Boy Scouts on the Open Plains; Or, The Round-Up Not Ordered

by G. Harvey Ralphson

  CHAPTER VI.

  THE WOLF PACK.

  "What can we do, Ned?" asked Jack.

  Jimmy was not the only one now who had seized hold of his gun, for theother three scouts could be seen gripping their rifles. Only poor Amoswas without his rifle, though he carried a revolver, cowboy fashion,attached to his belt.

  "It's out of the question for us to get away," replied the scoutmaster; "because we only have three poor burros, and they'd beovertaken before they'd gone a mile."

  "Yes," added Jimmy, "and don't forget there's four of us, Ned, darlint."

  "Amos could skip out if he feels like it, because his pony has fleetheels, and might outrun the wolf pack?" Jack suggested.

  "But all the same Amos is agoin' to hang around, and take pot luck withthe rest of the bunch," remarked the kid puncher, quietly.

  "But how about the animals," asked Harry, nervously; "do we leave themto be pulled down by the savage beasts of prey? All of us could shinnyup some of these trees, but burros can't climb."

  "Huh, I've seen the time when I thought they could do everything butfly," grunted Jimmy; "and I wasn't so sure about that, either."

  "We might bring them in close and stand guard over the poor things,"Ned went on to say.

  At that they hurried to where the four animals were tethered. Alreadysomething seemed to have told the burros and the calico pony thatdanger hovered in that breeze, for they were beginning to show signs ofexcitement, and it was not such an easy job after all to lead them inclose to the dying camp fire.

  Hastily they were firmly secured.

  "Will the ropes hold if they get to cutting up?" Harry asked, after hehad tied his as many as five different times, to make sure there wouldbe no slipping of the knot.

  "They are all good and practically new," Ned informed him, "and I thinkthere's no doubt about their holding. Now to get ourselves fixed. Pickyour tree, everybody, but let it be where you can keep watch over theanimals, so as to knock over every wolf that makes a jump for them."

  They caught on to the idea Ned had in mind. This was to occupy, say asmany as three trees that chanced to grow in a triangle around the fireand the spot where the burros and pony had been fastened.

  The bright moon would give them all needed opportunity to see anymovement on the part of the assailants, and woe to the daring wolf thatventured to cross the dead line.

  Ned waited to see which trees the others would pick out before choosinghis own place of refuge. He did this because he thought it good policyto have their forces scattered, as by that means they could guard thecamp more surely.

  As they went on with these preparations, looking to the repulse ofinvading hosts of sleek gray-coated beasts of prey, they could hear thefiendish chorus of wolfish howls drawing steadily nearer all the while.There may have been a lingering doubt in the mind of Jack or Harryconcerning the accuracy of that guess on the part of Amos, but it wasgone by this time. Those constantly increasing howls had convinced thembeyond all question.

  Jimmy had picked out his tree easily enough. Indeed, it was a habit ofhis these times to settle in his mind just what tree would make thebest harbor of refuge in case of a sudden necessity. This he always didas soon as a camp had been decided upon. Jimmy was wont to say withconsiderable pride that he was only following out the customary scoutlaw "be prepared," which might cover the case, as it does many others.

  He seemed to have little trouble about climbing into this tree, firstpushing up his Marlin gun, and then the beloved Navajo blanket with itsbright colors; for Jimmy did not mean to leave his personal possessionsto the mercy of the thievish pack that had broken bounds and was wildlyhunting for food.

  He climbed after the rest, and it happened that no one else had pickedon that particular tree for their refuge, so that Jimmy was going tohave it all to himself.

  The lower limbs grew rather close to the ground, Jimmy now realized;and he began to wonder whether he had after all been wise in choosingsuch a tree. Would he be in any danger from the sharp teeth and clawsof the wolves when they came rushing up? Jimmy did not believe thatwolves could climb trees; but all the same he did not feel altogethereasy about it. Still, when he found himself clutching his trusty gunnew confidence seemed to be born in his soul.

