+another look at the murderous knives, he slowed
+up and halted. It was hopeless even to think
+of causing Hortense to hesitate.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ball, attracted by the noise, rushed out
+to the porch, followed by the three girls. When
+she saw the machine bearing down upon her
+precious lilies, she let out a shriek of dismay.</p>
+
+<p>“Stop it, somebody! Stop it! My flowers!”</p>
+
+<p>“Might as well try to stop a herd of wild
+elephants!” Roy yelled. “Bug Eye, can’t
+you—” he turned toward the puncher. To his
+surprise Bug Eye had vanished.</p>
+
+<p>“Where in thunder is that bucker?” he called.
+“Bug Eye! Come out here!”</p>
+
+<p>By this time Hortense had approached to
+within ten feet of the flower bed. Mrs. Ball
+leaned over the railing, calling frantically for
+someone to do something.</p>
+
+<p>“My lilies! My lovely lilies,” she groaned.
+“Can’t you stop that thing? Bug Eye!
+Where—”</p>
+
+<p>“Comin’, ma’am!”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy and Roy swung around toward the
+bunkhouse. They saw a figure burst through
+the door, arms waving. It was the missing
+puncher.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll stop her or bust!” he exclaimed. “Get
+ready, boys. You gotta’ help me pull!”</p>
+
+<p>Then they saw the reason of his haste. In
+his hand he held a lariat, and as he ran he began
+whirling it about his head.</p>
+
+<p>“Yip-ee! Go get him!” Teddy shouted, and
+sprang after Bug Eye. “Rope ’er, cowboy!”</p>
+
+<p>Faster and faster spun the rope. Now it was
+making a perfect circle over the running
+punchers.</p>
+
+<p>“Toss it! Be too late in a second!” Roy
+exclaimed.</p>
+
+<p>But Bug Eye knew his business. Just at the
+moment when Hortense was about to fall upon
+the flowers and grind them under her flashing
+knives, the bucker threw. Like a striking rattlesnake
+the rope snapped forward, and the loop
+settled hungrily full about the raised motor.</p>
+
+<p>“Yay! He made it! Grab hold, Roy! Yank!”</p>
+
+<p>Yank they did. Three pair of well-muscled
+arms seized the rope and pulled.</p>
+
+<p>The lariat jerked taut. Hortense, on the very
+edge of the flower bed, was halted. She seemed
+to pause uncertainly, as though an unwelcome
+stranger had tapped her on the shoulder. Then,
+with a protesting roar, she reared on her hind
+wheels and fell over backwards.</p>
+
+<p>“Yow! Hog tie her, Bug Eye! Three seconds
+flat! That’s first prize, sure!”</p>
+
+<p>Like some giant bug, Hortense lay on her
+back with her wheels spinning madly. Her
+roar gradually sank lower and lower. She
+coughed once—twice, trembled in the throes
+of a death struggle, and yielded up the ghost.
+The flowers were saved.</p>
+
+<p>Bug Eye, his face drawn into lines of despair,
+contemplated the wrecked machine. Then he
+sighed.</p>
+
+<p>“She’s done for,” he said sadly. “Poor Hortense!
+Just temperament, that’s all ailed her!”</p>
+
+<p>“Just—just—” Roy stuttered, and choked.
+“She was only eccentric, Bug Eye! That’s all!
+Poor—”</p>
+
+<p>“Bug Eye Wilson, come here!”</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Ball, her head thrust forward, stood on
+the steps. “Come here to me!”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, ma’am,” and Bug Eye, sighing profoundly,
+walked meekly forward. As he passed
+the still form of his beloved Hortense, with the
+rope, like a long, thin tail, still hanging from
+her, he shook his head and muttered:</p>
+
+<p>“You weren’t long for this world, old girl!
+Motor busted clean off the chassis. Well—”</p>
+
+<p>“Bug Eye, what do you mean by sending that
+engine of destruction on to my flower bed?”</p>
+
+<p>“I didn’t go for to send it on to the flower bed,
+ma’am,” Bug Eye answered gently. “That
+was her own doin’s. I aimed her across the
+yard, an’ the rest she did herself. Reckon she
+got tired of the straight an’ narrow.”</p>
+
+<p>Speechless, Mrs. Ball stared at him. Then
+with a what-can-you-do-with-a-man-like-that
+gesture of her hands, she turned and entered
+the house.</p>
+
+<p>The girls, who had stood watching the scene,
+let out peals of laughter. The woebegone expression
+on Bug Eye’s face changed not a bit
+as he rested a hand on one of Hortense’s wheels.
+To think that he, himself, had been the cause of
+his beloved’s untimely decease was an added
+reason for sadness.</p>
+
+<p>“Cheer up, Bug Eye. You may be able to fix
+her,” Teddy called, struggling hard against
+laughter.</p>
+
+<p>“Nope—she’ll never be the same,” the
+puncher sighed. “Her life is finished. But I
+sure saved the lilies, didn’t I?” he added in
+a brighter tone.</p>
+
+<p>“You certainly did,” Roy agreed. “I never
+saw a neater exhibition of roping in my life.
+Think he ought to get a prize, girls?” he called
+to Belle and her friends.</p>
+
+<p>“He should—and I’ll see that he does!” Nell
+promised. “If I have to bake it myself. Which
+do you like, Bug Eye—apple or lemon?”</p>
+
+<p>“Huh? Oh, that’s all right. I’m used to
+tough breaks. Don’t worry about me. Maybe
+it’s better off this way, anyhow.”</p>
+
+<p>“He’s still thinking about Hortense,” Ethel
+whispered to Nell. “He was so anxious to show
+Teddy and Roy how it worked, and the first
+time he took it out it smashed. Let’s go in and
+leave him to his dead darling!”</p>
+
+<p>Bug Eye, with the help of Teddy and Roy,
+at last carted the remains away. And before
+they had decently disposed of her behind the
+bunkhouse Bug Eye was aflame with a new idea—a
+way to utilize the parts for which Hortense
+had no more use.</p>
+
+<p>“Off with the old love—on with the new!”
+Teddy laughed. “What’s this one to be, Bug
+Eye?”</p>
+
+<p>“I’m not sure yet,” the puncher answered
+musingly. “Maybe a fire extinguisher. Maybe—well,
+anything. But I know one thing! It
+won’t have no way to move about!”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy and Roy, with faces that were prone
+to grin suddenly when some incident of the runaway
+Hortense was recalled, wandered about
+the yard, leaving Bug Eye to his thoughts.
+They had decided to start back in an hour or so,
+in order to be at the X Bar X for supper. Anxious
+as they were to prolong their visit, so that
+they might talk to Nell and Ethel, they knew
+there was plenty to be done at home. Round-up
+season is a busy time for all.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after dinner they said good-bye to the
+girls and started. The ride home was uneventful,
+and they reached the ranch at four-thirty.
+As they drove the flivver into the yard they saw
+that their father was talking to a stranger down
+by the corral. When they had put the car
+away he called them over.</p>
+
+<p>“Boys, this is Mr. Peterson,” he said.
+“These are my two sons, Mr. Peterson—Teddy
+and Roy.”</p>
+
+<p>“Howdy!” the stranger greeted them. He
+offered his hand. The boys thought they had
+never shaken hands with a man who seemed so
+lacking in muscle. The hand was soft and
+flabby and limp.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Peterson was short, but not plump.
+Somehow, he appeared unsubstantial, as though
+even a fair punch could knock him over.
+Neither Teddy nor Roy realized that they were
+thinking of punching in connection with Mr.
+Peterson.</p>
+
+<p>“He wants some of our dogies,” Mr. Manley
+continued. “Six hundred head, I think you
+said?”</p>
+
+<p>Roy started, as if the figure brought some
+thought to his memory.</p>
+
+<p>“Six hundred—that’s right,” Peterson replied.
+His voice was like his manner, querulous,
+overbearing. “Of the best you got.”</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t worry about that. What you pay for,
+you get,” Mr. Manley declared shortly. Teddy
+got the impression that he shared their dislike
+of the man. But business knows no likes or
+fancies.</p>
+
+<p>“There’s one condition, but don’t suppose it
+makes much difference to you,” Peterson said.
+“The firm I work for is in the habit of requiring
+the seller to post a forfeit, so we’ll sure
+get the cattle we bargain for. Just a matter of
+form—but the firm demands it. That’s all right
+with you, isn’t it?”</p>
+
+<p>“A forfeit?” Mr. Manley turned toward the
+boys. “Ever hear of that bein’ done before,
+Roy?”</p>
+
+<p>“Once in a while,” Roy answered. He looked
+at his father queerly. Why had he asked him
+a question the answer of which he must have
+known himself?</p>
+
+<p>“Once in a while, hey? Well, Mr. Peterson,
+I guess we can accommodate you. How much
+do you need?”</p>
+
+<p>“Five hundred,” Peterson declared. “You
+can put it in the bank at Eagles. Now that
+that’s settled, I’ll pay my deposit, just to make
+matters shipshape. Here’s five hundred on our
+part. That enough?”</p>
+
+<p>“Plenty. In fact, it isn’t necessary,” Mr.
+Manley said. “We do a great deal of business
+on trust out here. But you’re the doctor.” He
+thrust the roll of bills into his pocket. “Now
+where and when do you want these cattle
+shipped?”</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII">
+    CHAPTER <abbr title="Seven">VII</abbr>
+  </h2>
+  <h3><span class="smcap">Pop Waxes Wroth</span>
+  </h3>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Peterson</span> passed his hand over his chin as
+though he were thinking up the answer to this
+last question. But his hesitation was too obvious
+to be real. Roy knew he had made his
+choice long ago.</p>
+
+<p>“Know where Red Rock is?” he asked
+finally.</p>
+
+<p>“Sure,” replied Mr. Manley. “Jump-off
+place. Tracks run upgrade there. Pretty high,
+where the station is. Why?”</p>
+
+<p>“Thinkin’ I’d like the cattle delivered there.
+Railroad gave me an option on some box cars
+that are restin’ on a siding at Red Rock. Might
+as well use them—save money in the end.
+Well?”</p>
+
+<p>“You mean you’d rather have the cattle
+driven there instead of to Eagles?” Teddy interrupted.</p>
+
+<p>“That’s it. If they went to Eagles they’d
+have to go by the regular route. You get the
+idea?”</p>
+
+<p>“Partly—partly.” Mr. Manley hitched his
+belt up and glanced about him. “Reckon your
+price entitles you to have ’em driven where
+you want ’em, within reason. Teddy, just get
+my account book, will you? It’s in the top
+drawer of my desk. I want to put this all
+down.”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s the way I like to do business,” Peterson
+declared a trifle importantly. “Have
+everything in black an’ white. I been in this
+game now for eleven years, an’ I never lost
+nothin’ yet by puttin’ it on paper.”</p>
+
+<p>Then, as Teddy returned with the notebook,
+he began to tell the items off on his fingers:</p>
+
+<p>“First, I gave you five hundred dollars deposit.
+Second, you agreed to post a five hundred
+dollar forfeit, to become mine in case of
+non-delivery. Third, six hundred head of your
+best cattle. Fourth, they’re to be delivered at
+Red Rock. I’ll let you know the exact time
+later.”</p>
+
+<p>“An’ fifth, it looks a mite like rain,” Mr.
+Manley drawled, closing his book. “All right,
+Mr. Peter Peterson. I’ll see that your orders
+are obeyed to the letter.”</p>
+
+<p>“I didn’t mean to sound like a sergeant,”
+Peterson said uneasily. “Just wanted to make
+certain you had it all straight.”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure! I know. Well, I reckon I have.
+Course, I’m a new man at this game, you might
+say, an’ I appreciate any advice from a man
+who knows more than I do.”</p>
+
+<p>“So?” A light appeared in Peterson’s eyes,
+then died down, like a door suddenly closed to
+conceal the entrance of the house from passers-by.
+“I kind of thought you hadn’t been at
+this so long. You ain’t got the look of a veteran
+rancher. Well, I hope we succeed in puttin’ this
+deal through.”</p>
+
+<p>“Hope so,” Mr. Manley repeated, smiling
+innocently. “Well, so long, Mr. Peterson.
+Thanks!”</p>
+
+<p>“You’re welcome,” Peterson replied pompously.
+“Always like to help anyone. Cattle
+dealing is a risky business. There’s always
+some crook in it trying to get the best of an
+honest man.”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s right,” Mr. Manley agreed solemnly.
+“You can’t be too careful.”</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Peterson nodded, and mounted his pony
+which had been standing quietly near by.
+Then, waving his hand genially, he rode off.</p>
+
+<p>“He cuts quite a figure, according to himself,”
+Teddy laughed. “So you’re a new hand
+at this game, Dad?”</p>
+
+<p>“I couldn’t help that,” Mr. Manley said,
+grinning. “He was too allfired sure and certain
+of everything. And a man with a hand-shake
+like his always did set me on my ear.”</p>
+
+<p>“Felt like a piece of mutton,” Roy commented.
+
+“He wanted to tie you up tight with
+his forfeit, didn’t he, Dad?”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, well, we don’t have to worry about that.
+We’ll make delivery all right. The thing that
+strikes me funny is wantin’ the cattle driven
+to Red Rock instead of Eagles. His story of
+the cars he’s rentin’ sounds fishy. It’s much
+cheaper to send them over the regular route.
+But that’s his business. Belle Ada get to the
+8 X 8 all right?”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy replied that she did, and told his
+father about Bug Eye’s latest venture and its
+result. Mr. Manley laughed heartily over the
+description of the puncher’s skill in roping
+Hortense, and then Teddy and Roy went in to
+wash for supper. At the table the talk veered
+naturally around to the rodeo to be held on the
+thirtieth of September at Silver City, a large
+town seventy miles from Eagles.</p>
+
+<p>“Round-up will be finished by the twelfth
+anyway,” Mr. Manley declared. “Pass the
+bread, Teddy. Suppose you boys are countin’
+on entering?”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy and Roy looked at their mother. She
+smiled, and nodded.</p>
+
+<p>“Of course they are!” she declared.
+“They’re certainly not going to stay out on my
+account.”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s the stuff!” Roy exclaimed, his
+eyes alight. He reached over and seized his
+mother’s hand. “You’re a game sport, Mom!
+But we’ll be careful—no bulldogging, or stuff
+like that. I’m going to try for the fancy riding
+prize.”</p>
+
+<p>“Trick ridin’, we used to call it,” Mr. Manley
+said. “You’ll need lots of practice for that,
+Roy. Better begin soon.”</p>
+
+<p>“I am. To-morrow, if I get a chance. How
+about you, Teddy?”</p>
+
+<p>“Bronc riding,” Teddy declared laconically.
+“And there’s one more I’d like to try—wild cow
+milking.”</p>
+
+<p>“Wild cow milking!” Mrs. Manley repeated.
+“Is that really a contest, Teddy?”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll say it is!” her husband broke in. “In
+my younger days that was one of the big
+things.” He chuckled reminiscently. “I remember
+one year when they held the events at
+San Antonio. Me, I thought I was the champion
+wild cow milker. Pop can tell you about this,
+’cause he went in it too. Well, I gets my pail
+in action right away. Goin’ fine, for the
+first five seconds. Then things started to happen.
+Anyway, I didn’t win. But neither did
+Pop.”</p>
+
+<p>“Bardwell, I can’t imagine you trying to
+milk a cow,” Mrs. Manley laughed. “What
+other contests do they have, boys?”</p>
+
+<p>“Anything you can think of,” Roy answered.
+“Calf roping, steer bulldogging—eight hundred
+pound steers, too. Races, bell calf
+roping—”</p>
+
+<p>“How is that done?”</p>
+
+<p>“Usually they have five riders, and six calves
+to be roped. The one who ropes his calf first
+then gets his lariat over the calf with the bell
+on it—they have only one of them—wins.”</p>
+
+<p>“They rope those poor little calves!” Mrs.
+Manley exclaimed. “I should think it would
+hurt them!”</p>
+
+<p>“Only their dignity,” Teddy laughed. “Say,
+Roy, how about trying for the Pony Express?
+You could use Star and Flash and that other
+pony I broke this spring. You’d have a good
+chance of coming through in that. Don’t you
+think so, Dad?”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure,” Mr. Manley answered forcibly. “I
+want to see one of you boys get a prize. Reckon
+we’ll go down an’ watch ’em, hey, Mother?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, I’d like to very much,” said Mrs. Manley,
+in a small voice. Then she looked at her
+husband anxiously. “I suppose no one gets
+hurt in those—those things?”</p>
+
+<p>“Not often,” Mr. Manley assured her.
+“Seein’ as how this is the first one the boys have
+ever been in, I reckon they’ll be plenty careful.
+You’ve never even seen one, have you, Mother?
+We’ll have to go, sure. When that there band
+gets playin’ an’ a ridin’ fool is on top of a pony
+that’s headin’ for the sky, an’ all the people
+are yellin’ an’ shoutin’—by jinks, it makes you
+tingle all over! I been waitin’ for the day
+my boys would be big enough to get in the
+rodeo. An’ I want to see one prize, even if it’s
+only a booby prize.”</p>
+
+<p>“We’ll steer clear of that one,” Roy declared.
+“I’m going to get Nick and Pop to give
+me some pointers. Come on, Teddy, we’ll go
+over now and talk to them!”</p>
+
+<p>“You’re excused,” Mr. Manley chuckled.
+“Golly, Barbara, how it does bring back the
+days I used to ride in those events! The first
+one I went in kept me awake the whole night
+before, thinkin’ of it! Now I got two grown
+sons to keep up the good work. Guess we
+haven’t had such a bad time of it after all, hey,
+girlie?”</p>
+
+<p>“You talk like a grandfather!” his wife
+laughed. “Run along, boys—your father is
+getting sentimental! But do be careful of those—those
+wild cows, won’t you?”</p>
+
+<p>The boys found Nick Looker, Pop Burns and
+Gus Tripp playing mumblety-peg on the ground
+in front of the bunkhouse. They stood for a
+moment watching the game, until Nick gave up
+in disgust when he took a small slice out of
+his hand. Declaring that the light was too uncertain
+for a master to show his stuff, he arose.</p>
+
+<p>“I see yore dad talkin’ to another cattle
+dealer,” he proclaimed. “Anything stirrin’?”</p>
+
+<p>On the X Bar X the hands were treated almost
+as partners in the business, so Nick’s question
+was perfectly proper.</p>
+
+<p>“Made a deal,” Roy answered. “Six hundred
+head. Dad had to post a forfeit.”</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t like this forfeit business,” Pop Burns
+declared. Pop, as the oldest man on the ranch—and
+the baldest—took upon himself the privileges
+of seniority. Needless to say his place
+in the sun was hotly contested by the other
+punchers.</p>
+
+<p>“Too easy to lose money that way,” he continued.
+“I remember one time—”</p>
+
+<p>“Carry me back to old Virginy!” Gus caroled.
+“Where the—”</p>
+
+<p>“Funny, ain’t you?” Pop sniffed. “But let
+me tell you one thing! I was bustin’ broncos
+when you was bustin’ baby crackers. An’ that’s
+no song, either!”</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII">
+    CHAPTER <abbr title="Eight">VIII</abbr>
+  </h2>
+  <h3><span class="smcap">Something Queer</span>
+  </h3>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">“Take</span> it easy, boys,” Teddy chuckled.
+“Pop, go on with your story. You were saying—”</p>
+
+<p>“Talk to these bow-legged skillet-curlers?
+Not me! I wouldn’t waste breath on ’em.
+Maybe when round-up time comes they won’t
+be quite so chipper. I’ve known buckets to
+welch before this.”</p>
+
+<p>“Here’s one that won’t,” Nick declared.
+“Go ahead, rave on, old man! Now, Teddy, I
+think we were talkin’ business when so rudely
+interrupted. About those cattle—”</p>
+
+<p>“What we came over here for was to get some
+dope on the rodeo,” Roy broke in. “While
+we’ve seen ’em, of course, we’ve never been in
+any. Teddy and I are going to have a try for
+some of the prizes.”</p>
+
+<p>“Rodeo? Listen, brother!” Pop exclaimed.
+“I’ll give you the low down on them events.
+There’s one thing you want to be careful of—steer
+bulldoggin’. There’s nothin’ in it, an’ it’s
+too dangerous. It ain’t worth the trouble. Now
+wild cow milkin’—there’s somethin’ for your
+money! I used to be a great little milker myself.
+One time, down San Antonio way, I
+milked a—”</p>
+
+<p>“Dad told us about it,” Teddy laughed. “He
+said you—”</p>
+
+<p>“If he told you, there’s no use repeatin’ it,”
+Pop said hurriedly. He appeared somewhat
+taken aback. Roy wondered what his interpretation
+of the occasion would have been. “But
+anyway,” he continued, “that’s great sport.”</p>
+
+<p>“We were thinking of entering that,” Roy
+explained. “That, and trick riding and bronco
+busting. Maybe pony express. Dad says he’s
+coming to watch us.”</p>
+
+<p>“Try an’ keep the boss away,” Gus chuckled.
+“Especially with his sons ridin’. When you
+boys gonna practice?”</p>
+
+<p>“Every day, from now on,” Teddy declared.
+“Any suggestions will be appreciated. Pop,
+we’re counting on you to help us out.”</p>
+
+<p>“Any time, boys, any time. ’Bout three
+years since I went to a cowboy reunion, but I
+guess I ain’t forgotten.”</p>
+
+<p>“How many years?” Nick inquired, with a
+grin.</p>
+
+<p>“Three, I said! Well, maybe a little longer.
+But, anyway, I’d like to see a prize or two come
+to the X Bar X. Ain’t had any since yore
+dad was in the ring. He was the one who could
+nab ’em! Don’t suppose he said much about
+how many he won. Most likely told about the
+ones he missed up on. Right?”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s right,” Teddy laughed. “No wonder
+he was anxious to have Roy and me cash in
+for a prize. Well, we’ll do the best we can. Now
+there’s something else I—that is, Roy and I—want
+to talk about. Nick, what do you know
+about the Lefton brothers?”</p>
+
+<p>“Nothin’ more than I told you, Teddy, except
+that I didn’t take to ’em much. When you told
+me they was pallin’ with Mob Jamisson I wasn’t
+much surprised.”</p>
+
+<p>“Uh-huh.” Teddy nodded understandingly.
+“Roy, here, heard some funny remarks they
+made when they didn’t think he was listening.
+Did he tell you?”</p>
+
+<p>“Told him most of it,” Roy said. “You
+know—about the cars and the eight mile grade,
+and the rest of it. You couldn’t make much out
+of it, could you, Nick?”</p>
+
+<p>“Nothin’ at all. But—”</p>
+
+<p>“Eight miles from where?” Pop interrupted.</p>
+
+<p>“Maybe from the Jarmey place. That mean
+anything?”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, not exactly,” Pop said slowly. “That
+Jarmey place is an old station that used to be
+a shipping point. Only thing it’s good for now
+is to keep rats in. An’ there’s plenty of them.
+Say, who was this geezer what wants the six
+hundred head, Teddy?”</p>
+
+<p>“Peterson, his name is. Peter Peterson, I
+think. Ever hear of him?”</p>
+
+<p>“Never did. He must be new on the job.
+Like as not he’s an agent for a Chi. firm. They
+have men in this section nearly all the time
+now. Hope the boss makes a good deal with
+him.”</p>
+
+<p>“Dad says he offered two dollars a head more
+than any of the other buyers,” Roy declared.
+“Didn’t even try to get a lower rate. But that
+may be his way of doing business—knows what
+he wants and goes after it. We won’t kick
+about that. Still, that forfeit idea is a new
+wrinkle—at least, for our ranch. Gus, and the
+rest of you, see if you can get any dope on him,
+will you? Ask Jules and Nat Raymond. If
+you hear anything, let us know.”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy and Roy had thought to inquire more
+about the Lefton brothers and to ask Nick’s
+opinion of them. But with the introduction of
+an added topic—concerning Peterson—the new
+interest overtopped the old one, so far as cattle
+buying went. It was now important that Peterson
+be given consideration.</p>
+
+<p>Gus, who was to go to town to-morrow, promised
+to make inquiries about Peterson.</p>
+
+<p>“Chances are I won’t hear anything, though.
+He must be representing an Eastern firm. Two
+dollars more a head than the others, hey? Must
+be made of money.”</p>
+
+<p>“But we ought to find out <em>something</em> of his
+qualifications,” Roy objected. “Certainly,
+they’ll know about him at the freight office. He
+said he’s been in this business a number of
+years. Tried to give dad advice.” Roy smiled.
+“Dad took him for a little ride, but Peterson
+didn’t know it.”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy and Roy were to make a trip to Red
+Rock the next day, to look over the territory
+where the six hundred head were to be driven.
+So after a little more talk with Nick and the
+other hands they sought their beds.</p>
+
+<p>They started for Red Rock early. Flash had
+entirely recovered from the slight sprain he
+had received in the flight from the wolves, and
+he whinnied with the joy of living when Teddy
+headed him toward the open range.</p>
+
+<p>“Running well, isn’t he?” Roy remarked, as,
+riding close to his brother, he watched Flash’s
+feet tap the ground.</p>
+
+<p>“Sure is! I’m depending on him to help us
+cop a prize at the rodeo. And, believe me, Star
+is no slouch either!” He motioned with his
+elbow toward Roy’s pony. “With these two,
+we ought to get something.”</p>
+
+<p>Roy grinned, and the two rode on. The chill
+of the fall morning had given way to the warmth
+of Indian summer. Ahead of them a jack-rabbit
+scurried across the path. The mountains
+gleamed green and white beneath the early sun.
+In the distance a river threaded its way between
+banks of quakermasts and evergreens.</p>
+
+<p>Roy breathed deep of the tonic air.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s good,” he said simply, “just to be
+here.”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy did not laugh. He, too, was beginning
+to realize more of life. There had been a time,
+not long ago, when this remark would have
+brought a smile to his face. But now he thought
+seriously that it <em>was</em> good to be here. Thus,
+quickly, youth comes into its heritage. But
+humor is not diminished. Rather, it is increased.</p>
+
+<p>The two brothers had been long together.
+They had been through many trials and dangers.
