THE CHASE
Through the darkness came many and varied sounds. The thunder rolled
long and continuously. The angry voices of men rose loud and hoarse.
Along the drenched road came the smugglers' car, its exhaust roaring.
And over all the rain came down in torrents.
"Out of the way there, you!" came a voice. "We ain't got no time for
foolin'!"
"Stick to it, Nort!" the Kid yelled. "Don't let them through!"
The two boys were standing in the middle of the road, guns out,
determined to prevent Delton and his men from closing in on Hawkins,
who was grimly awaiting the smuggling car. If they could be held off
until the auto pulled in and stopped, the party at the other side of
the ranch house might succeed in capturing the Chink runners.
There was a sudden shot.
"Hurt, Nort?" the Kid called anxiously.
"Nope! Missed! Put those guns up, you! We've got you covered! Climb
down off those horses quick, or we'll fill you full of holes!"
There was a desperate ring in the boy rancher's voice, and Delton must
have recognized this, for he yelled something to the men back of him
and they all halted. The thunder was less frequent now, although the
rain had not let up. The boys standing in the road were soaked to the
skin. Still they remained firmly in their place, listening to the roar
of the approaching car, and hoping they could hold Delton until it
reached the ranch. By the sound it was almost to the Shooting Star
ranch now. In another moment----
"Hey, you guys, what's the idea?" through the night came a questioning
voice. "Don't you know it's rainin' here? How about lettin' us in the
ranch to get dry?"
"You stay where you are!" the Kid yelled. "You'll have plenty o' time
to get dry all right!"
"Kid--here's the car! Watch out now!" Nort was at the Kid's side, but
facing the other way. "Can you see anything--any of Delton's bunch?"
"Nope--only hear that guy that was talking! Can you?"
"No but--what's that?"
From the other side of the house came three shots in rapid succession.
Then someone yelled. The next moment Dick came splashing around to
where the Kid and Nort were waiting.
"They--they fooled us!" Dick panted. "Delton and three others got to
the car before we did and warned the smugglers! They all got away!"
"Delton!" the Kid exclaimed. "Why, we had him here----"
"Yes you did!" came a mocking voice. "You big cheese--all you had was
a good talk! So long!" There was the splashing noise of a horse
rapidly departing for parts unknown.
"Can--you--beat--that!" Nort ejaculated. "Fooled! Taken in like
suckers! While we stood here talking----"
"Yes, and while we're standing here talking now, the smugglers are
getting farther and farther away! Come on! We've got to chase them!"
Dick turned and made for the corral.
"Chase an auto on a horse?" the Kid yelled. "What's the sense of that?"
"They can't go fast in this wet--and we can spot them by the noise.
Hurry up!"
"But I ain't got no pony!" wailed the Kid. "Wish I had my bronc! What
am I supposed to do; stay here?"
"No--one of Delton's bunch lost his seat and we've got his animal--use
that. He got away in the auto. But for the love of Pete, hurry up!"
The rain had abated a little when the boys reached the corral. Billee
Dobb was waiting with the ponies untied and ready. It was but the work
of a moment to mount and lead the other horses over to where Hawkins
and Bud were standing.
"Where's my new bronc?" the Kid asked as he came up.
"Here--this do you?" Bud was holding a little black pony.
"Sure--as long as it's got legs!" The Kid swung himself upon the
horse's back. "Right! Let's go!"
"We've no time to lose, men!" Hawkins called out. "We messed that up
proper! This Delton is more clever than I thought he was."
All were mounted now and ready to take up the chase. The Kid was
letting his pony walk about, and the rest were awaiting Hawkins's word
to start.
The six riders set out into the night. Hawkins said the car had taken
a route at right angles and to the left of the road, and all went in
that direction. They pushed their ponies as fast as they dared over
the soaked prairie, hoping to catch sight of the car before they had
ridden too far. It was obvious that no auto could make great speed
over the rough surface of the plains, and to add to this rain must
certainly slow them up still more. So the punchers had a fairly good
chance of overtaking them. Delton would probably be acting as convoy
to the car, and if they were able to take that, they would capture him
also. With these thoughts in mind the ranchers beat along through the
rain, which was not now so heavy.
"What happened?" asked Billee Dobb.
