CHAPTER XIV
THE STAMPEDE
"Well, what do you make of it?" asked Bud of Dirk and Chot, when allfive had the first moment of respite from the strenuous work ofquieting the excited cattle. They had met near the fire, which wasonly glowing dully, now that its flame was not needed to head off thesteers.
"Don't just know what to say," answered the older cowboy. "It all cameso sudden."
"There must be two bands of rustlers around here," observed Chot."That is, unless those your dad is after, Bud, gave him the slip andtried to operate here."
"Maybe there's only one gang, divided up for the night," suggested Nort.
"Well, of course it's only guesswork," stated Bud, "but I think thiswas an altogether different gang trying to put one over on us. Andanother thing--it was a Greaser who roped Dick."
"A Greaser!" cried Chot. "What makes you think so?"
"I had a glimpse of the noose," said Bud. "It wasn't tied the way anycow puncher ties his. It was a Greaser or I'll never speak to ZipFoster again!"
"Oh, you and your Zip Foster!" scoffed Chot. "But it may be that itwas a sneakin' Mex trying his hand with the rope. You didn't see him,did you?" and he turned to Dick.
"No. The first I knew I was being snaked off, and I was mighty scared."
"Naturally," said Dirk dryly. He wanted to let the tenderfoot knowthat it was not considered unmanly to show signs of fear under thecircumstances.
"Did you get a look at 'em, Chot?" asked Bud, turning to the cowboys."I mean when you rode out there just before they tried to stampede us."
"Didn't see hide nor hair of 'em," was the answer.
"Well, they didn't get away with what they started after," declaredDirk. "And now, since it's so near morning, there isn't much useturning in until we have something to eat."
"I'll make coffee and sizzle some bacon," offered Bud, for he realizedthat he and his cousins had had some rest during the fore part of thenight, while the cowboys were riding herd before the disturbancehappened.
"And can't we circle around the cattle?" asked Nort.
"We could keep 'em quiet while you ate," suggested Dick.
"They seem to be fairly quiet now," remarked Dirk, "but it wouldn't doany harm to circle around 'em. If you have trouble, though," he addedquickly, "fire your guns."
"We will!" exclaimed Nort, as he and Dick sprang for their horses. Theboy ranchers were eager thus to take their first tour of duty alone,and they were much disappointed when nothing happened. The steers werequiet, after their tiresome racing around in a circle. But that wasbetter than having them stampede, with the possible killing of many.
Slowly the light grew in the east, turning from pale gray to rosetints, and then the sun came up, making the dew-laden grass sparklebrightly. The cattle, many of which had been lying down, got up, rearends first, which is what always distinguishes the manner of a "cowcritter" arising from that of a horse.
Across the range blew wisps of smoke from the greasewood camp fire, andthen came the smell of bacon and coffee, than which there is no aromamore to be desired in the world.
"Um!" murmured Nort, sniffing the air.
"Isn't that great?" cried his brother.
"It will be, if we can get some," said Nort, chuckling.
But he need not have worried, for, a few minutes later, there floatedto the ears of the boy ranchers the call of Bud:
"Come an' get it!"
The cattle, around which they had been slowly riding, needed noattention now, and in a short time the five cowboys--for Nort and Dickcould truly be called by this name now--were eating an early breakfast.
"One good thing came out of this fracas, anyhow," observed Chot, as hepassed his plate for more flapjacks and bacon, and replenished his tincup with coffee.
"What's that?" asked Dick, feeling his neck where the rough rope hadbroken the skin slightly.
"Well, we'll get an early start," answered the cowboy, "and that's alot when you're hazing steers to the railroad. Every pound counts forthe boss, and you can easily run off a thousand dollars by driving 'emalong during the heat of the day. We can let 'em rest at noon if westart now."
"That's the idea," said Bud.
A little later, the remains of the camp fire having been carefullystamped out, to prevent dry grass from catching, packs were slung upbehind the saddles--said packs consisting of sleeping canvas, a fewutensils and grub--and the start was made.
