CHAPTER XV
JACK MEETS A GIRL
The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceedslowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it toprevent a collision. It was tiresome traveling, and nearly every onegrumbled--that is, all save the boys. To them the affair was novelenough to be interesting.
Finally they reached and passed the disabled freight train. As theypuffed past it a girl, who had come in from some car ahead with anelderly gentleman, took a seat with him just across from where Jack sat.
"There, daddy," said the girl in a sweet, resonant voice that made Jacklook up quickly, "there's the train that made all the trouble. Now we'llgo more quickly."
"Are you sure, Mabel?" he asked.
"Why, yes, daddy. Didn't the conductor say that as soon as we passed thebroken freight train we would get on our regular track? You heard him."
"Yes, I know, but you can't always believe what these railroad men tellyou. They'd say anything to keep a passenger quiet. I'm nervous ridingin these cars. There may be a collision when we're on the wrong track.Don't you think so?" he asked, turning to Jack.
"Why, no. I don't believe we're in any danger," replied our hero, andhis heart beat faster at the grateful look which the pretty girl flashedat him from her brown eyes. "There is a flagman ahead of us, and we'llsoon be on the right track. There is no danger."
"I'm sure I hope so," went on the aged man. "I'm not used to this way oftraveling. A wagon, a horse, or hitting the trail for mine. I came outof the front car, because I thought it would be safer here in case of acollision. Don't you think so?" he asked anxiously.
"Of course," answered Jack reassuringly, and again the girl lookedgratefully at him.
"My name's Pierce," went on the timid man. "Dan Pierce. What's yours?"
"Oh, daddy!" exclaimed the girl. "Perhaps the young gentleman doesn'twant to tell his name."
"Why shouldn't he?" asked Mr. Pierce quickly. "Every one ought to beproud of his name. I'm proud of mine. Dan Pierce it is. I'm an oldWestern hunter, and this is my daughter Mabel. We've been East on avisit, and we're going back. I'm glad of it, too. What's your name?" hewent on.
"Father," expostulated the girl, "perhaps he doesn't wish to tell."
"Oh, I haven't the least objection," answered our hero. "I'm JackRanger, and these are some friends of mine."
"I'd like to know 'em," said Mr. Pierce quickly, and Jack introduced theboys, the old hunter, in turn, presenting his daughter Mabel, whoblushed more than ever. But Jack thought her ever so much prettier whenthe color surged up into her brown, olive-tinted cheeks.
"Going far?" asked Mr. Pierce.
"We're taking a hunting trip to the Shoshone Mountains," replied Jack.
"You don't say so? Why, that's where I lived and hunted for fortyyears!" exclaimed Mr. Pierce. "That's where me and my daughter live.About ten miles from Pryor's Gap. But my hunting days are over," he saida bit sadly. "I have to settle down now and live in a house with Mabelhere."
Jack thought that was not at all a bad arrangement, and he stole aglance at the girl. He caught her looking at him, and he felt the bloodmounting to his face, while he saw the blush spread again over hercheeks.
"How long are you going to stay?" asked Mr. Pierce.
Then Jack told of the formation of the gun club, and how it happenedthat they had a chance to come West on a late fall hunting trip.
"It makes me feel young again," declared Mr. Pierce as his eyes lightedup. "I declare, I've a good notion to hit the trail again."
"Oh, you mustn't think of that, daddy!" exclaimed Mabel. "Remember, youpromised me you would stay home now and rest."
"Rest? I guess you mean rust," said Mr. Pierce, his deep-set eyessparkling with fun. "I sure would like to hit the trail again."
"We would be very glad to have you come along with us," said Jack. "Wehave plenty of shelter tents, and lots of grub."
"I'd like it--I'd like it," said Mr. Pierce musingly.
"Daddy!" expostulated his daughter.
She shot a somewhat indignant glance at Jack for proposing such a thing,but she was not angry.
"There, there, Mabel, of course I won't go," said her father. "I'll stayhome. My hunting days are over, I reckon, but I sure would like a chanceto wrassle with a bear or draw a bead on a mule deer or a fine big-hornsheep. Say, if you boys ever get near Pryor's Gap I'll feel mortaloffended if you don't stop off and see us."
"We'll stop," promised Jack heartily, and he looked into Mabel's eyes,whereat she blushed again, and Jack felt his heart strangely beating.
"Masquerading mud-turtles! but that's a fine view!" suddenly exclaimedNat, who was looking from a window. "You can see fifty miles, I'llwager."
