James Otis

“ Stevens appeared from beneath the flap of the canvas covering, and an expression of most intense disappointment passed over her face as she saw that Dick was alone.
"It's all right, mother!" he cried, quickening his pace that she might the sooner be relieved from her suspense. "It's all right!"
"Did you find your father?"
"Yes; an' I've come back for one of the horses. He's been hurt, an' can't walk." ”

“ We've known of people who had worse hurts and yet got well."
"But they were where at least something of what might be needed could be procured, while we are here in the desert."
"Not quite so bad as that, mother dear. We have water, and I should be able to get food in plenty. After I've supplied the camp, I'm goin' on foot to Antelope Spring, where we can buy whatever daddy may need."
"Across the desert alone!"
"A boy like me ought to be able to do it, and"—
"Your father hasn't a penny, Dick dear."
"I know that, mother; but I'll sell my rifle before he shall suffer for anything. ”

“ Here we will leave him; for he is yet in Mason's employ, and it is said in Antelope Spring to-day, or was a few months ago, that when "Bob Mason hired that kid to oversee his ranch, he knew what he was about."
It is hard to believe that a boy only fifteen years of age (for Dick has now been an overseer, or "boss puncher" as it is termed in Nevada, nearly two years) could care for a ranch of six hundred acres; yet he has done it, as more than one can testify, and in such a satisfactory manner that next year he is to have an interest in the herds and flocks on the "Mason Place." ”

“ The kindly manner in which the physician bade him good-by, with the assurance that he would himself go to Buffalo Meadows if it should become necessary, served to increase the boy's astonishment; and instead of thanking the gentleman, he could only say, because of his bewilderment,—
"I did it for daddy, sir; an' it would be a mean kind of fellow who wouldn't do as much."
Then Mr. Mason hurried him away, and despite Dick's protests insisted on leading him from one [Pg 68] place to another, until it was as if he had been introduced to every citizen in the settlement. ”

“ Mr. Mason said in a loud tone, as he slapped the physician on the shoulder with a force that caused him to wince with absolute pain. "You're a man; an' if the people in this town don't know it already, they shall find it out from yours truly. I reckon we can ante up a little something in this 'ere matter, so the kid won't go home empty-handed; for I tell you there's nothin' in Antelope Spring too good for him."
Again Dick looked about him in surprise that such praise should be bestowed for what seemed to him a very simple act. ”

“ Mrs. Stevens could not be hopeful under the circumstances, for she knew better than did Dick how [Pg 30] slight was the chance that the injured man could live where it was impossible to care properly for the wound; but she would not deprive the boy of hope, and turned to do as he suggested.
Although weary and footsore, Dick did not spend many moments in camp.
He waited only long enough to get his rifle and ammunition, and then trudged off; for meat must be had, even at the expense of cartridges, both for the wounded man and the remainder of the family. ”

“ We're needin' kids like you in this town, an' I allow you'll find a shelter here till spring. Then, if the settlement don't suit you, it'll be only a case of goin' on when the travellin' is easier."
"Do you mean that we'd better live here?" Dick asked in surprise.
"That's the way some of us have figgered it."
"Can I find work enough to pay our way? You see, daddy won't be in shape to do anything for quite a spell."
"I'll give you a job on my ranch, an' pay fair wages." ”

“ Hadn't I better do a little hunting first?"
"Not unless you are very, very hungry, Dick. Food would choke me just now, and there is enough of the bread we baked yesterday morning to give you and Margie an apology for a breakfast."
"I can get along without; you shall eat my share. Now, don't worry if I'm not back until near sunset. The horses are close at hand, and you may be certain they won't stray while the feed is plentiful. Stay in the wagon, even though there is nothing [Pg 11] to harm you if you walk around. We must be careful that no more trouble comes upon us ”

“ The package Dick carried told that he had been successful in finding a physician, and Mr. Mansfield was curious to learn how much the medical gentleman had charged for his services.
"He wouldn't take a cent," Dick said in reply to the question. "It seems to me the folks in this town are mighty good."
"I don't reckon we'll ever be hung for our goodness," [Pg 70] the proprietor of the shop said with a grin; "but it is considerable of a treat to see a kid with so much sand as you've shown. Dr. Manter knew which side his bread was buttered on when he wouldn't take your money ”

“ Finally, when it seemed to him as if he could no longer remain idle listening to a strong man's childish prattle, the eastern heavens were lighted by a dull glow, which increased steadily until he could see the horse feeding on the dry bunch-grass an hundred yards away, and his long vigil was nearly at an end. ”

“ His mother would have insisted upon bringing out one of the well-worn blankets, but that Dick was decidedly opposed to taking anything from the wagon which might in the slightest degree contribute to his father's comfort.
"I'm very well off on the bare ground, and with the wagon to shelter me from the dew I couldn't be better fixed. Our poor old man needs all we've got, mother; and you may be sure I won't lay awake thinking of the feather-beds we had at Willow Point, 'cause it's about as much as I can do to keep my eyes open." ”

