The Saddle Boys at Circle Ranch; Or, In at the Grand Round-Up

by Captain James Carson

  CHAPTER XVI

  THE ADVANCE DISPUTED

  “What next, Colonel?” asked Scotty, as he arose from examining the printof Old Baldy’s hoof.

  “There’s only one thing to do,” replied the stockman; “which is to headback in the direction of the camp, watching out to see just where theold rascal left the regular trail, and branched out for himself. Once weget started on that, it ought to be easy for you, Scotty.”

  “I guess yes,” answered the squatty cowboy; whose legs seemed to lookvery much like a loop, partly on account of the sheepskin chaps he wore.

  He took one side, while Frank looked after the other. In this fashion,then, they all started toward the camp down in the valley.

  It was not a great while before Scotty emitted a roar.

  “Here she goes, sure as you’re born, and a-headin’ out in great shape,”he declared, as the others came up. “Oh! that Old Baldy never did forgetnothin’ he ever knowed; and here he goes, a-headin’ up for that otheroutlet, just like he remembered every foot of the way. Come along,Colonel; it looks like we was a-goin’ to larn mor’n Mendoza himself everdid; an’ all through a pesky steer!”

  The others were well content to drop in line after the stunted trailer,who continued to move along, with his eyes constantly watching theground. Frank and Bob came close in his rear; while back of them werethe stockman and his overseer, both anxious to learn how the game turnedout.

  “We’re heading up all the time, that’s one thing sure,” remarked Bob,after they had been pushing along in this fashion for some ten minutes,at least.

  “And you can see how wild it looks up here,” Frank added. “Like as notMendoza and his men never thought it worth while to explore this part ofthe ridge; for it wouldn’t strike them that cattle could ever find a wayof climbing over such big piles of rocks. But Old Baldy has found ameans of going in and out, all right.”

  “Yes, and he knew where he was heading for when he struck out up here,that’s a cinch,” declared Bob.

  “That’s right, he did,” Scotty announced, with conviction. “That rascalwa’nt just runnin’ wild when he headed this way. He had an object incomin’, you mark me when I says it. And we’re a-goin’ to know what thatobject was before a great while now.”

  “We’ve just got to,” laughed Frank, “because we’ll soon be at the top ofthe old ridge, the way we’re climbing. And dad, if it turns out that OldBaldy shows us a new way out of the valley, what are you going to do tohim when we get back home?”

  “He can own the ranch,” replied the stockman, readily. “He’ll be inclover for the rest of his days, I promise you, son.”

  The way grew more difficult; yet no matter what obstacles seemed to loomup ahead, there was always a way around them, and Old Baldy knew thetrail. Many times Bob lost all signs, and would have been compelled togive up in despair; but Frank pointed out where a stone had beendisplaced, or it might be a twig ground under the weight of the heavysteer.

  “He climbs like a mountain goat, that Baldy!” declared Bob, after anunusually hard effort, that winded him more or less.

  “Oh! all cattle can do that,” Frank assured him. “Wait till you see thewhole herd putting up this steep slope; even the youngest will surpriseyou by the way they hang on to the side of the hill, and climb over allsorts of things that give us more or less trouble.”

  “One thing I notice,” remarked Bob.

  “And what’s that?” asked his chum.

  “We don’t get even an occasional peep in at the camp. The big spur orshoulder of the mountain that juts out hides it. And Frank, by the sametoken, it would keep any one down there from noticing Old Baldy, if heclimbed this place in the daytime.”

  “That’s right, Bob,” replied the other. “I didn’t think of that myself.And perhaps the rustlers never took the trouble to look around to see ifthat pass was the only way in and out. You know they’re a lazy lot,taken as a whole, and hate to do the least thing except when in thesaddle.”

  “Huh!” grunted Scotty, who heard the remark, “they’s a lot o’ cowpunchers in that same class, don’t you forget it, Frank. In the saddlethey kin ride, and cavort around hours an’ hours. Drop ’em on theirfeet, an’ they act like ducks on dry land. A cowboy has no businessafoot when he kin git a pony under him.”

  Scotty came to a halt a little further on. He seemed to be interested insomething ahead.

  “Wow!” he exclaimed, “it sure is a Mountain Charley squattin’ there.Reckon we might be a-goin’ to have a little trouble along of him sooneror later, when the cattle get to comin’ up this way.”

  Bob instantly understood, for he recognized the name as one given to agrizzly bear in California, and among some of the cowboys of theSouthwest.

  “Where is he?” he asked. “Frank, we’ve got our guns; and perhaps we’lljust have to touch up the old fellow; because it would never do to lethim get among the stock.”

  “No,” said the ranchman, immediately; “for while he might contenthimself with just a single cow, the sight and smell of him would surelystampede the rest of the herd; and let that once happen up here, andwe’d never get them together again.”

