Then up in the air he went.—Page 224.Then up in the air he went.—Page 224.
Three times the bronco tried this trick, and the third time Dave came close to falling off. Then the bronco gave a dart forward, like an arrow from a bow.
"There he goes!" yelled the senator's son, but the words were not yet out of his mouth when the bronco stopped short. Dave slid to the animal's neck, but there he clung, his face pale and determined, and his teeth set.
"Hi! hi! what's this!" shouted a voice, and, turning, the crowd saw Sid Todd approaching on the run. "Yates, what do you mean by letting him git up on that critter?" he demanded, indignantly.
"Ain't that the bronco you wanted him to try?" asked the other cowboy, innocently.
"No—an' you know it!" stormed Todd. "Do you want him to break his neck? Hi, Dave, jump down! You can't tame that beast, nohow!"
"I—I'm all—ri—right!" jerked out Dave, between his teeth. "Ke—keep away," he added, as Todd came closer, to lend his assistance.
"He's a bad one, boy—one o' the worst on the ranch. Yates had no call to offer him to you."
"Ke—keep away," was all Dave replied. Hecould not say more, for the bronco claimed all his attention.
"Yates, if that boy is hurt, you'll have an account to settle with me," said Sid Todd, and shook his fist at the other cowboy.
"I—er—I was sure you wanted me to bring out that beast fer him," murmured Yates, uneasily. He was sorry now that he had played the trick on Dave.
The bronco had taken another run, coming to as sudden a halt as before. Dave slid up almost to the animal's ears, but still clung on, and quickly regained his seat in the saddle. Then, without warning, the pony dropped to the ground and started to roll over.
"Look out! you'll have your leg broken!" yelled Phil. But Dave was on his guard, and, as the pony dropped, he leaped away to safety. Then, as the animal arose once more, the youth grabbed the saddle and vaulted into the seat.
"Say, that's goin' some, I tell you!" roared one of the cowboys in delight. "He ain't givin' in yet, he ain't!"
"Look out that he don't bang you into a fence, or one of the buildings!" yelled Sid Todd. He was alarmed, yet delighted at the manner in which Dave clung to his difficult and dangerous undertaking.
With Dave once more on his back, the pony triednew tactics. Around and around he went in a circle, sending the dust of the corral flying in all directions. Then, like lightning, he reversed, nearly breaking his own neck, and causing Dave to slip far down on the outer side. But the youth hung to the saddle, and, leaning forward, slapped the bronco a smart crack on the neck. This he followed up with a blow on the head.
The effect was just what the boy desired. The pony forgot all his tricks, and leaping high into the air, he shot off like a streak toward the corral gate. Once outside, he headed for the open plains, going with the speed of a racer on the track.
"They're off!" cried Roger.
"Don't let him throw you!" yelled Todd.
"Can't we ride after 'em?" queried Phil.
"Sure we can ride after 'em," responded Todd. "An' we better do it, too, fer there ain't no tellin' what that pony will do to Dave," he added, anxiously, and with a black look at Yates, which made the other cowboy cast his eyes to the ground.
On and on sped the bronco, with Dave sitting firmly in the saddle. So long as the pony kept going, the lad felt he had nothing to fear. But he was on the alert, for he did not know but that the animal would play another trick at any instant.
"Go on, old boy!" he muttered. "We've got miles and miles of prairie ahead of us. Run tillyou are tired! But remember, you've got to carry me back," he added, grimly.
Soon the ranch house and the corral were mere specks in the distance, and then even these faded from view. The pony kept to the open country, and not once did he slacken his speed.
"I guess he'll drop into a walk when his wind is gone," thought Dave. But the pony's breathing apparatus showed no sign of giving out. Dave allowed his eyes to turn back, and calculated he had gone two or three miles. "Maybe we had better turn back now," he murmured, and tried to guide the steed in a circle. But this was a failure. The pony kept straight ahead, running due eastward, as the youth could see by the sun.
"All right, go as far as you please," said Dave, grimly. "If you can stand it, so can I," and he settled in the saddle.
Another two miles were covered, and then the bronco commenced to slacken his speed. Dave was on guard at this, and it was well to be, for, a second later, the pony once more tried the trick of flinging his rider over his head. But the effort was a failure, and in return Dave dug his knees deeply into the steed's ribs. Then off went the pony on a run again.
This time the bronco did not cover over a mile before dropping into a walk. Then Dave tried again to turn the animal, but without success.
"Don't want to go back, eh?" said the youth. "Well, you've got to, and that is all there is to it!" And he hit the pony a sharp slap on the neck and dug his knees into the animal's ribs as before.
The bronco was now losing courage. He commenced to run, but did not keep it up for more than a hundred yards. But when he dropped into a walk, Dave urged him up, and again he ran, but now only a dozen steps. Then the youth pulled on the left rein, and the bronco came around with scarcely any trouble.
