ON WATCH.
Bob had not seen Jack before breakfast as he had
gotten up some time before and had gone for a ride
with Sue. But they returned before the meal was
over and Bob came in for a good bit of joshing for
being such a sleepy head.
"Your shift has been on duty two hours already,"
Sue told him.
"Then why isn't Jack on the job?" he retorted.
"Because I ordered him to ride with me," Sue
told him.
"Then I reckon he's excused," Bob smiled.
Here Jeb broke in and told them what had happened
during the night and what their plans were.
"I knew it," Sue declared as soon as he had
finished. "I felt it in my bones that he was a bad
one the minute I laid eyes on him."
"Your bones must be pretty sensitive," her father
laughed.
"Well, you'll have to admit that they're usually
right," she retorted.
"As if I'd dare to do anything else."
"You better hadn't."
Los Varney had been assigned to neither of the
shifts but had been given work about the corral and,
soon after breakfast was over, Bob wandered out
that way. His idea was to talk with him and try
and find out if he was in any way suspicious
because of what had happened the night before. He
found him mending the fence on the farther side.
"How come you ain't riding herd?" Los greeted him.
"Oh, Jeb seemed to think they didn't need us any more."
"I reckon he's right. Probably Hains has cleared
out afore this. He don't often hang out long in one
place. That's what makes him so hard ter catch."
"Did you ever see him?" Bob asked.
"Once, 'bout two year ago. He's a big brute of
a man."
"So I've heard."
"He shore is an' I'd hate ter meet him on a dark
night, that is if he had anything agin me. They say,
though, that he treats his friends right."
"But that's not much in his favor."
"I 'spose not, but I've known some what didn't."
For a moment there was a pause while Los was
fitting a board, then he looked up and asked:
"Do yer ever walk in yer sleep?"
Bob was prepared for the question and showed
just the right amount or surprise.
"Why, no, not that I know of. Why?"
"Oh, nothin'. I jest thought mebby yer did. I
had a brother once and he uster walk in his sleep
most every night."
"But what made you think I had the habit?" Bob
asked innocently.
"I didn't think so, I only thought mebby you
had," he replied a bit impatiently.
"Oh, I see."
After a little more talk about things in general
Bob took his departure well satisfied that the man
had no suspicion that he was playing a part the
previous night.
"I guess Jeb was right about him being slow
witted," he thought as he walked slowly back to the
house.
He found Sue, together with Jack and Royce on
the porch and lost no time in telling them of his talk
with Los. He did not hesitate to speak in Royce's
presence as the boy had proved himself in the fight
and he had every confidence that he was sincere in
his reformation.
"It's funny that I can't place the man," Royce
said when he had finished, "because, of course, there
can be little doubt but that he's a member of the
gang."
Jeb had left for town shortly after breakfast and
returned late in the afternoon. That he was in a
perturbed state of mind was easily seen.
"I don't know what we're coming to," he said as
he came up on the porch.
"Smatter, Pop?" Sue, who was lying in a hammock
reading a story aloud to the boys, asked.
"Fellow by the name of Harris lost over two hundred
head last night. He lives over the other side
of the town and has one of the richest and best
ranches in the State. I tell you things are hot in
town, and the way folks are razzing Skeets is a
caution. He'll simply have to do something mighty
quick or resign his job. The ranchers won't stand
for it much longer. Sometimes I wonder if he isn't
in cahoots with Hains in some way."
"Do you mean it, Dad?"
"Oh, I don't know whether I do or not. I always
thought he was honest till lately but I don't see how
a man can be sheriff and get away with as little
stuff as he does."
Bob and Jack had a long conference together
earlier in the afternoon and half decided on a plan,
but Jeb's account of the robbery the night before so
far away from the ranch had put a different light on
things.
"The most of the gang must have been over there
last night," Bob said as they met out in the big barn
shortly before supper time.
"Then they probably left someone behind to signal
Los," Jack suggested.
"Guess there's no doubt about that."
"Well, what'll we do now?"
"Watch him after it gets dark."
"Right."
"Do you think they're after the cattle or is it
Royce they want?" Jack asked a few minutes later.
"Both, I imagine. Jeb was telling me the other
day that the man Hains is a man who never forgets
a real or a fancied wrong and that it's his boast that
no man ever crossed him and didn't pay up for it."
"Lovely disposition, I'll say."
As soon as supper was over the boys went out by
the shack and pitched horse shoes with those of the
hands that were on the day shift. Los Varney was
there, but took no part in the game declaring that he
was too tired, and soon after eight he reckoned he'd
turn in.
