Upon the slope of a great grass-covered hill, among other hills, larger
and grass-covered also, stood a small log school-house. A hundred yards
away, between this isolated building and the dingy road stretched
through the mountain valley, grew a scrubby clump of choke-cherry brush.
Some boys crouched low upon the ground behind these bushes, screened
from sight of possible passers-by, and three pairs of eyes looked
through the budding branches, intently scanning the road at the crest of
hill to the left. Finally a dark speck appeared upon its gray surface.
The youngest boy shivered, a tightening of expression came over the
leader's face. He drew his shotgun closer to him, resting it upon his
knees. Suddenly he laughed unpleasantly and kicked the child who had
shivered.
"You ninny, quit your shakin'! Can't you tell a steer from a man? You'll
make a nice feller when you grow up, 'fraid of your own shadow! You'd
better git into the school-house an' hide under a bench, if you're goin'
to be scared out of your skin. Baby! Umph, a _steer_, too! That blame
black one that won't stay with the bunch!" The big boy brought his
awkward length down upon the ground, continuing in a lower tone: "I'd a
darn sight ruther be on my horse drivin' him back on the range than
waitin' here for any fool school-teacher! But we've got this job on
hand. No schoolin' for me--I'm too old. It'll do for babies that shiver
at a steer, but I've got other business, an' so's Dan. I'm thinkin' if
the old man wants school up here he'll have to teach it himself! What
does he think we'd go to the trouble of running away from the Mission
for if we wanted to go to school? Umph, he must think we're plumb
locoed!"
"If father catches us in this he'll lick us to death," interposed the
youngest boy.
"Not much, he won't. He'll have to ride a faster horse than mine or
Dan's if he catches us! We'll ride over to the Indian camp, an' you can
stay here an' take the lickin'! He'll be glad enough to see us come back
in a month or two, I'll bet! And he's goin' to find out right now that
it ain't no use to bring any doggoned teacher up here to teach this
outfit. Ain't that so, Dan? We know enough of learnin'. I bet this new
fellow won't stay long enough to catch his breath!"
A boy, who in looks and size was the exact counterpart of the speaker,
asked in a sweet, soft-toned voice: "What if the old man takes a notion
to come along to the school-house with him--what'll we do then, Dave?"
"Do! why, what do you suppose we'll do?" answered his twin, settling
down closer to the ground. "Why, we'll hide these here guns an' walk up
to the school-house like little sheep, and _then_ lay low and watch our
chance when the old man _ain't_ around. I ain't figurin' on any lickin'
to-day, you can bet your boots on that, but I'll take a darn good one
before any more schoolin'! We've got the medicine to fix
school-teachers for him this year, I reckon!" And patting his gun, the
breed boy gave a satisfied grunt and settled down nearer to the ground.
"You bet we have," softly assented his twin. "But what if the fellow
don't scare at them blank cartridges?"
"Then we'll try duck-shot on him," answered the first readily. "What'd
you think--we're a lot of babies? I reckon we've got fight in us! You've
got to stick to us, Ned, even if you ain't as old as Dan and me. Ain't
that so, Dan?"
"Yes, unless he wants to get whaled half to death," sweetly answered the
soft-voiced twin.
"I'm no coward," exclaimed the sturdy little fellow. "If you boys _dare_
lick me I'll shoot the two of you!" His small black eyes flashed
ominously. For an instant he glared at the older boys, all the savagery
in his young soul expressed in his countenance. The soft-voiced twin
gave a short laugh. Something like admiration shone in his eyes for the
young lad, but he retorted sweetly: "You shivered! Don't you go an' do
it again!" At that instant his sharp eyes sighted an object just
appearing at the top of the hill. He punched the leader vigorously: "Now
down on your knees, he's comin' sure this time!"
"And he's alone," said the bold leader joyfully. "We won't have no
trouble with him. He rides like a tenderfoot, all right. Wait till he
gets down by that rock there, then let him have it, one after the
other--first me, then Dan, then you, Ned. I'll bet my horse an' saddle
that he'll go back quicker'n he's comin'!"
"What if that ain't the feller we want?" gently asked Dan.
"We'll wait till he turns in here, an' then we'll know. They ain't
nobody else goin' to come along this way just now. Lord, don't he ride
slow, though! Now I'll shoot first, don't forget."