"You aren't mastered yet, but you're pretty close to it," said the boy. "We are going home, understand, home!"
The bronco moved forward about a hundred feet. Then he deliberately dropped on the prairie and lay on his side, as quiet as a lamb.
"Want to rest, eh?" said Dave. "Well, not out here. You brought me here and you've got to take me back. Get up!"
He gave the animal a prod in the side. The bronco kicked out. Then Dave gave a harder prod. This the pony would not stand, and up he came with surprising agility. He tried to bolt, but Dave caught the saddle and clung there. They headed again eastward, away from the ranch.
"All right, now run for it, and keep it up as long as you please!" cried the boy, and urged the steed forward. Over the prairie the pony sped,as if he had just started in the race. Thus another mile was covered, and now Dave calculated he must be six or seven miles from Star Ranch. The country about him looked strange, and he wondered where he was. Nothing in the shape of a trail had come to view during the last run.
When the bronco stopped his racing, the youth turned him around again. He now showed signs of fatigue, but Dave urged him on, digging his knees into the animal's ribs as tightly as ever. Dave was almost "used up" himself, but he resolved to make the bronco take him back to the corral or die in the attempt.
"They shan't have the laugh on me," he argued. "It's back to the ranch or nothing!"
Dave steered the best course he could for the corral, but with nothing to guide him he did not know if he was moving exactly in the right direction or not. He kept on, with his eyes trying to look beyond the wide-stretching prairies.
Presently he saw in the distance what looked to be a row of low buildings. He headed in that direction, and then saw that the objects were moving towards him.
"They can't be buildings, for buildings don't move like that," he mused. "Must be cattle, or horses. Cattle, most likely."
To avoid the cattle, he turned slightly southward. But the animals kept coming closer, andnow he saw that they were running in something of a semicircle.
"Can anything be wrong with them?" he asked himself, and watched the approaching herd with interest. The bronco, too, pricked up his ears, and gave a sudden snort of alarm.
Then to Dave's ears came the thunder of the herd's hoofs, and he saw that the cattle were on a mad run. He drew rein and stood up in his stirrups.
The sight that met his gaze was truly alarming. At least a thousand head of steers were coming toward him, running swiftly, and with their horns bent low.
"They have stampeded!" he gasped. "And they are coming straight this way! What shall I do to escape them?"
CHAPTER XXIVTHE CATTLE STAMPEDE
Dave had often heard of cattle stampedes, and he knew how truly dangerous such a mad rush can become. Sometimes, from practically no cause whatever, a herd of cattle will start on a wild run, going they know not where, and carrying all down before them.
What had started the present stampede did not interest the youth, but he was interested in the question of how he might get out of the herd's way, so that he would not be run down and trodden to a jelly. To scare the leaders off might be easy, but would not those in the rear push on until he was simply overwhelmed?
"I've got to get away somehow!" he reasoned, and turned his pony at right angles to the approaching cattle. For the moment the bronco seemed too frightened to budge, but at a cry from Dave, he leaped forward, and then went streaking across the prairies as if he knew his life and that of his rider depended on his speed.
It was now a race for life, for the cattle werestill moving in something of a semicircle, and Dave did not know whether or not he would be able to clear the end of the line before it reached him. He called to the pony, but this was unnecessary, for the bronco evidently understood the peril fully as well as his rider.
Suddenly, when it looked as if pony and youth could not escape, Dave heard a whistle float across the prairie. Looking in the direction, he made out the form of Sid Todd, riding like the wind toward him. Behind him came Roger and Phil, but the two boys were soon stopped and told to go back.
"I'll head 'em off!" yelled Todd, coming closer. And waving his big sombrero in one hand he commenced to fire his pistol with the other. He shot rapidly, aiming for the ground and sending streaks of dust into the air. All the time he yelled at the top of his lungs, and, understanding the move, Dave yelled too, and swung one arm wildly.
Soon the leaders of the herd took notice and came to a sudden halt. The rest of the cattle shoved from behind, and then the leaders broke, some going to the right, and the others to the left.
"Look out, Roger! Phil! They are coming your way!" screamed Dave.
He was right, and for the minute it looked as if Dave had been saved at the expense of hischums. But only a few cattle were headed for the other boys, and as soon as Roger and Phil commenced to yell and wave their arms, these broke again, and thus the herd was completely scattered. They ran a short distance further, then halted, and a little later began to graze as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
"Are you all right, son?" asked Sid Todd, anxiously, as he ranged up beside Dave.
"Yes, but—I—I am a lit—tle wi—winded," answered Dave, when he could speak.
"Good enough! Then you mastered the bronco, eh? Didn't he throw you at all?"
