CHAPTER XIX
THE CHASE
Through the darkness came many and varied sounds. The thunder rolledlong and continuously. The angry voices of men rose loud and hoarse.Along the drenched road came the smugglers' car, its exhaust roaring.And over all the rain came down in torrents.
"Out of the way there, you!" came a voice. "We ain't got no time forfoolin'!"
"Stick to it, Nort!" the Kid yelled. "Don't let them through!"
The two boys were standing in the middle of the road, guns out,determined to prevent Delton and his men from closing in on Hawkins,who was grimly awaiting the smuggling car. If they could be held offuntil the auto pulled in and stopped, the party at the other side ofthe ranch house might succeed in capturing the Chink runners.
There was a sudden shot.
"Hurt, Nort?" the Kid called anxiously.
"Nope! Missed! Put those guns up, you! We've got you covered! Climbdown off those horses quick, or we'll fill you full of holes!"
There was a desperate ring in the boy rancher's voice, and Delton musthave recognized this, for he yelled something to the men back of himand they all halted. The thunder was less frequent now, although therain had not let up. The boys standing in the road were soaked to theskin. Still they remained firmly in their place, listening to the roarof the approaching car, and hoping they could hold Delton until itreached the ranch. By the sound it was almost to the Shooting Starranch now. In another moment----
"Hey, you guys, what's the idea?" through the night came a questioningvoice. "Don't you know it's rainin' here? How about lettin' us in theranch to get dry?"
"You stay where you are!" the Kid yelled. "You'll have plenty o' timeto get dry all right!"
"Kid--here's the car! Watch out now!" Nort was at the Kid's side, butfacing the other way. "Can you see anything--any of Delton's bunch?"
"Nope--only hear that guy that was talking! Can you?"
"No but--what's that?"
From the other side of the house came three shots in rapid succession.Then someone yelled. The next moment Dick came splashing around towhere the Kid and Nort were waiting.
"They--they fooled us!" Dick panted. "Delton and three others got tothe car before we did and warned the smugglers! They all got away!"
"Delton!" the Kid exclaimed. "Why, we had him here----"
"Yes you did!" came a mocking voice. "You big cheese--all you had wasa good talk! So long!" There was the splashing noise of a horserapidly departing for parts unknown.
"Can--you--beat--that!" Nort ejaculated. "Fooled! Taken in likesuckers! While we stood here talking----"
"Yes, and while we're standing here talking now, the smugglers aregetting farther and farther away! Come on! We've got to chase them!"Dick turned and made for the corral.
"Chase an auto on a horse?" the Kid yelled. "What's the sense of that?"
"They can't go fast in this wet--and we can spot them by the noise.Hurry up!"
"But I ain't got no pony!" wailed the Kid. "Wish I had my bronc! Whatam I supposed to do; stay here?"
"No--one of Delton's bunch lost his seat and we've got his animal--usethat. He got away in the auto. But for the love of Pete, hurry up!"
The rain had abated a little when the boys reached the corral. BilleeDobb was waiting with the ponies untied and ready. It was but the workof a moment to mount and lead the other horses over to where Hawkinsand Bud were standing.
"Where's my new bronc?" the Kid asked as he came up.
"Here--this do you?" Bud was holding a little black pony.
"Sure--as long as it's got legs!" The Kid swung himself upon thehorse's back. "Right! Let's go!"
"We've no time to lose, men!" Hawkins called out. "We messed that upproper! This Delton is more clever than I thought he was."
All were mounted now and ready to take up the chase. The Kid wasletting his pony walk about, and the rest were awaiting Hawkins's wordto start.
The six riders set out into the night. Hawkins said the car had takena route at right angles and to the left of the road, and all went inthat direction. They pushed their ponies as fast as they dared overthe soaked prairie, hoping to catch sight of the car before they hadridden too far. It was obvious that no auto could make great speedover the rough surface of the plains, and to add to this rain mustcertainly slow them up still more. So the punchers had a fairly goodchance of overtaking them. Delton would probably be acting as convoyto the car, and if they were able to take that, they would capture himalso. With these thoughts in mind the ranchers beat along through therain, which was not now so heavy.
"What happened?" asked Billee Dobb.
