A STRANGE DISCLOSURE
"Hello, there, Charlie! How's your health?"
Reddy swung himself down from the limb on which he had been perched, and
kicked out with his feet in such a way that he attracted the attention
of the beast.
"He's coming! Look out, Frank!" shouted Will, who, secure in his perch,
had, of course, been manipulating his camera with burning zeal.
Bang!
It was Bluff who had fired, but if he hit the great beast at all, the
latter minded the wound no more than he would a flea bite.
Jerry also took a turn as the grizzly passed the tree in which he was
hidden.
"I hit him!" he whooped as the grizzly gave a snap backward at his
flank.
But the enticement offered by Reddy's swinging form proved too much for
the enraged animal. Doubtless he imagined that all his troubles came
from that biped or monkey hanging up yonder, just within reach of his
claws if he arose on his hind legs. Hence his eagerness to make the
attempt.
"Pull up, quick!" exclaimed Frank as the grizzly rushed under the tree
and immediately started to rear up.
The daring cowboy had held out until the very last second, meaning that
nothing should balk his design of enticing the enemy under their refuge,
where Frank could get in his work.
Afterward Frank understood his motive. Reddy was especially fond of him,
though he also liked all of the other chums. He believed that Jerry had
secured enough honors in being given the chance to knock over the other
bear, and it was his desire to see Frank even up the score.
Just in the nick of time the cowboy swung his legs up around the limb.
The horrible claws of the grizzly swept through the air not a foot below
where he had hung. Frank shuddered at the consequences had anything
happened to bring Reddy within reach of such a powerful beast.
"Now get him, Frank!" gasped the one who hung on with arms and legs.
Neither Bluff nor Jerry thought to shoot a second time. They seemed to
understand that the game had passed them by, and that it was Frank's
turn.
When he saw the right chance the young sportsman pulled the trigger. He
had not made any mistake in judging just where he should aim, for with
the report of his rifle the grizzly floundered, and fell over.
"Wow! That did the business!" shouted Jerry.
"Hold on, boys! Don't get down yet!" called Mr. Mabie hastily, as he
thought he detected a disposition on the part of either Bluff or Jerry
to drop from their secure perches to the ground.
It was well they refrained, for already the monster was once more on his
feet, and, roaring with fury, endeavoring to reach the enemies who clung
there so tantalizingly, just beyond his extended claws.
"Give him another!" cried Reddy promptly.
Frank did; and wishing to end the beast as quickly as possible, he aimed
to send the lead straight to the heart. But he was compelled to use
every bullet in his six-shot repeater before the giant received his
quietus, and rolled over, to rise no more.
Frank had a queer feeling as he dropped to the ground and stood over his
big game. Deep down in his heart he envied his chum, because Jerry had
been able to kill _his_ grizzly while the beast was charging him.
"It may be all right," he said to Mr. Mabie, "and it's a good thing to
get rid of these savage animals in any old way, but I hope I don't take
part in another affair like this. He had no chance, poor old chap."
The old rancher looked admiringly at the boy.
"Those sentiments do you proud, lad, and I appreciate them, too; but
business, in my line, must go ahead of sentiment, and this old Charlie
was doing me a bad turn. My herds will rest easier now that he is gone,"
he said feelingly.
Leaving Billy and Reddy to secure the hide of the second grizzly, the
others returned to camp. Restless Jerry tried the fishing again, and as
before, success came his way.
"I'd give something to have my little _Red Rover_ here, in that swift
water," sighed Bluff, as he and Frank sat on the edge of the bluff,
listening to the rush of the river while it sped on its way to the lower
country.
"Well, a canoe might be fine for shooting downstream, but I don't
believe you'd find it as safe in the rapids as those hide boats. The
rocks can't smash in their sides, like cedar or canvas craft. Better to
do as the natives do, I find, whenever I go anywhere. They know by
experience what's best," returned Frank wisely.
"Look there! A cowboy coming like the wind up the river, waving his hat
over his head! Say! d'ye suppose anything's gone wrong at the ranch, and
we'll have to cut our hunt short?" exclaimed Bluff anxiously.
"Oh, I guess not. You see, those fellows are built that way. They never
can do anything without excitement. See! He's holding up something that
looks like a mail pouch," said Frank composedly.