"No."
"Didn't he roll?"
"Oh, yes, and I got off and on pretty quick, I can tell you."
"It's wonderful! I never would have thought it!" And Sid Todd's face showed his great admiration. "Why, don't you know that that is one of the wickedest ponies on this ranch? Yates and some of the others have tried to ride him more than once."
"And they couldn't do it?"
"Not much they couldn't! Why, that pony bit one of the men in the arm when he got too near!"
"He snapped at me once."
"Did, eh?"
"Yes, and I slapped his face."
"Well, that's the best way—show 'em you ain't afraid. But it's wonderful! When I see you on this pony I was sure you'd be killed, and I made up my mind to give Yates the wust lickin' he ever had."
"He's as mild as a lamb now," went on Dave, as he eyed the pony.
"Don't you go for to trustin' him too much, yet," were Sid Todd's words of warning, and Dave took them to heart, and it was well he did so, for while returning to the ranch, the bronco tried several tricks to get rid of his rider, but without success.
"I never thought you would do it," said Roger, earnestly. "Are you sure he is safe now?" he added, anxiously.
"I wouldn't try to ride that beast for a million dollars," was Phil's comment. "When he went off with you I thought you'd never get back to tell the story. Roger and I and Todd were so worried we rode after you just as fast as we could."
"I hope the girls don't hear of this," said Dave. "If they do, they'll worry themselves sick every time we go out."
"Oh, we've got to let folks know how you busted that bronco!" cried Sid Todd. "Why, son, you don't understand, but it's the finest bit o' bustin' ever done on this ranch!" he added, vehemently.
"Well, I am glad I won out, for one thing," answered Dave, dryly. "You won't have to give Yates that licking." And this remark made the cowboy laugh in spite of himself. Nevertheless, later on he gave Yates a lecture that the latter never forgot.
"The boy had one chanct in a hundred o' winning out," was what he said. "One chanct in a hundred, an' you knew it! If he had broken his neck I'd 'a' held you responsible, an' so would the boss."
"But he's a great rider," pleaded Yates.
"Sure he is, better nor you'll be if you live to be a hundred, Yates. But it was wrong to pile such a thing up his back,—an' don't you go for to do it again."
The news soon spread that Dave had "busted" the wild bronco, and this, coupled with the fact that he had aided in bringing down the bobcat, gave him an enviable reputation among the cowboys. But the girls were quite alarmed, Jessie and Laura especially.
"Oh, Dave, how could you!" cried Jessie, when they were alone.
"Well, Jessie, you wouldn't want me to appear like a coward, would you?" he asked.
"No, of course not, Dave! But—if you had been—killed!"
"I was watching out, I can tell you that," heanswered, and then changed the subject, for he did not like to see the girl he admired so distressed.
After the excitement of the bronco riding, the boys were glad enough to take it easy for several days. Belle had a tennis court and a croquet ground, and they played each game for hours at a time. The girls were all good players and won the majority of the games.
"Tennis and croquet are all well enough when you have nice girls to play with," remarked Roger. "But otherwise I fancy I'd find them dead slow."
"He'd play twenty-four hours at a stretch with Laura," was Phil's comment.
"Not to mention how long you'd play with Belle," retorted the senator's son.
"Dave doesn't care to play at all when Jessie is around," went on Phil, slyly.
"Neither of 'em cares to play—if there's a hammock and a chair handy," added Roger.
"I noticed yesterday, when Jessie and I were playing tennis, you fellows were so busy talking to the girls you forgot all about your games," retorted Dave. "And one of you was spouting poetry, about 'eyes divine,' or something like that."
"Not me!" cried Roger.
"Then it must have been Phil!"
"No, it was Roger," protested the shipowner's son. "I saw him writing poetry when he should have been sending a letter home."
"You go on, you manufacturer of bombastic fairy tales!" cried the senator's son, and he commenced to chase Phil around the piazza. The other boy leaped the rail and Roger followed, and then both commenced to wrestle on the grass.
"Mercy me! What's going on?" cried Laura, coming from the sitting-room.
"Greatest exhibition on the globe!" called out Dave, in showman style. "The two marvelous lightweights of the United States, Master Hitem Morr and Lamem Lawrence. They will fight to a finish, without gloves, weather permitting. Walk up, tumble up, or crawl up! Admission ten cents, one dime; young ladies with grandfathers in arms, half-price!"
"Oh, Dave!" cried his sister, and burst out laughing. The noise brought Jessie and Belle to the scene, and seeing what was going on, all of the girls commenced to pelt the boys on the grass with tennis balls. The "attack" lasted for several minutes, and then the girls ran away, and the boys went after them, into the house and out again, and across the yard, and then through the kitchen, much to the astonishment of the Chinese cook. Here Phil scooped up a ladleful of soup.
