James Cody Ferris

“ It took some time for the travelers to recover their usual spirits, but Sing Lung’s food helped a great deal, and when the sandwiches were finished they set off once more toward the 8 X 8 with lighter hearts. And as they proceeded, the reaction set in—a reaction of happy, carefree joyousness. The boys thought of Nell and Curly, and, as always happens after a period of depression, anticipation of coming pleasure swelled to mountainous proportions in their minds. The whole world suddenly appeared rose-colored, and the most prosaic things in it took on a carnival aspect. ”

“ Belle smarted at the indignity of being a weapon in the hands of the horse thieves, for she now realized who her captors were.
Of course she had heard of the note her father had received, and gradually the conviction had grown on her that this was the means the rustlers had taken to “square up” matters between them and the X Bar X. The cowards! To use girls to effect their revenge! Belle’s lips curled in contempt. If that was the kind they were, they couldn’t stand up long against the punchers on the X Bar X! Why, Teddy and Roy would soon send them running for cover. ”

“ Manley, however, who might worry unnecessarily, that they were armed. The ranch owner commended their foresight and remarked that he was about to suggest it himself. He knew the boys were to be depended upon. Living on the range brings self-reliance early in life, and Mr. Manley felt proud of the fact that his sons were true men of the West—courageous and upright.
As the car rolled out of the ranch yard with Roy driving and Belle and Teddy beside him in the front seat, Sing Lung burst from the door of the cook-house. ”

“ Manley had received and the possibility of trouble.
“Though I don’t see exactly what they could do,” Roy mused, shifting in his saddle.
The day was warm, even for Indian summer, the heat seemed to beat up from the stretch of bare ground the boys were riding over.
“I can’t understand it!” exclaimed Teddy. “Those hombres are in jail, aren’t they? What in thunder can they do? Unless they have a gang of friends around. And that isn’t so likely. Honestly, I don’t believe that Gilly Froud has a friend in the world. Why, even the men he rustled with, hate him. ”

“ But Belle’s brothers refused to be drawn into explanations or argument.
Seven miles out from their home ranch a report suddenly sounded from under the car, and it lurched crazily. Roy jammed on the brakes vigorously.
“Blowout,” he said shortly. “Might have known that ’ud happen! Just when we get rolling along nicely, the tire goes. Well,” he jumped from the car and bent down, “she’s done for, all right. And any one who pulls that old chestnut about ‘only flat on one side’ will have to fix it all alone! Come on Teddy—you posing for a statue?”
Teddy grinned, and alighted, as did Belle. ”

“ At that moment, when Teddy was most concerned over his brother’s safety, Roy was within a quarter of a mile of him, across the gully, himself riding toward Nick Looker.
When the landslide came, Roy, realizing his danger, had snapped Star into action with a sudden yell. The next moment the pall of dust hid everything, and Roy had to give his safety into the keeping of his pony.
Star did not fail him. Taking a direction at right angles and to the left of the route Flash had picked, the bronco sought to avoid the rumbling slide by long, desperate bounds. ”

“ Teddy started the motor again, and the car proceeded. As the moon lit the landscape with its beams once more, Roy turned and glanced back. But the road curved just here, and he could see no rider. Also, they could no longer hear the hoofbeats, which, if they were approaching, should have become louder.
“That’s something else to worry about,” Teddy said, with a grin. “Funny that we both took it for granted that whoever it was must be on our trail! We seem to be getting sillier every day. At least I do. ”

“ They needed action, and more than one man among them felt his hand wandering down toward the gun on his saddle or his hip. Thinking about the girls seemed to bring all sorts of wild fancies to the mind, though both Roy and Teddy were wise enough to know they must not harbor thoughts of failure. Worry would only use up their energy, and they would need all of that later. ”

“ Certainly, there was the possibility of a tragic end to this serious business. Men who would kidnap girls would not hesitate to shoot to kill if the occasion arose.
Hence the boys knew well to what they were riding. Yet rather than hesitation, there was about them an eagerness which welcomed whatever might befall. Their sister was somewhere in that canyon. They were going to find her and Nell and Ethel, and not all the bullets ever moulded would prevent them!
“Good luck, boys,” Mr. Manley said, as he sat quietly in his saddle a moment before starting. ”