  “Then we’ll have to try and bowl him over, Bob,” said Frank, as helooked to his repeating rifle, which was one of the very best on themarket.

  Bob felt the sportsman blood leap in his veins. This was different fromshooting an innocent little antelope, which he never did without feelingmore or less sorry; and only repeated the exploit because fresh food wasneeded. But a grizzly bear was a foe worthy of the efforts of the mostexperienced hunter.

  Bob had had one experience in this line, and not a great distance awayfrom the spot where he now stood; for it had been on the occasion oftheir first visit to Thunder Mountain that it happened, and in theentrance to the big canyon leading upward.

  He could see the bear, now that Scotty had pointed him out. The animalwas apparently aware of the presence of human beings; but he showed notthe slightest trace of fear, or a desire to retreat.

  “He seems to be right on the trail,” declared Frank, as he looked.

  “That’s just what he is,” Scotty added; “and I reckon now that p’raps hewas startin’ to foller the tracks of Old Baldy, if there was the leastwhiff of scent left for him to get. Then he heard us a-comin’, andsquats down to see who we is, an’ what we wants in his diggings.”

  They continued to advance. Colonel Haywood, Bart and Scotty had alldrawn their revolvers, and were ready to give a good account ofthemselves should the conflict be brought to close quarters. All of themknew how very tough a grizzly bear is, and that often many bullets willfail to bring such a terrible brute down.

  “No use shootin’ till we get some closer, boys,” said Scotty.

  “There, see, he’s getting up now!” exclaimed Bob. “Perhaps he means tochallenge us to a fight; or, not liking the looks of our crowd, expectsto walk off to his den, which must be up here somewheres.”

  “Never knowed one to back out of a scrap,” avowed Scotty.

  “He’s coming at us now, on all fours, and looking as if he meant to takeus on in a bunch. Don’t you think we ought to let him have a shot,Frank?” Bob asked, a trifle nervously; for he had been appalled uponexamining that other grizzly to note the terrible claws, and theenormous muscular power of the animal’s legs.

  “Not yet, Bob,” Frank answered, coolly; “hold your horses, and prettysoon we’ll have our chance. Don’t forget to try and get him back of theshoulder, if you can, or in the eye. Either the brain or the heart isthe place to hit a grizzly; you can pump him full of lead in otherplaces, and he’ll walk off with it, so they say.”

  No doubt the calm manner in which Frank handled his rifle did much toreassure the less experienced Bob. He immediately “took a brace,” andquieted his nerves, well knowing that unless he secured the mastery overhimself he could hardly do good work when the moment came to fire.

  As both parties were now approaching each other, the crisis could notlong be
delayed. Bob thought his chum might be going a little too far.Still, he remembered that at the famous battle of Bunker Hill, GeneralPutnam had ordered the waiting line of Continentals to hold their fireuntil they could see the whites of the enemy’s eyes. So it wasapparently good policy not to show too much haste when expecting anattack.

  “Get ready, Bob,” said Frank, presently, in a low tone.

  The grizzly was a little above them, and heading straight toward theplace where the five intruders into his domain were huddled together. Hemeant to attack them all without the least hesitation. This, Scottyafterwards declared, was something unusual for a grizzly to do, exceptwhen half starved. He might not make a move to run away; but he does notoften attack unless wounded and enraged.

  “But, Frank, he’s heading so straight this way, that I just can’t find achance to aim behind his shoulder as you said,” Bob complained. “Shall Itry to get him in one of his little eyes?”

  “Wait just three seconds; he’s got to turn around that rock, you notice.As he comes out again he’ll be broadside on, above us. Be ready to givehim your first shot as I say the word. Quick! now, look sharp!”

  Even while Frank was saying this the bear did indeed pass back of thespur of rock, just as the boy had foreseen. Bob let his cheek restagainst the stock of his rifle. He was covering the exact spot where heexpected the grizzly to show up in another second.

  As his nose came into view, he waddled forward, as bold as any lion evercould be, and, some hunters claim, a great deal more so.

  “Now!”

  Frank uttered this one word. It was immediately drowned in a doublecrash, as both guns were discharged. With the sound arose a series ofcowboy yells from Bart and Scotty, who had been awaiting the result ofthe volley with more or less suppressed excitement.

  Bob mechanically went through the pump action which sent the dischargedshell flying out to one side, and pushed a fresh cartridge into thefiring chamber; at the same time leaving the gun ready for business,with the hammer raised.

  He looked upward, and was thrilled to see the great hairy figure of thegrizzly apparently rushing straight down toward them. Naturally thefirst and dominating thought that possessed the mind of the Kentucky ladwas that, after all, their lead had failed to reach a fatal spot; andthat the bear was now bent on seeking revenge for the pain inflicted onhim. Those yells which Bob had at first believed to stand forexultation, might after all mean the demoralization of the cowboysbecause of this rush of the great beast!