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

by G. Harvey Ralphson

  CHAPTER XIV.

  STAMPEDING THE PRIZE BUNCH.

  "Steady, Ally, and don't try it!" Chunky was saying in a low but tensevoice. He seemed to have suspected that the treacherous puncher wouldbe greatly excited over the fact that his friends were at work above,and might take considerable chances in order to let them know the menfrom the Double Cross had arrived on the scene of action unannounced.

  They gathered in a little clump. The other two punchers must haveguessed why Chunky was acting in this way toward Sloper, for they eyedthe latter suspiciously, and Ned could see that Arizona Tom had hisheavy gun in his hand, as though ready to use it promptly should theother try to dash away without authority.

  "Seems like we didn't get here any to soon, hey, Ned?" ventured Jimmy,with one of his hoarse whispers.

  "Same old luck keeps after us," was the reply of the scout master; "aslong as that holds good I should worry more for the other fellow thanon our account."

  "It's them pesky rustlers that have hit up a hot pace, and got on theground ahead o' us," Chunky was growling; and then, as though his humorchanged, he went on to add: "but say, mebbe we won't give 'em thesurprise o' their lives."

  "Then you'll tackle the bunch, even if they number more than we do?"asked Ned, seeking information while they waited for a move on the partif those who were so busily engaged up the coulie.

  "Shucks! it wouldn't stop us if they was three to our one," Chunkyanswered, with the freedom from concern that usually marks the truecowman. "If we can surprise the critters the advantage'll lie with us.And let me say right now that it won't be safe for any feller to getgay, and give a yip, or let his gun go off by accident, 'cause anotheris apt to drop into the habit, which is a bad one."

  That last was undoubtedly meant for Ally Sloper. He could be heardgnashing his strong white teeth in sullen anger, but he did not ventureto let out a warning whoop so as to tell his friends they were upagainst it.

  Ned could not blame him, for he fancied that it might have been thelast shout Ally would ever make, because this was a serious business,betraying the interests of his employer, and should he be shot no blamewould ever be attached to the one carrying out the punishment.

  "Move over this way a leetle," said Chunky, presently, as though heknew just how the cattle and their drivers must issue forth from themouth of the coulie when the time came, and meant to set the trap so asto take the rustlers off their guard.

  "Whew! tell me about this, will you?" Jimmy was breathing in the ear ofhis companion scout, as they tried to keep their ponies quiet, sittingin the shadow of the trees, and listening to all the clamor that arosefurther up the slope of the hill.

  "If you think this is exciting, Jimmy," remarked Ned, "wait till theclimax comes along, and then see what happens. To think of our gettingin a lively affair like this the very first night we're at the ranch.And somebody said all the fun was in the past. Looks like we find itwherever we go."

  "Well, you never spoke truer words, Ned," admitted Jimmy; "and honestnow, I'm tremblin' all over right at this minute, not because I'mscared a whiff, for you know I ain't, but just on account of thestrain. Oh! I hope they don't take a notion to slip away up the coulie'stead of droppin' down and takin' their medicine like men."

  "Listen! they're coming, I do believe, Jimmy!"

  "Sounds like it, Ned. I never had the pleasure of handin' it out to acattle rustler, but I've heard they are pretty tough citizens; and incase I do have to puncture a few with disabling wounds it needn't keepme awake nights. Them longhorns has got to be saved, and we're here todo it."

  "Stow your gab, Jimmy, and be ready to do what you're told. Chunkygives the orders for the entertainment, remember, and be quick to act.Yes, the cattle have been headed this way. They're running down thecoulie right now!"

  With the increasing noise the excitement grew apace. Both scouts shuttheir teeth hard together, and awaited the breaking of the crisis. Theoncoming herd was drawing closer with every second that passed.Undoubtedly those who were driving them out of the feeding ground knewthat this was the only way by means of which the herd could be started,because further up the coulie merged into a blind canyon that must haveproven a trap.