+Between two such a bond, firm, unbreakable, is
+established. There was no selfishness in either
+one. If occasion came, one would cheerfully,
+willing, offer his life for the other.</p>
+
+<p>Both seemed to feel something of this sentiment
+as they rode the range toward Red Rock.
+They had, of course, been vividly reminded of
+it that day they had been menaced by the wolves.
+Perhaps they were thinking of this, for it was
+some moments before either spoke. But youth
+is buoyant, not introspective. The mood passed.
+And when Teddy, apropos of nothing, declared
+that Bug Eye would see many a day go by before
+Mrs. Ball let him try his inventions near
+her flower bed again, Roy laughed.</p>
+
+<p>“Poor Bug Eye! He always manages to get
+in wrong. Remember his Fishmobile? Wonder
+what happened to that? And the time he got
+interested in hypnotism, and Pop let him think
+he had him hypnotized. I’ll never forget that.”</p>
+
+<p>“Me, either. Bug Eye thought sure he had
+him under his spell. Then Pop showed him up.
+Say, how far is it to Red Rock?”</p>
+
+<p>“Plenty far. Lucky there are no steep hills
+on the way. Reckon we might as well choose
+this route to drive those cattle over. Peterson
+wants to give us all the trouble he can, I reckon.
+Be much simpler to take ’em to Eagles, as we’ve
+always done. We’ll earn that two bucks a head
+extra, I’m thinking. He must have had this
+journey in mind when he made the offer.”</p>
+
+<p>“Uh-huh. Maybe, and maybe not. He was a
+fish, that man. I hate to talk about another
+behind his back, and especially when I’ve only
+seen him once, but—well, I just don’t like him!”</p>
+
+<p>“You and me both. But, as dad said, you
+can’t afford to let your liking interfere with
+business.”</p>
+
+<p>“Dad didn’t say that. I did. It’s true. So
+we’ll forget Peterson till we learn something
+about him. Perhaps Gus will have found out
+from the boys in town what kind of a man he
+is.”</p>
+
+<p>“I doubt it. But we’ll let the matter rest,
+anyhow. What we want to do is to select the
+best way to take the cattle to Red Rock, and this
+looks like it. Let’s get a wiggle on.”</p>
+
+<p>They urged their horses forward, and finally
+came into sight of Red Rock. The town itself
+was much like Eagles, but smaller. The railroad
+station was the center, and as they rode
+in the boys saw that a large corral opened out
+at the rear of the depot. They looked over this
+well, and decided that, after all, they might not
+have much more trouble in bringing the cattle
+here than they would in bringing them to
+Eagles.</p>
+
+<p>“Not as many people to bother us, at any
+rate,” Teddy declared, and he halted his pony
+in the center of the dusty main street. “Three
+stores and a row of houses back there. Looks
+like a deserted village.”</p>
+
+<p>“Not quite deserted,” Roy said in a low voice.
+“Look there.”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy swung around. Three men had just
+stepped from behind the corner of the station.
+They were talking earnestly, and did not see
+either Teddy or Roy.</p>
+
+<p>As they came closer Teddy uttered an exclamation.</p>
+
+<p>“The Lefton brothers—and look who’s with
+them!”</p>
+
+<p>It was Peter Peterson, the man with whom
+their father had, only yesterday, closed a contract.</p>
+
+<p>“Let ’em see us,” Roy suggested quietly.
+“There’s something queer about this.”</p>
+
+<p>Snatches of the talk drifted toward the waiting
+boys.</p>
+
+<p>“—plenty of cars”—“easy to get”—“only
+an eight mile run—”</p>
+
+<p>“What the mischief—” Teddy began, when
+he was interrupted by the roar of a train pulling
+in at the station. As the three men heard
+it they turned hurriedly and ran for the platform.
+Another moment, and they had entered
+one of the cars, leaving Teddy and Roy staring
+after them. With a shrill whistle the train
+puffed away from the station.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX">
+    CHAPTER <abbr title="Nine">IX</abbr>
+  </h2>
+  <h3><span class="smcap">The Wild Horse</span>
+  </h3>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">“That</span>,” said Roy deliberately, “is pret-ty
+blamed funny.”</p>
+
+<p>“All of what you just said. Hear what they
+were talking about?”</p>
+
+<p>“Couldn’t help it. Seems to be a habit with
+those Lefton boys—that eight mile stuff and
+about the cars. We’ve got a nice little jig-saw
+puzzle to fit together, Teddy, my lad. How
+come Peterson knows the Leftons? Can you
+tell me that?”</p>
+
+<p>“Ask me something easy,” Teddy returned
+musingly. “What I’m interested in is the
+meaning of this line of talk. We couldn’t very
+well yell at ’em and tell ’em we were here,
+and not to talk so loud. Oh, I forgot, you’re a
+detective. That’s right. We’re privileged to
+listen.”</p>
+
+<p>“That was a nasty crack, Teddy,” Roy said,
+and grinned. “I suppose you’re referring to
+my losing my knife that night and going back
+for it. Well, it’s lucky I did. Forewarned is
+forearmed, you know.”</p>
+
+<p>“You really think there’s something to this,
+do you?”</p>
+
+<p>“I’m sure of it! Hold up there, Star—stop
+that prancing! Now listen, Teddy. First thing
+that happens is that the Leftons come to the X
+Bar X and make motions like cattle dealers.
+But are they? Not so you could notice it!
+Then they ask Nick and some of the others all
+sorts of questions about where our ranges are
+located and how many head we have in certain
+places. If they don’t want to do business with
+us, what’s the big idea of that? Then I hear
+’em talking about cars being easy to get, and
+six hundred head, and the Jarmey place. That
+wouldn’t be so bad, but, by jinks, here comes
+Peterson, who <em>is</em> going to buy our dogies—or
+so he says—and they mention the same things
+again! And don’t forget we saw the Leftons
+with Mob Jamisson! By golly, Teddy, that
+chase by the wolves was one of the luckiest days
+in our lives, even if we did come near passing
+out of the picture! We know where we are,
+now!”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, do we?” Teddy chuckled. “If it
+wouldn’t be too much trouble, suppose you tell
+me just where we are, brother mine!”</p>
+
+<p>Roy looked down at his pony, and coughed.</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t take me so literally. I mean we know
+what to watch out for. This Peterson’s with
+the Lefton boys. The Lefton boys are in with
+Mob Jamisson. <i lang="la">Ergo, et cetera</i>, or what have
+you?”</p>
+
+<p>“A bag of nothing, I guess,” Teddy answered.
+“You seem to be able to build up the
+finest suspicions I ever saw, Roy. Trouble is,
+we’ve started looking at this thing from one
+angle, and we can’t see it from any other. All
+these things may mean absolutely nothing. We
+told dad of what you heard when you went
+back for your knife, but he didn’t think much
+of it. You see, we’re biased. We can’t figure
+clearly. Every time the Lefton boys come into
+the picture we’re looking at it through fogged
+glasses. What we want is a disinterested viewpoint.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, but there’s this side of it too, you must
+remember.” Roy was leaning over his saddle,
+forgetful that he was standing in the center of
+the main street of Red Rock. One or two men
+who had wandered out of a store regarded the
+two boys curiously, but they were oblivious of
+their audience. Roy was absolutely, intensely
+serious, as was Teddy.</p>
+
+<p>“You’ve got to look at it this way, Teddy,”
+Roy continued. “We’ve actually seen and heard
+all this. Anyone we’d tell it to would be getting
+secondhand information. He couldn’t judge
+how it impressed us. The most everyday matters
+may mean a whole lot more if you can see
+them happening instead if hearing about them.
+The tone of a person’s voice, his actions as he’s
+speaking, all figure in. A first impression is
+usually correct, I’ve heard, and I believe it.
+And my impression is that this Peterson and
+the Lefton boys are up to some mischief that has
+something to do with us!”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy thought for a moment, his chin resting
+on his hand. So still was he that Flash turned
+his head inquiringly, as though to be sure his
+master was still with him. At last the boy
+spoke, saying slowly:</p>
+
+<p>“All right, Roy. You’ve about convinced
+me. But what of it? What can we do? Nothing
+except to tell dad to be careful in his dealings
+with Peterson. And he’d do that anyway.
+Dad is no fool—he knows the kind of people he
+bargains with. And he knows Peterson is
+questionable, too. How can I tell that? By the
+way he looked at him. So the best thing we can
+do is to keep our suspicions to ourselves until
+something turns up. When we get home we’ll
+ask Gus what he found out about Peterson.
+And, if dad questions us, we’ll tell him what we
+think. That’s as far as we can go. We don’t
+want to make mountains out of molehills, you
+know.”</p>
+
+<p>Roy nodded.</p>
+
+<p>“You’ve got the answer, Teddy. We’ll play
+our own little game. And if anything crops up
+we’ll be ready. We won’t say anything about
+seeing Peterson here. Now let’s get back. I
+want to put in a little practice riding for the
+rodeo. Won’t hurt you to do some, too, if you
+want any of the prizes.”</p>
+
+<p>“Check! We’ll go.” They turned the horses
+and rode down the street and out of the town.
+The two men who were standing on the side
+watched them go. One of them faced the other.</p>
+
+<p>“Say, Jack,” he drawled, “where’d the crowd
+come from? Circus here?”</p>
+
+<p>That was Red Rock.</p>
+
+<p>The boys reached home, told Mr. Manley that
+the trail to the shipping point was in fair shape,
+and went again into the yard to start their
+practice. Nick was waiting for them.</p>
+
+<p>“Which one of you goin’ in for bronco
+ridin’?”</p>
+
+<p>“I am, Nick,” Teddy answered. “Why?”</p>
+
+<p>Nick motioned him over.</p>
+
+<p>“Got something here you might be interested
+in,” he chuckled. “Came while you were gone.
+I asked Nat Raymond to bring it in for me from
+Sanborn’s Point. Yore dad wanted a new
+horse. Here it is.”</p>
+
+<p>He led the way to the corral. “It” proved
+to be a small mustang, whose fiery eyes and
+nervous movements proclaimed that this was
+his first experience with civilization.</p>
+
+<p>“Pete Lazerus caught him last week, an’ he’s
+been keepin’ him near his camp over at the
+Point, where he’s located. The bronc ain’t
+never been rode.”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy walked close to the bars and observed
+the animal intently. He noticed the full chest,
+the legs with hard bunches of muscle behind
+them, the long head with the ears lying flat
+against the skull.</p>
+
+<p>“No need to tell me that,” he said grimly.
+“Anyone ever try?”</p>
+
+<p>“Pete—for about three seconds,” Nick
+chuckled. “He sold him cheap. Said when
+he wanted dynamite he’d buy it in boxes, not
+wrapped in hoss flesh.”</p>
+
+<p>“Pop around?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yep. He’s been waitin’ for you, too. Yo,
+Pop!”</p>
+
+<p>“Comin’!”</p>
+
+<p>The veteran rancher ambled toward them.</p>
+
+<p>“Goin’ to teach him manners, Teddy?”</p>
+
+<p>“Going to register him for a course, anyway,”
+Teddy laughed. “May take a day or so.
+Nick, will you ride in and cinch him for me—you
+and Pop?”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure. Git yore bronc, Pop. Need two of
+us to do this job. What leather you want,
+Teddy?”</p>
+
+<p>“My own. I’ll drag it off Flash.”</p>
+
+<p>He did this, and returned with the saddle.
+By this time Pop and Nick had mounted and
+were within the bars of the corral. Roy was
+sitting on the top rail, with a rope held ready
+in his hand.</p>
+
+<p>“Just in case,” he explained.</p>
+
+<p>The wild pony strongly resented any interference
+with his liberty. When Nick rode up
+to him with a large handkerchief in his hand, to
+blindfold him before putting the saddle on, he
+shied and refused to stand. Nick unwound
+his lariat.</p>
+
+<p>“Have to coax him, I reckon.”</p>
+
+<p>The rope flew through the air, and settled full
+over the mustang. An instant of struggle, with
+Nick’s mount standing as firm as a rock, and
+suddenly Pop cast. With two ponies holding
+the bronco, between them they managed to put
+on the saddle and cinch it.</p>
+
+<p>“Buck strap, Teddy?”</p>
+
+<p>“Not any! Leave him open. All right, put
+the handkerchief on.”</p>
+
+<p>Quickly Nick secured the cloth in place over
+the bronco’s eyes. The horse stood perfectly
+still, but was trembling violently.</p>
+
+<p>“He’s plumb full of action,” Pop declared.
+“Careful, Teddy. Hold him now, Nick. Climb
+aboard, Ted! All set?”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy, his face moulded in stern lines, settled
+himself in the saddle. He grasped the reins, and
+straightened up.</p>
+
+<p>“All set, Pop. Raise the curtain.”</p>
+
+<p>The two lariats were thrown to the ground.
+Nick, leaning over cautiously, put his hand on
+the eye cloth.</p>
+
+<p>“Here she goes!”</p>
+
+<p>He pulled the handkerchief off with a snap.
+The bronco was free.</p>
+
+<p>“Stand clear!”</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X">
+    CHAPTER <abbr title="Ten">X</abbr>
+  </h2>
+  <h3><span class="smcap">Roy’s Rope</span>
+  </h3>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Like</span> a carved statue the bronco stood, silent,
+immobile. As an arrow pauses for a moment
+at its zenith before descending. As a gunner,
+intent on destruction, takes deadly aim before
+he pulls the trigger. Thus the bronco
+stood.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly his back arched. His feet bunched
+together. Seemingly without effort he arose
+straight into the air.</p>
+
+<p>“Stick to him! Stick—”</p>
+
+<p>He came down stiff-legged. The shock
+jerked Teddy’s head forward. The boy grunted,
+and those watching saw his hand come down on
+the horse’s flank in a tremendous slap.</p>
+
+<p>“On your way, baby! Take me off!”</p>
+
+<p>The bronco leaped to one side and turned
+like a reed in a whirlwind. Then he sprang
+upward again.</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t let him roll, Teddy!” Nick, prancing
+about on his own horse, was yelling with excitement.
+“Hang on, boy!”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy hung on. Not with his hands, but
+with his knees alone did he remain upright.
+He had not “gone to leather.”</p>
+
+<p>The horse, frustrated for the moment, remained
+quiet. But he had only begun to open
+his bag of tricks. Of a sudden he reared high,
+came down, and rolled sideways. He hit the
+ground with a thud.</p>
+
+<p>But Teddy was ready for this—was waiting
+for it. As the horse neared the ground he
+slipped from the saddle and stood straddling
+the pony as he lay on the earth, and when
+the bronco leaped up again Teddy was in the
+saddle.</p>
+
+<p>Pop shouted his approval.</p>
+
+<p>“That’s the stuff, Teddy! Fooled him then!
+Yea, bo! Look at him ride!”</p>
+
+<p>Maddened to find that weight still on his back,
+when he had expected to dislodge it easily, the
+pony began a series of bucks that caused the
+watchers to gasp with fear for Teddy’s safety.
+The boy pulled his hat from his head and
+slapped the pony with it.</p>
+
+<p>“He’s fannin’ him! Go to it, puncher! Make
+him hang out the white flag! Snakes, did you
+see—”</p>
+
+<p>Discarding for a moment his frantic jumping,
+the bronco headed for the bars of the corral.
+Reaching them, he swerved, and sought to
+scrape Teddy off. The boy’s leathern chaps
+prevented real injury, but Roy saw his
+brother’s face go white with the pain of the
+shock.</p>
+
+<p>“Nick!” he called. “Get between him! Want
+me to take him, Teddy?” He stood upon the
+second rail from the top, bracing himself, and
+loosened his lariat.</p>
+
+<p>“No! No! Don’t throw! I’m all right!
+This bronc is mine!”</p>
+
+<p>“Full of nerve, that kid,” Pop said in a low
+voice. “Get close to him, Nick.”</p>
+
+<p>The cowboy had already started. As the wild
+horse skirted the bars, Nick put himself between
+the rails and Teddy. Every time the bronco
+made for the corral fence he found Nick’s
+horse blocking his way.</p>
+
+<p>He gave this up with a suddenness that was
+characteristic. He pranced like a dancer toward
+the center of the enclosure.</p>
+
+<p>“You’ve got him, Teddy!” Roy shouted
+gleefully. “He’s shown about all his stuff!”</p>
+
+<p>It seemed as though Roy was right. Gradually
+the horse became calmer. The whites of his
+eyes went under, and more of the pupil showed.
+The stiffness went out of his legs.</p>
+
+<p>“All right, pony,” Teddy said soothingly.
+“Let’s run around a bit, hey? Now—into a
+gallop!”</p>
+
+<p>He let the reins hang slack. The horse looked
+around inquiringly, puzzled for a moment.
+What happened next is still unexplained by
+those watching, and Teddy has only a hazy idea
+of it. It was all too quick—too unexpected.</p>
+
+<p>The strap binding the saddle to the horse—the
+cinch strap—parted. Terrified at this sudden
+sensation, the pony started bucking again.
+There were three other girths about the belly,
+but these broke like paper ribbons. The hind
+feet went up in the air, and Teddy and the saddle
+shot over the bronco’s head.</p>
+
+<p>Teddy lit with arms out-stretched, taking the
+shock evenly. The moment he hit the ground
+he rolled, and avoided the pony’s hoofs by a
+fraction of an inch. Dazed, he staggered to his
+feet.</p>
+
+<p>“Stay there, Teddy! Don’t move! I’ll get
+him!”</p>
+
+<p>It was Roy, standing upright on his perilous
+perch, lariat whirling in a wide circle.</p>
+
+<p>The pony, seeing a defenseless man before
+him, and realizing that here was the author
+of his misfortunes, started forward, snorting
+viciously. His lips were drawn back and the
+teeth showed white and savage. All his former
+rage again took possession of him.</p>
+
+<p>Nick and Pop leaped their horses toward the
+maddened bronco. Even then they could see
+that their efforts were useless, that the wild
+horse was too close to Teddy for them to reach
+him on time.</p>
+
+<p>“He’s done! Roy, he’s—”</p>
+
+<p>At that moment the loop left Roy’s hand.
+Strangely, he thought of Bug Eye and his automatic
+lawnmower as he watched the loop
+snake out. In time of great stress one’s mind
+plays queer tricks.</p>
+
+<p>Teddy was too weak from his fall to move.
+He stood there, arms before him to ward off
+the brute, and waited for the end.</p>
+
+<p>But the pony never reached him. Roy’s
+lariat settled over the bronco’s neck. Like a
+flash the boy twisted the end he held about a
+post.</p>
+
+<p>With a jerk that drew from him a scream of
+pain, the pony’s dash was halted. He twisted,
+and bit at the rope that held him. In that second
+Nick and Pop bent low in their saddles, seized
+Teddy, and carried him to safety.</p>
+
+<p>The pony was still struggling with the lariat
+as Roy ran toward his brother. There was no
+more danger now—the rope was firmly on, and
+each movement of the horse drew it tighter.
+At present he had no time for living enemies
+with that coil of fire about his neck.</p>
+
+<p>“Teddy! Are you—”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy laughed weakly.</p>
+
+<p>“Nope, not quite, Roy. Just a little numb.
+I didn’t expect that fall. Maybe—” he staggered,
+and Roy seized his arm.</p>
+
+<p>“You come over to the house now. That was
+one bad spill. Look here—don’t cave in yet!”</p>
+
+<p>“No danger.” Teddy smiled at his brother.
+“Just bent over to see if my legs were still
+there. They feel kind of—missing.”</p>
+
+<p>Pop chuckled.</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t wonder, son. If that’d been me I’d
+have felt all missin’. But Roy’s right—in the
+house for yours. What under the sun made
+that cinch strap break?”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy shook his head. “It’s beyond me.
+Everything happened so quickly I didn’t have
+time to take an observation. Roy, that was a
+wonderful throw of yours. Standing on the
+rails! If you hadn’t, I—”</p>
+
+<p>“Just what Bug Eye did to stop his lawnmower,”
+Roy declared, and grinned. “Funny,
+as the rope left my hand I was thinking of him.
+I figured he could do it, so—”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy reached out and rested his hand on his
+brother’s shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll let you get away with it, Roy, old
+boy,” he said quietly. “We won’t talk about
+what would have happened if you’d missed.
+Let’s get out of here.”</p>
+
+<p>The three walked toward the gate. Pop and
+Nick had dismounted, and had turned their
+ponies loose. They watched Teddy carefully, to
+see that he was able to walk without assistance.</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t bother about me,” the boy laughed
+as he saw them staring at him. “And for
+the love of Pete, don’t anybody mention it
+to mother. I don’t want her to worry.”</p>
+
+<p>“If she worried, Teddy, you’d never know
+it,” Pop said in a low voice. “She knows a
+man on a ranch can’t be safe all the time. She’d
+take it standing up, and never a whimper out
+of her.”</p>
+
+<p>They came to the gate, and went through.
+Teddy turned and looked at Pop.</p>
+
+<p>“You’re right, Pop. In all my life I’ve not
+heard her say she was afraid. Roy, let’s go
+in. Want to put some liniment on my leg.”</p>
+
+<p>Nick and Pop stood at the foot of the steps
+as the two brothers entered the door of the
+ranch house. They gazed in open admiration
+at the departing figures.</p>
+
+<p>“The best thing I can say about ’em—” said
+Nick musingly, “the thing that takes in all the
+rest of it—is that they’re the sons of their
+mother and father. Come on, Pop, let’s eat.”</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI">
+    CHAPTER <abbr title="Eleven">XI</abbr>
+  </h2>
+  <h3><span class="smcap">The Flying Hat</span>
+  </h3>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Stiff</span> and sore in every muscle, Teddy arose
+from his bed the morning following his disastrous
+ride and bent over experimentally. Roy,
+who had a bed on the other side of the room,
+grinned widely.</p>
+
+<p>“Are you a little stiff from bowling?”</p>
+
+<p>“I’m a big stiff from bowling. Where is
+Bowling, anyhow, that so many stiffs come from
+there? Golly, if someone took a swing at me
+now I’d break right in two. Say—” he sat on
+the side of the bed and observed his brother—“suppose
+the cinch straps break in the rodeo.
+Does it count as a throw?”</p>
+
+<p>“Hum! Have to ask Pop about that. Don’t
+see why it should. Now take that pony yesterday,
+for instance—you had him beaten. It
+wasn’t your fault that the girths broke. He
+was trotting for you when it happened. You
+went over his head like a skyrocket, I’ll tell a
+maverick!”</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t I know it! There’ll be no more of
+that, though. When I ride him again, which
+will be to-day or to-morrow, I’ll make certain
+sure that the straps are O.K. Baby, when I
+saw that bronc coming for me with his teeth
+sticking out, I thought I’d never see a cinch
+strap again! Well, it’s over now—and luckily,
+thanks to you. Oh-h-h-h, but I’m stiff! Wow!
+See if you can take the kinks out of my back, will
+you?”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy removed his pajama shirt, and Roy
+doused him liberally with liniment. Then he
+kneeded the back muscles vigorously as Teddy
+lay face downward on the bed.</p>
+
+<p>“Uh—uh—have—a—heart! Ouch! What—you—using,
+anyway? Iron balls? Oof!”</p>
+
+<p>“Only my hands, Teddy; only my hands,”
+Roy said, grinning. “You’ve got to get used
+to this. Wait, there’s a spot right between the
+shoulderblades that I haven’t touched. There
+she is.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yow! I’ll say she is! Go—easy! Finished?
+Thank goodness!” Teddy sat up,
+blinking. “That was fun for you, wasn’t it?
+You should have been living in the days of the
+Inquisition. Bet you could have gotten a job.
+Let’s see now.” He stretched, cautiously.
+“By golly, it is better at that! The ache’s
+mostly gone. Yep, Roy, you’re some doctor!”</p>
+
+<p>“Certainly! Had to hurt a little—all good
+doctors do. Or else the patient doesn’t get his
+money’s worth. Now you hop into your clothes
+and we’ll see how much bacon and eggs we can
+put away. They’ll make you forget your
+troubles. Come on, I’ll beat you getting
+dressed.”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy, however, refused to race. He said he
+was in no condition to try for athletic laurels.
+He took his time, and when he reached the
+breakfast table Roy had already started on his
+second course.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Manley smiled as he saw how carefully
+his son eased himself into the chair.</p>
+
+<p>“’Fraid of breakin’ it, Teddy?”</p>
+
+<p>“Uh-huh. Can’t bear to see a chair busted.
+Never forgive myself.”</p>
+
+<p>“Broken, Teddy, not busted,” Mrs. Manley
+corrected gently. “I’m thinking it’s more than
+the worry over that chair that is bothering you.
+Would you like to try that trick of standing
+on your hands for me, Teddy?”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy swallowed, and coughed.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, Mom, maybe later. I’m hungry now.
+Norine—” this to the waitress, who was bringing
+in some more bacon—“will you please ask
+your mother if she has any corn bread?” Mrs.
+Moore, the mother of Norine, had been housekeeper
+and cook at the X Bar X for a number
+of years.</p>
+
+<p>Norine, a young, pretty Irish girl, dimpled
+and declared that the kitchen was never empty
+of anything “for the likes of yourself and Mister
+Roy.” The corn bread, very hot, was
+brought in.</p>
+
+<p>“Had something of a jolt last night, I hear,
+Teddy,” remarked Mrs. Manley, after Teddy
+had helped himself to the corn bread.</p>
+
+<p>“Huh? Oh—Who told you anything about
+it, Mom?”</p>
+
+<p>“Do you really think much goes on concerning
+my children that I do not know about?”
+and Mrs. Manley laughed.</p>
+
+<p>Belle Ada looked up from her corn bread and
+syrup.</p>
+
+<p>“Then there’s me, Teddy. Don’t you suppose
+that I know all that goes on on this
+ranch?”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, it was you, Miss Pry! That explains
+everything.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes; and it’s a good thing that you have a
+sister to keep an eye on you.”</p>
+
+<p>After the meal was concluded the boys walked
+to the corral and viewed the bronco that had
+thrown Teddy. He looked docile enough as he
+stood eyeing them, and Teddy determined to ride
+him without delay. Roy was for waiting until
+afternoon, but Teddy vetoed this, and together
+the two boys managed to saddle the horse. He
+remained perfectly quiet, even when Teddy put
+a hand on the saddle horn.</p>
+
+<p>“Never mind the blind,” he said. “Something
+tells me this bronc is cured. You watch.”</p>
+
+<p>Before Roy could utter a word Teddy had
+vaulted into the saddle. But nothing happened.
