Edward Stratemeyer

“ Dave commenced to laugh heartily, and Phil wrenched himself free and stood up.
"What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander," cried Dave. "Better both quit your knocking and go to bed. I suppose the girls are tired out and want to go to sleep."
"Sounds like it, doesn't it," murmured Roger, as a shriek of laughter came from across the hallway.
"Maybe they are knocking each other the same way," suggested Phil.111
"Never!" cried Dave. "Girls aren't built that way."
But Dave was mistaken.
A little later quietness reigned, and one after another the newcomers to Star Ranch dropped asleep. ”

“ He leaped to one side and the other lads did the same. A second later the wounded elk rushed almost on them, his antlers lowered as if to crush all in his path. The boys fired as quickly as they could, and hit in the side, the animal swerved and dashed off at a right angle to the course he had been pursuing.
"Phew! but that was a narrow escape!" gasped Phil.
"It's different when the game hunts you, isn't it?" queried the senator's son.
"We must keep our eyes open, and our guns ready," said Dave. "Come ahead, that elk must be pretty hard hit by this time." ”

“ The salt dropped to the floor, and Nat found himself confronting Dave, with Phil but a few steps away.
"You contemptible rascal!" cried Dave, his eyes flashing.
"Why—I—er——" stammered the money-lender's son. He did not know what to say.
"Going to spoil the cream, eh?" came from Phil. "It was a mighty dirty trick, Nat."
"On a level with what you did to Professor Potts," added Dave.
"I—er—I wasn't going to do nothing!" cried Nat, with little regard for grammar. "I—er—I was looking at the ice-cream, that's all."
"A poor excuse is worse than none," answered Dave, grimly. ”

“ The sport began with some fancy riding in which eight of the cowboys, four from each ranch, participated. The cowboys would ride like the wind and leap off and on their steeds, turn from frontwards to backwards, slide from the saddle under their horses' necks and up into the saddle again, and lean low to catch up handkerchiefs and hats left on the grass for that purpose. Then they did some fancy vaulting, over bars and brushwood, and while riding two and even four horses.
"Good! good!" shouted Dave. ”

“ He listened for a moment, then sat up straight.
"Something doesn't suit them," he reasoned. "Wonder what it can be?"
He hesitated, then turned over on his hands and knees and crawled to the opening of the tent and peered around outside. The campfire had burned rather low, so that objects a short distance away were indistinct. He saw that the horses were huddled together and had their heads turned toward a clump of bushes at one side of the shelter.
"Something must be over yonder," reasoned the youth. "Wonder if I had better arouse the others?"
He looked at Dave and Roger. ”

“ Taking the bit of halter with them, the three chums continued on their way along the trail. They covered another quarter of a mile, but saw no game excepting some birds on which they did not care to waste powder and shot.
"We'll have to go back, I suppose," said Phil, with a sigh. "Gracious, I wish we'd see a bear, or something!"
"How would an elephant and a few lions do?" quizzed Roger, with a grin.
"Or a couple of man-eating tigers," suggested Dave.
"I don't care! You can make fun if you want to, but I came out to this ranch to have some hunting," said Phil, stubbornly. ”

“ Jessie was much astonished by the things spread before her.
"Why, I thought we were going to live in regular camping style!" she declared. "This is as good as what we had at the hotel in Chicago, if not better."
"The Wild West of to-day is not the Wild West of years ago," explained Mrs. Endicott. "People from the East have a wrong impression of many things. Of course some things are still crude, but others are as up-to-date as any one could wish."
"What I like best of all is the general open-heartedness of the people you meet," declared Dave. ”

“ At once the other cowboys sprang up and marched to the front, and a steady stream of silver poured into the basket, much to the delight of everybody.
"Financially, this is going to be a great success," said Dave, his face beaming. "I only hope they really like the show."
"They do, or they would soon let you know," answered Belle. "A cowboy isn't so polite as to make believe he likes a thing when he doesn't."
The evening crowd was even larger than that which had gathered in the afternoon, and the seating capacity of the dining-room and the veranda near the windows was taxed to its utmost. ”

“ Merwell, these young gentleman are my guests," put in Mr. Endicott, bluntly. "While they are stopping at my ranch I trust they will not be annoyed by any one."
"Mr. Endicott, I shall respect your wishes so far as I can," returned Felix Merwell, with great stiffness. "But if these young men have done my son an injustice, they will have to suffer for it. I bid you good-day." And having thus delivered himself, the man wheeled around his coal-black steed and was off in a cloud of dust down the road.
"Oh, Dave, what do you think he'll do?" asked Jessie, in alarm. ”