"Halt, base enemy!" he cried, holding the soup aloft. "One step closer and thou shalt be——" And then he slipped and the soup slopped over his hand and his shoes. He ran for the yard again,dropped on a bench, in mock exhaustion; and there the others joined him; and the fun, for the time being, came to an end.
"We are going to the railroad station this afternoon with papa," said Belle. "Want to go along?"
"Will a duck drink ice-cream soda!" cried Roger. "Of course we will go along."
"Then you had better get ready now—for we are to start directly after lunch."
"Anything special at the station?" questioned Dave.
"Papa is going to see a man about some horses. He wants to buy a few more good ones, if he can."
"It's a pity we can't find out what became of the others," went on Dave.
It took the girls some time to prepare for the journey to the railroad station, so the start from Star Ranch was not made until after two o'clock. Mr. Endicott rode in advance, and the young folks paired off in couples after him.
When they got to the bridge Dave was much surprised to see a couple of men at work repairing the structure. They were putting down some planking that was bound to last a long while.
"Mr. Merwell must have opened his heart at last," said Dave, to the railroad president.
"Not at all, Dave; I am having this work done," was Mr. Endicott's reply.
"But I thought you said it was up to Mr. Merwell to keep this bridge in repair."
"So it is, but as he won't do anything, rather than have a quarrel, I am repairing it myself."
"Do you think he wants to sell out? Maybe that is his reason for not spending money in repairs."
"He will sell out, but his price is very high—too high to suit the man who wants to buy."
Leaving the vicinity of the bridge, the party continued on the way to the railroad station. The train was not yet in, but it soon arrived and on it came the man Mr. Endicott wished to see. From the train also stepped Hank Snogger. The ranch hand had evidently been to a barber in the city, for he was shaven and his hair was closely trimmed.
"He looks like quite a different person," remarked Belle. "He always wore his hair long and straggly before."
"Yes, and he wasn't any too clean," answered Dave. "Now he is well washed and brushed."
Hank Snogger walked around the station on an errand, and then came up to where a horse was waiting for him. As he did this he passed quite close to the boys and girls and gave the former a cold stare.
"Do you know, I feel sure I have seen somebody that looks like him," said Dave in a whisper. "I said so before. But I can't place the man."
"Yes, I've seen somebody that looked like him, too," added Roger. "It was while we were coming out here. Now let me think." And he rubbed his chin reflectively.
"Here's a letter about that boy we helped, Charley Gamp," said Phil, who had just received the mail.
"Charley Gamp!" cried Dave. "That's it—that's the same face! This Hank Snogger looks exactly like Charley Gamp!"
CHAPTER XXVTHE BEGINNING OF THE GRAND HUNT
Dave's announcement produced a little sensation, and for the moment his chums stared at him in astonishment.
"Come to think of it, that man does look like the little newsboy," said Roger, slowly. "Do you suppose they can be related?"
"I'd hate to think that Charley Gamp was related to such a fellow," said Phil. "Snogger isn't a nice sort to have anything to do with."
"Mr. Endicott said he didn't use to be so bad," answered Dave. "It is only lately—since he went to work for Mr. Merwell—that he has grown dissolute."
"Maybe he is sorry that he left the Endicott place," said the senator's son. "I'll wager he has no such nice times at the Triple X Ranch as he had at the Star."
"Not if all the cowboys are like those who came to our entertainment," said Phil. "But, Dave, if you think he's related to Charley Gamp, why not speak to him about it?"
"You may get into trouble if you do," interposed Roger, hastily. "Some of these Western characters don't like to have their past raked up."
"But Charley Gamp wants to find his relatives," went on the shipowner's son.
"I'll bring it around—when I get the chance," said Dave. "But I can't do it now," he added. "He's gone." And Dave was right. Hank Snogger had leaped on his horse, and was off, on a trail that led up the river instead of across it.
"What are you boys confabbing about?" cried Belle, coming up, with a box of candy in her hand.
"We were just wondering where we'd get some candy," answered Dave, innocently. He did not think it wise to mention Snogger just then.
"Indeed! Well, I bought this from the candy man of the train. He is waiting for the down train."
"Where is he?" questioned Roger.
"Down the track—by the water tower."
"We'll raid him!" cried the senator's son, and then he and Dave and Phil set off on a footrace in the direction of the man who sold candy, cigars, and magazines. They found that he had a pretty fair stock of candy and magazines, and each boy purchased what he thought would suit the others and himself. In the fun and good spirits thatfollowed Hank Snogger was, for the time being, forgotten.
Two days later there was a rounding-up of some of the cattle and the boys were allowed to participate. They went out with Sid Todd, who had charge of the round-up, and were in the saddle from early morning until late at night. The cattle were gathered in a valley up the river, sorted out from some belonging to Mr. Merwell and Mr. Hooper, and then driven off to a stockyard along the railroad line.