+The animal moved calmly about the corral as
+correctly as any school horse, and after a few
+minutes Teddy dismounted.</p>
+
+<p>“Anyone could ride him now,” he declared.
+“Glad I decided to climb aboard before he forgot
+me. Hope the broncs in the rodeo will be as
+easy to stay with.”</p>
+
+<p>“Let’s forget that rodeo for a while,” Roy
+suggested. “There are a few things more important
+just at present—Peterson and his offer
+for our cattle, for instance. See Gus yet?”</p>
+
+<p>“How could I? I’ve been with you all the
+time. Let’s wander over and see if he’s
+around.”</p>
+
+<p>The boys found Gus Tripp near the hitching-rail
+preparing to ride through the country near
+Mica Mountain and investigate the condition
+of the ground. He had his bronco saddled, and
+was mounting as the boys came up.</p>
+
+<p>“Got time to wait a second, Gus?” Teddy
+called.</p>
+
+<p>“Sure! Reckon you want to know what I
+found out about Peterson. Well, the answer’s
+easy—nothin’. Yore dad asked me, too; an’
+when I told him no one in town had ever heard
+of him, he looked sort of worried. Tell you how
+it is—a man likes to know somethin’ about a
+man he’s dealin’ with, especially when it’s a
+large order like this. Course Peterson did put
+up a deposit; but there’s plenty of things can
+happen between now an’ the time he puts the
+purchase price in yore dad’s hands and takes
+delivery. I don’t blame the boss for askin’
+questions.”</p>
+
+<p>“So no one knew him!” Roy mused for a
+moment. “I suppose, actually, that that fact
+alone doesn’t mean much. But, you see, Gus,
+this Peterson is acquainted with the Lefton
+boys.” Roy glanced at his brother, for they
+had decided not to tell anyone of their discovery.
+But in the face of Gus’s statement, it
+seemed best that the whole thing be laid on the
+table. Teddy nodded his approbation. “And
+you know how those Lefton brothers’ deal fell
+through, after practically demanding we tell
+’em all about our business. Of course that’s
+exaggerated, but you get what I mean.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yep, I get ya’. Well, I guess we can’t do
+nothin’ about it. I better be gettin’ along now.
+See you later.” Gus waved and rode off.</p>
+
+<p>Teddy and Roy stood there for a moment,
+watching him go. Then they walked slowly
+toward the house.</p>
+
+<p>“I’m thinking,” Roy mused, “that the molehill
+we were talking about a while ago has
+increased in size. Maybe it’ll grow to a fair-sized
+mountain after all.”</p>
+
+<p>“Um! In other words, things are stirring.
+Let’s take a ride over to the south range.
+Remember where we found so many breaks in
+the fence? We can do a little repair work on the
+side. I don’t think dad wants us for anything
+special. I’ll ask him before we go, to make
+sure.”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy found his father talking to Nat Raymond,
+both standing by the side of one of the
+ranch wagons. Nat waved to Teddy, and called:</p>
+
+<p>“Hey, take a look at what we got here.
+Maybe you’ll recognize some of ’em.”</p>
+
+<p>“What? Recognize—”</p>
+
+<p>He reached the wagon and peered in. Then
+he gave a low whistle of amazement.</p>
+
+<p>Within were the bodies of some ten of fifteen
+wolves.</p>
+
+<p>“He cleaned that gang up for you, Teddy,”
+Mr. Manley said. “Remember when I sent the
+boys out to chase these critters off the range?
+They didn’t have so much luck then, but Nat,
+Jules an’—who else was with you, Nat—Joe,
+wasn’t he?—they went out yisterday an’ did
+a little fancy shootin’. I feel more easy, now—didn’t
+like Belle Ada to ride around with these
+things roamin’ the hills. Some nice pelts
+there.”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy reached out and touched one of the
+dead wolves.</p>
+
+<p>“This big one, Dad, was probably the leader.
+The rest—those that are left, I mean—will
+scatter now. Good work, Nat! Wish I could
+have been there when you brought these down.
+Where’d you run across them?”</p>
+
+<p>“Near Sanborn’s Point. We just stood still
+an’ picked ’em off. They tried to rush us, but
+we soon discouraged ’em. I’ll take ’em out
+back, boss, an’ get someone to help skin ’em.
+These pelts are worth money.” He clucked to
+the small roan that was standing quietly between
+the shafts, and the wagon creaked out of
+the yard. Teddy turned to his father.</p>
+
+<p>“Dad, Roy and I want to do a little fence
+riding. There were a few places we missed the
+last time, and we’ll fix ’em now. We may be
+gone all day. Anything special to do around
+here?”</p>
+
+<p>“Reckon not, Teddy. Say—” Mr. Manley
+paused for a moment. “Did you speak to Gus
+after he got in from town?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yep! About Peterson, you mean? Said no
+one seemed to know him. But I can tell you one
+thing—Peterson knows the Lefton brothers.”</p>
+
+<p>“The Lefton brothers!” Mr. Manley started.
+“I thought they’d left the country. A bunch of
+four-flushers, that’s what they are! I didn’t
+take to ’em when I first met ’em. They’re not
+cattle dealers. So Peterson is acquainted with
+them, hey?” He took his corncob pipe from
+his pocket and stuck it, unfilled, between his
+teeth. His eyes narrowed in thought.</p>
+
+<p>“Saw the three of ’em together in Red Rock.
+They hopped a train just as Roy and I were going
+to yell at ’em. Still, I suppose there’s no
+harm in that,” suggested Teddy.</p>
+
+<p>“No harm, no.” Mr. Manley tugged at the
+ends of his mustache. “Well, go along, Teddy.
+Stay as long as you want to. Nothing important
+around here. So he knows the Lefton boys,
+hey?”</p>
+
+<p>Turning, Mr. Manley walked slowly toward
+the house. Teddy saw him mount the steps of
+a small side porch and enter his office. The
+door slammed shut.</p>
+
+<p>When Teddy rejoined his brother, who was
+waiting with the two horses, Star and Flash,
+already saddled, he told him of Nat Raymond’s
+wolf hunt. Then he spoke of their father’s behavior
+on learning of Peterson’s friendship
+with the two Leftons.</p>
+
+<p>“Seemed worried, did he?” Roy asked, and
+Teddy nodded.</p>
+
+<p>There was no more said for a time, and,
+mounting, the boys rode out of the yard. After
+an hour they came in sight of a small herd of
+cattle—about a hundred—and they loped over.</p>
+
+<p>“See if there are any strays in this bunch,”
+Roy said. “There are a few breaks in the
+fence, you know. Of course there’s no range
+near us—that is, no range where cattle are
+grazing, but we’ll look, anyway. The best time
+to take out strangers is before round-up, not
+after.”</p>
+
+<p>They came closer, and peered at the brands.
+On every cow there could be plainly seen the
+X—X.</p>
+
+<p>“Guess these are all right,” Teddy commented.
+“Might as well—”</p>
+
+<p>A peculiar whistle came from the air just
+above them, and the two boys ducked automatically.
+At the same instant Teddy’s hat flew
+from his head. He gasped, and put his hand
+up. Then he looked at the fingers in amazement.</p>
+
+<p>They were smeared with blood!</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII">
+    CHAPTER <abbr title="Twelve">XII</abbr>
+  </h2>
+  <h3><span class="smcap">Voices in the Night</span>
+  </h3>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Teddy’s</span> surprise did not prevent him from
+going into immediate action. He had not been
+hurt by the bullet, which had been just low
+enough to draw blood and not stun him. He
+jumped Flash forward and swung to the left,
+leaning far over his saddle.</p>
+
+<p>Roy, when he saw that his brother was not
+injured, followed. But there were no more
+shots.</p>
+
+<p>On the other side of the herd of cattle they
+halted. There were a hundred cows between
+them and the hidden gunman, for the shot
+could only have come from the one direction.
+Thus protected, they pulled rein.</p>
+
+<p>“Better slide off,” Roy said in a low voice.
+He dismounted, as did Teddy. “Let’s see your
+head.”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy submitted to an inspection.</p>
+
+<p>“Skin’s broken, but that’s all,” Roy pronounced,
+relief in his voice. “By golly! who in
+thunder did that?” His anger flared up suddenly.
+There is a feeling of helplessness about
+being shot at from ambush which fills one with
+a hot rage. “That’s the trick of a skunk! Tried
+to get you from the back! By golly—”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, he missed,” Teddy said shortly. His
+lips were pressed tightly together. His eyes
+flashed. “If we had guns on I’d like nothing
+better than to do a little hunting. I know where
+that shot came from. Some place in that grove
+of trees.”</p>
+
+<p>“What grove? Oh, there?” Roy pointed
+to a group of trees the tops of which could be
+seen over the backs of the cattle. Teddy nodded
+grimly.</p>
+
+<p>“I’d take a bet on it. That’s the only place
+anyone could hide. Say, gun or no gun—”</p>
+
+<p>He rested his hand on the saddle horn and
+was about to mount when Roy seized him by the
+arm. With Teddy’s just desire for vengeance
+there had arisen in Roy a more calculating
+mood, taking the place of his former anger. He
+was now the steadier of the two.</p>
+
+<p>“We’ll do nothing as foolish as that, Teddy,”
+he said quietly. “We wouldn’t have the ghost
+of a chance. If I wanted to remove someone,
+I’d like nothing better than to have him come
+for me in the open, unarmed, while I was hidden
+and had a gun. That’s the way our friend
+will figure. No, not this time. We’d have to
+ride across that open space to reach the woods,
+and if there is someone there who wants to see
+us pushing up daisies, he’ll sure get his wish.
+We’ll have to let him go.”</p>
+
+<p>“But—”</p>
+
+<p>“I know. It’s tough. But you know we
+can’t do anything. Think it over.”</p>
+
+<p>“You mean to say we’re going to do nothing—not
+even find out who fired that shot?
+Just go away and pretend nothing happened?”</p>
+
+<p>“But, Teddy, what can we do? Now listen.
+I know how it feels to be shot at. In fact, it
+may have been me instead of you at whom that
+bullet was directed. We were pretty close
+together, you know. Well, it’s a nasty sensation,
+I’ll admit. Makes you want to beat up
+something or other. But look at things calmly.
+That gunman is over in that grove of trees, you
+say, and I think you’re right. Unless, of course,
+he ran when he saw that he’d missed. You and
+I are here without guns. Problem—to get to
+him without his getting to us. Do you know the
+answer?”</p>
+
+<p>“Reckon it hasn’t any,” and Teddy grinned
+ruefully. “He’s got us cold, all right. Though
+I’d be satisfied to find out who fired that and
+take my chances of getting him later. However,
+I can at least get my hat.” He mounted,
+and started to ride back.</p>
+
+<p>“No, you don’t, Teddy! That hat is right
+in line with his fire. No telling how long he’ll
+wait there, hoping we’ll go by again. You let
+that hat rest awhile.”</p>
+
+<p>“And go home without it? Not for a million
+bucks! If I have to stay here till night I want
+that hat. These cows look as though they were
+here for the rest of the day. I’ll just stick here,
+behind ’em, and when it gets dark I’ll go after
+my Stetson.”</p>
+
+<p>Roy looked at his brother with an amused
+smile. This was a new side to Teddy’s character,
+one which he had never seen before. The
+hat was a small item, yet Roy knew that Teddy
+meant exactly what he said. He would never
+leave without that hat.</p>
+
+<p>“Well,” Roy laughed dubiously, “if you
+think that much of it, I guess we’ll hang around.
+As you say, the dogies seem to be pretty well
+settled, or else they might take a notion to
+trample that headpiece of yours to dust. We’ll
+wait.”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy nodded, as though Roy had said exactly
+what he had expected him to say. The
+fact is, it was hard for Roy to understand this
+mood of his brother’s. He thought that by
+agreeing with him he might discover his purpose
+in staying. Roy could scarcely believe that
+Teddy would wait five or six hours simply to
+recover a hat.</p>
+
+<p>Yet there was no more reason behind Teddy’s
+stubbornness than just this. It relieved him a
+great deal to feel that he was not giving in
+entirely to his hidden enemy—that he was contesting
+with him the supremacy of the small
+plot of ground that lay between the cattle and
+the grove of trees. If Teddy had ridden on
+without his hat, it would have meant that the
+gunman was the admitted ruler. Thus the
+Stetson stood for one of the vital principles of
+Teddy’s life—don’t give up in the face of
+danger.</p>
+
+<p>The two boys picketed their ponies near a
+bush, and sat down about two hundred yards
+from the cattle. Now and then a cow would
+leave the herd and trot toward them, but seeing
+they made no motion, it would trot back again.
+There was no danger from these Durhams,
+even to a man on foot. The sun was too warm,
+the air too pleasant, to waste energy on the
+pursuit of human beings.</p>
+
+<p>The cattle moved slowly, when they did move,
+to find new grazing spots, and the boys had no
+trouble in keeping behind them. An hour in one
+place, then a shift, when the ponies were led
+to the new resting place, and Teddy and Roy
+again threw themselves on the ground and
+talked. Roy made no mention of the ridiculous
+course of conduct they were following. He was
+wise enough to let a thing rest when he could
+not understand it.</p>
+
+<p>The hat had fallen quite a distance back, but
+Teddy had the spot marked. The day grew
+colder as the sun approached the horizon.
+Gradually the mountains took on that blueish
+tint that heralds the twilight. The moon arose,
+a pale, washed-out circlet in the azure sky. As
+the day darkened, the moon became brighter,
+and when it finally shone, an incandescent orb,
+Teddy arose. Night had come.</p>
+
+<p>“Now,” he said casually, “I’ll get my hat.”
+Roy stared at him curiously.</p>
+
+<p>“Going to ride over or walk?”</p>
+
+<p>“Walk. I know just where it is, and I might
+miss it on horseback. You stay here and watch
+the ponies, will you? Too bad we didn’t get in
+any fence repairing, but we can do that to-morrow.”</p>
+
+<p>He sauntered off, a strange figure in the
+moonlight. The cattle were some distance off
+now, and this was fortunate, for Durhams do
+not like men on foot near them at night.</p>
+
+<p>Now Teddy was directly in front of the grove
+of trees, and he halted to gaze at them steadily.
+If anyone were there, waiting, this should draw
+the fire. It was not quite so foolhardy a proceeding
+as it appeared. The light was very
+poor and the distance too great for accurate
+shooting. For a moment the boy stood there,
+then moved on. Not a sound disturbed the stillness
+of the night. There was no sign of life in
+the grove of trees.</p>
+
+<p>The hat was lying where it had fallen, near a
+bush. It looked like a mound of white sand as
+Teddy approached. He picked it up, dusted it
+off, felt with his finger the bullet hole, then
+clapped it on his head and started back. A
+voice, low, distinct, came to his ears, and he
+dropped to the ground with the limpness and
+suddenness of a man whose legs have turned
+to water.</p>
+
+<p>The voice came from the group of trees. It
+was hard, as a whiphandle is hard, and was
+applying itself to the scourging of someone.</p>
+
+<p>“You’re still a fool, I see! A skunk I can
+stand. A fool isn’t even worth killin’—his
+hide’s no good. Understand?”</p>
+
+<p>“But Jerry, you told me—”</p>
+
+<p>Jerry! That was it! Jerry Lefton! That’s
+who the speaker was! He and—</p>
+
+<p>“I told you,” the voice went on “not to try
+anything without me or Bill with you! Just
+because you’re known as Mob Jamisson, bad
+man, you think you can’t miss, hey? Well,
+here’s one you missed, and it’s going to mean
+plenty of trouble for us, too! Even if you did
+plug one of ’em, what about the other? He’d
+get away sure, an’ the fat would be in the fire.
+It is, anyhow, I guess. They know we’re after
+’em now. Before they only suspected it. Mob,
+I could crease you myself for this!”</p>
+
+<p>“Aw, lay off!” The voice was raised in anger.
+Mob had evidently come to the limit of
+his endurance. “You’ll crease nobody! Get
+that? An’ you won’t bawl me out no more,
+either! If there’s any creasin’ to be done, I’ll
+do it! I’m a partner in this scheme, same as
+you are. If I got an idea that I think is a good
+one, I can try it, I reckon.”</p>
+
+<p>“You’d better let me or Bill look over your
+ideas for you,” Jerry Lefton said dryly. “If
+you were alone I wouldn’t care what you did.
+You could hang yourself for all of me. But the
+way things are fixed now, if the rope goes
+around your neck it goes around ours too. Me,
+I don’t like that kind of a necktie. You hear
+me?”</p>
+
+<p>“I hear you,” Jamisson growled. “I bungled,
+I admit it. But I thought I could get that
+fool easy. Must have been a bum cartridge.
+Well, the next time you want a thing done you’ll
+do it yourself. I had—”</p>
+
+<p>The voices grew indistinct as the men moved
+on. An isolated word would come back to
+Teddy, then the tones ceased altogether. Still
+the boy lay there, thinking.</p>
+
+<p>“Jerry Lefton and Mob Jamisson,” he muttered
+slowly. “Now we’re out in the open.
+The cards are on the table. He wanted to kill
+me—and Roy—because we suspect what they
+are up to. Uh-huh.”</p>
+
+<p>He got to his feet and settled the hat more
+firmly on his head. Carefully, quietly, he
+walked back. Roy was waiting for him.</p>
+
+<p>“Got it, hey? Bet you had a hard time to
+find it. I should have gone to you. Golly, I
+was afraid you’d got lost!”</p>
+
+<p>“No, I didn’t get lost,” Teddy answered
+musingly. “And I didn’t have a hard time to
+find the hat,” he added. “I knew just where it
+was.”</p>
+
+<p>“You did? Then what in thunder—”</p>
+
+<p>“Roy, you haven’t got a spare badge, have
+you?”</p>
+
+<p>“Huh? What’s that? What kind of a
+badge?”</p>
+
+<p>“A detective badge.” Teddy chuckled. “I
+just joined your force.”</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII">
+    CHAPTER <abbr title="Thirteen">XIII</abbr>
+  </h2>
+  <h3><span class="smcap">A Down-Grade Problem</span>
+  </h3>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Late</span> as it was when Teddy and Roy Manley
+reached home that night, a conference was
+called. Mr. Manley sat in his office, a room
+set aside for his exclusive use, and listened
+to Teddy’s story, the while he puffed thoughtfully
+on his corncob pipe and, now and again,
+tugged at the ends of his mustache. When the
+tale was finished he clapped his hands together
+in the manner of a man who has come to a
+sudden decision.</p>
+
+<p>“Mob Jamisson has attempted to commit
+murder!” he ejaculated.</p>
+
+<p>Teddy and Roy started. It had not seemed
+so serious to them. They had not the advantage
+of Mr. Manley’s years in interpreting the
+occurrence. To them it had merely appeared
+that a man with a grudge against them had
+tried to injure them.</p>
+
+<p>“Murder!” Roy repeated slowly. “Sounds
+nasty, Dad.”</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Manley nodded. He picked up the ’phone
+and called a number at the Hawley exchange.</p>
+
+<p>“Hello—speak to the Sheriff. What? This
+is Bardwell Manley, at the X Bar X Ranch.
+Right.”</p>
+
+<p>He waited a moment, evidently while someone
+was being called to the instrument. Then
+he said:</p>
+
+<p>“This you, Sheriff? This is Bardwell Manley.
+X Bar X Ranch. What do you know
+about a man who goes by the name of Mob
+Jamisson? Wanted, is he? What for? Yes....
+Uh-huh. Listen. Add attempted murder
+to that charge, and see—he tried to kill my boy,
+Teddy. Shot at him. We have proof all right.
+And there was another man with him, name of
+Lefton—Jerry Lefton. Heard of him too, hey?
+Well, I’d like you to get out warrants for both
+of them. Soon as possible. That’s it. Let me
+know if you find ’em. Sure. Thanks. So
+long!” Mr. Manley hung up the receiver, and
+faced about.</p>
+
+<p>“That’s the first gun,” he said. “We’ll take
+no more chances on waddies like that. Makay
+is a good man. He’ll bring ’em in if they’re
+still around. Now—” he tapped the ashes from
+the bowl of his pipe and arose—“the next time
+you boys go out you wear guns. If Jamisson
+and his gang have the idea they’re bad men
+of the West, we’ll just show ’em that the old
+West isn’t dead yet. Round-up is next week.
+I don’t want anything to happen, especially
+with that big order we got. Six hundred head
+is a large-size bit.”</p>
+
+<p>His face clouded, and the boys waited for him
+to finish his thought.</p>
+
+<p>“Peterson—he called me up to-day. Wanted
+to be sure I could make delivery. Never said
+a word about money, and the market is goin’
+down every day, too. Way it stands now, he’s
+payin’ three a head more than Pete Ball, at the
+8 X 8, expects to get. I don’t understand it.”</p>
+
+<p>“What did he say when he called up?” Roy
+asked curiously.</p>
+
+<p>“Nothin’ much—just asked me how things
+were comin’. Told him fine. They are, too.
+I don’t want to lose that forfeit. Five hundred
+isn’t exactly pin-money.”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll tell a maverick it isn’t!” Impressed
+with the seriousness of this talk, Roy’s voice
+unconsciously assumed a deeper tone.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Manley, under cover of a cough, looked
+at his sons. They were growing to manhood
+quickly, these boys. Their eyes had a steadier
+light in them, and he noticed how straight they
+sat, as though they were holding their muscles
+taut. In the past two years they had gone
+through many adventures, and had come out of
+each with an increased feeling of reliance upon
+themselves. He knew now that it was wise to
+have allowed them to stop school when they
+wished. The West had been their school, as it
+had been his, and when one graduated from it
+one was well equipped for the battle of life.</p>
+
+<p>Under his prolonged stare, the boys shifted
+and looked up inquiringly. Mr. Manley chuckled
+and rested a hand on a shoulder of each of
+his sons.</p>
+
+<p>“I was just thinkin’, boys, that soon you’ll
+be wantin’ to run this ranch yourselves. You
+can, too. You’ve grown up, both of you. Grown
+up into sons I can be proud of.” Abruptly his
+manner changed, and he pulled them toward
+him affectionately. “Hit the hay now, buckers!
+You’re not too old for me to spank if you stay
+up too late!” Laughing, he released them.
+“Up early to-morrow. Plenty to do. Good-night,
+boys!”</p>
+
+<p>“Good-night, Dad!”</p>
+
+<p>Halfway up the stairs Teddy paused.</p>
+
+<p>“I think,” he said slowly, “that dad is a
+regular fellow. I’d do anything for him.”</p>
+
+<p>Roy replied with a single sentence, but so
+fervent was it that it seemed almost like a
+prayer:</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll tell a maverick he is!”</p>
+
+<p>And they continued to their room.</p>
+
+<p>Early the next day the telephone in Mr.
+Manley’s office rang, and Roy answered it. His
+father was not in at the moment, and he asked
+if he could take the message.</p>
+
+<p>“This is Peterson,” the voice at the other end
+said. “Will you tell your father that I’ve
+heard talk of rustlers in this vicinity, and warn
+him to guard his stock well? I’ll tell you now
+that I’ll hold him to that forfeit if he can’t deliver,
+for it means a great deal to me.”</p>
+
+<p>“We’ll deliver all right,” Roy declared.
+“Don’t worry about that. Who told you there
+were rustlers around?”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, it’s general talk,” Peterson said evasively.
+“Just remember I warned you. Good-bye.”</p>
+
+<p>“Wait a—”</p>
+
+<p>There was a click as the other end disconnected,
+and Roy hung his receiver. He turned
+to find Teddy watching him.</p>
+
+<p>“More news?”</p>
+
+<p>“You might call it that. Peterson just called
+up. Told me to tell dad that he’s heard there
+are rustlers around, and to keep track of our
+stock. Said he’d demand the forfeit if we didn’t
+deliver.”</p>
+
+<p>“Huh! Sort of knocks our theory into a
+cocked hat—about his being in with the Lefton
+crowd. If he—I mean Peterson—was a rustler,
+the last thing he’d want to do would be to warn
+us to watch the cows.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yea. Does look like that. Well, I’ll tell
+dad what he said. Coming?”</p>
+
+<p>The two boys walked out of the office and into
+the yard. When Mr. Manley heard Roy’s story
+he merely nodded, and gave no thought to
+Teddy’s suggestion that this proved Peterson
+“was O.K.”</p>
+
+<p>“Maybe, an’ maybe not,” he said, and returned
+to his work of repairing his saddle. The
+boys waited for a moment, then wandered off.</p>
+
+<p>“Hard to tell what he does think about it,”
+Roy commented.</p>
+
+<p>“That’s a fact. Dad never did much talking.
+Wonder if the sheriff in Hawley heard anything
+from Jamisson?”</p>
+
+<p>“Not likely. He’ll lay low for a while, I
+reckon. The skunk! Every time I think of him
+trying to shoot you in the back—”</p>
+
+<p>“Me, too! You know, I have an idea that
+your remark of the bullet being meant for you
+wasn’t so far wrong. Here’s how I figure: he
+knew you’d heard them talking that night you
+went back after your knife. And whatever you
+heard he didn’t want broadcast. Say, that
+means something else, too! It means that what
+they said was important! By golly, I just
+thought of that! Now let’s see. We’ll work
+this thing out.”</p>
+
+<p>“Good stuff, Teddy. Let’s walk over this
+way.” He started for the side porch, and
+Teddy followed. They sat on the lower step.</p>
+
+<p>“Now, what they said was this,” Roy began.