  "Let 'em come if they want to," he said aloud, between his set teeth."If they will have it, I guess I'll be able to take care of the lot.Every bullet ought to count for a victim; and, mebbe, now I'll be ableto see if the bully gun can't send the lead through a couple at onetime. It's passed through a six-inch tree, and that's goin' some, letme tell you. My stars! but don't they yap to beat the band. And say,they can't be more'n a mile away right now, I should think."

  The thought was enough to make his blood leap through his veins withrenewed excitement. In imagination, Jimmy already began to picturehimself blazing away as fast as he could work the mechanism of hismodern firearm; and, of course, bowling over a fresh victim with everydischarge.

  "Jimmy!"

  That was Harry calling.

  "Hello, there!" replied the one addressed.

  "Did you think to grab up the grub and take it up with you?" continuedHarry.

  "Oh! thunder!"

  Jimmy was all broken up by this sudden intelligence. The others hadapparently expected him to look out for the food supply, because Jimmywas always ready to take this burden on his shoulders.

  And now, alas, what had seemed to be everyone's duty had proved to beno one's; their precious supply of food was left unguarded at the footof that central tree, close to which the burros and pony had beenhitched.

  Could he reach it, and get back before the advance gray runner arrivedon the scene, bringing his appetite with him and, likewise, his teethwell sharpened for business?

  Jimmy came to a conclusion almost instantly, and having a convenientcrotch in which he could leave his gun and blanket, he dropped downfrom his perch.

  "Hey! get back there!" shouted Jack; "don't you hear the pack comingalong? They'll get you, Jimmy! Climb up again!"

  But Jimmy, undismayed, was already making a bolt for the spot where hecould see the pack he knew contained pretty much all the food they hadleft. He had to face one of two evils; and to Jimmy's mind, it was farworse to run the chances of being starved to death than to accept therisk of the wolves coming up before he could climb into his tree ofrefuge again.

  Jimmy knew what it was to suffer the pangs of hunger; and as he hadnever yet been bitten by wolves, he decided according to his light.

  There was surely need of haste, as he knew while bending over thepackage which he meant to save. The clamor of wolfish tongues was veryclose at hand, and with what seemed to be a full dozen joining in theyelping orgy it certainly went to make up a fiendish noise.

  He could hear the rush of jumping forms through the underbrush asthough those eager animals had already scented what they consideredtheir prey, and were straining every nerve in the endeavor to beat eachother to the spot.

  Jimmy in turning after securing the bundle had the misfortune to catchhis left foot in a projecting root and fall headlong. He felt a thrillof horror, under the impression that his foot might be gripped fast inthe upturned root, and that he would be held in this position until thebounding beasts had reached him, no matter how the other boys poured ina hot fire.

  But it was not so bad as that, and when he started to scramble to hisfeet again, Jimmy found that he could move all right.

  He could have made much faster time had he obeyed the order which Nedcalled out to him, to abandon the packet and make for his tree havenwith all speed. But there was that old spirit of obstinacy urging Jimmyto hold what he had, to the bitter end. What would he think of himselfin times to come if he remembered that he had tamely submitted toconditions that were not of his own making and abandoned the entirevisible food supply for himself and friends to those savagehalf-famished creatures?

  On gaining his feet Jimmy again headed for his tree, grippin
g thebundle with both arms. That was a sight the other boys would not soonforget; but Ned was not very much surprised, for he knew the nature ofhis assistant, and had on other occasions witnessed just such specimensof his grit.

  "Drop it, Jimmy!" shrieked Harry, afraid that something terrible wasabout to follow this action on the part of the other scout, because therush of the coming wolves had increased to a pitch that was next doorto terrible.

  "Don't do it, Jimmy; we'll hedge you in, all right! Bully boy, Jimmy!"Jack was calling out, for Jack, being much more of a fighter thanHarry, could better appreciate the daring feat Jimmy was carrying to asuccessful end.