"Not so exciting as I thought it would be," said Dave, after the round-up was over.
"I've had all the riding I want for one day," answered the shipowner's son.
"That's right," grumbled Roger. They had had only a quarter of an hour's rest for lunch. "I reckon some of us will be stiff in the morning," and he was right, all felt somewhat sore.
The round-up had been a careful one, for Mr. Endicott had heard that Mr. Merwell was finding fault over the way some of his cattle were being chased by the cowboys. The following afternoon the Merwells—father and son—met Mr. Endicott as he and Belle were riding along the trail, talking over the family's plans for the coming winter.
"See here, I want to speak about my cattle," cried Mr. Merwell, wrathfully, as he drew rein.
"Some time when I am alone, Mr. Merwell,"answered the railroad president. He quickly saw that his neighbor was "spoiling for a fight."
"Your men took three or four of my steers," went on Mr. Merwell. "I won't stand for it."
"That can't be so, Mr. Merwell. My man, Todd, is a careful rounder, and he told me he was sure of the brands."
"He ain't careful at all," broke in Link. "He drinks and he don't know what he is doing."
"This is an affair between your father and myself," said Mr. Endicott, stiffly. "You will kindly keep out of it."
"Huh! I guess I can have my say!" growled Link.
"I shall hold you responsible for every head of cattle of mine that is missing," continued Mr. Merwell, with a dark look.
"I am willing to pay for every head that Todd drove off that did not belong to us," answered Mr. Endicott. "But he assured me that he took only our own. I will look into the matter when I get back to the ranch." And, bowing stiffly, the railroad president rode on, with Belle beside him. As they passed, Link "made a face" at Belle, but the young lady refused to notice him.
As soon as he returned to the ranch, Mr. Endicott called up Sid Todd, and then some of the other cowboys, and questioned them closely about the cattle sent off. The head herder indignantly deniedthat he had included any outside cattle, and his story was corroborated by the others.
"I can leave it to Bill Parker, Mr. Hooper's man," said Todd. "He was there. If Merwell didn't want to take our word, why didn't he send a man down? We notified him that we was going to make a shipment."
"Have the steers been shipped yet?"
"No—not till to-morrow."
"Then ride down to the yard and have Harrison go over them and write out a declaration that they are all ours," added the ranch owner.
"It's a good deal of work," grumbled the cowboy.
"I know it, but I'll pay Harrison. With a declaration from Harrison, Mr. Merwell will have no claim."
The ranch owner's orders were carried out, and the next day a duplicate of the stockyard man's declaration,—that the cattle were all of the Star Ranch brand,—was delivered to Mr. Merwell.
"Huh! needn't tell me!" he sniffed, after reading the paper. "I guess Harrison is playing into Endicott's hands."
"You tell Harrison that—if you dare," answered the messenger, who had delivered the paper. Harrison was known to be a fair and square but high-tempered individual, and one who could shoot, and shoot straight.
"Oh, I—er—I didn't mean—er—anything against Harrison," answered Felix Merwell, hastily. "I think Endicott is deceiving him, that's all. But it is not his fault. I—er—suppose, though, I'll have to let the matter drop. Just the same, I think some of my cattle slipped into that drove." And there the matter rested. Mr. Merwell knew he was in the wrong, but he was too mean a man to acknowledge it. Truly, father and son were equally despicable.
"I wish he would sell out," said Belle, to the other girls. "But I am afraid he won't—he'll stay here just so he and Link can worry us."
"Maybe he wants you to sell out," said Jessie.
"Well, we'll not do it," answered Belle, with spirit.
On the following day the boys and girls went out on a picnic, taking a generous lunch with them. They persuaded Mr. and Mrs. Endicott to go along with them, and after they returned home the ranch owner and his wife said they felt ten years younger. They had joined in all the games played, helped to build a campfire and make coffee, and "cut up" just as if they were young themselves.
"Oh, if only papa and mamma were here!" sighed Jessie. "I must write them a long letter, telling them all about it!" And the letter was penned the next morning. On that day came aletter from Dunston Porter, stating he would stop at Star Ranch for them ten days from date.
"Only ten days more!" cried Dave. "My, how the time flies!"
There was also a letter from Nat Poole, in which Nat stated that he had been looking for the fellow who called himself Tom Shocker and had at last located the rascal in a town not far from Buffalo. He had accused the man of the robbery at the hotel, and caused the fellow to give up the stickpin and also a pawn-ticket for the watch. The timepiece had been recovered, and both articles were now at the Wadsworth home, waiting for Dave.
"Well, I am glad Nat got the things back," said Dave.