+“First they said something about six hundred
+head. That’s cattle. Then they mentioned cars,
+and an eight mile run, and the old Jarmey
+place. We heard ’em talk about the Jarmey
+place when we saw ’em at Red Rock, too.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yep. Say, just where is the Jarmey place?”</p>
+
+<p>“I have a rather hazy idea. It’s near Red
+Rock, I know. Suppose we ask Pop?”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy nodded, and arose.</p>
+
+<p>“Think he’s around?”</p>
+
+<p>“We can try. Might be near the bunkhouse.”</p>
+
+<p>They walked over. Pop was cleaning a rifle,
+and looked up as the two boys approached.</p>
+
+<p>“Mornin’, gents. Got an hour to myself, an’
+I decided to get this here shootin’ iron into
+shape. Set!”</p>
+
+<p>In response to the invitation, the boys
+squatted on the ground near him.</p>
+
+<p>“Pop,” Teddy said, “we want to ask some
+questions.”</p>
+
+<p>Pop removed his hat and scratched his bald
+head.</p>
+
+<p>“Ain’t riddles, are they?”</p>
+
+<p>“Nope. Say, just what do you know about
+the old Jarmey place?”</p>
+
+<p>“Hum—thought I told you about that once
+before. Well, it’s about four miles from Red
+Rock. Know where that is, don’t you?”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure. We’ve been there.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, after you leave there you go west,
+up a steep grade. The Jarmey place is right
+on top of a hill, with the tracks runnin’ down.
+Used to be a railroad depot, but it ain’t used
+for nothin’ now.”</p>
+
+<p>“Can you get to it from Red Rock by following
+the tracks?”</p>
+
+<p>“Nope. You got to go around Shock Mountain.
+That’s between, an’ you can’t climb it
+with a horse. The trail around is about ten or
+twelve miles long.”</p>
+
+<p>“But you said four miles—”</p>
+
+<p>“As the crow flies. Now look. Suppose we
+start at Eagles.” He laid his rifle down carefully,
+and with his forefinger drew a map in the
+dust. “This here is Eagles. The main line
+comes in this way—you know that part of it.
+Now, there’s a pair of tracks that run from
+Eagles to Red Rock, on a branch. They ain’t
+used no more, since the main line came in.
+Eagles is pretty high up, you know—higher’n
+Red Rock. The branch that runs to Red Rock
+starts a little above Eagles. Well, you follow
+these tracks down to Red Rock. Then they dip
+pretty sharp an’ curve, an’ four miles farther
+come into the Jarmey station. I think they run
+about eight miles beyond this, then peter out
+near Hawley. At least, that’s my recollection
+of it.”</p>
+
+<p>“Then, practically speaking, it’s down grade
+all the way from Eagles to where that branch
+railroad ends?”</p>
+
+<p>“Uh-huh. That’s one of the reasons they had
+to make a new railroad—the engines couldn’t
+pull cattle cars up the hills.”</p>
+
+<p>“Are there any cars on the siding now?”</p>
+
+<p>“You mean down at the Jarmey place?”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, either there or above Eagles.”</p>
+
+<p>“Can’t say for certain. Might be. More
+chance of ’em bein’ above Eagles than down
+at the other end. But if there are any, I
+wouldn’t want to ride in ’em.”</p>
+
+<p>“Think the tracks are still there, all the way
+to Red Rock?”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure, an’ some distance beyond. There
+ain’t never been nobody with enough gumption
+to root ’em up, so I reckon they’ll stay there
+till they rust to pieces.”</p>
+
+<p>“How far is it from Red Rock to where the
+tracks end?”</p>
+
+<p>“Eight miles, didn’t you say, Pop?” Teddy
+broke in.</p>
+
+<p>“About that. Why, thinkin’ of buyin’ the
+shebang?”</p>
+
+<p>“Not any,” Roy laughed. “Eight miles!”
+He thought for a moment. “And all down
+grade?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yep. Reckon you could coast a bicycle all
+the way down, if you was so minded. Or sky,
+for that matter.”</p>
+
+<p>“Sky?”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure! Ever hear of that? You put two
+barrel staves on your feet and use ’em like
+skates. Course there has to be snow on the
+ground.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, I see,” Teddy said, and turned his
+head away to hide his smiles. “Well, that’s
+all, I guess. Thanks for the information,
+Pop.”</p>
+
+<p>“Welcome. Any time at all. Glad to oblige.”
+He picked up his rifle again. “Still practicin’
+for the rodeo?”</p>
+
+<p>“Haven’t to-day,” Roy answered. “Suppose
+we try a little, Teddy? Let’s see what we can
+do with the pony express.”</p>
+
+<p>“All right. I was thinking we might—But
+never mind. Sure, we’ll practice some.”</p>
+
+<p>“Like to watch you, boys, but I got to ride
+out in a few minutes. Usin’ Star an’ Flash, I
+suppose?”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure are! Well, see you later.”</p>
+
+<p>Pop nodded, and they left him to his labors.</p>
+
+<p>“Eight miles, and all down grade,” Roy
+mused. “Those words seem familiar, Teddy?”</p>
+
+<p>“They do, sonny; they do! That was the
+song Mob Jamisson was singing, with the Lefton
+brothers, tenors, joining in the chorus.
+Wonder when they go into their dance?”</p>
+
+<p>“You think they will, then?”</p>
+
+<p>“Every good team does a song and dance.
+Unless they get the hook first. You and I, Roy,
+will try to be the so-called hook.”</p>
+
+<p>“Uh-huh. Before they get to the dance. But
+I’d like to know just what kind of a dance
+they’re best at, and where it’ll be staged. It’ll
+be our job to find out.”</p>
+
+<p>“Right! We’ll keep our eyes peeled, lest we
+get our knuckles skinned. Now let’s try this
+pony express stuff.”</p>
+
+<p>They had come to the corral, wherein were
+Star and Flash, and they soon had the horses
+saddled.</p>
+
+<p>“Pony express” is the art of quick dismounting
+and mounting, as practiced by the mail
+riders in the days of Wild Bill Hickock. A man
+dashes up, throws himself from his bronco,
+transfers his mailbag to another and fresher
+mount, and dashes away again with the loss of
+as few seconds as possible. It calls into action
+all the expertness a rider possesses. A single
+slip means ill-afforded delay.</p>
+
+<p>Nick Looker was called upon to help, since he
+was idle at the moment, and he saddled the
+bronco that Teddy had lately broken. The start
+was at the extreme end of the yard, the first
+change half way across, and another change at
+the end, when the rider would swing back over
+his route.</p>
+
+<p>“You go first, Teddy,” said Roy.</p>
+
+<p>“All right; it’s all one, I suppose,” was
+Teddy’s reply.</p>
+
+<p>He mounted Flash, and was in readiness for
+the signal. At some distance Roy waited with
+Star, and farther on still was Nick with the
+other bronco, which they decided to call, sarcastically,
+Angelica.</p>
+
+<p>“All set?” Teddy called.</p>
+
+<p>“O.K. here!” was Roy’s answer. “How
+about you, Nick?”</p>
+
+<p>“Ri-i-i-ight!”</p>
+
+<p>Roy looked at his wrist watch. When the
+minute hand pointed to zero he yelled:</p>
+
+<p>“Go!”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy bent low, and Flash leaped forward.
+Across the yard the pony tore, his feet lost
+in the haze of dust. Ears laid back, fine head
+thrust forward, he made a wonderfully pretty
+sight. Teddy sat on him as though he were a
+part of the horse, riding beautifully. Straight
+for Roy and the waiting Star he dashed.</p>
+
+<p>Reaching him, the boy fairly flew from the
+saddle before Flash had fully halted. Springing
+the short distance separating him from Roy,
+he bounded into the saddle again, and in a
+second had Star racing toward Nick at full
+speed. The change had been made with
+scarcely a moment’s delay.</p>
+
+<p>But as Star hurtled for Angelica, the new
+pony shied and pulled away from Nick, who
+had relaxed his hand in his excitement at
+Teddy’s riding ability. Thus, when the boy
+jumped off, there was no horse there to receive
+him. It took precious seconds to catch the pony,
+and when Teddy pulled up, panting, at the end
+of the run, Roy looked up from gazing at his
+watch.</p>
+
+<p>“Two-fifty-six. Not so bad. Would have
+been much better if Nick hadn’t let go Angelica.
+But you have to expect those accidents. We’ll
+try again later. Say, here comes Gus, and he’s
+got a grin on him a mile wide. Wonder what’s
+up?”</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV">
+    CHAPTER <abbr title="Fourteen">XIV</abbr>
+  </h2>
+  <h3><span class="smcap">The Crystal Gazer</span>
+  </h3>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">That</span> Gus Tripp was the bearer of news was
+easy to be seen. It fairly oozed from him, and
+he had a hard time to keep from shouting it as
+he approached. But he managed to contain
+himself, and when he came closer he asked:</p>
+
+<p>“You fellers busy just now?”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, not so very,” Teddy replied. “You
+look as though you had something to say. Go
+ahead, spill it!”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure I ain’t interruptin’?”</p>
+
+<p>“No, no! For Pete’s sake, get it out of yore
+system!” Nick chuckled. “You’ll bust in another
+minute. What’s the joke?”</p>
+
+<p>“There’s a medium down at the bunkhouse!”</p>
+
+<p>“What’s that?”</p>
+
+<p>“Huh? Say it again, an’ say it slow. What’s
+down at the bunkhouse?”</p>
+
+<p>“A medium!”</p>
+
+<p>“Medium what?”</p>
+
+<p>“Medium nothin’—just a medium! A guy
+what tells the future!”</p>
+
+<p>Light dawned slowly.</p>
+
+<p>“You mean a fortune-teller!” Roy exclaimed.
+“That it?”</p>
+
+<p>“Uh-huh. Say, he’s a pip! You ought to see
+him! Got a funny thing around his head. Rode
+up in a little buckboard. Talks some funny
+kind of language. He’s waitin’ down there
+now. Wish my wife was here, ’stead of in the
+city. She loves that stuff. She’s mostly Mexican,
+you know. Come on down!”</p>
+
+<p>“Where did you say he was?”</p>
+
+<p>“Waitin’ near the bunkhouse. Golly, I wish
+Pop was here—an’ Bug Eye! We could sure
+have some fun! Pop just pulled out as this
+gink came in.”</p>
+
+<p>“Wait till we put these broncs up, and we’ll
+be with you.”</p>
+
+<p>“All right; but hurry along.”</p>
+
+<p>The horses were tied to the hitching-rail, and
+the four punchers walked toward the bunkhouse,
+led by Gus. He was greatly delighted with the
+new experience of meeting a medium. Chances
+for entertainment are few and far between on
+Western ranches, and when it comes the buckers
+make the most of it.</p>
+
+<p>“There he is! See him?” Gus whispered in
+a thrilled tone, pointing. “Snakes, ain’t he a
+beaut?”</p>
+
+<p>And indeed he was a “beaut.”</p>
+
+<p>Seated on the ground near the door of the
+bunkhouse, legs curled up out of sight under
+him, was a strange figure. A bright blue fez
+crowned a dark, swarthy countenance. A long,
+flowing robe of green and yellow enveloped him.
+A vivid red sash was wound several times about
+his waist, giving him the appearance of a bag
+of potatoes—but a bag of such colors as was
+never seen in that part of the world. Close to
+him was the buckboard, a forlorn donkey standing
+dejectedly between the shafts.</p>
+
+<p>Catching sight of the four men, the medium
+arose smoothly, like a snake unwinding, and,
+spreading his hands wide, he bowed.</p>
+
+<p>“Come in, come in, gent’men,” he droned in
+a low monotone. “I wait for you.”</p>
+
+<p>“Come in where?” Nick asked blankly.</p>
+
+<p>“What matter? Into my fold. I see before
+me—” he paused.</p>
+
+<p>“What do you see before you?” Gus inquired
+curiously.</p>
+
+<p>“That I weesh to know,” and the medium
+smiled blandly. “You mus’ tell me, no?”</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t exactly get—” Nick began, when
+Teddy interrupted.</p>
+
+<p>“He wants to know who we are. This is Nick
+Looker, and this is Gus Tripp. The gentleman
+there is my brother, Roy Manley. I’m
+Teddy Manley. This is our ranch, the X Bar X.
+That do you?”</p>
+
+<p>“Please no get angry,” the man pleaded, and
+smiled again, sensing a slight antagonism in
+Teddy’s voice. “I mean no harm. I help you.
+I tell you—” He looked up at the sky, and
+waved his arms. “I tell you everything! What
+has been, what is to be! Nothing is hidden!
+You listen, no?” His voice dropped suddenly,
+leaving him gazing eagerly forward.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, maybe,” Roy answered, not wishing
+to commit himself. “How much?”</p>
+
+<p>“That—the gold—I care not for. It is for
+the happiness of you that I tell, young man.
+But—we must live. Shall we say five dollars—each
+one?”</p>
+
+<p>“We shall not,” Teddy said. “That’s too
+much. Two dollars apiece.”</p>
+
+<p>“Three dollars?”</p>
+
+<p>“Two, I said.”</p>
+
+<p>The man bowed.</p>
+
+<p>“You know best. It is not good that we become
+greedy for gold. For two dollars I will
+give you a life reading.”</p>
+
+<p>“What’s that?” Gus demanded, watching the
+man with a fascinated stare.</p>
+
+<p>“It is the telling of your life—what has been,
+what is to be. I do it thus.”</p>
+
+<p>From the folds of his robe the man produced
+a crystal globe with such suddenness that Nick
+unconsciously dodged. The East Indian, if such
+he was, smiled.</p>
+
+<p>“You think I hurt you, no? You think I have
+about me a cobra or a boomslang, no? That
+is foolishment. I am no cheat. I do not deal
+in trickery. I am a true fakir.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yo’re a faker, an’ you admit it?” Nick
+asked, with surprise in his voice. “How do you
+expect—”</p>
+
+<p>“Not faker, <em>fakir</em>,” the man corrected gently.
+“My name is Mohammed Ali Ben Suliman, by
+which you may know that I am of the true
+faith.”</p>
+
+<p>“Seems like a sincere little cuss,” Roy said
+in an aside to Teddy. “Probably has a hard
+time of it out here. What say we give him two
+bucks and let him do his stuff?”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure! Suits me. It’ll be fun, anyhow.”
+He turned to Mohammed. “Where do you do
+this crystal-gazing?”</p>
+
+<p>“Any place where I and my friend can be
+alone.” The blue eyes twinkled for a moment.
+“If you are afraid, young man,—”</p>
+
+<p>“Afraid of what?” Gus asked wonderingly
+and truculently.</p>
+
+<p>“Of what I shall tell you.”</p>
+
+<p>“Guess that needn’t worry us,” Nick snickered.
+“Go ahead, boy; we’ll stand for anything!”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes?” the little man smiled again, inscrutably.
+“I wish for you a good fortune. Who
+will be the first?”</p>
+
+<p>“You, Nick,” Gus whispered. “See what he
+says. Go on.”</p>
+
+<p>“Naw, you try it first. You found him. Or
+maybe Roy or Teddy—”</p>
+
+<p>“We’re in no hurry,” Roy declared, grinning.
+“You can have the freedom of the bunkhouse.”</p>
+
+<p>“Bunkhouse? What is that?” Mohammed
+asked curiously.</p>
+
+<p>Roy pointed. “In there. Where the boys
+sleep. That all right?”</p>
+
+<p>The mystic bowed. “What you say. We
+shall go into the bunkhouse.”</p>
+
+<p>“Good name for it,” Teddy chuckled, but not
+so Mohammed could hear him. He had no wish
+to offend the man, who appeared slightly
+frightened and not at all assertive. He kept
+eyeing the guns the boys, in obedience to the
+command of their father, had by their sides.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, I’ll go first,” Gus declared at last.
+“Can’t Nick come in with me?”</p>
+
+<p>“I do not like it,” Mohammed said dubiously.
+“Better alone. But it can be done. If the man
+wishes, anyone can listen.”</p>
+
+<p>“Then we can all go in!” said Gus, and
+Teddy fancied his voice expressed relief. “I
+don’t care who hears my future. The past—well,
+let ’er come. Reckon I can stand that,
+too.”</p>
+
+<p>“If you will go first—” and Mohammed made
+a motion with his slim, nervous hand. “I shall
+follow.”</p>
+
+<p>Gus entered, and Mohammed walked slowly
+behind him. Teddy asked him if it was all
+right to leave the donkey.</p>
+
+<p>“Stamboul will stand for days,” the little
+man declared solemnly. “He has the true gift
+of patience. I have taught him.”</p>
+
+<p>Once within the bunkhouse, he looked about
+him eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>“You sleep here?”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure do,” Nick replied. “All of us. Good,
+too. Why?”</p>
+
+<p>“Nothing,” and Mohammed sighed. “Under
+these so blue skys, I myself would live. No
+roof would cover me. Still—”</p>
+
+<p>“Not in the winter you wouldn’t,” Gus chuckled.
+“Gets thirty below out here.”</p>
+
+<p>Mohammed nodded absently. It is doubtful if
+he understood.</p>
+
+<p>“I use the table, yes?” he asked, after a
+moment.</p>
+
+<p>“Sure. Go to it,” Roy agreed. “Here’s
+a chair.” He pulled one up. “Take a seat.”</p>
+
+<p>“Take a—ah, yes. Now young man,” he
+looked at Gus. “If you will be across from
+me—”</p>
+
+<p>Gus, a trifle nervously, seated himself on the
+other side of the table.</p>
+
+<p>“Not goin’ to hypnotize, are you?” he asked,
+with an attempt at humor. “We had a feller
+do that once. He didn’t make out so well.”</p>
+
+<p>“I do not do thus,” Mohammed answered
+seriously. “That is black magic. I am afraid
+for that. Now you will give me your hand,
+please?”</p>
+
+<p>Gus forced a smile, and stretched out his hand
+limply. Mohammed grasped it.</p>
+
+<p>“Tight, please. That is it. Now for a moment,
+quiet. You will make a wish. When you
+have made it, say ‘yes’.”</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV">
+    CHAPTER <abbr title="Fifteen">XV</abbr>
+  </h2>
+  <h3><span class="smcap">Mysterious Danger</span>
+  </h3>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">There</span> was a moment’s silence, while Gus
+essayed a grin which failed to live up to his
+expectations. The brown face across the table
+was too much in earnest, too sincere, to allow
+for any levity. Then, in a low voice, Gus said:</p>
+
+<p>“Yes.”</p>
+
+<p>“Very well. It is not for me to say what your
+wish is. You know that. Later, I shall say if it
+will occur. Now, please look at me.”</p>
+
+<p>Gus stared across the table like a bird looking
+into the eyes of a cat. Suddenly he flushed, and
+shifted his eyes. The brown man smiled.</p>
+
+<p>“It is not so hard, is it?”</p>
+
+<p>“Huh? Oh, you got that, hey? I was
+afraid—”</p>
+
+<p>“You were afraid I was trying to hold your
+eyes, and you moved them to find out. Is that
+not so?”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s right,” Gus admitted uneasily.</p>
+
+<p>“He’s clever!” Roy whispered to Teddy, in
+admiration. “Bet he knows a lot about psychology.”</p>
+
+<p>If Mohammed heard him, he made no sign.</p>
+
+<p>“There are many things I see for you,” he
+said slowly, “many, many things. Some good,
+some bad. First I shall tell you of what you
+have been. You were born in a very hot country,
+no?”</p>
+
+<p>“Uh-huh. On the border,” Gus admitted
+laconically.</p>
+
+<p>“I know not that place. But I see that you
+have the nature of the south. Slow, gentle, kind.
+I, myself, have that nature. You do not like
+excitement.”</p>
+
+<p>“Nor work,” Nick added, <i lang="la">sotto voce</i>.</p>
+
+<p>“What? No, young man, that is not so. This
+man is not lazy. He goes carefully, that is all.
+He like not to jump into things. And that is
+good. One thing I sorry for. You have not
+music in your life, as you should.”</p>
+
+<p>“Huh? I can’t play nothin’.”</p>
+
+<p>“I not understand what you say, ‘play.’ I
+tell you that you should have music, and you
+have not. Too bad. You have the soul for it.
+Now, you are married, no?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yep.”</p>
+
+<p>“Your wife, she, I think, is from hot country.
+That kind of girl go with your nature. Some
+time, I think before you marry, you have trouble
+with this girl—you not be so sure of her. I
+see you unhappy for a time. Is that true?”</p>
+
+<p>“That’s true,” Gus answered. He looked up
+at Roy. The boy was observing Mohammed
+intently.</p>
+
+<p>“You would like to know something of the
+future?”</p>
+
+<p>“Go ahead.”</p>
+
+<p>“Eleven months from now you will be most
+un-happy. I cannot say why, but I see it for
+you. That will pass. You must remember that
+it will pass. You will never be much rich. But
+you will have that which is better than riches—health
+and love. Your life will be long. Never
+shall you cross great water. The big world
+shall not know of you, but along your path those
+friends you have will honor you. Should you
+have music into your life, it will help you to
+happiness. And you will some day be a fine,
+wonderful musician if you allow the music to
+enter. Still your path is not into the cities, but
+through fields. Your music will be for your
+friends, not for the world. There will be
+one who will know how great a musician you
+could become. That is your wife.” He paused,
+and put a hand to his head. “That—is
+all.”</p>
+
+<p>Gus sat quietly, staring down at the table.
+The thoughts that were running through his
+head showed in his face—wonderment at the
+brown man’s powers of divination, memories of
+what had happened so long ago in Vegas. Suddenly
+he grinned, and looked up.</p>
+
+<p>“You sure hit ’em right, Mo! Say, can I ask
+you any questions?”</p>
+
+<p>“As much as you will.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, have I got anyone who’s lookin’ to do
+me dirt?”</p>
+
+<p>“What? I cannot see this, what you mean
+‘dirt’.”</p>
+
+<p>“He means any enemies,” Teddy explained.</p>
+
+<p>“Enemies! Now listen. In this room I feel
+that all are friends—good friends. Yet there
+is something that trys to get in—someone who
+is an enemy to all here. Yes, young man, you
+have an enemy, but not of yourself—he is
+enemy because of what you are, not because
+who your are.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yea. Maybe. But I don’t get what you—”</p>
+
+<p>“You mean that someone is his enemy because
+he is a friend of ours?” Roy asked
+bluntly.</p>
+
+<p>“That is it, young man,” Mohammed answered,
+not at all dismayed. “You, all of you,
+have those who wish you not well. They seek
+to harm you.”</p>
+
+<p>“An’ will they?” Nick demanded, leaning
+forward.</p>
+
+<p>Mohammed kept silence for a moment, then
+spoke, slowly:</p>
+
+<p>“That, friend, is in the laps of the gods. I
+may not tell you of it. Please, you will excuse
+now?” He smiled appealingly.</p>
+
+<p>“Sure! You earned your money,” Teddy
+said quickly. “If you’ll do a trick for us, we’ll
+give you five bucks—altogether. How about it?”</p>
+
+<p>“Trick? Perhaps.” He gazed long at
+Teddy, then nodded, as though the boy had told
+him something. Later Teddy explained that he
+wanted Gus to forget what he had been told,
+and to get his mind on other things Teddy had
+suggested the trick. The brown man realized
+his purpose without knowing the reason, and
+consented to work “magic” for them.</p>
+
+<p>They leaned forward eagerly as the mystic
+took from the folds of his robe a small flower
+pot. The thoughtful expression left Gus’s face
+and he grinned happily.</p>
+
+<p>“Gee, I allus wanted to see this!” he exclaimed.
+“You gonna make a plant grow, ain’t
+you?”</p>
+
+<p>Mohammed nodded and smiled.</p>
+
+<p>“I shall do an attempt,” he said. “Not always
+succeed. Watch, please.”</p>
+
+<p>Over the pot he waved his hands, intoning,
+the while, words in a strange language, the only
+expression of which Teddy was sure was “<cite>Allah
+Akbar</cite>.” Then, before the astonished gaze of
+his audience, a stem pushed its way through the
+earth. Higher and higher it grew, while they
+watched, and then tiny oranges came into being.
+Leaves sprouted. The plant flourished, and a
+faint, sweet perfume came from it.</p>
+
+<p>“Golly!” Nick breathed. “She’s growin’!”</p>
+
+<p>At a height of about five inches the development
+stopped. Mohammed dropped his hands,
+and bowed.</p>
+
+<p>“It is finished,” he said simply. “Take and
+eat this.”</p>
+
+<p>He pulled an orange off and handed it to Roy,
+who broke it open. The fruit inside was fresh
+and fragrant.</p>
+
+<p>“Can we have the tree?” he asked.</p>
+
+<p>Mohammed shook his head.</p>
+
+<p>“So sorry—that I must keep. See—”</p>
+
+<p>He waved his hands again, and the tree
+shrank. Smaller and smaller it grew, until
+finally it disappeared altogether. Then he
+seized the pot and concealed it once more beneath
+his robe.</p>
+
+<p>“Great!” Gus cried enthusiastically. “Good
+stuff, Mo! Golly, I wish I could learn that!
+Here’s my two bucks. It sure was worth it.”</p>
+
+<p>“Save it, Gus,” Roy said, and handed
+Mohammed a five dollar bill. The brown man
+pocketed it casually. “Thank you,” he said.</p>
+
+<p>“Where you goin’ from here?” Nick inquired.</p>
+
+<p>The shoulders shrugged. “Who knows? I
+shall travel with Stamboul. Once more, I thank
+you.” He bowed low, and walked toward the
+door.</p>
+
+<p>“Mind if my brother and I ride a way with
+you?” Roy asked suddenly.</p>
+
+<p>Mohammed gazed at him in surprise.</p>
+
+<p>“If you so wish,” he said finally. “We
+follow no path, Stamboul and I. You are
+welcome.”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy, at a motion from his brother, ran toward
+the hitching-rail and returned with Star
+and Flash. They mounted while the brown man
+seated himself in his wagon.</p>
+
+<p>“So long, Mo!” Nick called. “Good luck!”</p>
+
+<p>Mohammed smiled his answer and picked
+up the reins. Stamboul came to life wearily,
+and moved off. Teddy and Roy followed at a
+short distance behind.</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t say anything for a while,” Roy
+whispered. “Not till we get a way out.”</p>
+
+<p>Mohammed Ali Ben Suliman sat upright, his
+long robe trailing over the edge of the wagon.
