Read Ebook: The saddle boys on the plains by Carson James Captain

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Ebook has 1207 lines and 45743 words, and 25 pages

THE SUDDEN ALARM

When he turned so hastily, the astonished Frank was just in time to see his chum topple from his saddle, and fall heavily to the ground.

Domino, the black Kentucky horse, began plunging wildly; but, fortunately, Bob's feet were free from the stirrups, so there was no danger of his being dragged, should the mettlesome horse bolt.

A series of yells broke forth from the rocks and bushes just above the road. It was from that point that the rope had been thrown which had caught Bob so neatly, and unseated him.

Filled with the greatest alarm, and half fancying that they had been waylaid by some Indians off their reservation, Frank was trying to get hold of his rifle, which he carried fastened to his back.

Buckskin, too, was prancing as though excited; and it was no easy task to keep half a grip on the bridle, and at the same time manage the gun.

Frank saw that Bob had scrambled to his knees, and was holding on to the loop of the lariat which he had snatched from around his shoulders. There had been some resistance at first; but apparently those behind the bushes feared what was likely to happen once Frank succeeded in getting his rifle free, for abandoning the rope they fled with a new series of howls.

"Why don't you shoot, Frank?" cried Bob, considerably ruffled by his hard fall, and unable to understand what it all meant.

"I've got half a mind to; the cowardly curs, to play such a mean trick on us, and then vamoose like snakes!" gritted Frank, raising his gun once or twice, and aiming in the direction where the shouts and wild laughter still continued, though gradually growing fainter.

He could see several figures jumping over obstacles, and trying to take advantage of every little bit of cover that cropped up. And they were neither Navajo Indians, as he had at first suspected, nor the rustlers who were in the mind of his chum.

"A trick, was it?" ejaculated Bob, feeling ruefully of his knees, where he had come in contact with the earth on falling. "Then they didn't mean to steal our horses, Frank?"

"Not quite so bad as that," returned the other; "but I wouldn't put it past Peg Grant and his bullies to do even a job of horse stealing if they keep on the way they're going."

Bob uttered an angry snort.

"And was it that crowd pulled me off my horse with a bump?" he exclaimed, as his face turned a shade darker with indignation. "Then I'll have it out with Peg the first time I happen to meet him."

"There they go now, streaking it across that open place; so I reckon they must have their horses somewhere over in that region. Watch me give the cowards a little scare!"

As Frank spoke he leveled his rifle in the direction indicated. A shrill yelp of alarm must have told the four runners what was threatening, for instantly they threw themselves upon the ground, and commenced rolling over and over, as if in the hope of distracting the aim of the boy who sat astride his buckskin horse, and kept his weapon directed toward them.

Even Bob, who was engaged in rubbing his lame knees and elbows, could not refrain from indulging in a loud laugh, which must have reached the ears of the panic-stricken quartette. One succeeded in gaining the shelter of an outlying rock; but the others rolled, and turned head over heels in their desperate break for cover.

"All down in that alley!" sang out Bob, who was rapidly recovering his customary genial disposition, that had been sadly disturbed by the abruptness of his tumble, and the ridiculous nature of his adventure.

"And they bit off more than they could chew," remarked Frank, as he once more slung his rifle over his shoulder. "They expected to have a heap of fun dragging you around; but I reckon Peg got cold feet just as soon as he made the cast, and saw me grabbing for my gun. When he lit out, the rest trailed behind. Oh! they're a sweet bunch, all right."

"Say, do you really think it was Peg who threw that rope?" asked Bob, as he picked up the article in question, and examined it.

"I sure do," replied his chum. "It was as easy a throw as anybody could try for a starter. I heard how Peg was practicing early and late to use a rope. He had that Nick Jennings coaching him, too. Chances are they saw us coming, and Peg, he ups and declares that he could yank one of us off our saddles while we passed. So they hid right here, and made the try."

"Well, it might have been worse," grunted Bob, as he coiled the rope up again. "What if my foot had got caught in the stirrup, and Domino had bolted? Whew! that's my first experience at being roped. I don't like it even a little bit. There they go on their horses, Frank; and see how they act! That's a fine way to slope like mad, isn't it, and then pretend to be so bold? Bah!"

"We're in a good rope, if you care to look at it that way; also some experience," Frank remarked, with a suggestive smile at his chum.

"Likewise a few bruises, that will feel sore the whole week," added Bob, ruefully.

"What d'ye suppose Peg Grant and that bunch could have been doing over here?" Bob asked after a time, as though he himself might have been trying to figure things out, but without success.

"Oh! the country is free to anybody who cares to ride," laughed Frank. "Some go in for hunting; others to taking long gallops; while a few like to hover around, and pick up points concerning rival ranches. You know we heard that the Syndicate has an eye on the Arrowhead Ranch. Perhaps Peg may have been sent out to get tabs on the cattle they control, so the count-in won't be a fraud. Men who cheat are always expecting others to try and get them in a dicker."

