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

by G. Harvey Ralphson

  CHAPTER XV.

  JIMMY'S UNWILLING RIDE.

  There was reason for alarm, Ned thought, when he made this discovery.The last he could remember seeing Jimmy was just at the time the seconddetachment of the cattle rustlers came bursting out from the coulie,with shouts and all the wild clamor cow punchers indulge in whendriving stock.

  At that time Jimmy seemed to have tamed down his calico pony enough toonce more think of using his Marlin on the enemy; but strive as hemight Ned could not remember having heard its suggestive "cough" totell that Jimmy had actually pulled the trigger.

  It must have been at that exciting moment, when everything wasconfused, and Ned had his attention fastened on the movements of thecattle poachers, that the thing happened.

  He knew Jimmy too well to even suspect that the other would run awayvoluntarily, for Jimmy dearly loved a "scrap," though trying to conformto scout rules, and avoid seeking trouble. This would of course meanthat the frantic calico pony with the white eyes and furious temper hadtaken the bit between his teeth, and actually run away with the scout.

  How could they tell which way the animal had gone in making hisheadlong flight? Would he be apt to head for home, or else try and jointhe horses of the fleeing rustlers?

  Ned determined to speak to Chunky about it. The puncher might be ableto offer good advice in the matter, seeing that he had spent all hislife on the plains, and knew the habits of these tricky bronchos fromthe ground up.

  Chunky, however, was a difficult man to approach just then, for hecertainly had his hands full in getting the big herd turned toward theranch house, and at the same time trying to keep the suspect under hiseyes.

  If Ned had only had his little electric torch with him he would havegotten down and examined the soil, endeavoring to get some pointers bylearning in which direction the calico pony had fled.

  All he could really do was to help drive the cattle home, and make uphis mind that if poor Jimmy failed to show up during the remainder ofthe night, he would return again in the morning and do his best tofollow the trail of the runaway.

  He pictured the scene, with Jimmy, who was not in the class of championriders at all, clinging to the neck of his mount, and trying to soothethe frantic beast by soft words, which must, however, have fallen ondeaf ears.

  When before leaving the spot Ned discovered some object shining amidstthe bunches of buffalo grass, and jumping down found that it was indeedJimmy's prized repeating rifle, he knew that his guess must be close tothe truth.

  Unless he wanted to be left behind he must be moving, for already hadthe energetic Chunky and his mates managed to turn the cattle in theright direction and the whole mass was swinging toward home. The herd,however, went unwillingly, doubtless disliking to quit their pasturage,and suspecting it was to be followed by some sort of irksomeconfinement, remembered only too well from times past.

  Ned would not soon forget that long and tiresome drive.

  Not only did the punchers have their work cut out for them in keepingthe herd compact, and constantly moving toward the region where thebuilding would finally heave in sight, but they had another duty at thesame time.

  There was no telling what the discomfited rustlers might not attempt.If after their temporary panic they managed to get together and comparenotes, doubtless they would realize that they outnumbered the puncherswho had taken the prize herd away from them so neatly and expeditiously.

  In their anger they might even follow, and start hostile operations ona more savage and determined scale, with the intention of recoveringtheir lost plunder. These cattle thieves had been getting bolder thanever of late, and there could be no telling what they might not attempt.

  Consequently Chunky had given orders to his men to keep their guns "ontap," and to make quick use of the same, given any opportunity. Theywere thus compelled to keep on guard all the while they shouted, andchased after such steers or cows as manifested a desire to break awayfrom the main herd.

  Once he caught the spirit of the thing Ned was in his element, and thepuncher afterwards admitted that the boy acted as though he had beenaccustomed to driving herd all his life.

  Of course, with so few hands, and such a wide field to cover, it nowbecame practically impossible for Chunky to keep close to Ally Sloper.He saw that the other appeared to be engaging in the diversion with allhis accustomed vim, and it had to go at that. If the man failed to turnup when they reached the stockade, why they would be well rid of afaithless employee, that was all. It was too late now for any traitorto spoil their work by hunting up his allies and telling what he knew.