  Ned did not venture to say anything. He knew the weakness of Jimmy, andhow easily he could be "rattled" when others were shouting conflictingappeals to him. And so Ned contented himself with sitting there,holding his gun ready for work and keeping a close watch, so as todiscover the very first sign of the leading wolf of the coming pack.

  Jimmy was now at his tree, but the next thing was to get the package offood safely lodged up among the limbs, where they formed crotches atthe junction with the main trunk.

  He tossed it upwards, but was compelled to stretch out his hands andcatch it again, pretty much as an eager football player might smotherthe pigskin oval in his arms on occasion. That wasted just so manyseconds, but although he heard the rushing sound coming steadily towardhim, Jimmy was game to the core, and would not allow himself to thinkof giving up his part in the play.

  A second time did he give the packet a toss, and this effort had moresteam back of it, for the object of his attention went considerablyhigher. It must have struck a limb, for it rebounded back, and onceagain landed at the feet of Jimmy.

  He saw a flitting figure shoot across a little open spot where themoon's rays fell upon the ground; and Jimmy knew full well that thismust be the leading wolf, heading straight toward him, through theinstinct that draws carniverous animals directly to their intended prey.

  Nevertheless, he bent down and deliberately took the package of food inhis possession once more, meaning to give a third trial, possibly underthe belief that two good attempts deserve another.

  This time luck did follow his effort. The packet managed to lodgesomewhere among the branches, for certainly it failed to fall backagain. And so Jimmy felt that having vindicated his reputation forcourage, it was now up to him to look out for himself.

  So he commenced to climb. Jimmy had never been one of the best climbersin the troop; for there were quite a number who could, as he would havesaid, "cut circles all around" him in the tree-tops. But this was acase where he was encouraged to exert himself to the utmost. There wassomething worth while at stake, for should those famished creaturesever reach him, he might expect them to make short work of their task.

  Jimmy under other conditions would doubtless have climbed that treemore gracefully, but he could certainly not have done it in less timethan on that present occasion. Speed was everything to him just then,and he was willing to sacrifice agility, grace and make-believecoolness to the one object of avoiding too close acquaintance with thecruel fangs, which he knew must already be snapping and grinding inanticipation of a feast.

  Once he slipped and came very near falling back to the ground. He felta cold chill pass through his whole frame at the bare horror of thething; then his grip held its own, and he managed to give one moredesperate heave that landed him up in the first crotch.

  Even there he was not safe. It was too near the ground, and one ofthose agile jumpers might easily spring that high, with half an effort.So Jimmy, without even waiting to catch a fresh breath, put the spursin and made another heave.

  He had an indistinct view of some object flashing toward his tree, morelike a streak of light than a living creature. It must be that leadingwolf, crazy to be the first to seize upon the prey they had scentedfrom afar.

  Jimmy might have shouted at the beast, in hopes of sending him back inalarm; but, in the first place, he did not have much breath left withwhich to engineer such a programme. Then again he was not given half ashow. Not that the wolf sprang up, and took hold of his shins, thatbeing the part of Jimmy's anatomy extending further down the tree thanany other. Oh! no, such a catastrophe did not happen at all, becausethere was no chance that it could with such vigilant guardians near athand.

  Ned had, meanwhile, sung out something to his other two chums. This wasin the nature of the "I've got it!" of the fielder, when a high flycomes his way; for he wants to warn his neighbors in due time, so thatthey may not interfere with his play and make a mess of it all.

  When Jimmy heard the sharp report of that rifle so close at hand, hisheart felt glad within him; for he guessed who had pulled the trigger,and his faith in Ned's marksmanship was very great.

  "How's that, Mr. Umpire?" he managed to call, shrilly; and Jack,apparently entering into the spirit of the thing, was heard to bawllustily back, as though the appeal had been directed to him personally:

  "Out at first!"

  "Next batter up!" yipped little Amos; which was enough to tell thescouts that the great National game was no mystery to this diminutivecow-puncher, with the face and body of a child, but the head of a grownperson.

  Then the fun suddenly became fast and furious.