“ One always wants to be careful when shooting, at a target or otherwise."
The three youths soon had the target placed to their satisfaction, and then began a lively blazing away with the three revolvers that had been brought along. They aimed for the eyes of the painted creature, and for other vital spots, and all did fairly well.
"You're the best shot, Dave," announced Roger, during a lull in the practice, when all had gone to inspect the "damage" done. "You've plugged him right in the eyes three times and once in the heart. Had he been a real bear, he'd be as dead as a salt mackerel now." ”

“ The pool was lined with rocks and brushwood, and behind these was a glade, backed up by the woods.
"What a lovely spot!" cried Jessie, enthusiastically, as Dave assisted her to dismount, and took charge of her horse. "Just look at the wild flowers among the rocks! One would not believe that they could grow in such a place!"
"I am glad I brought my camera with me," said Laura. "I am sure I shall get some fine pictures."
Belle showed the boys where the animals might be tethered, and they took particular care to fasten the steeds properly, as Sid Todd had instructed them. ”

“ Joe said Nat intimated that he was going to make the affair turn out a fizzle."
"A fizzle?" queried Phil. "How?"
"Joe didn't know, but he told me, on the quiet, that I ought to watch out, and ought to warn the others. But I don't like to say anything to Mrs. Wadsworth, or the girls. You see, it may be only talk, and if it is, what's the use of getting the ladies excited?"
"It would be just like Nat to play some dirty trick," said the shipowner's son. "The question is, What will it be?"
"Somebody ought to stand guard," was Roger's advice. "And I think we ought to tell Dave." ”

“ In spite of his rags and his dirty face and hands Charley Gamp had a winning way about him, and the boys and girls easily induced him to follow them to the hotel. Here they waited for the return of Dunston Porter, and then asked what might be done with the waif.
"You'll have your hands full if you want to help every waif that comes along," said Dave's uncle, with a smile. "Every big city has hundreds of them."
"Well, we can't aid every one, but we do want to aid Charley," answered Laura. ”

“ During the past few years of his life Dave had had a number of stirring adventures, and he was by no means as green as he had been when first he had set out for Oak Hall. He did not like the looks of his surroundings, and he resolved to keep his wits about him and be on his guard.
"Why should Mr. Dale come to a place like this?" he asked himself. He knew the teacher to be a model man, who did not drink or gamble.
"Here we are," said Tom Shocker, as he stopped in front of a door at the back of the hallway on the third floor of the building. "I guess you can go right in. ”

“ Here, the cowboy explained, was a treacherous ravine, the sides overgrown with a tangle of low bushes. The cattle loved to get in the bushes, finding something there particularly appetizing to eat, and often the rocks and dirt would give way and a steer would go down in the hollow and be unable to get out.
"They don't seem to know how to climb the rocks," said Sid Todd. "And you've got to fairly drive 'em the right way, or they'd stay in the hollow till they died." ”

“ Much alarmed, both boys leaped for the shelter of the rocks, and in the darkness felt their way until they reached a split that was seven or eight feet deep and a foot wide at the bottom and twice that at the top.
"I guess this is as good a place as any, Phil," remarked Dave, when he had regained his breath sufficiently to speak.
"It won't be much protection if it rains hard," grumbled the shipowner's son. ”

“ Why, it's almost like a page out of a fairy book!"
"Not quite," put in Phil. "Fairy stories aren't true, while this really happened."
"Some day Dave has got to tell me the whole story from beginning to end," said Belle. "You see, I'm going to call you Dave, and you must call me Belle."
"Well, we can't stop for stories just now," said Mr. Endicott. "It's a long ride to the ranch, and they'll be more than hungry by the time we get there. Todd, bring up the horses, and tell Jerry to dump all the baggage in the wagon. Do you all want to ride horseback, or does somebody prefer a seat in the wagon?" ”

“ 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." ”

“ You want to crow over everybody, no matter where you go. But you'll find things are different out here from what they were at Oak Hall," added the bully, significantly. "You can't pull the wool over people's eyes here like you did there."
"I have no more intention of pulling wool than I have of painting anything red," answered Dave, as calmly as before. He could see that Link was in a bad humor and spoiling for a fight.
"I said I was going to get square with you, and I am," continued the bully, loudly.
"You keep your distance, Link Merwell," answered Dave, and now his tone was sharper. ”

“ Sid Todd had been right about the climbing to be done during the last stage of the journey, and often the boys, as they looked ahead at the rocks before them, wondered how they were going to make progress. But the cowboy knew the trail, and up they went, the scenery every moment growing wilder and more impressive.
"This is an ideal spot for wild animals," said Dave. "I should think hunting would be very good." ”