"Maybe that will be a lesson to him, not to trust strangers in the future," was Phil's comment. "But how about the money?"
"Nat says Shocker spent that."
"Then Nat will have to make it good," said Roger.
"Yes, he says he will," answered Dave.
"What about that grand hunt we were to have?" questioned Roger. "Only ten days more, remember."
"I'll see Todd about it at once," was Dave's answer.
The matter was talked over, not only with the cowboy, but with the others, and it was finallydecided that the boys and Todd should leave the ranch home two days later, for a hunt that was to last three and possibly four days. They were to go on horseback, and carry with them a small tent and a fair supply of provisions, as well as two rifles and their shotguns, and the cowboy's pistol.
"We'll strike out straight for the mountains," said Todd. "To be sure, we may find some game in the hills close by, but in the mountains we'll be certain to run down something worth while."
"Well, you look out that something doesn't run you down—a bear, for instance," said Laura.
"Boys that can kill a bobcat can kill a bear, if they try," answered Sid Todd.
The boys were in great delight, and spent every minute of their time in getting ready for the trip. Guns were cleaned and oiled, and they sorted and packed their ammunition with care. Mr. Endicott had a compact camping outfit, consisting of dishes and cooking utensils, and the little tent, and these were made into convenient packs for the horses, and the provisions were likewise strapped up properly. Todd aided in all, and the lads had to admire how deftly he put things together so that they might be carried with comparative ease.
"He has been there before, that is plain to see," said the senator's son.
"A fine man," declared Dave, heartily. "I shall feel perfectly safe with him along."
The girls were sorry to see the boys go, yet every one of them wished the lads the best of luck.
"Please don't run into any danger!" pleaded Jessie.
"Don't shoot at a bear unless you know you can get away from him if you miss him," cautioned Laura.
"And, above all, don't get lost in the mountains," was Belle's advice.
It had looked like rain the night before, and the boys were worried, not wishing to depart in the wet. But the sun came out full in the morning, and their spirits at once arose. Roger could not contain himself and whistled merrily, while Phil did a double shuffle while waiting for breakfast. Dave was also happy, although sorry that the girls, and especially Jessie, would not be along.
"All ready!" cried Todd, half an hour later, when the horses had been brought around to the piazza.
"I am!" cried Dave.
"So am I," came from Phil and Roger.
"Then good-by, everybody!" shouted the cowboy, swinging his sombrero, and off he galloped. The boys said farewell, the girls waved their handkerchiefs, one of the hands fired off his pistol, and away the lads went after Todd; and the grand hunt was begun.
It was still early and delightfully cool, with a faint breeze blowing from the distant mountains, for which they were headed. Todd had already told them that they were to keep on steadily until exactly noon, crossing the river, and following a brook that came from the upper hills.
"I know a fine spot to stop for dinner," he said. "And we can make it if you'll keep up with me." He always took his dinner at noon, having no use for "lunch" at any time.
On and on over the smooth plains the party galloped, and by the middle of the forenoon reached the river.
"No use in stopping for a mess of fish, I suppose," said the senator's son, wistfully.
"You can catch 'em up in the hills just as well," answered the cowboy. "Sweeter, too, maybe," he added. Many fishermen think that the higher up a stream you go for fish, the sweeter they are to the taste.
The cowboy had certainly set a smart pace, but none of the boys grumbled, for they were as anxious as he to reach the mountains and look for game.
"Of course you can keep your eyes open around here," he said, as they galloped along. "But you won't see much, I'm afraid."
"I see some grouse!" cried the shipowner's son, a few minutes later. "We might bring some ofthose down and cook them for supper. We won't want to wait to do it for dinner."
He pointed to some grouse far away, and all agreed that the fowls would make good eating. They rode behind some bushes, tied their horses, and went forward with caution. All fired together, and when the smoke cleared away they saw that four of the game had been laid low. The rest had flown away, and to follow them would have been useless.
"Well, four are all right!" cried Roger, and was about to rush forward to pick up the grouse when of a sudden Dave yelled to him to stop.
"What's the matter?" asked the senator's son.
"A snake!" screamed Phil. And as he spoke all in the party saw what Dave had first discovered. A rattlesnake had appeared from a hole in a tree, close to where the dead grouse lay!
CHAPTER XXVIAFTER DEER
"A rattlesnake!"
"Take care that he doesn't bite you!"
"My, what a big fellow!"
"He is heading this way!"
Such were some of the cries uttered by the young hunters and Sid Todd as all beheld a large-sized snake crawling from a hole under the tree. That it was a rattler there was no doubt.
All leaped back, for the sight momentarily stunned them. But then Dave recovered his presence of mind and blazed away with his shotgun, hitting the reptile in the middle, and inflicting several ugly but not mortal wounds. The rattlesnake gave a hiss, glided under some leafy bushes, and there commenced to sound his rattles.