"Hitting the hay early, ain't yer, Los?" one of
the men asked.
"Yep, yer see I been fixin' fence all day an' I ain't
used ter the job. Good night."
"Night, Los," they all sang out as he entered the
shack.
"He's certainly popular with the men," Bob told
Jack a little later as they were walking back toward
the house.
"Seems so, and it may seem strange to you, but
somehow I can't help having a kind of sneaking liking
for him myself. I'm ashamed of it, but it's so."
"Same here," Bob acknowledged. "He's a likeable
fellow all right but we mustn't let that influence
us. The man's crooked and he's got to pay if we
can make him."
"Of course," Jack agreed.
On the porch they found Jeb and Sue. Royce
had retired feeling a bit tired, Sue told them.
"We're going to watch Los tonight," Bob announced.
"Nothing doing," Jeb said promptly.
"Oh, we'll be careful and it's the only way we can
think of," Jack argued.
Jeb held out for some time but finally they
obtained a hesitating consent on the condition that
they would be careful and take no chances.
"Remember I'm responsible to Mr. Leeds for you
and if anything happens I'll get the blame," he
cautioned them.
"We'll see that it doesn't," Bob assured him.
It was nearly dark by this time and, as the sky
was clouded over, it gave promise of a dark night.
Cowboys, as a rule go to bed early and, shortly after
nine o'clock the light in the shack went out. They
waited another hour and then decided it was time
to go.
"You let me know if anything happens," was
Jeb's parting order.
To the right of the shack and only a few feet
away was a small shed with an open front where
small tools were kept. From it the door of the
shack was visible and the boys had decided to make
it their headquarters for the night, there being little
likelihood of their being seen by one coming from
the shack.
"Now there's no need of both of us keeping
awake," Bob said after they had arranged a couple
of barrels in front of them leaving sufficient space
between them for a lookout. "You lie down on
those gunny sacks and I'll stand the first watch until
twelve o'clock."
"You'll call me then?"
"Sure."
"That a promise, remember."
"Surest thing you know."
Jack threw himself down and in less than five
minutes his regular breathing told his brother that
he was in the land of Nod. It was very quiet and,
save for the occasional whinnie of one of the horses
in the corral, hardly a sound came to his ears. Slowly
the minutes passed and it seemed to the waiting boy
that two hours must surely have gone when his
watch told him that he had been there but a little
more than an hour. He was having a hard time to
keep awake long before twelve o'clock came. But
he persisted and at last the hands of his watch
pointed to the hour.
"All quiet along the Potomac?" Jack asked as he
awoke at his brother's touch.
"All quiet," Bob told him.
"All right, now you get to sleep."
"We'll only stay till three o'clock," Bob proposed.
"If he doesn't do anything by that time there's not
much chance that he'll make a move before tomorrow
night."
"Then I'll call you at three," Jack whispered.
"Make it half after two and we'll take the last half
hour together."
"All right. Half after two it is."
It was not fifteen minutes later that Jack heard a
slight creaking sound. Instantly he was on the
alert his eye glued to the space between the two
barrels. Someone was cautiously opening the door of
the shack and, an instant later he saw a form step
out. Although it was so dark that he could hardly
see the man he had no doubt, but that it was Los.
Who else would be creeping out at that time of the
night? For what seemed to the boy a long time the
man stood on the steps as though listening. Then,
evidently satisfied that he had gotten out without
disturbing any of the men, he stole softly away
through the darkness toward the corral.
Jack laid his hand on his brother's shoulder.
"He's come out," he whispered.
"Where is he?"
"Gone toward the corral."
"Then we must follow him, but don't make a sound."
At the door of the shed the two boys listened a
moment but heard nothing.
"You wait here and let me see if I can get a line
on him," Jack whispered.
"Better let me go."
"No, I spoke first. I'll get up close to the corral
fence and if you hear me give the call of the
whip-poor-will you come a-running."
"All right, but you be careful."
Jack stole away and in an instant the darkness
had swallowed him up. Ten minutes passed and
then the notes of the whip-poor-will floated to him
from the direction of the corral.
"That's Jack," he whispered to himself as he set
out.
He had covered only about half the distance to the
corral when he saw a form coming toward him and
in a moment Jack joined him.
"He's taken one of the horses and gone off toward
the hills," he told him.
"What'll we do? Go tell Jeb?"
"And let him get away?"
"Think we'd better follow him then?"
"Sure. Come on."
"But we told Jeb we'd be careful."
"Well, we will, but we've simply got to know what
he's up to. Of course he's gone to meet someone."
