A DUEL WITH LARIATS.
Outside it was night, and beyond the clearing the woods were dark. Both
Ted's and Hallie's horses were gone, and it would be impossible for them
to start back toward the camp without them.
"We'd better hide in the woods until morning," said Stella. "Singing
Bird will guide the boys here. Besides, we do not know when that brave
warrior Barrows will return with his soldiers."
"That is a good idea," said Ted, and they crossed the clearing to the
woods, and found a place of concealment from which they could see all
that took place at the house.
The night was far advanced, and the girls were sleeping on a couch of
dried pine needles, which Ted had gathered for them.
Ted was on watch to shield them from harm, and to drive away the animals
of the night.
He was half asleep himself, sitting with his back to a tree with his
head on his arms, which were crossed on his knees.
An unusual sound brought him to his senses instantly, and he was
listening intently.
He heard the sound of horses' feet, and the subdued rumble of men
talking.
There were only two horses, and they were coming on uncertainly.
Evidently their riders did not know their way, and were feeling along in
the dark, which was intense.
"It ought to be along here somewhere."
It was the voice of Woofer.
"Well, I hope it is," said another voice, "I'm tired of this night
riding. When did the boss say he'd be here?"
"Early in ther mornin'. He's goin' ter make an attack on ther cow camp
ter-night, an' what he don't kill he's goin' ter bring here, an'
stampede ther cattle an' scatter them all over ther range."
Woofer laughed as he said it.
"I don't care much what he does," he continued, "if he'll only turn over
ther Injun gal ter me. That'll be ernuff fer you an' me, I reckon."
"Then what's he goin' ter do?"
"He's goin' ter take that Croffut gal, he's jest crazy about her, an'
hike her off ter ther coast, an' put her aboard a private yacht he's got
there, an' that'll be ther last o' her in this community."
"What's goin' ter happen ter ther rest o' them?"
"He's got er nice little deal fixed up fer Ted Strong. He wuz tellin' me
thet if I wanted it, ther job was mine. I reckon I'll take it," and
Woofer laughed heartily.
"You're ter be ther executioner, eh?"
"That's about ther size o' it."
"An' yer hate yer job, eh?" This was greeted with uproarious laughter.
"Like a kid hates candy."
"What's it goin' ter be?"
"A little rope play, I reckon."
"That's yer long suit. Hello, what's this? Here we are at the cabin."
Ted heard the men dismount and enter the cabin, and then their voices
roaring with rage.
"They've escaped, darn 'em!" they heard Woofer shout. "Hey, there, turn
out an' hunt 'em! Ther boss will be wild when he finds this out."
"Hunt fer 'em nothin', in this dark? Yer wouldn't find 'em in a blue
moon. Why, it was all we could do ter find ther cabin."
"Well, they can't git far away. We'll find 'em in ther mornin'."
They retired to the cabin again, and slammed the door.
"Did you hear that?"
Stella's hand was on Ted's arm, and she whispered to him in an awed sort
of voice.
"You awake?" he said. "Yes, I heard it, but don't let it worry you. They
won't get us very soon."
They heard Hallie sobbing quietly.
"What's the matter, dear?" asked Stella. "Don't be frightened."
"Suppose he does," sobbed Hallie.
"Suppose who does what?" asked Stella, throwing her arms around her
friend.
"Suppose Lieutenant Barrows does get me and takes me away on a boat. Oh,
I shall kill myself!"
"Never fear," said Ted. "He won't do that. Why, the whole army would be
up in arms and after him before he got fifty miles."
Hallie took comfort in this, and slept again, while Ted and Stella
remained on guard.
As the night wore on, they both became very sleepy, and they must have
dropped into a doze, for when they awoke at the sound of a loud laugh,
the sun was shining brightly, and they were surrounded by soldiers, and
Woofer was looking down at them with a sneering laugh.
"Jest like ther babes in ther woods," he shouted, and the soldiers
laughed with him.
Ted was on his feet in an instant, feeling for his revolver, but it was
not in its accustomed place, and he suddenly remembered that it had been
taken from him by the soldiers the night before.
"Whar's ther lootenant?" asked Woofer. "He'd be glad ter see this
tablow."
"He's gone out inter ther woods ter walk his mad off. When he got within
strikin' distance o' ther cow camp last night his sand run out, and he
started back. Then when he found that his birds had flown that was ther
last kick what sent him down."
"What's he goin' ter do now."