“ Rifles were moved toward the rear of saddles to allow a quick descent from the pony. Long-barreled guns were useless in a hand to hand fight, and the boys put their faith in their automatic pistols.
As they started on this last leg of their journey toward an end none could foretell, each rider felt a great relief surge through him. The time had come. Ahead of them lay Sholo Caves, and within them the three girls were captives. They must be rescued. If some of the boys lost their lives—well, at least they could take some in payment. ”

“ With a groan, the old woman, assisted by Sheldon and Richmond, climbed to the back of the pony Sheldon had just quit. Once in the saddle, she took the reins with a practiced hand and settled her dresses about her with supreme confidence. Evidently she had been a rider in her day, but now she made a strange picture sitting proudly on the horse, her head thrown back, surveying with a scornful eye those on the ground.
Richmond grinned widely.
“Quite a gal,” he said to Sheldon. “Feel O.K., Clove? That bronc’s gentle, an’ you won’t have no trouble with her. If she rears, sock her on the head.” ”

“ Teddy said slowly. He walked over to where the horse stood, rubbing against the bars of the corral, and peered into his eyes. “He doesn’t look so bad. Nick, I’d like to take a crack at him. Lend a hand with this cinch, will you?”
“Listen, Teddy,” Nick remonstrated. “Don’t do nothin’ foolish. Even if he don’t bite, he’s a buckin’ fool. I’m certain sure of that. Why take a chance?”
“Yes, Teddy, if I were you I’d wait until dad comes back,” Roy added. “He may want to return the pony. Don’t ride him.” ”

“ Come on, let’s be on our way. Never mind the porcupine.” He walked over to Flash and rested his hand on the pommel of the saddle. As he did so the rolling noise was repeated, this time much louder.
“Thunder nothing!” Roy cried. “There’s not a cloud in the sky. That’s up the mountain some place.”
“Well, whatever it is, I don’t like the sound of it!” came from Teddy, as he vaulted into the saddle. “Makes my flesh creep. I’m tired, I guess. We’ve been riding ever since early morning. That’s the longest stretch I’ve been on a horse since that night we chased the rustlers all over creation. ”

“ Roy correctly interpreted the motion, and urged his pony until he was close to Teddy.
“How did that story we heard strike you?” Teddy asked, looking about him to see that no one was listening. The noise of creaking saddles and the beat of the horses’ feet on the baked earth prevented the boy’s voice from carrying far.
“Ike Natick’s?” Roy countered.
“Don’t know his name. The puncher who came over with Bug Eye.”
“His name is Natick. He’s a new hand. Bug Eye says he hasn’t been with their outfit very long. But he says he’s a good man, and I think he is, too. He impresses me as being all cowboy.” ”

“ At that moment Roy came from the ranch house and walked toward the group.
“Dad around?” he asked.
“Just left,” Teddy replied. “Went to Eagles, didn’t he, Nick? Say, did he have a gun on?”
“He did,” Gus drawled. “Said he might meet up with some two-legged rattlers. Yore dad worried about that note, Roy?”
“He’s sore about it, at any rate,” Roy answered. “Dad doesn’t like any one to try to bluff him. Then, too, he’s kind of waiting for something to start, I think. You knew the horse thieves that we rounded up are loose again?”
“Yep. All our work for nothin’! ”

“ Nick promised to visit them in jail and try to win some of his money back.
They had found Reltsur where they had left him, leaning against a tree, muttering to himself. The wound Teddy had inflicted was severe, but not fatal, and Mr. Manley, at all times considerate, even to an enemy, insisted that he take his bronco, while he rode double with Teddy. Gus shook his head at this display of “misplaced sympathy,” but, nevertheless, his admiration for his boss increased tenfold. In his own words, as he later described it to Rad Snell, “Mr. Manley is sure one white guy.” ”

