The Wolf Patrol Part 33

'That's the way to talk, Sam,' he wheezed; 'gie the fust un as moves a good lowk as 'll mek' 'im see stars.'

'What do you want?' demanded d.i.c.k. 'You have no right to interfere with us. We have done no harm to you.'

'Hark at 'im!' chuckled the elder villain; 'no right t' interfere, an'

the young shaver's got the price o' gallons on 'im.'

Long Legs changed the stick swiftly from right hand to left, and stretched out the right towards d.i.c.k.

'Fork over,' he said shortly and savagely.

d.i.c.k had been surprised at the sudden appearance of the desperadoes, but that was nothing as compared with the surprise which now fell upon him. For Chippy burst out crying with all his might.

'Oh, don't 'urt me,' wailed the Raven. 'Oh, please don't. Oh, kind gen'l'men, let me go. I ain't got no money, nary copper: look 'ere'; and in his wailing earnestness he scrambled to his feet, and pulled the pockets of his shorts inside out.

The blow which had been threatened did not fall. Although Chippy had got up, it was to wail and lament, and the tramps took no notice of him except to laugh at his distress. You see, they knew where the money was, and d.i.c.k sat still.

'See,' moaned Chippy. 'I ain't got nothin' in my pockets but a knife.

It's 'im wot's got the money, mister, not me;' and the Raven pointed to his comrade.

'I'll bet we know that wi'out yer tellin' us,' jeered Long Legs. 'We heerd every word ye said about that. Come on, fork over,' he added roughly to d.i.c.k.

d.i.c.k did not move; he only looked up at his brother scout. He could hardly believe his own eyes. Chippy's face was twisted into the most frightful contortions of grief, and tears as big as peas were hopping down his cheeks. The Wolf's bewilderment was complete.

'Oh! oh! mister,' cried Chippy, 'lemme go! lemme go! I ain't got a farden.'

'All right, wait a bit,' chuckled the younger tramp. 'We'll put that straight. We'll go whacks with ye. Now then, you, turn that money up, will ye?' he went on to d.i.c.k. 'There's nineteen bob an' a farden on ye, we know. We'll ha' the nineteen bob, an' yer mate shall ha' the farden.'

This struck Fiery Nose as a very good joke, and he grinned till he showed his yellow fangs right back to the grinders.

'Righto, Sam,' he laughed; 'we'll mek' a division of it.'

'Oh, oh!' moaned the Raven. 'I don't want no farden. Only lemme go.

Oh! oh! _B.P._ Lemme go, mister, please, an' I'll thank ye ever so much.'

d.i.c.k stiffened himself from head to foot. What was that Chippy had worked in among his sobs and moans? B.P.--the motto of their order--'Be Prepared.' d.i.c.k held himself tense as a bowstring, ready for anything.

'The one wi' the rhino ain't in no 'urry to fork over, Sam,' said the elder tramp. 'Ye'll ha' to go through 'im, while I see wot's in these 'ere bags.'

CHAPTER x.x.xVI

CHECKMATE

The haversacks were behind him on the bank of the brook. Sam, for his part, turned upon d.i.c.k with a ferocious oath, and a fresh demand for the money. Of the whining, puling, weeping Raven they took no notice whatever. No notice! Ah, ha, Messrs. Long Legs and Fiery Nose, you are making the mistake of a lifetime.

No sooner was their attention drawn from him than the Raven made his leap, swift and silent as a charging panther. He darted upon the stout tramp, whose back was towards him, as its owner bent over the haversacks. Chippy placed both hands against a certain portion of the tramp's person which afforded him an excellent purchase, and gave a tremendous shove. Fiery Nose stumbled forward, caught his feet in the haversacks, grabbed wildly in the air to save himself, found nothing to fill his clutch, and pitched head first over the edge of the bank into the deep, slow brook. Crash! Splash! he went into the pool, and the water leapt like a fountain under his terrific plunge. But the Raven did not stay to observe the success of his manoeuvre. Quick as a trout in a stream he was off at full speed, but he had the haversacks tucked safely in his arms.