"Just this," Bud answered. "Mr. Hawkins and I were waiting for the car
to reach us. We couldn't hear what was happening on the other side of
the house, and Mr. Hawkins and I were all set to grab the gang in it,
when four men came riding by like mad and reached the car before we
did. They yelled something, and in a second the car was off the road
and away, the horsemen after it. But one of the riders fell, and
didn't wait to get on his horse again--just hopped on the running board
of the car."
"What were those cracks we heard?"
"I took a couple of pot-shots at the tires, but I don't think I hit
anything. Too dark. And it was raining cats and dogs, you know."
"Don't I know it! Nort an' me sure had our hands full. Five men to
stop! We figured if we could hold them until you had the fellows in
the car covered, we could capture them too. Say, see any Chinks in the
car?"
"Didn't see anything! The car turned off before we could get close
enough to see in it."
"Too bad we couldn't work it, boys," Hawkins ruefully said. "We've
still got a chance to nab them, though. They can't get far over this
ground with a car."
"They can lead us a merry chase," Dick asserted. "Wonder what time it
is?"
"One o'clock," Bud suggested. "Not much more, anyway. Think they came
over this way, Mr. Hawkins?"
"Yes--I do. Know where we are?"
"Comin' to the water hole, I think," answered Yellin' Kid.
"Say, maybe they're going to try and make for the place where they held
me!" Bud exclaimed. "That's over this way somewhere."
"Can you find it again?" the agent asked, an anxious note in his voice.
"Think so."
"Then if we don't make out to-night we can have a try at that in the
morning."
"How far do you want to go?" Bud asked Hawkins.
"Let's see now. I have an idea, and I want to see what you fellows
think about it. First, though, are you sure that you can find that
ranch where they held you, Bud?"
"Can in daylight. Maybe not at night."
"If you started from the water hole do you think you could spot it at
night?"
"Might. I could try it, anyway."
"Hold up a minute, then."
The six riders drew rein, and waited for the agent's next words.
"It's not much use trailing them much farther. What I think they did,
is to make for that ranch house where Bud was, and stay there. Now
here's the point. Even if we did come upon them now, we'd have a hard
job taking them. I think this is a better plan. Listen, now."
The boys drew closer around Hawkins.
"This idea I have calls for two men to stay up all night. Who'll do
it?"
"Me!"
"Let me in on that!"
"What is it--keeping guard?"
"Yes, Nort, that's exactly what it is--keeping guard. Now here's the
dope. We followed that bunch pretty far. There's no doubt but that
they headed for that house, and intend to unload their Chinks there.
Now if we can only keep them in that house until morning, we can get
the whole gang--including the Chinks--like rats in a trap. Now do you
see what I mean?"
"You mean you want some of us to watch the place and do a little
shootin' so that they won't come out?"
"That's it exactly, Kid! If two men can get close to the house, and
keep firing at intervals, they'll think that we've got them cold, and
will stay there long enough to allow us to get them by morning."
"What's the matter with all of us going up there now?"
"Wouldn't do any good, and besides, someone has got to be at your
ranch. And some of us have got to get a little sleep. We may have to
do some more riding to-morrow."
"Well, if you think that's best, I'll do it, for one," spoke Dick.
"And I'll go with you!" Bud exclaimed. "I owe Delton quite a good deal
for the way he hauled me off my horse!"
"All set for this new plan then?" asked Billee.
"Yes, I think that would be best," Hawkins said slowly. "Bud, you know
something about the lay-out of the place. We'll ride part of the way
with you, in case anything happens. Then when we get near it, you'll
have to go on alone. You and Dick can decide on a plan of action. We
will ride back, and return before dawn. This time we won't fail!"
"You'll ride with us to the place now, you mean?"
"Almost to it. Then I'll know the way to find it again. Come on,
let's get started!"
The moon was now struggling to shine through the clouds as the six took
up the ride again. Bud was in the lead. They had ridden for ten
minutes when, suddenly, Bud uttered an exclamation, and pulled up his
horse.
"Look there!" he cried, pointing.
Ahead loomed a dark mass. The boys rode up to it. As they approached
slowly the moon finally came out fully, and before them they, saw the
wreck of an automobile.