“ As though the strange puncher could have had anything to do with that slide! Yes, Roy was sure acting queer lately. As far as Teddy could see, there was no reason for immediate worry. Even if the rustlers were out of jail and determined on revenge, they might be forestalled by guarding the cattle well. True, his father had declared he thought the thieves might try other tactics. But, after all, what could they do? Suppose they had some real gunmen in their crowd? They would scarcely take to shooting a man in the back as he rode along. ”

“ They were not callous, but something more important than wounded outlaws sent them rushing forward.
“If we can only find dad!” Teddy yelled, as he guided Flash with a sure hand. “This blame darkness! We shan’t be able to see a thing in a few minutes!”
“Can’t help it,” Roy answered. “If we don’t meet dad, we’ll go on ourselves. Guess we can handle any bunch of kidnappers that rides. How about it, boys?”
“You said a mouthful!” Gus roared. “Let ’em come shootin’! The more the merrier! We’ll smoke ’em out, if we have to! No—guess we can’t do that, on account of the girls. ”

“ If we only could make sure that we’re going right! All this time, while we’re in here, the thieves may be—” Roy stopped, and shook his head.
“But what can we do?” Teddy asked helplessly. “Natick said he saw the car head this way and Pop claims those caves are about the only place around here that the outlaws could use for a stronghold. If we’re wrong, we’ll have to start over again, that’s all. It may take time, but we’ve simply got to sit tight and work our way over every possible spot where they could have hidden the girls. And we’ll get ’em—we’ll get ’em, by jinks!” ”

“ While the boy is hurrying to meet the young puncher on the trail above him, a few moments will be taken to tell something of Roy and Teddy Manley of the X Bar X Ranch.
The two brothers had been born on their father’s ranch, and, with the exception of the three years they had spent at the Hopper Boarding School, just outside of Denver, they had lived the rugged life of the cowboy. Although their father was more than moderately well off, he, as a Westerner of the old school, determined that his boys should have every chance the West offered them to grow into hardy men. ”

“ Although I’ll admit we had some exciting times for a while,” and Roy’s eyes sparkled. Then he grew grave again. “But dad sort of counts on us to keep things going, you know. That’s why I’m anxious to see what he has to say when he gets back from Hawley. That gang can—”
“Aw, what can they do?” Teddy demanded. “They’re all in jail. Forget about ’em, Roy. What’s the use of crossing bridges before you reach ’em?”
“That’s true enough. But you know I saw that slouched puncher right after the landslide. If he’s really one of the rustlers, he doesn’t bear us any love, I reckon.” ”

“ Once more Clovita shrugged her shoulders, spreading her hands wide.
“You look,” she said indifferently. “You no find. They far away. Besides—” she stopped, holding her hand to her ear—“I hear men coming,” she concluded, with another grin.
“The rustlers!” Nell gasped, seizing Belle’s arm. “They’re coming here!”
A clatter of horses’ feet sounded on the path outside. There were some muttered sentences, which the girls could not catch, and a figure filled the doorway. It was Richmond, the man who had driven the car. ”

“ He referred to two New York girls with whom the brothers had become acquainted some time before.
“You don’t say!” his brother returned, in a bantering tone. “I suppose the news just trickled out! You didn’t ask mother to ’phone over to Mrs. Ball and find out, did you? Oh, no! Well, let’s have it all. Why are they going to stay all winter, Mr. Bones?”
“Aw, dry up,” Roy said, laughing, albeit his face was a trifle red. “Trying to kid me, aren’t you? How’s Curly, Ted? Have you heard from her lately?”
“No, I haven’t!” and Teddy in his turn became flustered. ”

“ Yet, he thought, no news is good news, and Teddy might even now be waiting at the ranch for him.
To the best of his knowledge, the trail he rode led toward the X Bar X. If Teddy was really lost, it would be best to make for home and send out a searching party. One man could do nothing in this trackless, wild country. Turning in his saddle, Roy squinted at the descending sun, now a dull red ball. ”