Round whirled the younger tramp in time to see his comrade hit the water. He swung up his stick for a blow at the nimble gliding Raven, but as he sprang at the scout, d.i.c.k thrust his staff between the long legs, tripped him up, and sent him sprawling with his face in the hot, smouldering ashes. Chippy was already racing for the road, and d.i.c.k followed at top speed.

In a moment the tramp was on his feet, and dashing the wood ashes out of his eyes and hair. Then he caught up the stick which had flown from his hand and pursued the fugitives, a wild medley of execrations pouring from his lips. In the pool Fiery Nose wallowed and blew like a grampus, and howled for help.

d.i.c.k looked back and saw the long-legged tramp covering the ground at a tremendous pace. He was a big, powerful fellow, and was armed with an ugly club. The scouts were not out of the wood yet. They turned a corner and saw the gateway with no gate close before them. An idea shot into d.i.c.k's head.

'Run straight ahead, Chippy,' he called. 'Leg it down the road.'

The Raven made no reply. He obeyed orders, feeling sure that his comrade had a reason for what he said.

The boys shot through the gateway, and d.i.c.k turned abruptly and dropped down beside it. The gateway was a couple of posts on which a wicket had once swung, nothing more. But a thick bramble-bush grew beside the right-hand post, and in cover of this bush d.i.c.k was crouching. He peered through the bush and saw the tramp come tearing round the bend.

The rascal saw Chippy disappearing over the bridge, and thought the second fugitive had already vanished. He roared a fresh set of exceedingly impolite remarks and wishes, and came on like a tornado in full career. And as he charged into the narrow gateway, a stout patrol staff slid across, and was laid on the inner sides of the posts. He never even saw it, so madly was he bent on his pursuit, and it did its work to a miracle. He put one foot fairly under it, and as he rose to his wild bound the staff took him a little above the ankle and tripped him up. The surprise was so complete that he could not save himself.

He came down headlong on the hard causeway, and ploughed up the gravel for a foot or more with his features.

The crash knocked all the wind out of him: it deserted his body in a fierce whistling sound, something between a grunt and a howl, and he was half-stunned besides, with his nose flattened into his face.

d.i.c.k gave a yell of delight, whipped out his staff--the stout bit of tough ash had taken the shock with hardly a quiver--and raced after his comrade. Chippy was a good way down the road, and when he glanced back, d.i.c.k waved his stick in triumph. The Raven at once eased to allow his friend to come up, and d.i.c.k shouted the glad news as he joined his comrade.

Chippy shouted with delight. 'He's done for,' cried the Raven. 'A1, that was. No more runnin' for 'im just yet. That was splendid, d.i.c.k.'

The boys swung their haversacks across their shoulders and continued their way at a steady, loping trot.

'Oh, Chippy,' cried d.i.c.k, 'but yours was the splendid dodge, the way you took those fellows in! They never dreamed but that you were sick with fright. How did you manage it?'

'Oo,' said the Raven, 'there ain't nothin' in that. Anybody can mek'

believe to cry and beg for mercy, like.'

'Ah,' cried d.i.c.k, 'but there were real tears streaming down your face, Chippy. How did you do that?'

'Easy as easy,' replied the Raven. 'Yer just jab yer fingers in the corner o' yer eyes. I'll show yer.'

'Thanks,' laughed d.i.c.k. 'I'll take your word for it, old boy. It doesn't sound too delightful.'

'I wonder if the old un's out o' the pool yet,' said Chippy, as they trotted on, and the scouts shouted with laughter as they recalled his terrific plunge.

'The other can go back and help his friend out when he's got his wind again,' said d.i.c.k.

'Rough on the pool, though,' muttered the Raven; 'that nose o' his wor enough to mek' the water boil.'

'What luck to lose nothing!' cried d.i.c.k.

'Barrin' my stick,' put in Chippy.

'Why, yes,' replied d.i.c.k. 'Upon my word, I hadn't noticed that. Of course, your hands were filled with the haversacks, and your staff has been left on the bank where we were resting.'

'Ne'er mind,' said the Raven; 'it's wot we could best afford to lose.

Soon cut another.'

The boys did not check their pace until they reached a large village a mile or more from the bridge, and then they dropped into their usual scout's stride.