Mabel laughed heartily.
"What a funny expression!" she said. "Where did you get it?"
"Oh, he makes them up as he goes along," explained Jack, while Nat wasin some confusion.
"It must be some tiresome," observed Mr. Pierce, while his eyes twinkledhumorously. "But we sure do have fine views out here. You needn't be ina hurry to look at 'em. There's plenty where you're going. But I meantto ask you boys how do you calculate to travel after you get to FortCuster? I believe you said you were going there first."
"We are," replied Jack, "and from there we have arranged to go in wagonsto Sage Creek and across Forty-mile Desert."
"That's a good route," observed Mr. Pierce. "Who was you depending on totote your stuff across the desert?"
"Why, a man named Isaac Blender," answered Jack. "I wrote to him on theadvice of my father, who heard of him through some Western friends hehas."
"Oh, you mean Tanker Ike," said Mr. Pierce.
"Tanker Ike?" repeated Jack.
"Yes. You see, we call him that because he used to drive a water tankacross the desert to the mining camps. So you're going with Tanker Ike,eh? Well, that's middlin' curious."
"Why so?" asked Sam.
"Because me and my daughter are going to take a short trip with him.I've got a sister I want to visit before I go back to Pryor's Gap, andMabel and I are going in one of Tanker Ike's wagons."
"Maybe we can go together," spoke Jack quickly, and he glanced at Mabel,who suddenly found something of interest in the scenery that was rushingby.
"That's just what I was thinking," went on Mr. Pierce. "I'll give you aproper introduction to Ike. Are you going to have a guide?"
"Yes," answered Jack. "I wrote to Mr. Blender about it, and he promisedto get an Indian guide for us. Do you think he can?"
"Oh, yes. There are plenty of Crow Indians that can be hired. I'll seethat he gets you a good one."
"Thank you," said Jack, secretly delighted that he could travel for sometime longer in Mabel's company.
The rest of the railroad journey seemed very short to Jack, and to hischums also, for Mr. Pierce proved an interesting talker, and told themmany stories of camp and trail.
Finally they reached Fort Custer, found their camping outfit on hand,with their guns, tents and other necessaries, and there was Tanker Ikeon hand to meet them.
"Hello, Ike!" called Mr. Pierce as he descended from the car.
"Well, bust my off wheel! If it ain't Dan Pierce!" exclaimed the other."Where did you drift in from?"
They greeted each other heartily, and then Mr. Blender approached Jackand his chums, Mr. Pierce doing the introducing, which was hardlynecessary, as the man who was to pilot the boys across the desert was ahearty, genial Westerner, whom to meet once was to feel well acquaintedwith.
"And I want you to get these boys a good Indian guide," said Mr. Pierce."None of those lazy, shiftless beggars."
"I've got Long Gun for them," said Mr. Blender.
"Good!" exclaimed Mr. Pierce. "Long Gun is as good a Crow Indian asthere is. You'll be safe with him, boys."
"Sanctimonious scalplocks!" exclaimed Nat. "Are we going to travel witha real live Indian?"
"That's what, son," replied Tanker Ike softly. "But don't let off an
ymore of them curious expressions than you can help. They might scareLong Gun, and he's sort of timid--for an Indian," and Mr. Pierce joinedthe wagon driver in a laugh.
"Well, if we're going to start we'd better be going," remarked Mr.Blender at length. "Let's see. I guess I can get you all in one wagon,and pack the grub and camp truck in another."
"Where will the Indian guide meet us?" asked Jack.
"The other side of the desert."
"Do you think he'll be there?"
"When Long Gun says a thing, it's as good as done," commented Mr.Pierce. "Well, Mabel, climb up, and I'll get aboard in a few minutes."
Jack made a start for the wagon.
"Where you going?" asked Nat quickly.
"I'm going to get in, of course."
"But what about our stuff?"
"Oh, Mr. Blender will look after that, I guess."
Jack kept on, following close after Mabel, and he took a seat beside herin the big wagon.
"Say, fellows," remarked Nat in a low voice to the other lads, "what doyou think of Jack?"
"He's got 'em bad," commented Sam. "But I don't know as I blame him.She's awful nice."
"Cut it out! You're getting sentimental in your old age, Sam," objectedBony, as he cracked a couple of knuckles for practice.
Jack Ranger's Gun Club; Or, From Schoolroom to Camp and Trail Page 16