+Stamboul walked on, and when the mystic had
+passed over a little hill, out of sight of the
+ranch, he turned.</p>
+
+<p>“Looks kind of like rain, doesn’t it?” he
+called, every trace of his accent gone.</p>
+
+<p>Teddy started. Roy smiled.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVI">
+    CHAPTER <abbr title="Sixteen">XVI</abbr>
+  </h2>
+  <h3><span class="smcap">The Start of the Round-Up</span>
+  </h3>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">“Sure</span> does,” Roy answered Mohammed Ali
+Ben Suliman’s question casually. He saw that
+Teddy was about to speak, and silenced him
+with a glance. Both boys urged their ponies
+forward until they were close to the man in the
+buckboard.</p>
+
+<p>“Mind telling us your real name?” Roy asked
+pleasantly.</p>
+
+<p>“Who, me? Not at all.” The man drew his
+fez from his head, reached into his robes, and
+filled and lit a pipe before answering. “I can’t
+take these robes off,” he apologized. “It’d
+scare the donkey if he turned around. My name
+is Benjamin Sullivan. I’m a professor of psychology
+in the university of Middleton. That,
+in case you don’t know it, which you don’t, is
+what is known as a jerk-water college.”</p>
+
+<p>“A professor of psychology!” Teddy exclaimed.
+“Then you’re not—”</p>
+
+<p>“Hardly,” and the professor grinned. “This
+is what I do every vacation. It—er—adds to
+my income—” he coughed—“and also to my
+knowledge. It’s wonderful practice for a
+psychologist. Say, would you mind telling me
+how you got on to me?” he asked Roy. “I
+knew you realized I wasn’t what I pretended
+to be when you were watching me at the table.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, there wasn’t any psychology about
+that,” Roy chuckled. “When you drew your
+robes back to get the flower pot I saw the pipe
+sticking out of your top pocket. Never heard
+of an East Indian yet who smoked a briar.”</p>
+
+<p>“You saw that, did you? I’ll have to remember
+to put it in my trousers’ pocket after
+this. Get along there, Stamboul. Then you
+rode out with me just to let me know I hadn’t
+gotten away with anything?”</p>
+
+<p>“Not altogether,” Roy answered seriously.
+“You mentioned something about our enemies.
+Was that a stab in the dark, or did you really
+know what you were talking about?”</p>
+
+<p>Professor Sullivan puffed silently for a
+moment.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, I’ll tell you,” he said finally. “Last
+night I was traveling through a small town
+about ten miles from here. Let’s see—Bed
+Rock, or something like that.”</p>
+
+<p>“Red Rock!” Teddy exclaimed eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>“Red Rock—that’s it. Just outside of the
+town I came upon a campfire. I was hungry, so
+I stopped. There were four men there. One
+was tall, and had a wart on his nose. Another
+was much shorter. The other two I didn’t get
+a very good look at. Well, I pretended not to
+understand much English, and offered to tell
+their fortunes for a meal. They accepted. I
+didn’t like the looks of any of them, and concluded
+that none of them made his living by
+hard work. So I took a chance, and told them
+that pretty soon they were going to receive
+some property or goods that they would get for
+nothing.”</p>
+
+<p>“What did they say then?” Roy demanded.</p>
+
+<p>“Nothing. But they looked enough. I followed
+this lead, and I could tell every time I
+hit it right by the way they acted. Then one
+of them whispered to another. They didn’t
+think I heard, but I did.”</p>
+
+<p>“What was it they whispered?”</p>
+
+<p>“It was this: ‘Sounds like he knows we got
+that Manley bunch sewed up cold.’”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy whistled, long and low. Roy’s face was
+alight with interest.</p>
+
+<p>“Anything else? Do you know who we are?”</p>
+
+<p>“The last question first. Yes, I do. You told
+me. No, that’s all I heard.”</p>
+
+<p>“It was plenty!” Teddy said grimly. “Golly,
+Professor, you sure had me fooled! They think
+they’ve got us sewed up, do they?” His mind,
+youthful, jumped from one topic to another.</p>
+
+<p>“If you don’t mind, Mr. Sullivan, we’ll leave
+you here,” Roy said suddenly. “Thanks very
+much for your information. And—good luck.”</p>
+
+<p>“Same to you,” Professor Sullivan returned
+graciously. “If I hear anything else I’ll try
+to let you know. I take it those men I met last
+night aren’t friends of yours?”</p>
+
+<p>“Not so you could notice it,” Teddy replied.
+“The fact is, we think they’re rustlers.”</p>
+
+<p>“Hum! I suspected as much. Well, it takes
+all sorts to make up a world, you know. Good-bye,
+boys. Giddap, Stamboul!”</p>
+
+<p>“So long!”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy and Roy turned, and started for the
+ranch. They got one last sight of the professor
+before he disappeared into a valley. He had
+replaced his fez, and the smoke from his pipe
+drifted about him like a mystic haze. The wagon
+creaked, bounced over a stone, and was out of
+sight.</p>
+
+<p>“Professor of psychology!” Teddy said
+thoughtfully. “Can you beat that!”</p>
+
+<p>“Funny cuss, isn’t he?” Roy remarked.
+“Clever as they come. Look how he spotted
+Gus. Say, I wonder who that fourth man at
+the Lefton camp was? I suppose you recognized
+his description of the Lefton boys?”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure did. Reckon Mob Jamisson was there.
+As to the fourth—Peterson, do you think?”</p>
+
+<p>“I was going to mention that. Doesn’t seem
+likely, though, after his warning us against
+rustlers. But you can’t always tell. Gee, I’ll be
+glad when round-up is over and we get the
+cattle safe in Red Rock.”</p>
+
+<p>“Same here. Shall we tell the boys who
+Mohammed was?”</p>
+
+<p>“No, let’s not. They got a lot of fun out of it,
+and why spoil it? Chances are they wouldn’t
+believe us, anyhow. He sure did look the part.
+Well, Teddy, my boy, in three days the real
+work starts. We’ll have to let our rodeo practice
+go for a while, I guess. Dad is going to
+need all our time for the round-up. Need everybody,
+if the Leftons start anything. Well, let
+’em come. I’d like to see Mob Jamisson for a
+few minutes, myself.”</p>
+
+<p>The three days that followed were busy ones.
+There was much outriding to be done, to insure
+the condition of the cattle and to make certain
+that none of them had been rustled. A close
+guard was kept, and the two boys had their
+share of this dreary work. All cattle that
+showed any signs of disease were thoroughly inspected
+and cut from the herd. There were
+many ponies to be shod, for when out on the
+round-up there was no time to stop and lead
+in a bronco that had cast a shoe and was splitting
+its hoof against the hard earth. Flash and
+Star stood quietly while this disturbing operation
+was accomplished, but some of the other
+ponies, notably Angelica, were not so well mannered.</p>
+
+<p>In the hustle of preparation the Lefton
+brothers and Mob Jamisson were almost forgotten.</p>
+
+<p>Almost, but not quite. Peterson visited the
+ranch on the evening before the round-up, and
+again remarked that he had heard of rustlers
+in the vicinity.</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t forget that forfeit,” he added meaningly.
+“Going to be able to get the six hundred
+head to Red Rock on time?”</p>
+
+<p>“Why not?” Mr. Manley countered. “If you
+and your playmates—”</p>
+
+<p>He did not finish the sentence, not wishing
+to antagonize the man. But when Peterson
+left, Mr. Manley confessed to Roy that if his
+price had not been met so quickly he would have
+told Peterson the deal was off.</p>
+
+<p>“Can’t quite afford to let this chance slip,”
+he said regretfully. “Even if, as you say,
+Peterson knows the Lefton boys an’ maybe is a
+rustler himself. I sure wish his boss would
+deal direct with me. Peterson showed me a
+letter from Chicago, with the name of a well-known
+firm on top, addressed to him, so I guess
+he’s reliable enough. But, somehow, I don’t
+take to him—always got an idea that he’s out
+to cheat us if he can. Suppose it’s only my
+imagination, though.”</p>
+
+<p>As the ranch sought its rest that night, Mr.
+Manley declared that he was satisfied with the
+preparations. The morrow would see the start
+of the round-up, and the punchers went to their
+bunks early. A round-up, while savoring of
+the romance of the West, is actually just another
+bit of distasteful work heaped on the already
+overloaded shoulders of the poor cowboy—at
+least, according to him. But it is necessary,
+and the punchers know it.</p>
+
+<p>The reason for a round-up is not, contrary to
+fiction, for the purpose of allowing the buckers
+an opportunity of showing off their riding
+ability and giving them a chance to shoot and
+yell. It is the only method there is to herd all
+the animals of a particular ranch to one spot,
+for the purpose of checking them, removing the
+cattle which do not belong where found to their
+proper ranges, and sorting out those to be sold.</p>
+
+<p>It is tiresome work, replete with danger, and
+everyone is glad when it is over.</p>
+
+<p>The corrals used by the X Bar X for the
+round-up were far distant from the ranch house.
+They had been repaired in anticipation of the
+huge herds of cattle they must soon accommodate,
+and at the first streak of dawn the
+chuck wagon under the guidance of Sing Lung,
+started its creaking journey toward the point
+of deployment. This wagon was a traveling
+kitchen, for during round-up time the boys ate
+and slept on the range.</p>
+
+<p>The extra saddle ponies were driven out, in
+charge of Pop Burns and Gus. They were to
+be held in reserve until a puncher needed a
+fresh bronco, for the work was of such a laborious
+nature that frequent changes of mounts
+were necessary. Every horse, except the ones
+to be ridden by the punchers, was sent after
+the chuck wagon.</p>
+
+<p>With the home corral empty, the ranch took
+on a deserted appearance. And at six o’clock
+Teddy, Roy, Mr. Manley and the punchers
+started for the range.</p>
+
+<p>The round-up was under way.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVII">
+    CHAPTER <abbr title="Seventeen">XVII</abbr>
+  </h2>
+  <h3><span class="smcap">Driving In</span>
+  </h3>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Straight</span> toward the rising sun the herders
+rode. The corral, within which the cattle were
+to be driven, was about seven miles out, and
+they were to go there and get their instructions
+from Mr. Manley.</p>
+
+<p>There were eight riders in the group, led by
+Teddy, Roy and their father. The others were
+trailing along behind. In the extreme rear rode
+Nick Looker and Jules Kolto.</p>
+
+<p>“Peach of a day,” Teddy remarked.
+“Thought sure we’d have rain—always does
+pour when you don’t want it to.”</p>
+
+<p>“Teddy, you and Roy are going to be round-up
+bosses,” Mr. Manley stated. “I reckon you
+knew that, anyway. Roy, you’d better put a
+good tally-man on the job. I want to know just
+how many, if any, we’re shy since the spring.”</p>
+
+<p>“Right, Dad. Now about the six hundred
+we’re bringing to Red Rock! Want them
+herded into the corral first?”</p>
+
+<p>“No, I reckon not. Only waste time that-a-way.
+There’s a bunch of dogies far down on the
+southwest corner—or they were the last I
+heard—that I’m countin’ on for that herd. Best
+and fattest of the lot. How many men do you
+want with you?”</p>
+
+<p>“You mean to get that bunch together and
+drive ’em to Red Rock?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yep.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, what do you think, Teddy? Suppose
+we take Nick, Gus and Pop. Or do you want
+them to—”</p>
+
+<p>“Nope—you can have ’em. These boys back
+there all know their business.” He motioned
+with his head to those following. “But we
+won’t start the drive until to-morrow. I want
+to get the rest together—as many as I can—first.”</p>
+
+<p>They rode on quietly for some little while,
+each man busy with his own thoughts. The day
+was perfect—bright, with the tang of coming
+winter in the air. Everything seemed to be going
+perfectly—too perfectly, Roy thought, to
+last. There came vividly to him the memory of
+Professor Sullivan and of what the professor
+had heard the Leftons say: “—got ’em sewed up
+cold.” For all the beauty of the tall, imposing
+mountains surrounding them and the deep blue
+sky overhead, Roy found it hard to shake off a
+feeling of uneasiness. It appeared to him like
+the calm before a storm.</p>
+
+<p>He did not confide his fears to his father, however,
+for he realized that they were based on
+mere suspicion.</p>
+
+<p>“Trouble with me is, I think too much,” he
+said grimly to himself. “Chances are the Leftons
+and Mob Jamisson aren’t within miles
+of this place. Keeping out of sight of the
+sheriff, most likely. But if they wanted to,
+they sure could cause us plenty of trouble
+now.”</p>
+
+<p>This was no more than the truth. Anything
+can happen in round-up time, and it does not
+take much to cause it to happen.</p>
+
+<p>“Have to forget that stuff,” Roy thought, and
+chuckled. Teddy looked over at him.</p>
+
+<p>“Joke?” he asked.</p>
+
+<p>“No—just ideas. Hope Sing Lung has got
+some grub rustled for us when we get there.
+I’m hungry.”</p>
+
+<p>“What, again? Better save it till dinner.
+It’s a long time between meals out here. Well,
+a mile more, and we’ll arrive.”</p>
+
+<p>“Um, arrive. That’s a good word, too.
+Much more elegant than saying we’ll be there.”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy bowed mockingly, though it failed to
+impress Roy because Flash stepped into a
+badger hole at the moment and interrupted the
+gesture.</p>
+
+<p>“Nell likes big words, you know,” he said
+loftily, when he had straightened out the pony.
+“You should practice up a bit.”</p>
+
+<p>“Counting on Curley coming to the rodeo?”
+Roy asked innocently.</p>
+
+<p>“What for—to see me fall off? Hope not.”</p>
+
+<p>“Yes-s-s-s, you hope not! Hear that, Dad?
+He doesn’t want Curley to see him in the
+rodeo!”</p>
+
+<p>“That so, Son?” Mr. Manley said, grinning.
+“You’ve got to have someone to hand the first
+prize to. Might as well be Ethel.”</p>
+
+<p>“That doesn’t worry me,” Teddy laughed.
+“All the first prizes I get I’ll carry home in a
+handkerchief.”</p>
+
+<p>They now came in sight of the corral, or
+rather the corral they were to use as a base.
+The chuck wagon was already there, with smoke
+pouring out of the stack.</p>
+
+<p>“We eat, boys!” Mr. Manley called to those
+following. The breakfast at the ranch house
+had been a sketchy affair, and he felt, wisely,
+that a good meal would do more than anything
+else to urge the punchers on to their labors.</p>
+
+<p>As the riders spurred their horses forward,
+Sing Lung appeared at the door of the chuck
+wagon.</p>
+
+<p>“Come gettee!” he yelled.</p>
+
+<p>“An’ we will, brother—we will!” Nat Raymond
+shouted.</p>
+
+<p>The men dismounted, and, picketing their
+horses, crowded around the wagon. They realized
+that this was to be their last meal for a
+good many hours, and they were going to make
+the most of it.</p>
+
+<p>“What is it, Sing—stew?”</p>
+
+<p>“Bet it’s bean soup!”</p>
+
+<p>“Naw, he’s got strawberry short-cake for us!
+See the strawberries?”</p>
+
+<p>“They ain’t strawberries—that’s his checkered
+shirt, stupid!”</p>
+
+<p>When the meal was dished out, it proved to
+be some concoction of veal and bread dressing.
+At least it was popular, and many of the riders
+clamored for “more!”</p>
+
+<p>This second breakfast was concluded, and the
+men gathered about Mr. Manley for instructions.
+It was now eight o’clock, with the sun
+fully up. A fresh breeze blew from the east,
+causing the ponies to sniff loudly and joyfully.
+They, too, were impatient to begin.</p>
+
+<p>The corral they were to use as the base of
+operations was about an eighth of a mile from
+the chuck wagon. This corral was connected
+to several smaller ones by a system of gates, so
+that the main herd could be driven in and then
+separated and sorted into their respective enclosures.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, boys, here’s the program,” Mr. Manley
+said. “You can all hear me, can’t you?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yep!”</p>
+
+<p>“Go ahead, boss!”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ve got a deal on for six hundred head of
+cattle. Suppose you all know that. It’s important
+that these cattle be up to expectations,
+and also that they get to Red Rock on time—for
+certain reasons.”</p>
+
+<p>He paused, and glanced around him. The
+punchers were listening intently.</p>
+
+<p>“We’ve had a bit of trouble with two or three
+waddies who haven’t any love for this outfit,”
+he continued slowly. “I’m not mentioning any
+names. You can guess them, I reckon. And if
+they aim to make trouble, we’ll have to give ’em
+as good as they send. Get me?”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure thing, boss!”</p>
+
+<p>“All right I’m just tellin’ you to watch your
+step. Now I guess that’s settled.” He drew a
+deep breath. “Teddy and Roy here are the
+round-up bosses. If you want instructions an’
+I’m not around, you go to them. One man has
+got to stay near this here wagon, to watch the
+extra horses. That’ll be you, Joe.” He nodded
+to a small man who was leaning against the
+wheel.</p>
+
+<p>“Right, boss! I get’cha.”</p>
+
+<p>“The rest of us will start on the herd in the
+northern corner of the range. We’ll ride out
+from here, and circle every cow we see toward
+this corral. The bunch that goes to Red Rock is
+in the southwest part, an’ we won’t hit them
+to-day. Everything understood?”</p>
+
+<p>“O.K!”</p>
+
+<p>“Then let’s go. Joe, you stick around here.
+’Bout two o’clock remind Sing Lung that grub
+will be appreciated. Come on, you buckers!”</p>
+
+<p>There was a rush for horses. Each man
+vaulted into his saddle and swung his steed
+about. Hats were raised high into the air and
+brought down sharply on the ponies’ flanks.
+Spurs were brought into play.</p>
+
+<p>“Let’s go-o-o-o-o!”</p>
+
+<p>“Yip-yip-yipe-e-e-e-e!”</p>
+
+<p>Like children on a holiday, they started. The
+harder a piece of work to be done the more
+ceremonious is the beginning. And a round-up
+occurs only twice a year.</p>
+
+<p>Out across the range they rode, Mr. Manley
+leading, Teddy and Roy following close behind.
+After the first burst of speed they quieted down,
+for the energies of the ponies had to be conserved.</p>
+
+<p>Mile after mile they traveled. By ten-thirty
+they reached the spot they were to begin circling
+from—a small knoll at the extreme edge
+of the Manley range. On their way they had
+passed many herds of cattle, some numbering
+no more than fifty, some containing two hundred
+head. All these had to be gathered together
+and driven into the base corral.</p>
+
+<p>At a signal from Mr. Manley, the men separated,
+forming themselves in a long skirmish
+line. This line was converged at each end, to
+make a semicircle. So widely apart were the
+riders that they stretched over nearly two miles
+of territory.</p>
+
+<p>Teddy was on one end, Roy on the other, and
+their father was the center man. Slowly they
+started, each man keeping his distance, none
+getting ahead of the others. Everything that
+ran on four legs was to be driven in by the
+advancing line.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">
+    CHAPTER <abbr title="Eighteen">XVIII</abbr>
+  </h2>
+  <h3><span class="smcap">Teddy Gets His Orders</span>
+  </h3>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">As</span> the men rode forward, a small herd, some
+seventy-five or a hundred head, which was grazing
+quietly in a shallow valley, looked up inquisitively.
+The horsemen did not quicken their
+pace, but proceeded calmly toward the cows.</p>
+
+<p>“Mostly yearlings,” Roy called to Nick, who
+was next to him in line. “Yearling” is the term
+used by the cowboy to denote an animal two
+or three years old, and intended for food rather
+than for breeding.</p>
+
+<p>Now the advancing line came to the cows. A
+few men let out their “yip-yip-yip-eee!” and the
+herd, aroused, quitted their grazing ground and
+trotted forward, in the same direction, of course,
+as the men were headed. These were the first
+of the round-up, and formed the base of what
+was later to become a huge parade of animals.</p>
+
+<p>These ranges were all fenced in, and hence
+the round-up was not so difficult as it would
+have been if the cattle had to be driven in from
+open prairie. Yet the fenced territory was so
+large that for many purposes it was still unprotected
+range. Perhaps there was fifty or
+seventy-five miles of fence surrounding the
+Manley lands. Necessarily there were many
+breaks in this long stretch, through which animals
+from other ranges might stray, as well as
+antelopes and deer. These mixed with the
+stock and had to be weeded out, and a round-up
+was the weeding machine.</p>
+
+<p>The riders walked their horses onward, keeping
+a constant pace, and the cattle finally adjusted
+themselves to this speed and went forward
+resignedly. On the far end of the line,
+where Teddy rode, another herd was picked
+up. These, seeing their brethren in the distance,
+went to meet them, and the two herds
+were merged into one, near the center of the
+line.</p>
+
+<p>Now Mr. Manley left his place, motioning
+to those on each side of him to close up and fill
+the gap. He circled around until he came
+out in front of the walking cattle. From now
+on the riders were to take their pace from
+him.</p>
+
+<p>Everything was done quietly and in orderly
+fashion. The men were silent for the most part,
+keeping their ponies to a steady walk and watching
+for a break in the bunch of cows. It came
+when they encountered the third herd.</p>
+
+<p>Teddy, on one end, and Roy, on the other,
+had moved up until they were riding opposite
+the two sides of the herd. Suddenly Teddy saw
+a beast leave his companions and cut out diagonally
+across his line of march. He waited, rather
+hoping the steer would depart quietly, and willing
+to let him go rather than create a panic
+by forcing him back. But another beef followed,
+and another, until twenty-five or thirty
+were running wild.</p>
+
+<p>The time had come for action. Unless they
+were brought quickly back, the whole herd might
+break, and the round-up would have to be
+started anew. Teddy yelled to Gus.</p>
+
+<p>“Circle ’em in! Come up—come up!”</p>
+
+<p>He dashed forward, Gus behind him. They
+swept about on the outside of the running cattle.</p>
+
+<p>“Get in there, you crazy loons!” Teddy
+shouted. “Back you go! Take ’em back,
+Flash!”</p>
+
+<p>At the sight of two forms flanking them in
+whirlwinds of dust, the cattle hesitated,
+stopped, and gave ponderous thought to the situation.
+Why were they breaking out of line? It
+was much easier to rejoin their plodding mates.
+And then, all thought of flight disappearing,
+they turned, pawed the earth for a moment, and
+trotted back into the herd. Teddy breathed a
+sigh of relief.</p>
+
+<p>“Had plenty luck then, Gus!”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll say! Thought we had a job on our
+hands. Those fool cattle were achin’ to start
+somethin’. We cured ’em, though. Whew!
+Some hot!”</p>
+
+<p>Wiping his face with his sleeve, he pulled his
+neckerchief up until it covered his mouth and
+nose, thus to protect him from the heavy dust.
+Teddy also had his face thus covered, as did
+the other riders. This is the true reason for
+the cowboy’s red bandanna, worn, except on
+occasions like this, loosely about his neck.</p>
+
+<p>Once more the line moved forward. Mr.
+Manley, from his position in front, had seen the
+work of Teddy and Gus, and nodded approvingly
+to himself.</p>
+
+<p>“Good boy,” he muttered. “Did that like
+an expert. Saved a lot of trouble then.”</p>
+
+<p>The herd had increased with astonishing
+rapidity. As they went along all grazing cattle
+would be gathered in the net. Three days before
+Mr. Manley had received word that one
+herd, numbering some six or seven hundred
+head, had wandered so far afield as to be out of
+reach of the line of riders. This was a piece of
+unexpected good fortune, for it meant that these
+could be left there until ready to be driven to
+Red Rock and delivered to Peterson. All of
+them, or nearly all, were steers in the technical
+meaning of the term, indicating that they were
+ready to be sold for meat. Nick had reported
+that they were fat and healthy; indeed, the pick
+of the lot.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Manley, as he rode along, felt a glow of
+satisfaction.</p>
+
+<p>“These behind me will be in the corral by
+night,” he said to himself. “Then to-morrow
+Teddy and Roy can take the six hundred over
+in the southwest part to Red Rock, and we’ll be
+all set. Reckon I did a lot of worrying for
+nothing. Those Lefton boys probably gave up
+the ship. An’ Mob Jamisson ought to be out
+of the country by now.” As he rode he whistled
+a tune newly come to the X Bar X via a
+phonograph record: “This is my lucky day.”</p>
+
+<p>“It is, too,” he muttered. “Reckon I’m
+pretty fortunate in having two sons like Teddy
+an’ Roy. Pretty good ole world, after all!”</p>
+
+<p>Nearer and nearer the corral came the driven
+cattle. The sun was directly overhead, beaming
+cruelly, causing the sweat to pour down the
+faces of the riders. Beneath their protecting
+neckerchiefs Teddy and Roy felt the perspiration
+streaking in rivulets down their cheeks.
+They were hot, dusty, and tired. But their job
+was still before them, and they went on without
+a murmur.</p>
+
+<p>Occasionally an animal would break, causing
+confusion and necessitating quick work. But
+as the corral came into view, they had held
+most of the herd intact.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Manley glanced behind him. The cattle
+were lowing nervously, impatient at the slow,
+steady pace they had been forced to adopt for
+so long a time. Another hour of this and open
+mutiny would take place within their ranks.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Manley motioned to Pop Burns, who was
+nearest, to come closer. The veteran ranger
+left his place in line and rode slowly around
+the herd and approached his boss. Wisely he
+waited until he was within speaking distance
+before asking any questions. At a moment like
+this any unusual sound might cause a stampede.</p>
+
+<p>“Want me, boss?” he inquired quietly.</p>
+
+<p>“Yep. Ride back and tell Teddy he’s to take
+this bunch in.”</p>
+
+<p>“Take ’em in, hey!” The puncher whistled.
