CHAPTER XXX.CONCLUSION.
On the way back to the Star-A ranch, close to which those from Phelps’ place would have to ride, a scurry of dust in the road claimed the attention of the riders.
“Mebbyso,” remarked old Nomad, “trouble’s goin’ te bust through thet cloud o’ dust. Pard Buffler an’ compadres don’t no more’n git time ter breathe arter one shake-up than another hits ’em. Who’s thet shackin’ this-a-way?”
When the form of the galloping horseman emerged from the cloud, the man was recognized as Prouther.
“Something’s happened to Jake!” exclaimed Phelps, fearing the worst.
“Don’t lose your nerve, Hank, till you hear what’s happened to him,” cautioned the doctor. “I’m wondering how Prouther was able to guess where we were.”
When he came close, Prouther jerked his horse back on its haunches.
“Waal, here ye aire!” he exclaimed. “Didn’t reckon I could spot ye, but I had a notion ye rode over ter the Star-A ranch, seein’ as how Buffler Bill was with ye. So I shot along in this direction. Ye wasn’t at the Star-A, but them Circle-B men reckoned ye was some place over hyer. So hyer I come, an’ hyer ye aire. I reckon thar’s been a mistake, Hank.”
“I reckon there has,” said the doctor dryly, “several mistakes. Why did you leave Jake? Didn’t I tell you to stay with him?”
“Waal, doc,” said Prouther, “he come to.”
“Whoop!” jubilated the doctor. “He came to, eh? Then he’ll pull through. That was all I was waiting for. Was he rational?”
“Meanin’ which?” asked Prouther innocently.
“Dunderhead! Was he in his right senses when he woke up?”
“He was. It’s what he said as brung me hyer at sich a clip.”
“What did he say?”
“He allowed it was Red Thunderbolt as made him all the trouble.”
“Ha! Better late than never. This is right from headquarters. Bloom! Do you hear that, Bloom?”
Bloom heard it, but he made no comments.
“What else did Jake say?” asked Phelps eagerly.
“Said he was ridin’ fer home when Red Thunderbolt charged him,” went on Prouther; “he said Nate Dunbar didn’t have nothin’ ter do with it. Jake said he tried ter rope Thunderbolt, an’ the steer galloped on with his saddle an’ saddlebags, leaving Jake on the ground. Jake was some shook up, and he was climbin’ to his feet an’ rubbin’ his eyes when he see Thunderbolt comin’ at him full tilt. Thunderbolt landed. The sunshine was blotted out fer Jake, an’ thet’s all he kin recollect until he woke up, with me settin’ by him fannin’ him. I was afeared,” Prouther added, “that Bloom might be doin’ somethin’ with Dunbar. That’s why I pulled out ter find you all.”
“I reckon this case is double proof!” laughed the doctor. “Say, Prouther, you were one of the crazy men who came to the Star-A last night to ‘get’ Nate Dunbar. Now how do you feel?”
“Meachin’,” answered Prouther promptly, “meachin’ as sin. I’m a heap sorry for it all, Dunbar,” he added sheepishly.
“All’s well that ends well,” said the doctor. “Maybe, if you cowpunchers are good from now on, Dunbar will overlook that little play.”
“You’re sure Jake will live now, are you, doc?” asked Phelps.
“Want me to sing it?” grunted the doctor. “Of course I’m sure. He’ll be as well as ever in a week. The first thing, after he’s up, you’ve got to make him do something.”
“What’s that?”
“Why, steer him over to the Star-A, and make him shake hands with Dunbar.”
“I’ll do it, doc, and I’ll begin by shaking hands with Dunbar myself.”
They had reached the point where the north and south trail branched, the branch leading to the Star-A ranch.
Phelps rode up to Dunbar, and offered his hand. Dunbar lost no time in taking it. The hand grip went around, Perry, Mrs. Dunbar, Buffalo Bill, and Benner all coming in for their share of the reconciliation.
“Peace on the Brazos from now henceforward, eh, Phelps?” asked Benner.