"Unless he's gone for good."
"But I don't believe that."
"Well, neither do I."
They had been moving rapidly toward the corral
while talking and by this time had reached the big
gate. Opening it a trifle they stepped inside and
Bob called softly to Satan. A soft whinnie answered
him and a moment later a soft nose was rubbing his
shoulder. It took Jack a bit longer to pick out his
horse, but it was not much more than ten minutes
after the man had started before they too were off.
"I'm not sure but we're doing a fool thing after
all," Bob said as they started.
"How come?" Jack asked.
"Well, what chance have we of finding him in this
darkness?"
"Perhaps not much but it's a chance."
They did not dare to gallop the horses for fear
the man would hear them so they held them in to a
fast trot which, on the soft ground, made hardly a
sound. They had been riding in this way for the
better part of an hour when Jack, who was slightly
in the lead, saw a spot of light flash up far ahead.
"Did you see that?" he asked turning around in
the saddle.
"Yes," Bob replied.
"What's your guess?"
"Someone lighting his pipe."
"Mine too. I believe he's reached the rendezvous
and is waiting. What do you say?"
"Wouldn't wander."
"How far away should you say he is?"
"It's pretty hard to judge, but I'd set it at 300
yards."
"You hold the horses and I'll creep up and see if
I can get a line on what's doing," Jack suggested.
Bob objected at first but finally, after Jack had
positively refused to let him go, gave a reluctant
consent cautioning him not to try to get too close.
There was neither tree nor shrub on the prairie to
give him concealment but he knew that a man could
see but a few feet in that darkness and he thought
he could get near enough to overhear a conversation
if there was one being carried on. He stopped every
few feet to listen and it was not long before he
heard a voice.
"Seems ter me he ought ter be gettin' here prutty
soon."
It was Los's voice and it was evident that the man
was talking to himself. Jack could tell that he was
not many feet distant although he could not see him
and he decided to wait where he was and not risk
trying to get closer. So he stretched himself at full
length on the ground and waited. He could hear the
other's horse as he moved about feeding on the short
grass and, every now and then, the man muttered a
few words of impatience.
Then, after he had been lying there for some thirty
minutes the soft sound of hoofs striking the ground
reached his eager ears.
"He's coming," he thought.
Nearer and nearer came the hoof beats and soon
it was plain that the rider was urging his horse at
a fast pace. The sound was coming from the direction
of the hills and for a time Jack was afraid that
he was in the line and was about to crawl to one side
when the rider evidently changed his course a bit
to the right and he kept his place. Almost at the
same time a flash of light came from Los as a signal
to the unknown rider. The man must have seen it
at once for he again changed his course and once
more the boy was in line. Quickly he crawled to
one side and had covered but a few feet when the
horse dashed past.
"Pretty close shave that," he thought as he again
stretched out at full length.
"Your late, Gramp," he heard Los say a moment
later.
"Couldn't help it," was the answer which Jack
barely caught.
Then they lowered their voices to such an extent
that he was unable to catch a word. So he crept
softly, careful to make no sound, until he could see
their forms. He was now not more than twenty
feet away and he dared not go nearer. But, to his
great disappointment, they were talking hardly above
a whisper and he could only catch a word now and
then, not enough to get the drift of the conversation.
He heard Los mention the name of Royce but
in what connection he could not tell.
It was maddening to be so near and yet he told
himself, he might just as well be a thousand miles
away for all he was learning. So intent was he in
trying to hear them that he failed to note that a rift
in the clouds was rapidly widening and, to his
consternation, the full moon suddenly burst through,
throwing a flood of light over the prairie. It seemed
to the fear-stricken boy almost as light as day. He
could see the two men so plainly that he could easily
distinguish their features and he saw that Los was
talking with a large black bearded man who was
well past middle age.
What was he to do? He asked himself the question
several times. Should he keep perfectly still where
he was and trust to luck that they would not see him
or should he try to creep away? Neither plan seemed
to promise much hope of escaping detection. Carefully
turning his head he saw Bob and the two horses
and was amazed that they loomed up so plainly. He
fancied that Bob was beckoning to him but was not
sure.
"Then yer understand?"
He heard the black bearded man ask the question
in a much louder tone than he had been using.
"Sure," Los replied.
"Good. Then I'll beat it. Don't ferget day after
ter-morrow."
"I won't."
Both men mounted their horses and Jack tried to
flatten himself still farther into the grass. It was a
tense moment and to say that he was frightened
would hardly begin to express his feelings. He was
scared stiff, as he afterward confided to Bob. It
seemed impossible that both men would fail to see
him and that they would shoot him on sight under
the circumstances was, he believed equally certain.