  If there had been the slightest doubt in any one's mind before nowconcerning the truth, it would have been dissipated when the loudvoices of men came floating down, with the crash of many cloven hoofsand the protestations from the unwilling cattle, doubtless preparing tosettle down for the night when this drive was started.

  Chunky must have been aware of the fact that it would be next toimpossible to keep watch over Ally Sloper when the crisis dawned.Perhaps he really did not care so much, whether the other escaped ornot, since he could no longer upset the plans they had laid, by givingwarning.

  And on his part Sloper may have figured that he could not afford toopenly prove himself a traitor by fleeing. He could not know that theyhad any positive proof of his double dealing, and just suspicion hecould live down. So he might even act as though he were an honest manand carry out his part in the work of saving the threatened herd. Hislife counted for more than the success of his allies in the raid. Hecould make new connections with other schemers; but once he had beenstrung up to a telegraph pole by furious punchers he could not get anew life.

  The noise grew more distinct, and at any minute now Ned expected to seea mass of moving animals come out of the dark mouth of the coulie.

  He took it for granted that the cattle raiders were to be treatedharshly, for he knew what a contempt honest punchers felt toward thosewho would carry off four-footed property belonging to others, andchanging the brand, sell it as if it were their own.

  That meant more or less gunfire; it might be that wounds would bereceived as well as given, for these rustlers were a dare-devil lot,and no doubt ready to fight desperately before giving up theirill-gotten gains.

  This did not cause Ned to quail. He had received his baptism of firelong ago, and for one of his age had been through so much of excitementthat he might almost be called a veteran. Nevertheless he was thrilledwith the thought of surprising the thieves, and his heart beat muchmore rapidly than usual as he sat in his saddle, keeping a firm grip onhis pony, and holding his rifle ready for quick action.

  Yes, they are coming very fast now. The clatter of cloven hoofs, andall those other accompanying sounds, told this plainly. Ned wonderedhow many of the raiders there might turn out to be. He tried to countthe different kinds of shouts and whoops, but found this next toimpossible.

  "What does it matter," he told himself, finally; "just as Chunky said,if we take them by surprise the advantage is all with us? Five or ten,we'll send them flying over the plain, thinking they've run foul of thewhole Double Cross outfit. Jimmy, when the time comes to cut looseyelpt like a Fiji Islander, or anything else that makes a big noise;get that?"

  "You wait," was all Jimmy replied, but there was a world of meaningback of the words, and Ned knew he would do his duty.

  "There they come!" said one of the cow punchers just then.

  Out from the shadows of the coulie burst a string of cattle on the run.They had been started with difficulty, but once the excitement began towork there would be no restraining them until weariness caused them tostop their flight.

  Chunky was eagerly watching to see how they turned. He doubtlessanticipated that one or more of the rustlers would be seeking to headoff, and then would be the time to open fire, so as to create asmall-sized panic among the cattle raiding crowd.

  "Gee whiz! but I'm awonderin' what this beast'll do when I let go withthe gun right over his head!" Jimmy remarked just about that time,which seemed to indicate that he believed he had cause for worry.

  "Keep a tight hold of your bridle; that's all you can do," the scoutmaster advised, without removing his eyes from the picture that wasenlarging with each passing second, as more cattle came running out ofthe coulie, and followed the leaders.

  From the midst of the lowin
g herd there suddenly burst two horsemen.They were swinging their hats, waving their arms, and evidentlyshouting at the top of their shrill voices, with the object of turningthe running herd in the direction they wished it to go.

  Many miles lay between Washout Coulie and the ranch buildings, andthere was little danger that this racket might be carried there on thewings of the wind; even though it were faintly heard, chances were thatthe punchers would conclude not to bother, under the impression that itmust be a round-up on some neighboring stock farm.

  "Now! give'em Hail Columbia!"

  Ned could hear Chunky shouting these words, or something that soundedvery similar. He was paying little attention to anything that was said,however, for his whole mind seemed to be taken up with following therapid drama that was being unfolded before his eyes.