“Yes,” replied Phelps. “I’ve had enough of the squabbling.”
“Same here. Red Thunderbolt’s out of the running, too. I’ll hand five hundred over to Wild Bill and the baron, if you will?”
“I’ll send the money this afternoon.”
“Bully! I’ll do the same. Thunderbolt wasn’t shot, but it was the scout’s rope and Jake’s saddle that landedhim. The scout’s rope is good for my five hundred to the baron.”
“And the truth of this business, first brought out by the help of that trailing saddle of Jake’s,” said Phelps, “is worth five hundred to me.”
“Then, truly,” chuckled the doctor, “all’s well that ends well. When you’re in Hackamore next, Cody, come and see me. I’d like to talk with you.”
“You’ll see me, doctor,” answered the scout.
“And I want you to pay me another visit at the H-P ranch,” said Phelps. “I can promise you a different welcome next time you come, Buffalo Bill.”
“I doubt whether I shall have time.”
“If he has any time,” put in Benner, “he’ll spend it at the Circle-B.”
“Not at all,” cried Dunbar, “he’ll spend all his time at the Star-A.”
“We’ll see about it later,” said the scout, and the party separated.
Phelps, Prouther, the doctor, and Bloom rode off toward the H-P ranch, while the scout and the others turned their horses into the branch trail.
In front of the Star-A ranch, that night, the scout and his pards sat long with the Star-A ranchers. It was to be their last chat together, for in the early morning Buffalo Bill and compadres were to fare toward Hackamore, turning their backs permanently on the Brazos country.
“It has peen a mighdy valuple nighdt’s vork for Hickok und me,” piped the baron, shaking a bag of gold. “I ditn’t t’ink, ven Vild Pill und me vas following dosedracks oof der feller on foot, dot ve should make fife hundert each oudt oof der pitzness. Sooch,” added the baron with great complaisance, “is vat dey call luck.”
“It was a hard job we had, pards, all the same,” said Wild Bill. “We found the steer first—tumbled over those two ropes by pure accident. After we found the steer, we went hunting for the man who owned the saddle.”
“Und mitoudt looking indo der sattlepags,” cut in the baron.
“It was an easy trail to follow—that one left by Red Thunderbolt. The trailing saddle had gouged its way over the earth, and any one could have taken that back track. But we lost the gouge marks in the trail by that gully. I was trying to pick them up when I found the ’dobe and Red Steve inside. That was enough for me. I left the baron with Red Steve while I went to the Star-A to tell Buffalo Bill, and when Pard Cody came back with me we arranged that little surprise party. It was a question whether Red Steve could last until the scout got back with his party, but fortune favored us.”
“I vas sent py der sgout to see dot nopody tampered mit der lay-oudt vere Red T’underboldt was,” added the baron. “Und dere ve vas ven ve vas foundt.”
“It all worked out very nicely for Nate,” said Mrs. Dunbar.
“With the scout and his pards to help in the working out, Hattie,” dropped in Perry.
“We’ll none of us ever forget Buffalo Bill and his pards,” declared Nate Dunbar, with much feeling.
“And I’ve erbout made up my mind ter one thing,” said old Nomad.
“What’s that?” asked Wild Bill.
“Why,” chuckled the trapper, “I b’leeve thar’s more excitement ter be had by a feller who’s huntin’ fer peace than by a feller who’s huntin’ fer trouble. Hey, Buffler?”
“In some places, perhaps,” answered the scout, “and in some circumstances. But not as a general thing, Nick.”
THE END.
No. 103 of theBuffalo Bill Border Stories, entitled, “Buffalo Bill’s Big Surprise,” is a thrilling story of Indian warfare, haunted ranches, and exciting adventure. Every boy that loves the great scout will want to read this book.
No. 103 of theBuffalo Bill Border Stories, entitled, “Buffalo Bill’s Big Surprise,” is a thrilling story of Indian warfare, haunted ranches, and exciting adventure. Every boy that loves the great scout will want to read this book.