The Broncho Rider Boys on the Wyoming Trail Part 10

"When we had gone far enough, miles and miles from here, so that we knew we'd soon strike the ranch buildings," continued Adrian, "why, then we could turn him loose, and let him gallop back here to set his pards free."

"Oh! I get on to what you mean!" declared Billie, admiringly; "by that time they just couldn't give us any bother, even if they did hurry away to find the rest of the ugly Walker crowd! That's a fine scheme of yours, Adrian. Ain't it funny now, with all my thinking that never came into my mind? But count on me agreeing with you, Adrian. It couldn't be bettered, no matter how much I badgered my head over the business. And Donald here says the same, don't you, old fellow?"

"I sure do that same," Donald was quick to say; "and I think that our chum has covered the ground the best ever."

"There's another thing I've decided on," Adrian went on to remark, encouraged by the success of his first proposition.

"Let's have it then," Billie begged him; "might as well hear all these bully ideas in a heap while we're ready to take a shock; and you do beat the world on thinking up things, Adrian, that's right."

"The very first chance I get I mean to send word to the sheriff of this county as the owner of Bar-S Ranch, and demand that he come to my place instanter with a posse behind him, ready to break up this rustler business. Those cowboys told us a new sheriff had just taken office, and they kind of hoped he wouldn't be like the last one, right under the thumb of these terrible Walkers. Fact is, they seemed to have an idea he stood ready to do his duty the first time any ranchman got nerve enough to call on him to break the gang up. And I'm going to be that rancher to take the bull by the horns!"

He did not say this boastingly, nor was his voice elevated so that the listening prisoners might hear his words; but as he spoke there was a determined look on Adrian's face that told Donald, who knew him so well, he had never been more earnest in all his life than when he made this bold a.s.sertion looking to throwing down the glove of defiance to the Walkers.

"A great scheme, Adrian," Donald remarked, and his manner told even more than his few words.

"Don't talk louder than we are now," said Billie just then; "because I saw one of them fellows bob his head up like he was mighty curious to know what we had our heads together for."

The three Broncho Rider Boys continued to confer for some time longer.

Billie was holding out manfully, but every now and then he would stretch his mouth in a dreadful way, as the irresistible impulse to yawn came upon him.

"Better lie down in your blanket, Billie," remarked Adrian, taking pity on the stout chum; because he knew Billie's failings, and sleeping was one of them.

"Yes," added Donald, who would rather see the other snuggled in the folds of his blanket than sitting there with his hands embracing his knees, thinking up a host of questions between yawns; "we'll do all that's necessary to keep things going; and if we have any need of your help, why we promise to call on you."

"Well," said Billie, "in that case p'raps I might take a few winks of sleep, because that gallop did kind of knock me up. But remember, I depend on your word of honor to give me a punch if I'm needed."

After that they heard nothing further from Billie, save an occasional heavy sigh resembling a snore, whenever he chanced to lie on his back.

He was dead to the world in three minutes after lying down, with his warm blanket wrapped around his ample proportions, much after the manner in which he had seen Indians do at the quaint Zuni cliff dwellers'

village in Arizona, visited by the three boys before coming up to Wyoming.

About half an hour after this Adrian thought they would do well to examine their prisoners, in order to make sure that their bonds were holding out securely. They did not profess to have had a great deal of experience in fastening up fellows, and during the time that had elapsed possibly one of the men might have succeeded in gnawing his bonds partly through, or working them loose.

So Donald and Adrian took the flashlight torch, and went over each of the prisoners' bonds. They found them just as secure as when first triced up, which was to the credit of the young captors, to be sure.

The man whom they had decided must be the leader of the quartette, was staring hard at Adrian all the time the boys hovered over their prisoners. Evidently he must have begun to entertain certain suspicions with regard to the other.

"Say, hain't I seen ye before now, younker?" he finally asked, pointedly.

"I don't know," replied Adrian, "but I can't remember of ever meeting you, up to now."

"Might your name be Sherwood?" the other insisted; "and hain't ye the kid that years ago used ter ride 'round hyah on a calico pony, when the ole man was alive, an' ran Bar-S Ranch? I heard 'em call yuh Adreen a while ago, an' 'pears tuh me as how thet same war the name o' thet lively boy. Air you him?"

Adrian did not see fit to answer. He could not deny the accusation, and there would be no good end served in acknowledging it; though of course the man would construe his silence to mean a.s.sent, and understand things accordingly. But perhaps it might be as well that the Walkers knew the true owner of Bar-S Ranch had come to town to take possession of his own, and clear up this strange tangle that seemed to have possession of his property, under Uncle Fred Comstock, who had taken to himself a wife, and she connected with the Walker tribe.

The boys went back to the dwindling fire, to sit the night out. They did not try to keep up much of a blaze, lest it serve to draw enemies to the spot; but sitting in the shadows, they held their rifles in readiness, and occasionally exchanged a few words as the minutes dragged slowly by.