"He's going to strike!" cried Phil, and as he spoke the shotgun in Sid Todd's hands was discharged. He fired among the leaves, and whether or not he hit the snake, nobody could tell.
"Don't go near him," called out Roger. He hated snakes about as much as he hated anything.
All waited, and while doing so, Dave and Toddtook the opportunity to reload. They were just finishing when Phil, chancing to look behind them, uttered a yell that would have done credit to an Apache Indian.
"Look out! One of 'em is behind us!"
The others all took his word for it, and leaped to one side. True enough, a second rattlesnake had appeared, and now a third was coming to light, from under a rock near by.
"It's a den of rattlers!" screamed Sid Todd. "Run for it, boys! No use of trying to kill 'em off! They are too many for us!"
The boys were already running at top speed, and the cowboy joined them. In order to gain the horses, they had to move in a semicircle. When they reached the animals, they found the steeds exceedingly nervous and inclined to bolt.
"Reckon they smell the snakes," was Todd's comment. "A hoss ain't got no use for rattlers—and I ain't nuther," he added, and rode away, with the boys beside him.
"What about the grouse?" asked Phil, mournfully.
"Do you want to go back after them?" questioned Dave, with a grim smile.
"Not for a thousand dollars!"
"Then I guess we'll have to let the snakes have them," went on Dave. "Let us be thankful that we weren't bitten."
"Rattlesnakes is the one drawback to this country," said the cowboy, when they were a safe distance from the reptiles. "I don't mind wild beasts, but I do draw the line on snakes. But there ain't near so many as there used to be, an' some day there won't be any at all."
"After this I am going to beware of holes that look snaky," was Roger's comment. "I think if a rattlesnake got close to me I'd be paralyzed with fright."
As they went on, they kept their eyes open for more game, and just before resting for dinner Dave saw some grouse high up in a tree in a hollow. With caution they advanced, this time on horseback, and all fired together as before. Out of the tree fluttered seven grouse, for they had been close together and the shot had created great havoc. All but one were dead and the seventh was quickly dispatched by Todd.
"We'll have some good eating to-night, after all," said Roger, with a grin. He liked fowl of all kinds.
The stop for dinner was made beside a mountain spring, where the water was icy cold and as clear as crystal. They took their time eating, thus allowing the horses a chance to rest and to crop the nearby grass.
"We have covered about twenty miles," said the cowboy, in reply to a question from Phil.
"Then, if we do as well this afternoon, we'll be forty miles from the ranch by the time we camp to-night."
"We'll not make over ten or twelve miles this afternoon, lad," was the answer. "It will be hard climbing up the hills."
"But harder climbing to-morrow," put in Dave.
"Yes, to-morrow will test the horses, and test you, too," said Todd.
It was very pleasant to rest in the shade after such a long ride in the sun, but the cowboy was anxious to reach a certain camping spot for the night, and so he allowed only three-quarters of an hour for the midday halt.
As soon as they left the spring, the youths realized what was before them. The trail now led constantly upward, and was in parts stony and uncertain. In several places they had to leap brooks of fair size.
"This isn't so nice," remarked Phil, as they came to a halt, to allow the horses to rest after a particularly difficult hill had been climbed.
"Oh, this is nothing to the traveling we'll do to-morrow," answered Sid Todd. "We are only in the foothills now—to-morrow we'll be right in the mountains."
About four o'clock they gained the top of another hill. As they came out in a cleared spot all gazed around with interest.
"Look!" cried Dave, pointing with his hand. "Am I mistaken, or are those deer?"
He was pointing to the top of another hill about half a mile distant. There, outlined against the sky, could be seen a number of animals grazing.
"Deer, my boy!" cried Sid Todd. "A fine lot of 'em, too, or I'm mistaken!"
"Oh, let us go after them!" exclaimed Roger, impulsively.
"I'm willing," answered the cowboy. "But I don't know if you can get any of 'em to-night. It will be a hard climb to where they are. I don't know as we can go all the way on hosses."
"Then we'll go on foot," cried Dave. He was as anxious as his chums to get a shot at the big game.
The cowboy studied the situation for several minutes, meanwhile withdrawing himself and the others to a spot where the distant deer might not see them. Then he led the party down the hill and in the direction of the game.
If traveling had been hard before, it was doubly so now, and the chums realized that to get to where the deer were grazing would be no easy matter. They had to slip and slide over the rocks, and once or twice they reached places where further progress seemed impossible.
"If we get any of those deer, we'll earn them!"panted Phil, as he half climbed, half slid, over some rocks. "If my horse goes down, I don't know what will happen to me!" he added.
"We'll not go much further on hossback, I'm thinking," answered Todd. "We can't afford to injure our animals."