“ There wasn't even a bit of meat in the camp when he got shot. I knocked over a deer last night, an' that will keep 'em goin' till I get back."
"An' a kid like you is supportin' a family, eh?" Parsons asked in a kindly tone.
"I don't know what kind of a fist I'm goin' to make of it; but that's what I'll try to do till daddy gets on his feet again. Say, how long do you s'pose it'll take a man to get well when one leg is knocked endways with a bullet plum through the bone of it?"
"It'll be quite a bit, I'm thinkin'—too long for you to stay in Buffalo Meadows at this time [Pg 54] of the year. ”

“ Daddy always says that the less a fellow has in his stomach the easier he can get over the ground, and the poor old man never struck it truer."
After this halt of fifteen minutes Dick pressed forward without more delay until he came upon the settlement, at what time he knew not, but to the best of his belief it was hardly more than an hour past midnight. ”

“ Mr. Stevens recovered from the wound in due time; and early in the spring after his arrival at the settlement, he joined Messrs. Parsons & Robinson in prospecting among the ranges.
His good fortune was even greater than Dick's; for before the winter came again the firm had struck a rich lead of silver, which has been worked with such profit that "Roving Dick's" home is one of the best and the cosiest to be found in the State.
[Pg 84] Mr. Stevens would have been glad had young Dick decided to give up his work on the ranch ”

“ The greater portion of the venison he cut up ready for smoking; and when his mother asked why he was planning so much labor for himself, he replied cheerily,—
"We're likely to lay here ten days at the very least, for the horses won't be in condition to travel in much less time; and now is my chance to put in [Pg 81] a stock of provisions for the winter. It never'll do to spend all my wages for food; because you and Margie are to be fitted out in proper shape, and now I haven't even the rifle to sell, for that belongs to the prospectors." ”

“ Dick rode the broncho, as a matter of course; and to him this journey was most enjoyable.
Not until the second day did the family arrive at their destination, and Dick received such a reception as caused his cheeks to redden with joy.
Bob Mason chanced to be in front of Mansfield's store when the party rode up, and insisted on their remaining there until he could summon the inhabitants of the settlement to give them welcome.
[Pg 82] "We're glad you've come," Mr. Mason said when he believed the time had come for him to make a speech. "We've seen the kid, an' know how much sand he's got ”

“ But are you countin' on draggin' one down to Buffalo Meadows?"
"I don't expect to be so lucky. But mother seemed to have the idea that if somebody who knew all about it would tell her how to take care of daddy's wound, she'd get along with such stuff as I could fetch to help him out in the fever. Say, I don't reckon either of you wants to buy a good rifle? There ain't a better one on Humboldt River;" and as he spoke Dick unslung the weapon which hung at his back. ”

“ I'll take my rifle with me, and by selling it, get what stuff daddy needs. I can talk with a [Pg 33] doctor too; and when I come back we'll fix the poor old man up in great shape.
Don't worry about me, for I can get across without any bother. I'm going to take the canteen and some slices of meat, so I sha'n't be hungry or thirsty. I count on being back in three days; but if I'm gone five you mustn't think anything has gone wrong, for it may be a longer trip than I'm reckonin' on.
I love you, and daddy, and Margie mighty well ”

“ The two men looked at Dick an instant, and then glanced at each other, after which Parsons said emphatically,—
[Pg 50] "The boy has got grit; but the old man must have been way off to come through this section of the country in a wagon."
Dick explained how it was they chanced to be travelling, and then, eager to gain all the information possible, asked,—
"Do you know anything about Antelope Spring?"
"Nothin' good. There's a settlement by that name; but it's a no-account place."
"I s'pose I'll find a doctor?" ”

“ If I'd thought the prospectors meant to give me the money instead of buyin' the rifle, I'd got along without it; but they said twice over that they wanted the gun, an' I believed 'em."
"No one can accuse you of being a beggar; but [Pg 67] if it's the same to you, I'd rather let this go on account, and some day perhaps, when you've struck it rich, come around and we'll have a settlement."
"Doctor, you're a man, every inch of you!" ”

“ No person in Antelope Spring was awake at an earlier hour next morning than Dick Stevens; for the sun had not yet shown himself when the boy arose to his feet, and looked around as if to say that he was in fine condition.
"A tramp of forty-five miles ain't to be sneezed at, an' when you throw in fifteen miles of desert an' a sand-storm to boot, it's what I call a pretty good day's work ”

“ The two horsemen had taken the precaution while assuming this position to present their backs to the wind, and each had tied one end of his blanket around his waist in such manner that it could not be stripped off by the tempest.
Two or three blankets were fastened to the heads of the animals, and thus the faces of all were protected.
When the sand had whirled around them until the animals were buried nearly to their bellies, the riders forced the bunch onward ten or fifteen paces, continuing to make this change of location at least every five minutes during the entire time the tempest raged ”

“ There ain't any question about our trailin' all over the State in time, and you shall keep the rifle in good shape till we call for it. So long, my son. It's time for you to be hoofin' it, if you count on gettin' to Antelope Spring this side of to-morrow mornin'."
As he spoke, Parsons mounted his pony, Robinson following the example; and in another moment the two were on their way once more, leaving Dick in a painful state of uncertainty regarding their purpose in purchasing the gun. ”