“ They passed along at a smart gait, for the boys and Belle were anxious to try their luck with their lines and poles.
"If we catch enough, right from the start, we can fry some fish for lunch," said Dave. "I love fish just from the water."
"Oh, so do I!" cried Belle. "They seem so much sweeter."
"In the city one gets them all packed in ice, and then half the flavor is gone," added Laura.
They started in a bunch, but gradually drifted into pairs, Dave riding beside Jessie, Roger escorting Laura, and Phil taking the lead with Belle. ”

“ Out on the prairie the trail grew a bit drier, for which they were thankful. They got into their dog-trot once more, and thus covered all of two miles in a short space of time. Then, of a sudden, both came to a halt in dismay.
"Which one?" asked Phil, laconically.
"Don't know," was Dave's equally laconic answer.
Before them the trail branched out in three different directions, like three spokes within the right angle of a wheel.
"This is a regular Chinese puzzle," said Dave, after an inspection of the trails. "The one to the right looks to be the most traveled." ”

“ DAVE PORTER AT STAR RANCH
1 CHAPTER IDAVE AND HIS CHUMS
"Why, Dave, what are you going to do with that revolver?"
"Phil and Roger and I are going to do some target shooting back of the barn," answered Dave Porter. "If we are going to try ranch life, we want to know how to shoot."
"Oh! Well, do be careful!" pleaded Laura Porter, as she glanced affectionately at her brother. "A revolver is such a dangerous thing!"
"We know how to handle one. Phil has been painting a big door to represent a black bear, and we are going to see if we can do as well with a revolver as we did with the rifle." ”

“ Here Sid Todd was in his element, and the way he managed his lasso, one of extra length at that, brought out tremendous applause.
"He is the best lasso-thrower in these parts," said Mr. Endicott. "No one can compare with him."
"Well, he is a good shot, too," said Dave. "And he rides well also."
"Yes, he is a good all-around fellow," answered the ranch owner. "I am mighty glad I have him,—and I am glad I got rid of that Hank Snogger," he added.
"Are any of the men from the Merwell ranch here?" ”

“ Then he came to a halt, and his companion halted directly behind him.
"I want to pass," growled Link, without so much as raising his hat or bidding the time of day.
"All right, pass," answered Phil, stiffly. "We are not keeping you."
"You are blocking the trail."
"Can't you pass around the ladies?" questioned Roger.160
"I've got as much right on this trail as you," returned the bully, shooting a dark look at the others. "You needn't think you own everything!"
"Oh, let us ride to one side and let him pass!" whispered Jessie. "He may want to fight if we don't!" ”

“ The horses were still plunging, but gradually they quieted down.
"I am going to see if the wildcat is really dead," said Dave, boldly. "Even if he's alive, I don't think there is much fight left in him."
"You be careful!" warned Phil. "A wounded beast is always extra savage. He may fly at your throat, and then it will be all up with you."
"I guess we plugged him pretty well," said Roger.
With great caution Dave approached the bushes into which the wildcat had disappeared, and rather gingerly his chums followed him. ”

“ Link and I went to Oak Hall together."
"Ah, I see!" Mr. Merwell drew a long breath and nodded his head knowingly. "Dave Porter, you said. And who are these young men?"
"My school chums, Roger Morr and Phil Lawrence."
"Indeed! Then you are the young men who caused my son so much trouble—caused him to be sent away, in fact," continued Mr. Merwell, and he glared hatefully at the three lads.
"It was Link's own fault that he was sent away," answered the senator's son. "If he had behaved himself he would have had no trouble."
"Oh, of course, it is natural that you should shield yourselves. ”

“ Looking around carefully, Dave set off once more, and presently reached a spot that looked familiar. On the ground he could see footprints and these he commenced to follow. But in a few minutes he found himself in a thicket he was sure he had never seen before.
"I am mixed up, and no mistake," he murmured, his face falling. "I shouldn't have been so sure of myself at the start. It isn't so easy as one thinks to find a trail among these rocks and bushes. ”

“ I haven't got anything against you and your folks.161 But I don't intend these outsiders shall ride over me," growled Link. He faced Dave. "I'm not done with you yet, remember that!" he added, bitterly. Then he rode on, and the lean-looking man behind him followed. Belle looked at the man curiously, but the fellow kept his face averted as he slipped by. Soon boy and man had disappeared from view.
"Talk about a lemon!" cried Phil. "Say, isn't Link the sourest ever!"
"He certainly is," answered Roger.
"Let's forget him," said Dave. "We are out for fun to-day, not for trouble." ”