Between the hills was a small valley and here the cowboy said they had better tether their steeds and leave them.
"Even if we don't get back, they'll likely be safe till morning," he added.
"If we have to remain away all night, we had better take some eating with us," said Phil.
"We sure will," answered Todd, and he gave each of the party something to carry on his back and in his gamebag.
"Now for a climb that is a climb!" cried Dave. "Roger, this puts me in mind of some climbing I did in Norway."
"Were you in Norway?" questioned Sid Todd, curiously.
"Oh, yes, I once went there to find my father," answered Dave.
Before them was a steep incline, covered with stones and a stunted growth of cedars. Up this they went with care, for some of the stones were loose and afforded only an uncertain footing. Once Phil slipped and commenced to roll. He bumped against Dave, and both went flat.
"Grab a tree!" sang out Roger. But there was no need to offer this advance, for Dave had already done so. He saved himself and Phil from rolling further. But a frying-pan the shipowner's son carried broke loose from the pack on his back and went clattering down the rocks to the very foot of the hill.
"For the love of flapjacks, stop that noise!" cried Sid Todd, in a low voice. "Time you get to the top of the hill them deer will be ten miles away!"
"I—I couldn't help it," answered Phil, as he arose and gazed sorrowfully after the frying-pan. "Shall I go back after it?" he asked.
"Where is it?"
"I see it—sticking in the fork of a cedar tree," answered Roger, and pointed out the pan.
"Let it alone—we can get it when we come back," said the cowboy. "Now don't make any more noise, or you won't get no chanct at them deer, mark my words!"
All of the boys understood the importance of keeping quiet, and as they neared the top of the hill where the deer had been discovered, they moved with great caution and spoke only in whispers.
"The wind is blowing toward us, and that's in our favor," said Sid Todd.
"I know it," answered Dave. "Deer can scenta fellow a long way off if the wind is towards them."
The cowboy now took the lead and told the lads not to make a sound that was unnecessary. Thus they covered another hundred yards. Here was a ridge of rocks and beyond the top of the hill.
"They are gone!" murmured Roger, as his eyes discovered that the top of the hill was abandoned.
"I'll crawl forward and take a look," said Todd. "Keep quiet now, or we won't git nuthin'."
The cowboy disappeared over the top of the hill, crawling forward on his hands and knees. He was gone fully ten minutes—a time that to the boys, just then, seemed like an age. They looked to their weapons, to see that the firearms were ready for use.
Presently Dave, who was on the watch, saw Todd arise in a clump of bushes on the other side of the hilltop. He was beckoning for the boys to advance. One hand he held over his mouth, to enjoin silence.
With their hearts beating more rapidly than usual, the three young hunters wormed their way over the top of the hill and joined the cowboy. In silence Todd pointed to a distance below them. There, on a sort of cliff on the hillside, were the deer, ten in number, grazing peacefully.
"Oh, what a shot!" whispered Dave, and his eyes brightened as he swung his gun into position.
"Wait!" said Todd, in a whisper. "I'll take the one on the right. You take the one on the left."
"I'll take the one close to the tree," whispered the senator's son.
"And I'll take the one by the big rock," added Phil.
"All right," agreed the cowboy. "Now, remember, if some are only wounded, shoot at 'em again, any one of you. And be quick, for they'll streak it like greased lightning as soon as the guns go off."
All took aim with care, resting their gun-barrels on the bushes before them. Then the cowboy gave the order to fire.
As if by instinct the deer looked up just as the order to fire was given. They were fairly close to hand and afforded good targets for the hunters. The firearms rang out almost simultaneously, and two of the deer leaped into the air, to fall back dead. The others started to run, some jumping from the top of the cliff to the rocks far below. Again the weapons were discharged, and this time a third deer fell. The fourth was badly wounded and toppled down in a split of the cliff.
"Hurrah! we've got 'em! We've got 'em!"cried Phil, and commenced to leap about in pure joy.
"We've got 'em—to get!" answered Sid Todd. "But you did well—all of you!" he added, admiringly.
"How are we to get down to the cliff?" questioned Roger, anxiously.
"The deer got down—we had better follow their trail," answered Dave.
They made an examination, and presently found a run leading to one end of the cliff. The walking was dangerous and they had to be careful, for fear of going further than intended. But inside of a quarter of an hour all were standing where the deer had stood. They found three of the game dead and quickly put the fourth out of its misery.
"This is worth coming for," declared Dave, with pride.
"It is indeed—even if we don't get anything else," added Phil.
"But we are going to get more," cried Roger, the fever of the hunter taking possession of him. "Just wait till we strike an elk, or a bear!"
"No more hunting this day," sang out Todd. "Time we take care of these animals and make a camp it will be dark."