The cattle were gradually headed in the direction it was desired thatthey should take--the shortest route to the railroad. Nort rode upahead with Chot, while Dick, Bud and Dirk kept to the rear to hazealong the stragglers.
There was not much trouble. The cattle had been watered and fed, andwere in prime condition. At noon a halt was made to save the animalsduring the excessive heat, but toward evening they started off oncemore, and traveled until darkness fell. Camp was made again out in theopen.
During the day no signs were seen of any rustlers, or other suspiciouscharacters, and at night the young ranchers and the older cowboys tookturns riding herd and standing guard.
But nothing of moment occurred, the only sounds, aside from those madeby the cattle themselves, being the unearthly yells and howls of thecoyotes.
In less than three days the bunch of cattle was safely delivered at theyards, where the responsibility of Bud and his companions ended, thebuyer taking charge of them for shipment.
"Did you get the rustlers, Dad?" asked Bud as he and his cousins, withDirk and Chot, rode up to the ranch buildings after their successfultrip.
"No," answered Mr. Merkel, who was out waiting for his son and theothers. "They got clean away."
"Did you see who they were?" asked Dirk.
"Well, I have my suspicions," answered the ranchman. "And I'm notthrough yet. How'd you make out, boys?"
They told him of the night scare and Dick's narrow escape, and the eyesof Bud's father glinted in anger.
"Up to tricks like that, are they?" he exclaimed. "Well, I'd like tocatch 'em at it!"
"Do you know what I think?" exclaimed Bud with energy.
"Well, son, I can't say I do," spoke his father. "You generally skiparound so like a Jack rabbit, it's hard telling where you are. Butshoot! What's your trouble?"
"My trouble is," said Bud slowly, "that I don't know enough about thoseprofessors and their gang!"
"The professors!" exclaimed Nort and Dick.
"That's what I said," went on Bud. "I think their pretended search forsomething is only a bluff. They're high-grade cattle rustlers, that'swhat I think!"
No one said anything for a few moments, and then Mr. Merkel remarked:
"Well, maybe you're right, Bud. Stranger things have happened. Itmight pay us to trail these fellows. Certainly there was somethingqueer about them."
"Mighty queer," agreed Bud. "I began to suspect them after they triedto lasso Dick."
"Do you think one of those men--Professor Wright or ProfessorBlair--tried to snake me off?" asked Dick.
"Well, no, not one of them, personally," admitted Bud. "They couldn'tthrow a rope over a molasses barrel. But they set some one up to it,I'll say!"
"Maybe," spoke Mr. Merkel musingly. "We'll have a look at their trail,if we can pick it up. But we've got a lot else to do first."
Indeed Diamond X ranch was a busy place in those days. Dick and Nortcould not have come at a better time, and they were such apt pupilsthat they soon acquired many of the ways of the cowboys, who werewilling and anxious to teach them. In a comparatively short time thetwo "tenderfeet" were no longer called that. They could shoot fairlywell, though they were not "quick on the draw," and they were becomingmore and more expert with the rope every day.
It was about two weeks after their experience with the unknown user ofthe lariat that Bud and his cousins were sent to ride herd at theSquare M ranch, which was one of Mr. Merkel's holdings. He wasplanning to get a bunch of steers there ready for shipment, and a buyerwas to come and
look them over when they had been headed in from theopen range to a large corral. Bud and his cousins were to help drivethe animals in.
Square M ranch, so called because the brand was the letter M in asquare, was a good two days' ride from Diamond X. But the boys had afine time going, and found plenty to do when they arrived. Graduallythe cattle were gathered up, and worked toward the corral.
They were within a day's ride of this haven, when, one afternoon, asBud, Dick and Nort were moving on ahead of the bunch, which was drivenby several cowboys, Bud looked back and let out a yell.
"What's the matter?" cried Nort.
"Stampede!" was the answer, "Oh, boy! Now look out for trouble!"
Boy Ranchers; Or, Solving the Mystery at Diamond X Page 14