+“That’s a right dangerous job. But I reckon
+he can do it. All right, boss.”</p>
+
+<p>He rode off. Fifteen minutes later Teddy
+reached his father, it having taken that long
+to make the circuit of the herd.</p>
+
+<p>“All set, Teddy?”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure thing, Dad.” The boy shifted in his
+saddle, but smiled gamely. “Guess Flash will
+stand the strain. I never brought ’em in before,
+but there’s nothing like starting. Want
+me to take the lead now?”</p>
+
+<p>“Uh-huh. I’ll ride the flank you had. Now
+listen. Keep ’em down for half an hour more,
+if you can. Then go into a trot. Soon as you
+get ’em moving well—let ’em ride. Get me?”</p>
+
+<p>“I get you, Dad. Half an hour ought to
+bring us pretty near. Well, so long. See you
+later.”</p>
+
+<p>“So long, Teddy.”</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Manley turned and rode away. Never
+once did he glance back. But as he took
+Teddy’s place in line his heart was thumping
+madly.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIX">
+    CHAPTER <abbr title="Nineteen">XIX</abbr>
+  </h2>
+  <h3><span class="smcap">Into the Corral</span>
+  </h3>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Teddy</span>, himself, realized the post of danger
+that he held. Behind him came some three
+thousand cattle—some horned and all hoofed
+with bone as sharp as steel. He, alone, was to
+guide that thunderous herd into the corral, between
+the wing-like gates. Half an hour more
+he had—then the test would come. The boy
+leaned low in his saddle and patted his pony’s
+side.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s up to us, Flash,” he said softly. “But
+I’m glad dad gave me the job. It’ll show what
+I’m good for, at least. If I fail—I sha’n’t be
+here to know it.”</p>
+
+<p>He rode onward, never increasing his pace.
+All thought of Jamisson, of the Lefton brothers,
+of the fear of rustlers, had left his mind.
+He concentrated on one thing—getting these
+cattle into the corral.</p>
+
+<p>There were no more herds to be gathered
+in. Before him lay open country. Every
+animal on the range, except, of course, that one
+bunch of six hundred which had been purposely
+avoided, was in that crowd of plodding beasts
+behind him. If a break came now it would mean
+disaster.</p>
+
+<p>He heard a grunt of impatience from the
+leading cows and turned quickly. He saw heads
+being lowered and raised nervously. His eyes
+swept over a tossing sea of horns. Ten minutes
+more before the rush would come. Would they
+hold?</p>
+
+<p>Flash seemed to sense the tensity of his
+rider, and whinnied softly.</p>
+
+<p>“Steady, boy,” Teddy murmured. “Not
+yet. Save all you’ve got. We’ll need it
+later.”</p>
+
+<p>A mile or so in front of him loomed the corral.
+Was it time yet? Could Flash carry him to
+safety if he started now?</p>
+
+<p>He glanced back again. The cattle were
+closer to him, and he had not lagged. That
+meant that they were moving faster. Their
+grunts and lowings became more pronounced.
+A small section on the left broke into a run,
+goaded into activity by the long, slow march.
+Those in the center, directly behind Teddy,
+swerved to the right.</p>
+
+<p>“Here it comes!” thought the boy, breathing
+jerkily. “Steady, Flash! Just a little faster—jus-s-s-st
+a little.”</p>
+
+<p>The pony went into the trot. The cattle saw
+him pulling away from them, and unconsciously
+increased their speed. The circle of riders in
+the rear moved forward.</p>
+
+<p>Now the corral was but three-quarters
+of a mile away. Faster and faster came the
+cattle. At the instant, Teddy gave Flash his
+head.</p>
+
+<p>The horse leaped ahead. There was a sound
+of thunder, and the earth shook as the herd followed
+madly after the lone rider. A cloud of
+dust arose, blotting out the sun. Through the
+haze the corral showed faintly.</p>
+
+<p>“All you’ve got, baby!” Teddy panted.
+“Take ’em in!”</p>
+
+<p>The pony flashed over the ground like a brown
+streak. Close on his heels came the cattle, running
+with all their power, pressed on by those
+behind. The horse was doing his best, and still
+he increased the distance between him and the
+onrushing horns not a trifle. A steer on the
+rampage shows tremendous speed.</p>
+
+<p>Straight for the winged fences Teddy directed
+the pony. For a moment they were hidden
+from view, so thick was the dust, and when they
+came into sight again the boy was almost within
+them. And still he kept on.</p>
+
+<p>When it seemed as though he must surely be
+swept into the corral by the beasts behind him
+and cut to ribbons under their hoofs, he whirled
+the bronco. Flash answered the call. He shot
+to the left, his flank nearly grazed by the horns
+of the leaders, leaped frantically—and was
+clear. Teddy’s part was over.</p>
+
+<p>The rushing herd, unable to stop or to
+change direction, flowed through the gates into
+the corral. Those in front were smashed solidly
+against the fence at the extreme end. The
+others rushed forward, their momentum carrying
+them where they had no desire to go. Within
+four minutes it was finished—the cattle were
+safely within the corral, every last one of them.
+Sing Lung and Joe, who were waiting, rushed
+forward and dropped the bars. Teddy had not
+failed.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Manley was the first to reach the boy, and
+Roy was the second.</p>
+
+<p>“Son, you’re there! Congratulations! Boy,
+you sure turned that trick! Shake!”</p>
+
+<p>Father and son clasped hands in a firm grip.</p>
+
+<p>“Thanks, Dad,” Teddy answered, grinning.
+“It was as much Flash as it was me. He practically
+did the whole thing.”</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t let him get away with that!” Roy
+shouted. “Teddy, congrats! That was a big
+job. And you did it, too.”</p>
+
+<p>“You mean ‘I done well’,” Teddy laughed.
+“Baby, I’m sort of shot! Let’s get off these
+ponies.”</p>
+
+<p>The men, dismounting, crowded about Teddy,
+shaking his hand, clapping him on the back,
+none too gently. And this praise was well
+deserved. It was the first time the boy had
+been “general” of a round-up, and everything
+had depended on his skill in starting the rush
+at precisely the right moment and not swinging
+out of the way a second too soon. Besides this,
+he had to keep the pace down at the most dangerous
+time, half an hour before he “broke”
+the cattle. In these few minutes the success of
+a round-up is decided. It means untold labor
+if the leader bungles his job—and death for the
+bungler under the feet of the cattle.</p>
+
+<p>The excitement wore off gradually, and the
+men sat down to their meal. The rest of the
+days on the round-up were to be spent on unromantic
+work—cutting out undesirable cattle,
+branding, “tailing” and so forth. Then the
+horses held in reserve would be needed, for this
+work is very wearing on the ponies. A careless
+puncher can easily ride a horse to death.</p>
+
+<p>During the meal talk flowed freely. The men
+were relieved of a great responsibility, and they
+reacted accordingly.</p>
+
+<p>“Teddy, there’s one thing I’m sorry for,”
+Roy declared, with a wink at his father.</p>
+
+<p>“Yea? Well, go ahead. I suppose it’s some
+sort of wise crack.”</p>
+
+<p>“Wise crack? Oh, no, nothing like that. I
+was thinking—”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, spill it! I’m waiting.”</p>
+
+<p>“Golly, Teddy, your face looks as though it
+had been painted with dirt! All in streaks.”</p>
+
+<p>“What of it? What were you going to say?”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, yes. I was going to tell you something,
+wasn’t I? Well it was this.”</p>
+
+<p>He hesitated, until everyone was listening.
+Then he arose and bowed.</p>
+
+<p>“Teddy, my boy, if Curly could only see you
+now!”</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XX">
+    CHAPTER <abbr title="Twenty">XX</abbr>
+  </h2>
+  <h3><span class="smcap">The Strange Fire</span>
+  </h3>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">The</span> ground in the shady side of the chuck
+wagon resembled a small section of a battlefield
+where carnage had been complete. Tired
+bodies were sprawled in every imaginable attitude,
+some reclining with their heads on their
+hard saddles, imagining themselves comfortable,
+some with feet raised above the rest of
+their bodies by the simple method of bracing
+them against the wagon wheels, others lying
+face downward, arms outstretched. They had
+earned their ease, and Mr. Manley declared a
+vacation for the remainder of the day.</p>
+
+<p>The sun touched the horizon before anyone
+stirred. Then Roy sat up, stretched, and poked
+Teddy with his foot. The boy jumped as
+though he had been shot.</p>
+
+<p>“Only me, sweetheart,” Roy said, grinning.</p>
+
+<p>“Huh? Golly, you scared me! I was dreaming
+of that bunch of beeves and I thought I was
+down under ’em. What time is it?”</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t know. Feels like time to eat. I—”</p>
+
+<p>“Hey, what’s all the noise about?” Nick,
+rubbing his eyes sleepily, looked about him.
+“Convention, or something?”</p>
+
+<p>“Nope. Just one of Roy’s cute little jokes.
+He had an idea he’d slept enough, so he kicked
+me. Needed company, I guess.”</p>
+
+<p>One by one the others came to life, yawning,
+stretching the kinks out of their muscles.</p>
+
+<p>“Hey, Sing, when do we eat?”</p>
+
+<p>“What’s on the men-oo for supper?”</p>
+
+<p>“Get offa my foot, you ape! By golly, you
+been sleepin’ right on my laig! An’ now, by
+jinks, that’s asleep! If I don’t warm you up for
+that—”</p>
+
+<p>Gus, letting out frequent yelps, hopped about,
+trying to restore the circulation in the benumbed
+member. Pop, who was the cause of
+this commotion, grinned happily.</p>
+
+<p>“Don’t he dance well? Funny he only uses
+one leg. Come on, open up, Gus. Show yore
+stuff. One, two, three, four! Let’s go! I wonder
+if my baby does the Charleston—Charleston—”</p>
+
+<p>“Dry up, you old leather-backed coyote!
+Maybe you’d dance too if yore laig was sound
+asleep. Uh! There she is.” He sat down suddenly,
+and glared about him. “Next time you
+want a pillow, you use somethin’ else besides
+my laig.”</p>
+
+<p>Mr. Manley was watching the scene with an
+amused smile. Finally he said:</p>
+
+<p>“Nick, suppose you jump that chuck wagon
+an’ find out if Sing Lung is asleep too. If he is
+we’ll have to get our own chow, I reckon.”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll wake him!” Nick declared, and pulled
+open the wagon door. “Hey, you Chink, come
+to! Time to get up!”</p>
+
+<p>“Gettee out heah! Come in my klitchen, so!
+Out qlick! I beat you head with this!” Sing,
+a skillet in one hand, peered out ferociously.</p>
+
+<p>“He’s awake!” Jules Kolto shouted. “Now
+we eat for sure. But I wouldn’t like to take
+Nick’s share. He’ll probably get boiled mice.”</p>
+
+<p>“An’ I’ll eat ’em too,” Nick said forcibly.
+“I’m hungry enough to go anything. Come on,
+Sing, show some speed.”</p>
+
+<p>The cook grinned and disappeared. Half an
+hour later the “come an’ get it” signal was
+sounded, and the men sat down to their third
+meal on the range, to which they did full justice.</p>
+
+<p>Evening had settled upon the land when the
+punchers rested from the joyous labor of conveying
+food from pan to mouth. Satiated, they
+lit cigarettes or pipes and wandered about,
+talking, or sat and played cards in the waning
+light. Teddy and Roy stood near the corral
+talking to their father and watching the milling
+beasts within.</p>
+
+<p>“Plenty of work to-morrow,” said Mr. Manley.
+“I can spot some cows in there now that
+aren’t ours. Look—there’s a deer! See him?”
+He pointed, and the boys saw a brown form
+flash past. The deer had been caught in the
+rush of animals and had been driven into the
+corral with the steers.</p>
+
+<p>“Probably be more than one,” Roy commented.
+“Say, Teddy, how tired are you?”</p>
+
+<p>“Not very. Why?”</p>
+
+<p>“Like to take a little ride?”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure. Where to?”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, over toward the southwest part of the
+range.”</p>
+
+<p>“Uh-huh. All right, Dad?”</p>
+
+<p>“Yep. Go to it. Don’t stay too long, though.
+You’ve got a long ride to-morrow to Red Rock.”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy nodded, and went to saddle Flash.
+The night was cloudless, and when the two
+brothers started the full moon gave them ample
+light to see by. They rode slowly, enjoying the
+tang of the fall air and the beauty of the scene.
+Somehow, the prairie seemed soft, more
+friendly than it had under the hot sun.</p>
+
+<p>“Any special reason for this little jaunt,
+Roy?” Teddy asked, after some minutes.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, there might be, and then, again, there
+mightn’t. I’d like to get a look at that herd
+we’ve got to take Peterson. Maybe it’s
+shifted.”</p>
+
+<p>“Perhaps. Good idea to find out, anyhow.
+Wonder if we’ll ever see the Lefton boys
+again?”</p>
+
+<p>“Hope not. I’ve had my fill of them. They’re
+with Mob Jamisson, some place, I suppose.
+Thought they had us sewed up tight, did they?
+They’ve got another think coming.”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy looked thoughtfully at his brother.</p>
+
+<p>“So you think they’ve given up whatever
+plans they had?”</p>
+
+<p>“I don’t think anything. I decided long ago
+that I did too much of that. We’ll take things
+as they come. All we’ve got to do now is to
+get that herd to Red Rock, and we’ll be finished.
+Maybe what that professor heard didn’t apply
+to our outfit at all.”</p>
+
+<p>“You mean about having us sewed up?”</p>
+
+<p>“Uh-huh. But he didn’t say that. He said
+he heard our name mentioned, and then came
+the rest of it. At least, as I remember, that’s
+what he told us. It’s easy to think they—I mean
+the Leftons and Mob Jamisson—were talking
+about us, then changed the subject and that
+stuff about sewing up tight—or cold, or whatever
+it was—had nothing to do with us at
+all.”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure, you can figure that way if you want
+to. Just as logical. Say, look down that way.
+Do you see a light?”</p>
+
+<p>Roy pulled rein, and stared.</p>
+
+<p>“Some sort of a blaze. Let’s investigate.
+May be the beginnings of a fire. Golly, that
+would be hard luck! Come on, let’s get a wiggle
+on. If it is a fire we want to let the rest of ’em
+know.”</p>
+
+<p>The boys leaped their ponies into a run, and
+as they rode forward they saw that a red glow
+showed in the distance.</p>
+
+<p>“Kind of small for a prairie fire,” Teddy
+called. “And it doesn’t seem to get any
+larger.”</p>
+
+<p>“Let’s slow down,” Roy said suddenly.
+“That’s a fire, all right. But it was made to
+cook stuff over, not to burn weeds.”</p>
+
+<p>“You mean a campfire?”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure do.”</p>
+
+<p>“On our range, too! Now who do you suppose—”</p>
+
+<p>“Soon find out. Take it easy.”</p>
+
+<p>They went quietly forward, and then
+Teddy saw that his brother had been right.
+It was a campfire. They could see forms
+moving about, crossing between them and the
+flame.</p>
+
+<p>“Shall we have a look?” Teddy asked in a
+low voice.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll tell a maverick we will! Let’s leave
+the ponies here and walk. Guess we’ll have
+to put our detective badges on again.”
+But there was no humor in Roy’s voice
+as he said it. A strange campfire on a
+range during round-up time is no joking
+matter.</p>
+
+<p>They dismounted and picketed Flash and
+Star to a near-by bush. Then they proceeded
+on foot.</p>
+
+<p>“Got a fine nerve, whoever it is,” Roy remarked.
+“Probably thought we’d all be too
+tired to do much riding to-night.”</p>
+
+<p>They could hear the sound of voices now,
+making no attempt at concealment, loud in their
+denunciations of one of their members. As yet
+the boys could distinguish no individuals, but
+they saw that there were quite a crowd of men
+about the fire.</p>
+
+<p>“Six, anyway,” Teddy said softly. “Yep,
+just six. I can count ’em. Listen!”</p>
+
+<p>One of the men was speaking.</p>
+
+<p>“I blame you, Jamisson, for this whole business.
+Ever since you’ve been with us you’ve
+caused trouble. Once more—and you’re out.”</p>
+
+<p>“Is that so! Well, Peterson, I’ve heard that
+story before! An’ it’ll take more than you and
+yore gang to call me out on a deal like this after
+I’ve gone this far!”</p>
+
+<p>“Aw, for the love of Pete, let’s cut this
+fightin’ out!” murmured another voice.
+“Where’ll that get us? Go ahead with your
+story, Peterson.”</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXI">
+    CHAPTER <abbr title="Twenty-one">XXI</abbr>
+  </h2>
+  <h3><span class="smcap">The Rustlers’ Camp</span>
+  </h3>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Teddy</span> and Roy sank back into the shadows.
+Peterson! And the others were Mob Jamisson
+and the Lefton boys! There were two strangers
+with them.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, I wanted to express my opinion
+of this bird,” Peterson growled. “I’m getting
+the raw end of this deal, and I take the
+most chances, too. Suppose that Manley bunch
+finds out I’m in with you? I’d walk right into
+their hands and it ’ud mean a nice long jail
+sentence for me. The rest of you can keep out
+of sight, but I’ve got to play close to the
+ground.”</p>
+
+<p>“All right, all right! We know all that.
+Let’s have the plan now!”</p>
+
+<p>“Pipe down and I’ll tell you. Here’s the
+dope.” He lowered his voice, and the boys
+crept closer, listening eagerly. Chance had
+given them this opportunity to foil the rustlers,
+and they were going to make the most of it.
+Roy, seizing his brother’s arm in a firm grip,
+leaned forward.</p>
+
+<p>“This herd we want is about three miles from
+here, in a little valley,” Peterson went on.
+“It’s the only herd they left out of the round-up,
+for which we’re duly grateful.” And he
+chuckled meaningly. “We’ve got to work fast,
+because old man Manley will start for that herd
+first thing in the morning. Of course it won’t
+be where he expects to find it, but it won’t
+take him long to locate it, unless we follow the
+plan I’ve outlined.”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, tell us about it. Mike an’ Ginger
+haven’t heard it yet.” Jerry Lefton nodded
+toward the two strangers.</p>
+
+<p>“Here it is. From this valley to the Jarmey
+place is only a short distance. I found that
+out, and I’m not even a Westerner. We shoot
+those cattle through there soon as it gets daylight.”</p>
+
+<p>“That means no sleep to-night,” the man
+called Ginger growled.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, what of it? You’re not in this business
+for your health, you know. Now listen.
+We drive the cows to the Jarmey place. And
+right here I want to make sure of one thing.
+Jerry, how about those cars?”</p>
+
+<p>“They’re O.K. Bill and I sent ’em down
+yesterday. We found a whole train of empties
+on the siding above Eagles, and simply rode
+’em down grade to Jarmey’s. Nothin’ to it.
+Give you credit for thinkin’ of that idea, Pete.”</p>
+
+<p>“How many cars?”</p>
+
+<p>“Thirty-three. Enough?”</p>
+
+<p>“Plenty. We can get ’em all in. Well, we
+load ’em as soon as we get there. From then
+on it’s a cinch. We simply run the cars as far
+as they’ll go—to the end of the line, that’ll be,
+and then unload ’em, eight miles from Jarmey’s.”</p>
+
+<p>“There’s that eight-mile business!” Roy
+whispered. “Down grade from Jarmey’s, too!
+Snakes, we—”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy cautioned him to silence by nudging
+him. Peterson was talking again.</p>
+
+<p>“We’ll hide ’em there for a while, then drive
+’em further on. We can alter the brands anytime.
+That Manley gang won’t have a chance
+of catching us, even when they do find out their
+cows have left them without saying when they’d
+be back. You see, they’d have to go all the
+way around Shock Mountain. We go straight
+through, following the railroad. Get it?”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure do! That’s a sweet little scheme.”
+Bill Lefton waxed enthusiastic. “Haven’t got
+much to say against that, hey, Mob?”</p>
+
+<p>“Sounds all right,” Mob answered grudgingly.
+“Wait till we see what happens. I
+don’t never count my chickens before they’re
+hatched.”</p>
+
+<p>“You’ll get no hen to set by that plan,”
+Peterson laughed, pleased at Lefton’s compliment.
+
+“Well, I guess that’s all. Now we might
+as well try to get an hour’s sleep. No more—we
+can’t afford to be late. Throw a few sticks
+on that fire, will you, Bill?”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure thing.”</p>
+
+<p>Bill arose suddenly, and plunged into the
+brush.</p>
+
+<p>“Teddy! Lie low! We’re—”</p>
+
+<p>“Mob! Pete! Come here, quick! Hi, Jerry!
+Here’s—”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy drew back his fist and caught Bill
+Lefton full on the jaw. The boy turned to
+follow Roy, tripped over a vine, fought for his
+balance, and fell prone.</p>
+
+<p>The next moment he felt the wind go out of
+him, and his head hit the ground with a thud.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ve got this one! Chase the other! Come
+into the light, you!”</p>
+
+<p>There was no need to go after Roy. When
+he saw his brother had fallen, he turned and
+lashed out furiously with his fists. But the
+darkness favored the rustlers, rather than Roy,
+for the boy could not see the faces before him.
+A blow on the body was of no avail, due to the
+heavy clothing worn by the cattle thieves.</p>
+
+<p>“Sock him! Don’t shoot, you’ll hit one of
+us!”</p>
+
+<p>Mob Jamisson and Jerry Lefton jumped Roy
+at the same instant. His senses reeled as the
+butt of a gun struck him a blow on the forehead,
+knocking off his hat. He felt his arms pinned
+roughly to his sides. The brief and uneven
+fight was over.</p>
+
+<p>“Drag ’em in, an’ we’ll have a look at ’em,”
+someone said grimly. “Spies, hey? Know
+what we do with spies? We—well, for the love
+of sweet William! It’s the Manley boys!”</p>
+
+<p>“What? Let’s see. By jinks, you’re right!”
+Bill Lefton tilted Roy’s head back by pressing
+up on his chin. “Roy Manley! And his brother
+Teddy! Well, well, well! Think of that! Lost
+your knife again, my lad?”</p>
+
+<p>Roy answered nothing. He stared intently
+into the eyes of the man before him.</p>
+
+<p>“Ain’t this luck!” Mob exulted. “Now
+maybe I can finish what I started a few days
+ago. I won’t miss this time, either.” He raised
+a gun menacingly.</p>
+
+<p>“None of that, you fool! They may not be
+alone! Put that down!” Peterson seized the
+man’s arm angrily. “Want the whole country
+to know we’re here?”</p>
+
+<p>Jamisson growled something, but lowered the
+weapon.</p>
+
+<p>“Hand me a rope, Bill,” Peterson commanded.
+“We’ll truss ’em up for a while. We
+can decide later what to do with ’em.”</p>
+
+<p>“I know what I’d do,” Jamisson said shortly.
+“An’ I will yet, if I can.”</p>
+
+<p>The boys were bound and then thrown roughly
+to the ground. They lay there, dazed, with
+Peterson standing over them.</p>
+
+<p>“Roy and Teddy Manley,” he said softly.
+“And they walked right into our hands! Well,
+boys, we’ll see what sort of entertainment we
+can furnish.”</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXII">
+    CHAPTER <abbr title="Twenty-two">XXII</abbr>
+  </h2>
+  <h3><span class="smcap">Captives</span>
+  </h3>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">“You</span> know ’em?” Mike asked, pointing with
+his thumb to the two boys.</p>
+
+<p>“Know ’em? Listen, brother!” Peterson
+paused impressively. “These are the sons of
+old man Manley who owns the X Bar X. Does
+it penetrate now?”</p>
+
+<p>“It sure does! Well I’m locoed! It’s their
+cattle we’re—”</p>
+
+<p>Peterson seized the man by the shoulder and
+spun him around.</p>
+
+<p>“Quiet, you idiot!” he whispered angrily.
+“If they don’t know about it, what’s the use
+of telling them?”</p>
+
+<p>“They know, all right,” Mob Jamisson
+growled. He knelt down, and, seizing Teddy’s
+arm, pulled him to a sitting posture. “Listen,
+you! How long you been hidin’ out there?”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy stared straight at the man.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s none of your business,” he said deliberately.</p>
+
+<p>“Isn’t, hey? Talk up, now, or—” He
+clutched the boy by the throat and shook him
+savagely. “You’ll answer me, an’ sudden,
+too!”</p>
+
+<p>Roy, his head spinning from the blow he had
+received, heard Teddy gasp in agony. He
+struggled to one elbow.</p>
+
+<p>“Let him alone, you coward!” he shouted,
+tears of rage coming to his eyes. “Let him
+up—”</p>
+
+<p>Bound as he was, he crawled nearer. Oblivious
+of consequences, realizing only that his
+brother was in pain, he kicked out with both
+feet, as hard as he could. They caught Jamisson
+in the small of his back, bowling him over, and
+causing him to release his hold on Teddy’s
+throat.</p>
+
+<p>“Thanks, Roy,” the boy gasped. “Guess this
+is the finish for both of us. So long—”</p>
+
+<p>Jamisson, inarticulate in his anger, leaped
+to his feet and drew his gun.</p>
+
+<p>“Try an’ stop this one!” he yelled. “I’ll
+blow you so far—”</p>
+
+<p>Without a word Peterson stooped, picked
+up a stick, and brought it down solidly on
+Jamisson’s gun arm. The weapon fell to the
+ground.</p>
+
+<p>“When I say a thing, I mean it,” he said
+calmly. “There’ll be no gun-play. You got
+only what you deserved. What good would
+choking him do? Now you pipe down. Get
+over on the other side of the fire. I’m not going
+to have this deal spoiled by you, just because
+you can’t keep your temper. Jerry, watch him.
+If he starts anything let him have it.” He
+stopped, and Jamisson, like a beaten dog,
+walked slowly away. “That’s it. Now you pay
+attention to me, you two boys.”</p>
+
+<p>He motioned to the others to move to one
+side, so that he might have a clear view of the
+captives.</p>
+
+<p>“You know me,” he continued. “And now
+you know something else, and that is that we’re
+after some cattle of your father’s. I suppose
+you heard our plans. No use trying to pretend
+any longer. I aim to get the cattle, and that
+forfeit, too, when he can’t deliver. Figure out
+why I’m telling you this?”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy shook his head. He could not trust
+himself to reply.</p>
+
+<p>“It’s because you’ll never make use of the
+information until it’s too late. Oh, don’t get
+scared—I don’t mean any killing. We’re not
+all fools.” He glanced toward Jamisson. “But
+we’ll keep you tied up here until the whole
+thing is finished. Ginger, you’ll have to stay
+and guard ’em. Reckon you won’t mind that.