He had decided that his best chance was to lie
perfectly still and trust that either they would fail
to see him or, in case they did, would take his form
for a rock or log. It was a slim hope, but all he had.
Did you ever try to lie perfectly still knowing that a
single slight movement might be the last you would
ever make. If so then you have some idea of Jack's
feelings.
All these thoughts passed through the boy's mind
in the time that it took the two men to get into
their saddles and he was afraid they would hear the
beating of his heart so loudly did it seem to thump.
"Well, so long, Los," he heard the older man say.
"So long, Gramp," Los responded.
He knew that the stranger was turning his horse
and, in a minute, would be facing directly, or nearly
so, toward him. Could he hope to escape detection
in that bright moonlight. A silent prayer for protection
welled up in his heart as he heard the man speak
to his horse. And the answer to the prayer came.
Just as suddenly as the rift in the clouds had opened
letting out the flood of moonlight, it now closed. It
seemed as though a giant hand had drawn a giant
curtain over the face of the moon and darkness,
seemingly more intense than before, settled on the
prairie. Jack's relief was so great that, for an
instant, he was incapable of action then, as he heard
the heavy breathing of a horse only a few feet away,
he quickly sprang to his feet and darted off.
"What's that?" he heard a voice cry out.
"Nothin' but a buzzard," another voice replied.
Jack ran for a hundred yards or more before he
stopped to listen. He could hear the rapid beat of
hoofs not far off, but he quickly perceived that they
were getting farther and farther away. So, with a
prayer of thankfulness in his heart, he started on
again.
"Bob!" He did not dare speak the word very loudly,
but he was sure that if he had kept the right
direction, his brother should be close at hand.
But there was no reply and he walked a bit further
straining his eyes in an effort to pierce the darkness.
"Bob!" Again there was no answer and he began
to fear that he had gotten off the course.
Then, a moment later, he saw a short distance
ahead a tiny point of light and hastened toward it
and in another moment the brothers were in each
other's arms.
"Talk about close calls," Jack whispered.
"You said it," Bob agreed.
"I sure thought I was a gone gosling."
"And you would have been if luck hadn't been
with you."
"Or God," Jack added quickly.
"You are right. I believe it was God who pulled
those clouds together over the moon at just the right
time."
"He saved my life, I really believe," Jack said,
and, moved by the same impulse, the two brothers
sank on their knees in the grass and no more sincere
thanks ever reached the ear of God.
"But what did you find out?" Bob asked as they
got to their feet.
"That's the worst of it," Jack replied sadly. "I
didn't learn a thing except that it's day after
to-morrow."
"What is?"
"That's what I don't know. You see I didn't dare
get a foot nearer and they talked almost in whispers
and I could only hear a word now and then. I
heard the big man say day after to-morrow but I
didn't get the connection at all."
"It's too bad, of course, but I'm mighty glad you
didn't get any nearer. They'd have seen you sure as
fate if you'd been a foot closer and it wasn't worth
that, boy, not by a long shot."
"But we know that something's on the cards for
the day after tomorrow. I suppose he really meant
tomorrow as it was after twelve o'clock."
"Probably."
"But it's not dead sure."
"No, I suppose not."
"I wish we could be sure."
"'If wishes were horses,' you know," Bob quoted.
"Well, I guess we might as well be getting back
now," Jack proposed after a moment's pause.
"But we've got to be mighty careful that Los
doesn't run into us."
"That's so. If he found out that we're out
to-night he'd know something was up."
"Sure he would. Now I reckon we'd better take
it easy and let him get in first. He'll probably hit
it for home about as fast as he can make it."
"But suppose he should notice that our horses are
gone?"
"He'd probably smell a mouse, but he isn't apt to
notice it. He'll just turn his horse in and hit the
hay as soon as he can. Anyhow, that's a chance
we've got to take. We probably couldn't beat him
to it now even if we tried."
"You're right, of course, but I'll be nervous till I
know he doesn't know that we know what we know."
"Two bad you couldn't get a few more knows in
that last statement," Bob laughed.
They waited a few minutes longer and then
mounted the horses and started at a slow trot for
the ranch. The first hint of the coming dawn was
showing in the eastern sky as they stole swiftly into
the house after turning the horses into the corral.
"I'm not sure the game was worth the candle,"
Jack declared as he tumbled info bed.
"Time will tell," Bob replied sleepily from beneath
the covers.