"They thought you would sure shoot," chuckled Bob; "I never saw such ducking in all my life. And that looked like Peg himself, the one who smashed into that tree."

"It was a sweet bump, and don't you forget it, Bob. Chances are, Peg will be nursing a banged-up nose longer than your knees and elbows will hurt you."

"Say, I wonder if this is a sample of what's going to strike us on this new venture?" observed the Kentucky lad. "Because things are coming our way pretty swift, so far. On the go just a few hours, and I get yanked out of my saddle. I reckon I must have seen that rope sailing toward me, for I can remember throwing up my arm; and that kept the noose from tightening around my neck."

"Just what happened," nodded Frank; "those of us who have used the lariat a long time always do that sort of thing when we think a rope is whizzing in our direction--throw up a hand, and duck!"

So they rode on, talking about the recent little trouble, and making progress. When noon came a halt was made in order to take a bite, and rest the horses; for the blazing sun came down with a fierce directness that made traveling exhausting to man and beast.

Frank had picked out the place for the noonday rest. A clear little brooklet gurgled out of a split in the rock. Undoubtedly it came from the distant mountains, where snow melted on the peaks throughout the summer, forming many such little streams that eventually joined forces with the mighty Colorado.

"What are you laughing at, Frank?" demanded Bob, as they sat there, munching some of the sandwiches the Chinese cook at the ranch house had put up for them, while the two horses tried to find some stray bunches of grass near the water.

"Just happened to remember a time when I got snaked off the back of a horse, and as sudden as you did just now," replied the prairie boy, still chuckling.

"It must have been funny, then, to make you act like that so long after it happened," remarked Bob. "Tell me about it, Frank."

"That's why I can laugh at it now, because it was several years ago," the other went on. "At the time, I tell you it was no joke. You see, I had jumped on a horse one of the boys was breaking in. The beast was a little ugly still, and I had a hackamore in place of a bridle. When he acted too mean I'd give that a twist, and the cruel rope caught his jaw in a way to bring him to his senses."

"I know what you mean," remarked Bob; "though I've never handled a hackamore myself. Go on, Frank."

"Well, as we whooped along, it happened that the beast took a notion to turn sudden-like, and put into a bunch of trees. And Bob, before I could say Jack Robinson I found myself snatched right off that horse by a crotched limb that hung low down. The cayuse ran off with me kicking my heels in the air!"

"Just like Absalom was treated so long ago, eh, Frank?"

"Well, I wasn't caught up by my hair, because I wear it short; but I did get caged in that crotch so it took me a long time to wiggle out. I never dared tell the boys about it. Say, they'd have joked me half to death over it. But the shock of being snatched right off the back of my mount was just as bad as what you just went through with. I've never forgotten my feelings as I swung up there, kicking to beat the band, and waving my arms, but unable to help myself for ten long minutes."

"And I suppose I'll remember that queer sensation I had as I felt myself being pulled out of my saddle; and in that flash reckoned it must be some of those reckless cattle rustlers after my good old Domino. Whew! excuse me from another experience along that line, Frank."

"This is a fine place to spend an hour at noon," remarked the other, as he lay back to stretch his legs; for there is always more or less of a cramped sensation during a long horseback ride.

"And with that warm sun it makes a fellow feel sleepy," added Bob. "If I happen to drop off into a little doze, please don't wake me up too sudden. I might think I was fast in the noose of another rope, and strike out, reckless like."

"I'll keep my hands off you for some little time," declared Frank; "for I can see that you're marked 'dangerous,' like a box of dynamite at the mines."

When the hour had passed, both boys announced their readiness to make a fresh start; and although the heat was still quite severe, they threw the saddles on the horses, and were soon off.

Hours later the two found themselves considering the subject of a camp. The afternoon was wearing away, and, ere long, night would be at hand. The moon, past its first quarter, hung in the sky overhead, so that they need not anticipate darkness with the coming of sunset.

"Look away off yonder; that line of trees seems inviting a closer acquaintance," declared Frank, pointing; "because, unless I'm greatly mistaken, there must be a stream of some sort there. Let's wind up the day with a little race, Bob!"

The Kentucky boy was always willing for a trial dash; hence they allowed the two horses to have their heads across the level plains. And, as often happened, they arrived at their goal neck and neck.

"Call it a draw!" laughed Frank, as he threw himself to the ground.

"I'm willing," replied his chum, proud because the black was able to keep on even terms with a horse born and brought up in that country.

First the boys attended to their faithful steeds; and, only after seeing them comfortable, did they think to take a drink from the stream, and begin to get a camp in readiness for the coming night.

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