+Relieves you of a lot of work.” Ginger grinned,
+and nodded. “After two or three days we’ll
+turn you loose.”</p>
+
+<p>“You going to keep ’em here?” Bill Lefton
+asked in surprise.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, where else? What’s the matter with
+this place?”</p>
+
+<p>“It’s too near their friends, that’s what’s the
+matter with it! We’ll have to shift ’em.
+There’s a spot four miles from here in the timber
+where they won’t be found for ten years. I
+say we drag ’em over.”</p>
+
+<p>Peterson paused, and thought.</p>
+
+<p>“You’re right,” he said finally. “That
+means we’ll have to start now. Come on, break
+camp. Bill, bring up the broncs. Where are
+your ponies?” He looked intently at Roy.</p>
+
+<p>The boy thought swiftly. Would it be better
+to refuse to tell him? If Flash and Star wandered
+into camp riderless, Mr. Manley would
+know something was up and send out a searching
+party. But if they did get a chance to
+escape, they would be helpless without horses.
+Best to have the ponies brought along.</p>
+
+<p>“Near a bush, over that way,” Roy replied.</p>
+
+<p>Peterson nodded. “Round ’em up, Jerry, and
+bring ’em in. Ginger, don’t forget what I told
+you. You’re responsible for these boys.”</p>
+
+<p>His orders were obeyed promptly and without
+question, except by Jamisson, who declared he
+would not “play no val-let for no fool of an
+Easterner.” But he was wise enough to confine
+his objections to talk.</p>
+
+<p>Mounted once more on Flash and Star, with
+their hands bound firmly behind them, Teddy
+and Roy rode into the darkness, guarded by
+horsemen riding on each side of them and in
+the rear. Their way led through underbrush
+and into a forest, so deep that the light of the
+moon scarcely penetrated. For about half an
+hour they rode, then Bill Lefton, who was
+leading, called a halt.</p>
+
+<p>“This is it. Couldn’t find a better place.
+O.K.?”</p>
+
+<p>The boys saw that they had come to a small
+clearing in the bottom of a gully. Roy thought
+bitterly that Lefton’s words were true—that
+no one would find them here in ten years.</p>
+
+<p>“This’ll do,” Peterson said, with satisfaction.
+“Help ’em off, someone. I’ll mosey around
+and find a good place to tie ’em.”</p>
+
+<p>He selected a tree with a thick trunk, and the
+boys were forced to sit, one on either side of it,
+while ropes were bound around them, encircling
+the tree. The tree was thick enough to prevent
+either from reaching back and untying the
+other.</p>
+
+<p>“There, that’s over,” Peterson muttered, and
+straightened. “About time we started. Ginger,
+remember what I told you!”</p>
+
+<p>“We’re goin’ now—without no sleep?”
+Jamisson asked, his face expressing disgust.</p>
+
+<p>“We are. You’ll get plenty of sleep later.
+Look, Ginger—here’s water and food. Feed
+’em when they’re hungry and give ’em water
+when they need it. And stay right here all the
+time! Get me? Don’t move till you hear from
+us, which will probably be to-morrow some time.
+Get me?”</p>
+
+<p>“Sure thing. An’ they won’t get away. I
+got somethin’ here that’s a great little pacifier.”
+He patted his gun significantly. “So long.
+Good luck.”</p>
+
+<p>Peterson nodded in answer, and remounted.</p>
+
+<p>“Let’s go, boys. We’ve got plenty to do.
+Ginger, watch your step. See you later.”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy and Roy heard the horses crash their
+way through the brush. One by one the riders
+filed into the woods. For many minutes the
+boys could hear the sounds of their departure.
+Then, silence.</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIII">
+    CHAPTER <abbr title="Twenty-three">XXIII</abbr>
+  </h2>
+  <h3><span class="smcap">Too Late</span>
+  </h3>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">Ginger</span> walked over and looked down upon
+the captive boys. He grinned good-naturedly.</p>
+
+<p>“Well,” he said slowly, “I reckon it’s our
+day. Hope you boys are comfortable. If you
+want anything, sing out. Um. It’s fine weather
+to-night. Yep, it sure is fine weather.”</p>
+
+<p>Ginger sat down, and rolled a cigarette.</p>
+
+<p>“You boys thirsty?”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy, who was facing him, said he was. His
+throat was burning still from Jamisson’s clutch.
+Ginger held the canteen to the boy’s lips, and
+Teddy drank deep.</p>
+
+<p>“Thanks,” he said. “Could you loosen us
+just a little? My arm—”</p>
+
+<p>Ginger grinned, and shook his head.</p>
+
+<p>“That’s one thing I can’t do. Reckon you’ll
+have to sleep as best you can. Hungry?”</p>
+
+<p>“No,” Roy replied shortly.</p>
+
+<p>He felt it was useless to argue. This guard,
+while good-natured enough, could not be coerced
+into giving them their freedom. Roy realized
+that, and decided to bide his time. Perhaps
+something would turn up before morning. He
+could hear Star whinnying close by, where he
+and Flash had been picketed. Roy thought that
+if he could manage to slip his bonds and overpower
+Ginger he and Teddy might still save
+their cattle. But now was no time to try it,
+while the guard was watching them. If he would
+only fall asleep!</p>
+
+<p>But Ginger was not the sort to give in to
+weariness when he was told to watch. He sat
+quietly, puffing on his cigarette, staring at the
+captives. Time dragged interminably. The
+silence of the woods seemed oppressive, overpowering.
+Roy felt his muscles tense with an
+effort at control. Anything would be better
+than this monotony.</p>
+
+<p>“How long are you going to keep us here?”
+he asked suddenly.</p>
+
+<p>Ginger shrugged his shoulders. “Can’t say.
+Till morning, anyhow. Maybe someone will
+ride back by that time.”</p>
+
+<p>Another period of silence. Roy strained his
+ears for the slightest sound, hoping, desperately,
+that someone would come. But who?
+They had not been gone long enough for his
+father to become worried and start to searching
+for them. Even then, it was useless to
+expect them to find this hiding place. It was
+too well concealed.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly he started, nerves taut. Was not
+that a stick that broke behind him? There!
+Surely he heard a footstep!</p>
+
+<p>“Any idea of the time?” he asked loudly.
+“Suppose you haven’t got a watch. Not many
+punchers carry ’em. I remember when I first
+got one. Thought I was king of the rock. Only
+a small wrist-watch, but, believe me, I was sure
+proud of it. My dad gave it to me. Bet I have
+it yet some place. Funny how you hang on to
+those things. Like an elk’s tooth, or a rabbit’s
+foot. Sort of charm, you know. I knew a
+puncher that used to—”</p>
+
+<p>A figure stepped quickly from the shadows
+and stood over Ginger. A club was raised and
+brought down swiftly, landing on the man’s
+head with a dull thud. Without a sound, his
+body relaxed, and he sprawled on the ground,
+senseless.</p>
+
+<p>The figure bent down and felt of the rustler’s
+heart.</p>
+
+<p>“Just stunned,” he remarked, relief in his
+voice. He straightened, and Roy uttered an
+exclamation.</p>
+
+<p>“Mohammed!”</p>
+
+<p>“Professor Sullivan, if you please. I have
+discarded my robes. I find them cumbersome
+in situations of this sort. Now if you’ll just
+hold still a second—”</p>
+
+<p>He knelt and felt for the rope that held the
+two boys. Teddy craned his neck around, disbelief
+in his eyes, unable to credit their good
+fortune.</p>
+
+<p>“Professor! Boy, we’re sure glad to see you!
+How in thunder—”</p>
+
+<p>“That shall be later. It is imperative now
+that you regain your freedom as soon as possible.”
+He smiled. “Using the trade by which
+I make my livelihood—which, by the way, is
+guess-work—I should say that those who bound
+you and left this man as a guard are now on an
+errand which you would like to intercept as
+soon as possible.”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll tell a maverick we would! They’re
+rustlers after our cattle! Here, get this knot
+untied. That’s the stuff. Ah!” Roy stretched,
+feeling the blood flowing through his cramped
+veins. Then he leaped to his feet, as did Teddy.
+“We can’t thank you now, professor, because
+we’re in an awful hurry. You know where our
+ranch is. Come over there, and we’ll do more
+than thank you! Come on, Teddy, let’s get the
+broncs! Thank goodness, they brought ’em
+along.”</p>
+
+<p>The two boys dashed into the brush, to appear
+in a moment astride their horses.</p>
+
+<p>“We got to go!” Teddy shouted. “Can you
+get back all right? Have you got your wagon?”</p>
+
+<p>“Not the wagon. That is broken. But Stamboul
+waits patiently for me. I shall ride him.”</p>
+
+<p>“Will you look after him?” Roy asked, pointing
+to the unconscious man. “He’s all right—I
+wouldn’t like to see him badly hurt. And we
+may want to question him later.”</p>
+
+<p>“I will. Good luck to you!”</p>
+
+<p>“Thanks! Let’s go, Teddy! Straight out!”</p>
+
+<p>The horses leaped forward. Through the
+woods they dashed, careless of low hanging
+branches, intent only on reaching their cattle in
+time. The boys gave their broncos their heads,
+trusting to their surefootedness to bring them
+through safely.</p>
+
+<p>Their trust was not misplaced. Flash and
+Star, as though they realized that their masters
+depended on them, ran swiftly, dodging in and
+out of the brush, until they reached the open
+prairie. Roy gave a shout of exultation.</p>
+
+<p>“Now we’re all set, Teddy! Baby, if we’re
+only on time! We’ve got a run of about five
+miles. Lucky there’s a moon—we can see where
+we’re going. Step on it, boy!”</p>
+
+<p>For answer Teddy raised his reins, the signal
+for every Western pony to “spread himself.”
+Flash jumped ahead. Roy, not a moment behind,
+urged Star to his best speed. This was no
+time for considering either man or beast. Both
+boys knew the stuff of which their horses were
+made. They would last—they would have to
+last!</p>
+
+<p>They headed for the southwest corner of the
+range. Their one chance was to get there before
+the rustlers, and then, when they came, to
+bluff them off. Since Peterson and his gang
+could not expect to see them, thinking them
+still captives, this was not a vain hope. Unarmed
+as they were, if they could force the
+rustlers to believe that they had been released
+by their friends, who were with them, they
+might yet save their cattle.</p>
+
+<p>The ponies were panting now, but still they
+kept up their tremendous speed. The ground
+seemed to fly from beneath their feet. Nearer
+and nearer they came to the spot where the cows
+were herded. It could not be more than two
+miles more. Neither boy spoke, concentrating
+his energies for the race against time.</p>
+
+<p>In the distance Shock Mountain arose, huge
+and weird in the moonlight. Not far now!
+They could almost see the black blot of the herd
+of steers as they stood in the lee of the mountain.
+Teddy craned his neck forward, peering
+ahead intently. Another half mile, and they
+would be there. The valley wherein the cattle
+were grazing came into view.</p>
+
+<p>“Guess we’ll make it!” Roy shouted.
+“Here’s where Peterson said they were! Can
+you see ’em? Can you—”</p>
+
+<p>Then they topped a rise, and the whole landscape
+spread out before them, every object
+plainly visible. The moon-lit scene was as light
+as day.</p>
+
+<p>Teddy’s eyes swept over the valley. Were
+they on time?</p>
+
+<p>He gave a groan and drooped over his saddle.
+Their race had been useless. There was not a
+sign of the six hundred head! The rustlers had
+beaten them!</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXIV">
+    CHAPTER <abbr title="Twenty-four">XXIV</abbr>
+  </h2>
+  <h3><span class="smcap">The Train of Empties</span>
+  </h3>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">When</span> one has counted so heavily on something,
+has worked desperately for it, the
+moment when one realizes failure seems so
+definite, so unrelieved, that the world spins on
+unnoticed. Teddy and Roy sat in their saddles,
+staring down into the valley, despair written
+in every line of their faces.</p>
+
+<p>“Too late,” Teddy stammered. “We’ve lost.
+They’ve started the drive. Even if we could
+catch them, what would be the use? They’d
+never abandon the cattle now without a fight.
+And what have we got to fight with? Roy, we’re
+done! We’re done!”</p>
+
+<p>Roy nodded miserably.</p>
+
+<p>“Looks like it. By the time we got help it
+would be too late. We’re miles from our
+camp now. Let me think. We’ve got to do
+something. But what? They’ll take the
+cattle to the Jarmey place. Think, Teddy!
+Think!”</p>
+
+<p>“The Jarmey place!” Teddy fairly shouted
+the words. “We’ll have to head for there!
+Now we’ve got it—our one chance! Can we
+find it, Roy?”</p>
+
+<p>“We’ll find it,” Roy answered grimly. “I
+know, from what Pop told us, the general direction.
+Once we get there—”</p>
+
+<p>“We’ll think of that later,” Teddy interrupted.
+“The thing to do is to reach those
+empty cars before they load the cattle. Golly,
+we’re sure giving these broncs of ours a workout!
+But they’ll stand it, I reckon.”</p>
+
+<p>“Hope so,” Roy murmured, patting Star
+affectionately. “We can’t afford to let ’em rest
+now—we’ve got to go on.” He swung the pony
+about and headed away from the valley, Teddy
+following. It was not possible to force the
+horses to the speed they had showed on the
+ride over. They were covered with foam, and
+the tiny nerves in their backs were twitching
+from the effort they had made.</p>
+
+<p>“We’ll be good for another hour, and that’s
+all,” Roy declared. He had to keep a tight
+rein, for Star, keyed up as he was to the pitch
+of excitement, would have taken his opportunity
+to run fiercely until he dropped from exhaustion.
+But Roy was a wise rider.</p>
+
+<p>The horses were cantering, but not with that
+abandonment which means a mile or so at top
+speed, then the finish. They might find the
+Jarmey place easily. And, on the other hand,
+they might have to look for hours.</p>
+
+<p>They rode along, neither boy saying much,
+with a strange feeling that this journey was to
+be endless, that they were fated to ride forever
+over the moon-bathed prairie, up hills, into
+valleys, skirting groves of poplars and evergreens,
+now and then leaping small streams.
+What neither realized was that, from lack of
+sleep and food, they were getting a trifle light-headed.</p>
+
+<p>“Must have moved it,” Teddy said suddenly,
+and laughed shortly. Roy looked at him
+sharply. He pulled Star nearer to his brother’s
+horse and, leaning over, rested a hand on
+Teddy’s arm.</p>
+
+<p>“Feel all right, old boy?”</p>
+
+<p>“Me? Sure! Why shouldn’t I? Throat is
+dry and got a little headache. When I see Mob
+Jamisson again I’ll give him a headache!
+Where in thunder are we going, any how?”</p>
+
+<p>“To the old station at the Jarmey place.”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, snakes, I know that! I mean are we
+headed in the right direction?”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy did not hear the sigh of relief his
+brother gave. But when Roy spoke his voice
+had a note of hope in it.</p>
+
+<p>“I think so, Teddy. We’ll soon know, anyway.
+If I’m right it’ll be over the next hill.
+We’ve been going upgrade for the last half
+hour, and the station is pretty high—Pop told
+us that.”</p>
+
+<p>He stopped and peered ahead. It was fully
+three hours since they had left the camp of the
+rustlers. All that time they had been riding
+with hope of success driving them on. For the
+first time Roy felt a wave of lassitude sweep
+over him. Savagely he fought it off and gritted
+his teeth. This was no time for sleep. Sleep!
+What had he thought of that for? Sleep! How
+pleasant it would be to let his head drop forward
+and drift off—off—</p>
+
+<p>“Hey! Come out of it! Buck up there, boy!
+We’ve got plenty ride ahead of us. Don’t cave
+in like that!”</p>
+
+<p>“Huh? You talk—talking to me? Oh! Hang
+it all, I did doze for a minute, didn’t I?” Roy
+shook himself and sat straighter in the saddle.
+“That sock on the head must have made me a
+bit goofy. I’m O.K. now. Golly, Teddy, I
+think we’re almost there! Listen! Can you
+hear anything?”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy pulled his pony to a sliding stop and
+strained his ears. Then he uttered an exclamation.</p>
+
+<p>“Cattle on the march! Over to the left!
+We’re on time, Roy! We’re on time! Head
+for the station!”</p>
+
+<p>“Straight ahead, isn’t it? Can we make that
+hill? Take a good start up. Now—”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy felt Flash rear and leap forward. The
+loose stones gave a precarious footing, and for
+a moment the boy feared that the pony would
+go over backward. But he recovered himself,
+and lowering his head plunged onward.</p>
+
+<p>The noise of the cattle became more distinct.
+They must be about half a mile to the left, where
+the level ground allowed cattle to be loaded into
+the cars.</p>
+
+<p>“We’ve got to make it—rustlers or no rustlers!”
+Roy panted. “If they’re guarding the
+cars we’ll take a chance and run through ’em!
+If I get hit, you keep on. Remember that!”</p>
+
+<p>The shouts of the men driving the cows toward
+the railroad could now be heard, and Roy
+and Teddy dug heels into their ponies’ sides.
+Exhausted as the horses were from their long,
+hard ride, still they responded bravely, and
+digging their forefeet into the hill strove to
+carry their masters to the top.</p>
+
+<p>“If we can reach the cars without being
+seen—” Roy gasped.</p>
+
+<p>The sentence was left unfinished, for he realized
+that Teddy knew what was in his mind.
+They had one chance to save their cattle, and a
+slim chance it was.</p>
+
+<p>The empties, they knew, stood on a steep
+grade. It was this incline which the rustlers
+counted on as a means of getting the cars
+started and carrying the cows to a place where
+they could be unloaded without fear of interruption.
+This place was at the end of the line.
+Thirty-three cars, loaded with heavy steers,
+would easily coast eight miles, given a good
+start.</p>
+
+<p>If they could reach the train before the rustlers
+discovered them and release the brakes,
+the train would start, and then nothing could
+stop it. Peterson’s work would go for naught.
+The cattle would have to be left where they
+were, for they could never be driven far enough
+to be hidden from the punchers of the X
+Bar X.</p>
+
+<p>These thoughts were whirling through the
+minds of Teddy and Roy as they spurred their
+horses up the steep hill.</p>
+
+<p>Ahead of them they saw a long line of
+mounds, looking like a caravan of camels in the
+moonlight. As they came nearer the contours
+took on a more angular form.</p>
+
+<p>“The cars! We’ve won, Teddy! We’ve won!
+Go on—go on! This is the last lap, Teddy
+boy!”</p>
+
+<p>Panting fiercely, the boys dashed toward the
+line of empties, standing motionless on the
+tracks at the top of the hill. At the same minute
+they heard a shot and a bullet whined by overhead.</p>
+
+<p>“They’ve seen us!” Roy gasped. “Ride,
+Teddy, ride!”</p>
+
+<p>Far to the left they could see a huge herd
+of cattle—their cattle. Men were dashing frantically
+about, spectres in the night. Streaks
+of fire flashed into the blackness and winked
+out, and the solos of the bullets merged into a
+chorus. The bright moonlight threw the two
+riders into silhouette, a perfect mark for the
+rustlers. Suddenly Star faltered, stumbled,
+went on more slowly.</p>
+
+<p>“He’s hit!” Roy groaned. “Star, don’t give
+up! Stick to it, boy! Stick to it!”</p>
+
+<p>The pony whinnied with pain, but fought his
+way doggedly up the hill. A little more! Just
+another hundred yards!</p>
+
+<p>“They’ve left the cattle! They’re after us!”
+Teddy shouted. “Ride low!”</p>
+
+<p>In front of them loomed the cars. Roy heard
+the wood splinter as the bullets pinged into
+them. Up—up!</p>
+
+<p>“Hop it, Roy! Hit the ground! Let the
+ponies go; they’ll find their way back!”</p>
+
+<p>At the top of the hill both boys sprang from
+their mounts. They turned them loose and saw
+them scamper away, their heels flying in the air.
+They were headed for home.</p>
+
+<p>The rustlers had come to the bottom of the
+hill, and now they started up, sensing the plan
+of action. They shot as they came, hoping a
+lucky bullet might find the mark. But now
+Teddy was on the side of one of the freight
+cars, climbing up the ladder to the top. Roy
+sprang for the next car.</p>
+
+<p>“The brakes—release ’em!” Roy shouted.
+“Start from the other end! Release every car!
+She’ll start herself!”</p>
+
+<p>He ran to the front, and Teddy to the rear.
+Thirty-three cars make a long train, and never
+had a freight seemed so long to the young
+ranchers as they strove to get it started downgrade
+before the rustlers reached them. Frantically
+they turned the brake wheels, jumping
+from one car to another, while hot lead split the
+air on each side of them. Luckily, not all the
+brakes were on, or they would never have succeeded.
+At last Roy turned one of the wheels,
+and felt the train give a lurch.</p>
+
+<p>“She’s started! Take ’em off, Teddy! Any
+more on?”</p>
+
+<p>“Can’t tell yet. Here’s one!”</p>
+
+<p>He kicked the cog loose and spun the wheel.
+For a moment nothing happened. Then a
+groaning of metal on metal, a creaking of wood,
+an exultant shout from the boys, and they
+threw themselves flat on the car roof as the
+train, gaining momentum every second, pushed
+through the ranks of firing rustlers and like an
+invincible iron monster started on its journey
+downgrade—without the cattle!</p>
+<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop">
+
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXV">
+    CHAPTER <abbr title="Twenty-five">XXV</abbr>
+  </h2>
+  <h3><span class="smcap">The Rodeo</span>
+  </h3>
+</div>
+
+<p><span class="smcap">The</span> cars were old and their joints rusty, and
+the noise they made as they rumbled along
+resembled an avalanche. The pistol shots,
+puncturing the roar, sounded like the popping
+of corks.</p>
+
+<p>“Try to stop us now!” Roy shouted gleefully.
+“Yow! Ride ’em, cowboy! Out of my
+way!”</p>
+
+<p>The rustlers had reached the top of the hill
+and were firing desperately. One of them
+sought to leave his horse and catch the last
+car, but his pony shied, and threw the man from
+his back, to go tumbling down the steep embankment.</p>
+
+<p>“Have a sleigh-ride!” Teddy called. “Tell
+us when you hit bottom!”</p>
+
+<p>Bill Lefton tried to swing his pony and ride
+parallel with the moving freight, but the road
+bed was too narrow, and his horse, with a neigh
+of protest, refused to follow this rumbling
+Juggernaut, then whirled, and almost on its
+haunches, started down the slope. The train
+picked up speed rapidly, and amid a fusillade of
+ineffectual shots it rounded a curve, bearing
+Teddy and Roy to safety.</p>
+
+<p>The last glimpse the boys had of the rustlers
+was the sight of Peterson waving his arms
+madly and shaking his fist—not at them, but at
+one of his gang.</p>
+
+<p>“Mob Jamisson having the law laid down to
+him,” Teddy chuckled. “They’ll blame him for
+this, sure as shooting. Boy, we’ve saved the
+cattle! They’ll never be able to drive ’em far
+enough to hide ’em before we’re on their
+necks.” He drew a deep breath. “Yes, it was
+worth it—it sure was worth it.”</p>
+
+<p>They sat up now, and drew closer together.
+They had flung themselves flat when the train
+began to move, one in the middle of the center
+car—which, they afterwards discovered, was the
+key car—and the other at the end. It was
+Teddy who had released the brake which really
+set the train in motion.</p>
+
+<p>The grade was not very steep at this point,
+and the speed at which the cars were running
+was not high enough to be dangerous. Teddy
+sat for a moment watching the scenery “roll
+by,” as he expressed it, and then he grinned.</p>
+
+<p>“I just happened to think,” he said, “that
+dad has Peterson’s deposit. Maybe he’ll come
+and claim it—maybe not!”</p>
+
+<p>“The only deposit he’ll get will be deposited
+in jail,” Roy said laughingly. It seemed the
+most natural thing in the world for them to be
+seated on top of a freight car, at two o’clock in
+the morning, running downgrade toward the
+end of the line. Gone was their weariness—their
+thirst. All they thought of was that they
+had succeeded—the cattle were saved—a good
+night’s work had been well done.</p>
+
+<p>The train jolted and swung along. Teddy
+and Roy sat on the board which runs along the
+top, the walking plank, arms about their knees,
+swaying from side to side with the motion,
+happy, contented. They would soon come to
+the end of the line, not far from Hawley. They
+could rout the sheriff out of bed, organize a
+posse, and chase Peterson and his crowd from
+here to the borders of the state—farther, if
+necessary. The cattle would be safe until they
+rounded them up with the others, to-morrow.
+Yes, it was a good night’s work.</p>
+
+<p>The grade was leveling off now, and the train
+ran more slowly. It reached a curve, on the
+right of which the ground dipped, so that they
+had a clear view for miles.</p>
+
+<p>“Teddy! Take a look!”</p>
+
+<p>Far to the right the lights of a town glimmered.</p>
+
+<p>“That’s Hawley! Let’s get off here. No
+telling how far this train will run, and the end
+of the line is much farther from Hawley than
+this is. It stops away off in some deserted hole,
+Pop said. Get busy with those brakes. Hawley,
+Ha-a-a-aw-ley!” he cried, in the manner of
+a conductor announcing a station. “All out
+for Hawley!”</p>
+
+<p>They ran from one car to another, applying
+the hand brakes. When the train had slackened
+speed sufficiently they climbed down the
+ladder and jumped to the ground.</p>
+
+<p>“Now we’ve got a nice little jaunt,” Roy said,
+peering toward Hawley. “But it might be
+worse. So long, old Twentieth-century!” He
+waved his hand as the train, barely moving,
+disappeared around a curve. “You sure helped
+us out of a bad hole! Come on, Teddy—get
+those legs of yours moving. <em>One</em>, two, three,
+four! <em>One</em>, two, three, four!”</p>
+
+<p>They set out joyfully, and in an hour reached
+the town, tired, but still happy. Hawley was a
+fair-sized place and they found a restaurant
+on the main street open. There was a telephone
+within, and they called the sheriff. At first he
+was angry at having his sleep disturbed, but
+when the boys told them who they were, he declared
+eagerly that he’d be right down. He was
+as good as his word. Not five minutes elapsed
+before he entered the door of the restaurant,
+fully dressed, two guns hanging from his belt.</p>
+
+<p>The boys soon explained the situation to him,
+and then he, in his turn, sat down at the ’phone
+and called many numbers. His orders were
+short and to the point. His men were to arise,
+saddle their horses, and meet him at the Alpha
+in six minutes—no longer. “Understand?