"Just this," Bud answered. "Mr. Hawkins and I were waiting for the carto reach us. We couldn't hear what was happening on the other side ofthe house, and Mr. Hawkins and I were all set to grab the gang in it,when four men came riding by like mad and reached the car before wedid. They yelled something, and in a second the car was off the roadand away, the horsemen after it. But one of the riders fell, anddidn't wait to get on his horse again--just hopped on the running boardof the car."
"What were those cracks we heard?"
"I took a couple of pot-shots at the tires, but I don't think I hitanything. Too dark. And it was raining cats and dogs, you know."
"Don't I know it! Nort an' me sure had our hands full. Five men tostop! We figured if we could hold them until you had the fellows inthe car covered, we could capture them too. Say, see any Chinks in thecar?"
"Didn't see anything! The car turned off before we could get closeenough to see in it."
"Too bad we couldn't work it, boys," Hawkins ruefully said. "We'vestill got a chance to nab them, though. They can't get far over thisground with a car."
"They can lead us a merry chase," Dick asserted. "Wonder what time itis?"
"One o'clock," Bud suggested. "Not much more, anyway. Think they cameover this way, Mr. Hawkins?"
"Yes--I do. Know where we are?"
"Comin' to the water hole, I think," answered Yellin' Kid.
"Say, maybe they're going to try and make for the place where they heldme!" Bud exclaimed. "That's over this way somewhere."
"Can you find it again?" the agent asked, an anxious note in his voice.
"Think so."
"Then if we don't make out to-night we can have a try at that in themorning."
"How far do you want to go?" Bud asked Hawkins.
"Let's see now. I have an idea, and I want to see what you fellowsthink about it. First, though, are you sure that you can find thatranch where they held you, Bud?"
"Can in daylight. Maybe not at night."
"If you started from the water hole do you think you could spot it atnight?"
"Might. I could try it, anyway."
"Hold up a minute, then."
The six riders drew rein, and waited for the agent's next words.
"It's not much use trailing them much farther. What I think they did,is to make for that ranch house where Bud was, and stay there. Nowhere's the point. Even if we did come upon them now, we'd have a hardjob taking them. I think this is a better plan. Listen, now."
The boys drew closer around Hawkins.
"This idea I have calls for two men to stay up all night. Who'll doit?"
"Me!"
"Let me in on that!"
"What is it--keeping guard?"
"Yes, Nort, that's exactly what it is--keeping guard. Now here's thedope. We followed that bunch pretty far. There's no doubt but thatthey headed for that house, and intend to unload their Chinks there.Now if we can only keep them in that house until morning, we can getthe whole gang--including the Chinks--like rats in a trap. Now do yousee what I mean?"
"You mean you want some of us to watch the place and do a littleshootin' so that they won't come out?"
"That's it exactly, Kid! If two men can get close to the house, andkeep firing at intervals, they'll think that we've got them cold, andwill st
ay there long enough to allow us to get them by morning."
"What's the matter with all of us going up there now?"
"Wouldn't do any good, and besides, someone has got to be at yourranch. And some of us have got to get a little sleep. We may have todo some more riding to-morrow."
"Well, if you think that's best, I'll do it, for one," spoke Dick.
"And I'll go with you!" Bud exclaimed. "I owe Delton quite a good dealfor the way he hauled me off my horse!"
"All set for this new plan then?" asked Billee.
"Yes, I think that would be best," Hawkins said slowly. "Bud, you knowsomething about the lay-out of the place. We'll ride part of the waywith you, in case anything happens. Then when we get near it, you'llhave to go on alone. You and Dick can decide on a plan of action. Wewill ride back, and return before dawn. This time we won't fail!"
"You'll ride with us to the place now, you mean?"
"Almost to it. Then I'll know the way to find it again. Come on,let's get started!"
The moon was now struggling to shine through the clouds as the six tookup the ride again. Bud was in the lead. They had ridden for tenminutes when, suddenly, Bud uttered an exclamation, and pulled up hishorse.
"Look there!" he cried, pointing.
Ahead loomed a dark mass. The boys rode up to it. As they approachedslowly the moon finally came out fully, and before them they, saw thewreck of an automobile.
Boy Ranchers on Roaring River; Or, Diamond X and the Chinese Smugglers Page 19