  Apparently Sloper must have been figuring things out, and concluded torisk it further by sticking to the Double Cross outfit. He did not knowjust how far suspicion may have gone; but if he disappeared now hisguilt would be taken for granted, and his usefulness as a spy gone.

  So Ned noticed every little while that the man was working with all hisaccustomed zeal, as though to counteract any suspicion that might havebeen aroused concerning his loyalty.

  Indeed, Ned more than once took pattern from the actions of Sloper, whohad few equals and no superiors at the work. It seemed a shame that soexpert a cowman should ruin his career by playing a double game withhis employers.

  It took them several hours to get the herd near home, for as a chain isonly as strong as its weakest link so cattle may be driven only as fastas the cows and calves can run.

  The strain eased up considerably when they drew nearer the ranchbuildings, for the possibility of their being pounced upon became less.At a distance of ten or twelve miles the dashing rustlers could affordto take chances; but not so near home. Once that hard-riding bunch ofpunchers started in their wake and the cattle thieves knew what wasbound to follow; for saddles would be emptied ruthlessly, and noquarter shown. To the cattleman they were looked upon as snakes in thegrass, and treated accordingly.

  Ned had lots of time to indulge in serious reflections as he rodealong, now urging his pony to the right, and again to the left, asoccasion demanded, in order to keep the main body of advancing cattleintact.

  Besides thoughts of the lost chum, Jimmy, he found himself wonderingwhether the man whom the Government officials had asked him to look outfor, Clem Parsons, could have been one of those whom he saw wildlychasing the stolen cattle; also if the deep-throated voice that hadbellowed out from time to time belonged to the awful Hy Adams,step-father to Amos, and ferocious mate to the shrinking little womanhe and the other scouts had met and pitied so much.

  If this were so he began to speculate as to just how he might get intouch with the man who was wanted on many back charges by the SecretService people. Doubtless these cattle thieves had a secret densomewhere among the hills, to which they repaired between daring raids.If Clem Parsons had indeed cast his fortunes in with the gang it beganto look as though of a necessity Ned would have to look up thishiding-place, risky proceeding though that would seem.

  Then his mind would turn again to Jimmy. What if the latter had fallenin with some of the defeated rustlers, would they treat him decently,or be apt to vent their spite upon his head because of their recentbitter disappointment?

  Ned found himself wishing again and again it were all over, and that heknew the worst. The closer they drew to the stockade the more he foundhis nerves quivering with suspense. If Jimmy were not there he realizedhe was in for a very bad night, and that sleep was not apt to visit hiseyes.

  The moon was now high up in the star-dotted sky, showing that somehours must have elapsed since the encounter with the bold cattlethieves.

  Every chance Ned got he strained his eyes to learn if there were anyhopeful signs ahead. But bright though the moon may seem, so that onecould even read fine print in a newspaper held close to the eyes, it isalways deceptive, and low-lying objects fail to disclose themselvesuntil they are quite near.

  It was a moving light that finally told Ned how close the herd was tothe ranch buildings. Then he c
aught answering shouts, and eagerly helistened in the hope of distinguishing the well-known voice of Jimmyamong the whoops; but although once or twice he thought he detected it,he could not be sure.

  The gates of the big enclosure were open and ready to receive thecattle, with the Chinese cook in attendance. It only required a littleexpert work in getting the leading steers to enter, and after that thejob was easy.

  Seeing that his services were no longer required, and with an achingheart, Ned wheeled his pony and started for the long building known asthe bunkhouse, beyond which lay the other structures.

  As he did so he discovered a moving figure advancing hastily towardhim. Hope grappled with doubt, and he was held in this mixture ofsuspense until suddenly he heard a loud sound that sent a spasm of joyto his heart.

  It was a fair imitation of the long-drawn howl of the wolf; and so manytimes had he drilled Jimmy in making this signal of the patrol to whichboth of them belonged that he knew his missing chum was safe and sound,or he would not be advancing toward him so sturdily.

  "Jimmy," he shouted in a transport of joy.

  "Whoopee! on deck, Ned, and mighty glad it is to see you comin' backafter that hullaballoo of a time!" came the answer; and in anotherminute the two scouts were shaking hands with considerable vim.