+All right! ’bye!”</p>
+
+<p>When he had finished he turned to the boys.</p>
+
+<p>“So you rode the empties down to here!
+Well, well! Boys, that’s as good as a movie.
+Now listen. You ought to be pretty tired. I
+told my wife that you’d be right over to the
+house, and to get a room ready. You sleep—hear
+me? We’ll finish this job for you. We’ll
+let yore dad know where you are right quick,
+so he won’t worry. Then we’ll take the trail
+of them rustlers. Mob Jamisson with ’em, hey?
+Well, I’ll be plumb glad to see him again, not
+sayin’ the same fer him. My house is the fifth
+one down on this side of the street. Red brick.
+You can’t miss it. Just ring the bell. Mary’s
+up, an’ waitin’ fer you. Here comes my gang.”</p>
+
+<p>He hesitated as the sound of the arrival of
+several horses sounded outside the door.</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll go now. Don’t worry about yore dad.
+I’ll let him know first thing. We can find his
+camp all right if it’s anywheres on the X Bar
+X. Tell you a secret—I used to work fer that
+ranch when I was a kid. That was when yore
+grandfather had it. Well, so long! Pete—”
+to the man behind the counter—“if they’re
+hungry, you feed ’em an’ charge it to me. So
+long, boys!”</p>
+
+<p>Hungry? Weren’t they, though! They
+scarcely saw the sheriff burst through the
+door nor heard the noise of his departure.
+They were intent on a whole ham which hung
+in a glass-enclosed refrigerator.</p>
+
+<p>“Could we—could we have some of that?”
+Roy asked, pointing.</p>
+
+<p>“Ham! You betcha! Fried ham an’ eggs.
+Sliced tomatoes. Potatoes. Coffee. Pie a-la-mode.
+O.K.?”</p>
+
+<p>“I’ll tell a maverick it is!”</p>
+
+<p>Then they sat down to the best meal they ever
+remembered eating. At three o’clock in the
+morning, just these two, in the restaurant in
+Hawley, they ate until they could eat no more.
+When they had finished, the waiter looked at
+them critically.</p>
+
+<p>“I’m thinkin’,” he said softly, “that they
+don’t need no bed to-night. Maybe the sheriff’s
+house is only down a block, but they’ll never
+make it, unless they walk in their sleep.”</p>
+
+<p>He moved softly to one side and turned low
+the light. Quietly he tiptoed to the door and
+closed it behind him. And Roy and Teddy, their
+heads resting on their arms, feet tucked under
+them, slept the remainder of that eventful night
+on a table in the restaurant in Hawley.</p>
+
+<p>They awoke to find the sunlight streaming in
+on their faces and a voice, miles off, calling:</p>
+
+<p>“Hey! Come to! ’Phone for you! ’Phone!”</p>
+
+<p>“What? Somebody wants us? What time is
+it? Gosh, this bed is hard! Well, for the love
+of Pete—”</p>
+
+<p>Teddy, gazing about him stupidly, found the
+waiter grinning down at him. It took a full
+minute for realization to come to the boy, and
+another minute to explain to Roy. Sleep had
+sunk them so deep that they simply could not
+understand what had occurred. Finally, however,
+Pete convinced them that they were really
+in Hawley, and, what was more important, that
+Mr. Manley was on the ’phone.</p>
+
+<p>“Dad!” Roy exclaimed, jumping. “I’ll take
+it, Teddy. Where’s that ’phone? Huh? Oh!”
+Almost next to his elbow, and he could scarcely
+see it. He picked up the receiver.</p>
+
+<p>“Hello, Dad! Sure! Fine! Right next to
+me. Yep, he’s all right too. Sort of sleepy.
+We fell asleep on a restaurant table—stayed
+there all night. Get up there, Teddy. What’s
+that, Dad? Say it again, will you? You
+caught—” He turned to his brother, eyes shining
+with excitement.</p>
+
+<p>“Teddy, they caught the rustlers! Every
+one of ’em! The sheriff found our camp, and
+dad and the others went right out on the trail.
+Here, Dad, tell Ted. He won’t believe me.”</p>
+
+<p>Then Teddy:</p>
+
+<p>“Hello, Dad! Is that straight? Got ’em all?
+And the cattle? Oh, boy! What luck! Say,
+how about Flash and Star? Came home? You!
+That’s a relief! How’s Star? That’s good.”
+Aside:</p>
+
+<p>“He says Star wasn’t hurt much. Bullet
+just grazed him.” Into the ’phone again:</p>
+
+<p>“Where’d you get the rustlers, Dad? Uh-huh!
+Tried to drive the cattle away after all, did
+they? Didn’t think they were that stupid.
+Probably figured we’d ride to the end of the
+line and wouldn’t be able to get help before
+morning. Listen, Dad—did you get Mob Jamisson?
+Well, hold him for me—he owes me
+a new hat! Yep. All right, Dad! Want me
+to tell Roy anything!” A pause, and a grin
+stole over Teddy’s face. He looked at his
+brother and winked. “Sure thing, Dad! Tell
+’em we’ll see ’em this afternoon! So long,
+Dad!”</p>
+
+<p>The receiver clicked down. Pete, the waiter,
+was watching the two brothers with an amused
+smile.</p>
+
+<p>“Dad wanted me to tell you something,”
+Teddy said slowly.</p>
+
+<p>“Well, what?”</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, maybe you won’t be glad to hear it. I
+don’t know. Perhaps I’d better wait till later.
+I don’t like to—”</p>
+
+<p>“Tell me now, you Indian! What is it?”</p>
+
+<p>“Well, he wants us to get home as soon as
+we can, because Nell and Curly are there and
+they’re going to see us in the rodeo! So, hit
+the trail, cowboy—hit the trail!”</p>
+
+<hr class="tb">
+
+<p>A perfect fall day, with the bright sun laughing
+down on a scene of vivid beauty. Flags
+flying in the fresh breeze. Bands playing.
+Girls, in picture hats, gazing forward eagerly.
+Cow punchers, resplendent in silver mounted
+belts, checkered shirts, and big woolly chaps,
+swaggering proudly about. A crowd roaring its
+approval of a man in the center of the arena
+astride a bucking, twisting bronco. The rodeo!</p>
+
+<p>The governor of the state had a box directly
+in the center of the grandstand. Next to his
+was the Manley box.</p>
+
+<p>Within it sat Mr. and Mrs. Manley, with Belle
+Ada, Nell Willis, and Ethel—no, Curly—Carew.
+And one other. In the rear, inconspicuous as
+possible, a little man, tanned of face, with blue,
+kindly eyes, looked out upon the scene. It was
+Mohammed Ben Ali Suliman—alias Professor
+Sullivan, psychologist. He leaned forward and
+touched Mr. Manley on the shoulder.</p>
+
+<p>“Does—er—our boy ride soon?”</p>
+
+<p>“Teddy, you mean? Yep. Next. Did you
+see Roy win that Pony Express contest? Man,
+I’ve been with him all my life, and never knew
+he could ride like that. First prize! Great, eh?
+Look—that man’s finished. There he goes!”</p>
+
+<p>The rider gave a shout and flew over the
+pony’s head. He was out of the race, but he
+arose gamely and shook his fist in mock rage
+at the horse that had unseated him, then walked,
+a trifle unsteadily, to the side.</p>
+
+<p>“Teddy rides now?” Mrs. Manley asked in
+a small voice.</p>
+
+<p>“Sure, Mother! An’ don’t you worry! He’ll
+take that bronc under his wing as easy as pie.
+Watch! Here he comes!”</p>
+
+<p>A yell went up as another rider shot out from
+a corner, seated on a bit of leaping horse-flesh.
+Roy, who stood leaning against the fence,
+shouted:</p>
+
+<p>“Stick with him, boy! Hang on! You! Atta
+baby! Look at him go—! Oh, look at him go!
+Sweet daddy! You’re sure ridin’ now, Teddy!
+Don’t go to leather! Yay! Ride ’im, cowboy!”</p>
+
+<p><a id="rideim"></a>And Teddy did “ride ’im.” For every trick
+of the squirming pony, he knew a better one.
+Up went his hat, and down on the bronco’s
+flank. He was fanning him, and the crowd,
+quick to realize that here was no ordinary rider,
+roared delightedly.</p>
+
+<p>Excitement reigned in the Manley box.</p>
+
+<p>“Oh, Mr. Manley, isn’t he <em>wonderful</em>!”</p>
+
+<p>“Splendid! Teddy’s splendid!” Mrs. Manley
+forgot her momentary fears and gave way
+to the occasion, cheering with the rest.</p>
+
+<p>“Dad, he’s sticking—he’s sticking!” shouted
+Belle, wild with joy and excitement.</p>
+
+<p>Finally the pony gave up. Head lowered,
+breath coming in gasps, he submitted to the
+guiding rein. Over to the judges’ stand the boy
+rode him, as easily as though he had been a
+saddle horse for years. Teddy had won.</p>
+
+<p>Roy, unable to contain himself, jumped the
+fence, ran into the arena, and, reaching up,
+grasped his brother’s hand. Those in the
+stand saw the occurrence, and another yell
+went up. Brother greeting brother—two expert
+riders, each a prize winner! The crowd
+went wild. Here was romance, real Western
+life.</p>
+
+<p>“Teddy, congrats!” Roy said. “You’re a
+rider, boy!”</p>
+
+<p>“And how about you?” Teddy laughed, looking
+down at Roy. “The same thing goes for
+you! You wait, and we’ll bring our cups over
+together. Hold this bronc a second.”</p>
+
+<p>He dismounted, and another puncher took the
+horse away. Those in the Manley box were
+watching with eager eyes.</p>
+
+<p>“I believe,” Professor Sullivan said slowly,
+“that riding like this has its place among the
+arts. When I return to my college I shall suggest
+that they add a Chair of Horsemanship to
+their curriculum. My dear Mr. Manley, let me
+congratulate you. I shall leave it to our two
+friends—” he smiled at Nell and Curly, who
+sat entranced, hands tightly clasped—“to congratulate
+our boys. That was wonderful riding.”</p>
+
+<p>“If I’m not mistaken,” Mr. Manley chuckled,
+“that gets Teddy a first prize. And Roy won
+the Pony Express contest. Not bad, hey, Barbara?”
+He turned to Mrs. Manley. “What
+do you think of these boys of mine? They save
+my cattle for me, get the sheriff after the rustlers,
+get ’em captured an’ put in jail, then
+come back an’ win two first prizes! Well,
+mother, what about it? How about those two
+boys of mine?”</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Manley looked at her husband and
+smiled. Then she saw coming toward them Roy
+and Teddy, each one carrying a silver cup. They
+strode along, heads held high, the light of conquest
+shining in their eyes. Two horses stood
+awaiting them—Star and Flash. They mounted,
+and rode over to the Manley box. As they
+approached they held the cups out and grinned.</p>
+
+<p>“Yes, Bardwell,” Mrs. Manley said softly,
+“they’re fine boys, those sons of yours. But
+you musn’t forget—” she smiled again—“I’m
+not to be left out of this! They’re mine, too!”</p>
+
+<p class="p2 center">THE END</p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+  <h2 style="display: none; visibility: hidden;">Advertisements</h2>
+</div>
+<hr class="bb">
+<hr class="p0 b">
+<p class="center">
+
+<span class="muchlarger">WESTERN STORIES FOR BOYS</span><br>
+By JAMES CODY FERRIS<br>
+</p>
+
+<div class="linebox">
+<p class="center small">Each Volume Complete in Itself.
+</p>
+</div><!--end linebox-->
+
+<p>Thrilling tales of the great west, told primarily for boys but which
+will be read by all who love mystery, rapid action, and adventures
+in the great open spaces.</p>
+
+<p>The cowboys of the X Bar X Ranch are real cowboys, on the job
+when required, but full of fun and daring—a bunch any reader will
+be delighted to know.</p>
+
+<ul class="small">
+  <li>THE X BAR X BOYS ON THE RANCH</li>
+  <li>THE X BAR X BOYS IN THUNDER CANYON</li>
+  <li>THE X BAR X BOYS ON WHIRLPOOL RIVER</li>
+  <li>THE X BAR X BOYS ON BIG BISON TRAIL</li>
+  <li>THE X BAR X BOYS AT THE ROUND-UP</li>
+  <li>THE X BAR X BOYS AT NUGGET CAMP</li>
+  <li>THE X BAR X BOYS AT RUSTLER’S GAP</li>
+  <li>THE X BAR X BOYS AT GRIZZLY PASS</li>
+  <li>THE X BAR X BOYS LOST IN THE ROCKIES</li>
+  <li>THE X BAR X BOYS RIDING FOR LIFE</li>
+  <li>THE X BAR X BOYS IN SMOKY VALLEY</li>
+  <li>THE X BAR X BOYS AT COPPERHEAD GULCH</li>
+  <li>THE X BAR X BOYS BRANDING THE WILD HERD</li>
+  <li>THE X BAR X BOYS AT THE STRANGE RODEO</li>
+  <li>THE X BAR X BOYS WITH THE SECRET RANGERS</li>
+  <li>THE X BAR X BOYS HUNTING THE PRIZE MUSTANGS</li>
+</ul>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<hr class="bb">
+<hr class="p0 b">
+<p class="center">
+ <span class="muchlarger"><i>On the Trail of Clues and Criminals</i></span>
+</p>
+</div><!--end chapter header-->
+
+<div class="linebox">
+<p class="center small">Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself.
+</p>
+</div><!--end linebox-->
+
+<p>Frank and Joe Hardy are sons of a celebrated detective. Often the
+boys help him in his investigations. In their spare hours and during
+vacations they follow up clues “on their own hook.” These activities
+lead them into many strange adventures and dangerous situations.
+Yet their efforts are usually successful in tracking down criminals.
+These stories are packed with action, adventure and mystery.</p>
+
+<p class="p2 center">
+<span class="larger">THE HARDY BOYS STORIES</span><br>
+<span class="small">By FRANKLIN W. DIXON<br>
+<br>
+THE TOWER TREASURE<br>
+THE HOUSE ON THE CLIFF<br>
+THE SECRET OF THE OLD MILL<br>
+THE MISSING CHUMS<br>
+HUNTING FOR HIDDEN GOLD<br>
+THE SHORE ROAD MYSTERY<br>
+THE SECRET OF THE CAVES<br>
+THE MYSTERY OF CABIN ISLAND<br>
+THE GREAT AIRPORT MYSTERY<br>
+WHAT HAPPENED AT MIDNIGHT<br>
+WHILE THE CLOCK TICKED<br>
+FOOTPRINTS UNDER THE WINDOW<br>
+THE MARK ON THE DOOR<br>
+THE HIDDEN HARBOR MYSTERY<br>
+A FIGURE IN HIDING</span>
+</p>
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<hr class="bb">
+<hr class="p0 b">
+<p class="center">
+ <span class="muchlarger">TED SCOTT FLYING STORIES</span><br>
+By FRANKLIN W. DIXON<br>
+</p>
+</div><!--end chapter header-->
+<div class="linebox">
+<p class="center small">Illustrated. Every Volume Complete in Itself.
+</p>
+</div><!--end linebox-->
+
+<p>You’ll like Ted Scott. He’s a daring young American whose feats
+of flying thrill the whole world, but with it all he keeps a level
+head on his shoulders. The whole flying series has been inspired
+by recent aerial exploits and is dedicated to Lindbergh, Commander
+Byrd, Clarence Chamberlin and other heroes of the skies.</p>
+
+<p class="center small">
+OVER THE OCEAN TO PARIS<br>
+RESCUED IN THE CLOUDS<br>
+OVER THE ROCKIES WITH THE AIR MAIL<br>
+FIRST STOP HONOLULU<br>
+THE SEARCH FOR THE LOST FLYERS<br>
+SOUTH OF THE RIO GRANDE<br>
+ACROSS THE PACIFIC<br>
+THE LONE EAGLE OF THE BORDER<br>
+FLYING AGAINST TIME<br>
+OVER THE JUNGLE TRAILS<br>
+LOST AT THE SOUTH POLE<br>
+THROUGH THE AIR TO ALASKA<br>
+FLYING TO THE RESCUE<br>
+DANGER TRAILS OF THE SKY<br>
+FOLLOWING THE SUN SHADOW<br>
+BATTLING THE WIND<br>
+BRUSHING THE MOUNTAIN TOP<br>
+CASTAWAYS OF THE STRATOSPHERE
+</p>
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<hr class="bb">
+<hr class="p0 b">
+<p class="center muchlarger">
+Spotlight Books for Boys<br>
+</p>
+</div><!--end chapter header-->
+<div class="linebox">
+ <p class="center"><i>From 12 to 16 Years</i>
+</p>
+</div><!--end linebox-->
+
+<p class="p1 center nospace">
+<span class="justl small">MYSTERY HOUSE</span> <span class="ss" style="width:5em">&thinsp;</span> <span class="justr"><i>R. J. Burrough</i></span>
+</p>
+<br>
+<p class="pneg unindent">Another Smiley Adams story combines mystery and sports, with
+adventure aplenty in the deserted house on an island one dark and
+stormy night.</p>
+
+<p class="p1 center nospace">
+<span class="justl small">THE LONE RANGER</span> <span class="ss" style="width:5em">&thinsp;</span> <span class="justr"><i>G. DuBois</i></span>
+</p>
+<br>
+<p class="pneg unindent">Mysterious, friend to all in trouble, this dauntless rider, ever astride
+his magnificent horse, Silver, rides the Western range.</p>
+
+<p class="p1 center nospace">
+<span class="justl small">FLASH GORDON</span> <span class="ss" style="width:5em">&thinsp;</span> <span class="justr"><i>Alex Raymond</i></span>
+</p>
+<br>
+<p class="pneg unindent">Flash, Dale Arden and Dr. Zarkov, the only earthlings on the
+planet Mongo, save King Vultan’s people from destruction.</p>
+
+<p class="p1 center nospace">
+<span class="justl small">TAILSPIN TOMMY</span> <span class="ss" style="width:5em">&thinsp;</span> <span class="justr"><i>Hal Forrest</i></span>
+</p>
+<br>
+<p class="pneg unindent">Tommy fills in for an ace stunt flier in a war movie.</p>
+
+<p class="p1 center nospace">
+<span class="justl small">THE G-MEN SMASH THE “PROFESSOR’S” GANG</span> <span class="ss" style="width:5em">&thinsp;</span>
+ <span class="justr"><i>Wm. Engle</i></span>
+</p>
+<p class="p0 unindent">Bob and Denny, G-men, in a chase that leads them into the underworld.</p>
+
+<p class="p1 center nospace">
+<span class="justl small">SMILEY ADAMS</span> <span class="ss" style="width:5em">&thinsp;</span> <span class="justr"><i>R. J. Burrough</i></span>
+</p>
+<br>
+<p class="pneg unindent">An exciting story about the disappearance of a football star between
+halves.
+</p>
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<hr class="bb">
+<hr class="p0 b">
+<p class="center">
+ <span class="larger">Books for Boys by a Master of Fiction</span><br>
+ <span class="xxl">The Mark Tidd Stories</span><br>
+</p>
+</div><!--end chapter header-->
+
+<div class="linebox2">
+<p class="center">By CLARENCE BUDINGTON KELLAND<br></p>
+</div><!--end linebox2-->
+
+<p class="center"><b>MARK TIDD</b>
+</p>
+
+<p class="p0">An ingenious fat boy and his three friends meet danger
+and excitement in solving the mystery of the strange footprint
+in their secret cave.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+<b>MARK TIDD IN BUSINESS</b>
+</p>
+
+<p class="p0">Mark and his three friends take Smalley’s Bazaar and
+make a success of it, in spite of unfair competition from the
+villain of the story.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+<b>MARK TIDD, EDITOR</b>
+</p>
+
+<p class="p0">The resourceful fat boy runs a country newspaper. As
+editor, foreman of the press room, circulation manager and
+business manager, he makes the <cite>Wicksville Trumpet</cite> a paying
+proposition.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+<b>MARK TIDD, MANUFACTURER</b>
+</p>
+
+<p class="p0">The boys take over an old mill fallen into disrepair and
+soon have it showing a profit. How Mark outwits the unscrupulous
+representative of a big power company makes an
+irresistibly funny book.</p>
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<hr class="bb">
+<hr class="p0 b">
+</div><!--end chapter header-->
+<p class="center larger">
+FOOTBALL AT ITS BEST<br>
+“Hot Off The Gridiron” Stories<br>
+</p>
+<hr>
+<p class="center">UNDER THE GOAL POSTS<br>
+by EDDIE DOOLEY
+</p>
+
+<p class="p0">A rousing story of college football by a great player.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+By HAROLD M. SHERMAN<br>
+ONE MINUTE TO PLAY
+</p>
+
+<p class="p0">There wasn’t room in Red Wade’s trunk for his football
+togs and his textbooks too—so he left his textbooks at home!</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+TOUCHDOWN!
+</p>
+
+<p class="p0">A thrilling, smashing, breath-taking football story—introducing
+the “big three.”</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+BLOCK THAT KICK!
+</p>
+
+<p class="p0">Tingling romance, breath-taking mystery. Climaxed by a
+championship football game at the Yankee Stadium.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+CRASHING THROUGH!
+</p>
+
+<p class="p0">How a clever little quarterback kept his big rivals’ fighting
+spirit at high pitch in order that his eleven might win a big
+game.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+FIGHT ’EM, BIG THREE
+</p>
+
+<p class="p0">Plenty of action on the gridiron and in other fields also.
+A story of three youths, Stuffy, Pepper and Brick.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+GOAL TO GO!
+</p>
+
+<p class="p0">Shrimp and Tubby, the “David and Goliath” of the Merwin
+College eleven, bring a great football crowd to its feet
+shouting like mad.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+HOLD THAT LINE!
+</p>
+
+<p class="p0">A story of the heart-breaking and nerve-trying experience
+one college player underwent before success.</p>
+
+<p class="center">
+NUMBER 44
+</p>
+
+<p class="p0">How Bun Ritter, former mascot, becomes as famous as the
+mighty Branson, makes a story packed with football sensation!</p>
+
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<hr class="bb">
+<hr class="p0 b">
+<p class="center muchlarger">
+BOOKS BY LEO EDWARDS<br>
+</p>
+</div><!--end chapter header-->
+
+<hr>
+<p class="p0 center"><span class="smcap">Illustrated. Every volume complete in itself.</span>
+</p>
+<hr class="p0">
+
+<p class="unindent">Hundreds of thousands of boys and girls have laughed until their sides ached
+over the weird and wonderful adventures of Jerry Todd and Poppy Ott and
+their friends. Mr. Edwards’ boy characters are real. They do the things other
+boys like. Pirates! Mystery! Detectives! Adventure! Ghosts! Buried Treasure!
+Achievement! Stories of boys making things, doing things, going places—always
+on the jump and always having fun. His stories are for boys and girls
+of all ages.</p>
+
+<p class="center large">
+THE JERRY TODD BOOKS
+</p>
+
+<ul>
+  <li>JERRY TODD AND THE WHISPERING MUMMY</li>
+  <li>JERRY TODD AND THE ROSE-COLORED CAT</li>
+  <li>JERRY TODD AND THE OAK ISLAND TREASURE</li>
+  <li>JERRY TODD AND THE WALTZING HEN</li>
+  <li>JERRY TODD AND THE TALKING FROG</li>
+  <li>JERRY TODD AND THE PURRING EGG</li>
+  <li>JERRY TODD IN THE WHISPERING CAVE</li>
+  <li>JERRY TODD: PIRATE</li>
+  <li>JERRY TODD AND THE BOB-TAILED ELEPHANT</li>
+  <li>JERRY TODD: EDITOR-IN-GRIEF</li>
+  <li>JERRY TODD: CAVEMAN</li>
+  <li>JERRY TODD AND THE FLYING FLAPDOODLE</li>
+  <li>JERRY TODD AND THE BUFFALO BILL BATHTUB</li>
+  <li>JERRY TODD: UP THE LADDER CLUB</li>
+  <li>JERRY TODD’S POODLE PARLOR</li>
+</ul>
+
+<p class="center large">
+THE POPPY OTT BOOKS
+</p>
+
+<ul>
+  <li>POPPY OTT AND THE STUTTERING PARROT</li>
+  <li>POPPY OTT’S SEVEN LEAGUE STILTS</li>
+  <li>POPPY OTT AND THE GALLOPING SNAIL</li>
+  <li>POPPY OTT’S PEDIGREED PICKLES</li>
+  <li>POPPY OTT AND THE FRECKLED GOLDFISH</li>
+  <li>POPPY OTT AND THE TITTERING TOTEM</li>
+  <li>POPPY OTT AND THE PRANCING PANCAKE</li>
+  <li>POPPY OTT HITS THE TRAIL</li>
+  <li>POPPY OTT &amp; CO.: INFERIOR DECORATORS</li>
+  <li>POPPY OTT—THE MONKEY’S PAW</li>
+</ul>
+<hr>
+<p class="center">
+ <span class="justl">GROSSET &amp; DUNLAP</span>
+      <i>Publishers</i>
+ <span class="justr">NEW YORK</span>
+</p>
+<hr class="b">
+<hr class="p0 bb">
+
+<div class="chapter">
+<h4>Transcriber’s Note:</h4>
+
+<p>Obvious printing errors, such as lines printed in the wrong order and
+partially printed letters and punctuation, were corrected.
+Final stops and close quote marks missing at the end of sentences were
+added. Fifteen misspelled words were corrected.</p>
+</div>
+<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 76660 ***</div>
+</body>
+</html>
+
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author	pgww <pgww@lists.pglaf.org>	2025-08-09 21:22:01 -0700
committer	pgww <pgww@lists.pglaf.org>	2025-08-09 21:22:01 -0700
commit	96a600ee389b728cdd8d5e8b1ab5272ea0c7357f (patch)
tree	7c63ffeea0fdc4bbf6cca55cb1d0e645e895719f /76660-h