Finally in the far east appeared the first faint streaks that told of coming day and the pair of weary watchers welcomed their arrival with positive relief, for it would mean a change, and action.

CHAPTER XII.

DRIVING THE STAMPEDED STOCK HOME.

"Wake up, Billie; it's breakfast time!"

Probably no other summons could have such an immediate effect upon the stout chum as this call. He instantly raised his head, and commenced to sniff the air.

"Coffee, and bacon frying in the bargain! Oh! I hope now I ain't too late; and also that you've cooked enough for all. Remember, we've got guests along with us; and you promised me you wouldn't let the rustlers go hungry, whatever else you did!" was what he exclaimed, as he crawled out of his snug retreat, and commenced to stretch vigorously, as well as rub his eyes in the bargain.

They a.s.sured him that after they had eaten, a second supply would be placed at his disposal to cook, while the others were up the coulie getting pointers on the lay of the land, and how best to start the herd out on the open again, when the time came to make a start.

With that Billie had to rest content. His words had been loud enough for the four prisoners to catch, and must have afforded them more or less relief; since they were doubtless hungry by now, and wondering whether the boys meant to keep them in that condition any length of time.

Having satisfied the inner man Adrian, accompanied by Donald, started up the ravine. Of course they took their guns along; and before leaving warned Billie that while he could cook some breakfast for the prisoners, under no condition was he to try and feed any of them until the others came back.

He promised this readily enough, for truth to tell Billie would not have particularly fancied untying the arms of one of those muscular fellows, lest he be taken off his guard, when there would be the mischief to pay.

The cattle were found to be grazing peacefully. They had apparently entirely recovered from the panic that accompanied the stampede, and when once driven out on the plain would naturally fall into old ways, and allow themselves to be urged on the back trail; for Adrian had concluded that they could do no better than to follow the plain marks made by the herd in fleeing.

When they got back to the fire they were met by Billie's declaration that he had the prisoners' breakfast ready, and if one of them would help him he could feed them by relays.

"I'll do that, because Donald's busy with something else," said Adrian.

Accordingly they started proceedings, and found it little trouble, since they only unfastened the arms of the prisoners, and these two at a time.

The leader happened to be one of the second batch. He kept looking at Adrian as he ate ravenously; and it was evident he had about made up his mind that this must surely be the young owner of the Sherwood ranch.

Billie was more interested in the other fellow, who happened to be the glutton of that midnight meal. His enormous appet.i.te still seemed to stay with him; and Billie, who claimed to be able to hold his own in the feeding line with most people, sat there, staring at the way the man disposed of the food, as though he might either be lost in admiration, or else filled with dismay, perhaps taking a lesson.

"Here, you go slow there," he finally felt it his duty to say, warningly; "that's got to last you for some time, you know, because we're meaning to leave you here when we ride away. Don't gobble so, you pig! I eat a lot, but I do it decent-like, and not like a starving dog bolting his grub. Let up, I say, and get the good out of what you're swallowing!"

"You _are_ the Sherwood boy, ain't you?" suddenly demanded the tall leader, as Adrian handed him his last allowance of coffee in the tin cup.

"Well, I suppose there's no use in my denying it, because I've managed to remember you now," remarked Adrian. "You used to ride for my father years ago; your name is Tad Whiffles; and you had to get away from Bar-S Ranch on account of your quarrelsome disposition. Yes, I'm the Sherwood kid you speak of; and I've come up from the Arizona ranch of my friend Donald Mackay, to find out what's all the matter with things up here."

The puncher called Tad Whiffles looked him over from head to foot; then he turned deliberately to the other stampeder, and nodding his head, was heard to say:

"D'ye hear that, Corney? Tell me, won't there be high jinks to pay in these parts right soon now? I can see a warm session at Bar-S when the boy owner comes acrost Josie, that was a Walker onct! Say, I'd give a heap tuh be there on the spot tuh see that same meetin', b'lieve me, Corney."

"Oh! things will all be straightened out after a bit," Adrian a.s.sured him in a confident fashion that caused the man to elevate his eyebrows, and mutter half under his breath:

"Blame me if I don't more'n harf think as how ye _kin_ do the trick, if anybody kin, kid. The way ye follered us hyar, and took the hull crowd in makes me feel cheap. I don't know what ther ole man'll hev tuh say tuh us when he gets on tuh the story. But wait an' see how he comes out when _he_ rubs up aginst yuh. But I sure would like tuh be at Bar-S for a bit when yuh arrives with all them steers. Wow! ain't thar agoin' tuh be somebody surprised, though?"

He shook his head, and relapsed into silence, as though the matter might be too big for him to grasp all at once.

So the two rustlers were once more securely pinioned. Adrian himself made sure that their bonds were tight, for he did not mean to have his plans spoiled by any fluke, if it could be avoided.