  "I picked up your gun, Jimmy," remarked Ned, the first thing, "and hereit is fastened to my saddle."

  "Glory be, but that's good news," declared the other, exultantly; "d'yeknow I've been feelin' mighty sorry about that same gun, for fear I'dlost it; and you know what I think of the shootin'-stick. It was eitherdrop everything, and get me arms tight around the neck of that blastedbroncho, or else find myself standin' on me head. Gee whiz! but it wasa mad race the little villain gave me before he fetched up here at theranch house."

  "I'm sorry you didn't have some of the fun of driving the herd home,"remarked the scout master; "but glad it was no worse than a runaway.When I saw the white in the eyes of that pretty calico pony I knew hehad a nasty temper. I suppose you'll want another horse after this?"

  "What, me?" ejaculated Jimmy, bristling up instantly; "is that theopinion you've got of your old chum, Ned Nestor? Did you ever know meto give anything up first pop? Well, I'll break that spotted littlefiend in, or else he'll break my coco for me. And say, he's goin' topay up for the run he took this night. I'll keep him goin' till he'sready to drop, and will eat out of me hand. That's Jimmy McGraw's wayof doin' things. The McGraws never say die as long as there's anythingto eat in the house."

  "Well, let's get back to the house, after I've turned my pony loose inthe corral where they keep the saddle band. None of the others shown upyet?" Ned continued.

  "Not yet, though I think one of the herds must be close by now, for Icaught a whoop or two a while back, and it didn't come from yourquarter either," Jimmy replied, walking beside his chum, who had jumpedto the ground, glad of the chance to stretch his cramped legs aftersuch a tedious ride, to which he was not accustomed.

  "You must have made record time getting here, then, Jimmy?" the scoutmaster observed, and if he smiled at picturing the sight of hiscompanion hanging desperately to the neck of the frantic runaway, Jimmywas not aware of the fact.

  "'Tis meself that beat the score that time," he remarked, proudly."When I look back, all I seem to remember is a rush, me arms fastaround the neck of the flying steed, and then him entering the corrallike a whirlwind. It was whist, bang, and there I was miles away fromthe fight with me heart near broke because I'd been cheated out of thebest part of the game."

  When Ned remembered the arduous drive that followed, with his voicehusky from shouting, and how his arms ached from waving his hat, andmanaging his lively mount, he secretly thought Jimmy had been a luckychap, though he did not say so.

  "And you couldn't find a mount to come back on, I suppose?" he asked.

  "That I couldn't," replied Jimmy. "The saddle horse corral was plumbempty; and there wasn't a puncher around to lend me his broncho. I eventhought to walk out and meet ye on the way, but was afraid I'd get lostand give heaps of trouble. But glory be, you won the day, and saved theprize herd, which ought to please the Colonel when he hears about thesame."

  Having disposed of his mount Ned, together with Jimmy, started for thehouse, intending to settle down in an easy chair and not move until hewent to bed.

  There could be no doubt but what one of the other herds was coming in,for the clamor of the drive was in full swing. It had been thought thatChunky and his party might be the last to arrive, as they had furtherto go; but unexpected difficulties must have delayed the others, orelse they found themselves unable to push their herds as rapidly asNed's party had done.

  Jimmy was laughing softly to himself as they sat there, waiting theturn of events.

  "What strikes you as so funny, Jimmy?" asked Ned.

  "Well," replied the other scout, "I was only thinkin' how little we cansee further than our noses. Now, only a bit ago some of us began tocomplain that the excitement was all in the past. But say, look whatwe've run up against before we've been in this country of the cattlerustlers a single day. Can you beat it?"

  And Ned, as he looked back at the strange events marking the lasttwenty-four hours, was compelled to admit that Jimmy was right; forthey had certainly never met with a more thrilling series of happeningsthan those which had come their way. And it also seemed as though theend was not yet; for there still remained to be carried out hisbusiness affair in connection with the man who was wanted so badly bythe Secret Service people at Washington.

  As they sat there and exchanged remarks, the noise grew in volume, andpresently from three quarters at once moving objects began to loom up,that soon developed into the expected droves. From which it would seemthat success had accompanied the Double Cross punchers in everyround-up, and that the herds were all safe.