"Why, of course that's it! I heard Mr. Mabie say he expected mail
to-day, and, for one, I'll be mighty glad to hear from the folks,"
sighed Bluff.
"What? Not getting homesick already, I hope?" smiled his chum.
"Certainly not, only a fellow naturally likes to hear from his mom and
dad when he's away so far," declared Bluff stoutly.
"Yes, and also from some other fellow's sister, in the bargain. Nellie
never finds time to write to me when I'm away, leaving all that to the
old folks; but I notice that you always manage to get a letter in her
handwriting."
"Well, I made her solemnly promise to write every other day, you see,"
explained Bluff, while he suddenly became red in the face, hurrying off
to get his mail.
There were letters for all the boys. Jerry was called in from his
entrancing sport to receive his share, and Frank noticed that he, too,
had a sweet-looking missive in a schoolgirl hand. Of course, it must be
from Mame Crosby, for Jerry and she were great friends.
"Here's something enclosed in my letter, and directed to Mr. Frank
Langdon. Does anybody know a fellow by that name?" asked Will, holding
up a delicate envelope that seemed to exhale a fragrance all its own.
"And sealed, too! What a breach of etiquette!" jeered Jerry.
"Now, _will_ you be good?" observed Bluff, glad of a chance to return
the favor.
"That's all right. Possibly Violet wants to make some inquiries
concerning her twin brother, how he behaves, and if he has developed any
rash spirit calculated to get him into trouble. I remember telling her
that if she felt anxious just to drop me a line, and I'd answer."
Frank unblushingly took the envelope from the extended fingers of Will.
"Open it!" commanded Bluff.
"You'll have to excuse me, fellows. That wouldn't be hardly fair to my
correspondent, you know. She expects me to keep her secrets." And Frank
coolly sauntered off as he spoke.
Nor did he ever take them into his confidence with regard to what the
contents of that scented missive might be. Even Will was not told.
However, like most brothers, it can be said that he did not seem overly
anxious to learn. He had, perhaps, secrets of his own.
Once again they were seated around the campfire. Supper had been, as
usual, a great success, and while the older members of the party smoked,
our boys amused themselves in various ways.
Will was, of course, busy with his photographic outfit. His field
dark-room was a success, and he developed his films, and did all other
things necessary, with little or no trouble. Indeed, he had an apparatus
whereby he could carry on this operation successfully even in the
daytime; but he usually worked at night, because there was nothing else
going on then.
The others had fallen into a conversation connected with their home
life. Reddy hovered near, listening, and Frank wondered why that wistful
look had come into the eyes of the young cowboy. Possibly he had a home
somewhere--perhaps memories of a mother or father had crowded into his
mind while the boys were talking of the sacred ties that bound them to
Centerville.
Frank had always believed there must be something of a history attached
to Reddy's past. He had even hoped that some time the other might take
such a liking to him as to speak of his own folks. His manner gave Frank
the impression that the dashing cowboy might have had a new longing
spring up in his breast since their coming to the ranch, a desire to
once again visit the scenes of his boyhood.
So, as they talked, referring to many of the events of the past, names
were often mentioned, and as a thought came to him, Frank happened to
say:
"I wonder how Hank Brady is getting on with father's new car?"
He saw the cowboy start and turn white.
"Who's Hank Brady?" he asked, his voice trembling.
"A fellow we met under strange circumstances. Hank was on the road to
the bad, but he got his eyes open just in time. Now he's our chauffeur,
and we think he's going to make good," replied Frank, watching the other
with sudden interest.
"Huh! Did you ever hear anything about his family?" asked Reddy, trying
to act in a natural manner, but hardly succeeding very well.
"Yes. He's got a father and mother who were mighty anxious about him."
"And there's that good-for-nothing brother Ted he told you to keep your
eye out for up here!" broke in Bluff.
"Yes; how about that, Frank? Have you ever asked about him?" exclaimed
Jerry.
"No; but perhaps I'd better begin now. How about it, Reddy?" questioned
Frank.
"You needn't go any further, for I can tell you all about that scalawag.
If you had asked Mr. Mabie, he'd have told you my name was Ted Brady,"
was the astonishing reply.