  There began to sound the discharge of firearms. Arizona Tom, Dutch andChunky each took a shot, and Jimmy not to be outdone, managed to gethis gun half-way to his shoulder before he pulled the trigger. Then hiscalico pony began to act in such an extraordinary manner that it tookall Jimmy's attention, and for the time being he did not care aparticle whether the two rustlers ran away, or were made to bite thedust, for it was a case of winding his arms around the neck of thatbucking broncho or else measuring his length on the ground, afterflying for a dozen or two feet through the atmosphere.

  The rustlers might never have known they were being fired upon if itdepended on the noise alone; but then there was the flash of theseveral discharges; and the whistle of flying lead past their ears towarn them of the fact that they were in the danger zone.

  They looked that way and must have made a discovery that was far frompleasant. Still they were not ready to give up so easily, when it hadseemed that everything was coming their way.

  "They mean to make a fight for the prize!" Ned told himself, when thesaw a sudden flash from the spot where the two rustlers had been mixingwith the herd, and which must mean that one of them was using his gun.

  At that he raised his rifle. Others of the lawless tribe would bepushing into view shortly, and it was policy to scatter them in thestart, so as to cut down the advantage they would have from greaternumbers.

  Ned had never learned how to shoot from the back of a prancing pony;but he was able to use good judgment, and pull the trigger when therewas a temporary lull in operations.

  He must have managed to strike the mount of one of the rustlers, muchto his regret, for immediately it started madly off, despite allefforts of the rider to hold the beast in. The other man finding thathe alone faced the fire of the enemy made haste to tum and flee.

  This, however, was only the beginning. There were others near by, andloud yells attested that they were about to burst into view, when thewhole operation must be repeated.

  Meanwhile the cattle continued to pour in a living stream out of thecoulie. No wonder these reckless rustlers had taken great chances inorder to secure this bunch, which consisted of the pick of the DoubleCross herds. They had undoubtedly been kept in close touch with allthat was going on by the spies who were employed on the ranch, anddoubtless knew the number and value of each separate herd.

  Then came whooping riders, this time some half dozen, scattered aboutso as to cover considerable ground. In the bright moonlight the picturewas a thrilling one, and Ned believed he must often recall it in futuredays. The surging longhorns, the active cow ponies and their riderskeeping up a continual racket, which seemed to be an essential part ofthe performance--all these impressed Ned greatly.

  Then he heard a loud explosion close to his head.

  "Give it to the night riders! Let 'em have hot lead! Show 'em how theboys of Double Cross Ranch can stand up for Kunnel Job!"

  With each short sentence Chunky was discharging his gun; and as theothers kept pace with his activity there was a warm session around thatquarter. Even Ally Sloper added to the din by shooting several times,and yelling, though Ned saw if none of the others did, that he aimedhigh, apparently not caring to take the chances of hitting one of hisfriends.

  The utmost consternation attacked the surprised rustlers. They musthave fancied that the whole force of the ranch was upon them, if noisecounted for anything.

  One man was seen to sway in his saddle, so that another had to helphold him in his seat. Ned himself felt sure that with one of his shotshe had wounded another rustler in the arm, for he changed the bridlegrip to the other hand, and dashed off at full swing, plainlydemoralized.

  There was no holding them, because they knew they were in the wrong,and that if their identity chanced to be discovered, in spite of thebandanas with which the lower part of their faces were concealed, thelaw would step in and deal with them harshly.

  And so it came about that the raid on the Double Cross herd turned outto be a fizzle; though only for the prompt way in which the defendersof the prize herd started out to meet the situation there must havebeen a different story to tell.

  "Get the cattle headed for home!" was the slogan that went the rounds;and with Chunky still keeping close to the suspect this difficult jobwas undertaken. Being experts at the rounding-up process they soon hadthe herd headed off, and started on a new tack, now making in thedirection of the ranch home.

  Ned had meant to lend a hand at this work, but something that came upkept him from taking any great interest in the driving of the steersand cows. This was the strange disappearance of his chum, Jimmy McGraw!