"His saddle blanket's flying on this side, and he's got a red shirt on,"
said the other twin. "He's lookin' over this way. Yes, he's comin' here
all right. Let him have it, Dave, before he gits any closer!"
As he spoke, the approaching rider left the main road and turned up the
dimly marked trail toward the school-house. The forward twin waited an
instant, then, aiming his shotgun carelessly toward the stranger, fired.
At the signal a volley rang out from behind the bushes. As quickly the
horse took fright, stopped stock still, then wheeled, and bolted with
utmost speed directly toward the patch of brush, passing so near that
the boys drew in their legs and crawled snake-like under the protection
of the branches.
"Good Lord," gasped the leader, as the horse raced past, on up the
grassy slope of a hill, "it's a girl!"
Two minutes later the bushes were quickly parted over three very
uncomfortable boys, and a red shirt-waisted girl looked sternly in at
them.
"You boys come out of there this minute! Who did you take me for that
you were trying to frighten me to death? Or is that the way you treat
ladies up here in the mountains? Come out immediately and explain
yourselves!"
The soft-voiced twin crept out first, and before scrambling to his feet
began apologizing: "We didn't know it was _you_. We thought it was a
man. Don't hurt us! We wouldn't a done it for nothin' if we'd thought it
was you. We were layin' for a school-teacher that father got to teach
this school, an' we took you for him." Then more hopefully as he
regained his feet: "But our guns wasn't loaded with nothing but blank
cartridges. We was just goin' to frighten him away so that we wouldn't
have no school this summer. It's too fine weather to be in school,
anyway." He looked up into the girl's uncompromising face. "But now I
reckon our hides are cooked, for you'll tell your father." This last
questioningly.
"And you wouldn't like my father to know about this--or _your_ father
either, I suppose?"
"We'd do most anything if you wouldn't tell on us, Miss Hathaway!"
"Do I look like a girl that would tell things?" she flashed back. "I
usually fight my own battles; if necessary, I can use _this_." A quick
movement and she placed before their faces a reliable looking
six-shooter.
"We know all about that! You ain't a-goin' to hurt us, are you?"
exclaimed Dave.
"You know all about _that_, do you? Well, that's good. Now tell me your
names."
"We're the Harris kids," answered Dave quickly.
"I know you're the Harris kids, but I want your first names. _Yours_,"
she commanded, looking at the soft-voiced twin and absently fingering
the weapon.
"Mine's Dan. _He's_ Dave, an' that one's Ned," answered the boy in one
soft, quick breath; then added: "We know all about how you can shoot.
You're a dead one!" His face took on a certain shrewd look and he
continued divertingly: "I'll throw up my cap an' you shoot at it. I'd
like to have the hole in it."
Miss Hathaway seemed suddenly amused.
"You are a very bright boy! And your name is Dan--Daniel. You want a
souvenir? Well, all right, but not just now. I've got other business. I
came to teach your school." She hesitated, looking keenly at their
astonished faces. "Yes, your father has engaged me--hired me, so I think
we'd better go inside and begin work, don't you? We'll overlook this
shooting affair. I don't know as I blame you very much for not wanting a
man teacher, but of course the shooting was very wrong, and you
shouldn't have tried to frighten anyone; but we'll forget all about it.
But you are not going to have a man teacher, and I am different. I am
going to live at your house, too, so of course we'll be good
friends--ride together, hunt, and have great times, _after school_.
During school we _work_, remember that! Now one of you boys please stake
out my horse for me and then we will go inside and start school. You
boys must help me get things to working."
Before she had finished speaking the soft-voiced twin caught her horse,
which was grazing near. Dave, more clumsily built, followed him, while
the girl took the small boy by the hand and started toward the
school-house. At the door she turned in time to see the twins struggling
at her horse's head. They were about ready to come to blows.
"I'll take care of that horse myself," said Dave gruffly, attempting to
force the other boy's hand from the bridle.
"Don't fight, boys, or _I_ will take care of the horse," called the new
school-teacher severely; thereupon the soft-voiced twin released his
hold and walked demurely up to the school-house.
"Anyway," he explained as he went inside, "Dave's the youngest, and so I
let him have the horse."
"I never was so frightened in my life," thought the girl, as she
arranged the small school for the day. "But the only way to manage these
little devils is to bluff them."