"I reckon he'll make ther best o' what he's got now. Come, git up."
Woofer spoke roughly to the two girls, and they arose. "Come along back
to the cabin. Ther lootenant will be mighty glad ter see yer. One o' you
sour doughs hunt up ther lootenant an' tell him ther lost is found."
Ted saw that resistance was useless, and, taking the girls by the hand,
he crossed the wide clearing between the woods and the cabin; at the
door of which they arrived just as Barrows strode up.
One of the soldiers was busy preparing breakfast, and the others were
grouped around jesting about their night's work.
The two girls were sent into the room in which Ted and Hallie had been
taken the night before, but Ted was not confined, and was allowed to
walk up and down in front of the cabin.
Barrows did not attempt to hold conversation with any of them, but sat
at his table with his head in his hand, thinking moodily.
Evidently Barrows was an arrant coward. He had set out with the
intention of ruining the Moon Valley herd, and killing all who attempted
to resist him, but his courage had failed him.
Ted saw hope in this, if the boys would only arrive on time.
He thought over the conversation he had heard the night before on the
arrival of Woofer and his companion at the cabin, with regard to his own
fate. Evidently it meant something out of the ordinary, for it seemed to
have given extreme pleasure to Woofer, for it was evidently the
intention that all the advantage was to be with the cow-puncher. Well,
it didn't matter much, so long as he had the ghost of a show himself. He
was willing to take a long chance.
Breakfast was announced, and, as the soldiers sat down to eat, the cook
came out with three tin plates on which there were bacon and bread, and
tin cups of coffee for the prisoners, and they sat down together in the
shade of the cabin and ate their food gratefully, for they were very
hungry.
The meal was soon over, and Woofer began to strut up and down in front
of the cabin.
"I reckon here's where I get my revenge, ain't it, lootenant?" he said,
stopping in front of Barrows.
"Do what you please with him," said Barrows crossly, "but leave the
girls alone."
"I don't want but one gal, an' she's copper colored," laughed Woofer
insultingly, walking to his horse, which was already saddled.
"Now, young feller," he said to Ted, "I'm goin' ter give yer a chance
fer yer white alley. I'm goin' ter try ter rope yer while yer dodges me.
If I get yer, why--I'll drag yer, see?"
Ted saw that he was to have no chance for his life whatever.
He was to be afoot, while the other man was to ride and try to rope him,
and, if he succeeded, drag him to death over the rough ground.
"Do you call that a chance for my life?" asked Ted.
"As much as you'll get," answered Woofer, with a canine grin. "Get out
an' take a fightin' chance, or I'll rope yer an' drag yer without it."
Ted looked around the circle of grinning faces about him, and saw that
there was no mercy for him. He must make the best fight he could.
Woofer had ridden out into the open and was coiling his rope in his hand
ready for a cast.
As Ted walked out he saw in the grove the horses of the soldiers, and
among them Sultan bridled and saddled, and a thought flashed through his
mind that before the duel was ended he might find use for his beautiful
stallion.
As soon as Ted was in the open, Woofer began to circle around him on a
lope, steadily increasing the pony's speed, at the same time keeping the
rope swinging about his head.
Ted wheeled on his heels, always keeping his face to the horseman, the
pivot, as it were, of this little spectacle. Near the cabin stood the
soldiers, watching the play with interest. Stella and Hallie were at one
side, their eyes fastened on the scene with a sort of fascinated horror.
Stella knew well the danger of the bout. In the doorway of the cabin
Lieutenant Barrows leaned indifferently, smoking a cigarette, and
watching the uneven contest with slight interest in its outcome, and
with no regard whatever for the thing which all gentlemen hold sacred,
that is, fair play.
Around and around rode Woofer, waiting for a good chance for a cast, but
always finding Ted alert. But suddenly the rope flew from his hand with
unerring accuracy, and Ted had just time to dodge it. It had been as
swift and almost as deadly as the strike of a rattlesnake.
With a confident smile, Woofer drew in his rope again, coiling it, and
making ready for another cast.
Again he circled and cast, and this time the rope settled over Ted's
shoulders, and a great shout went up from the soldiers.
But before Woofer could tighten it Ted managed to wriggle out of it, and
again Woofer drew it in.
Ted realized the danger in which he would stand if ever Woofer succeeded
in getting him fast.
Suddenly his hand came in contact with something hard in his pocket. It
was his knife, and he surreptitiously inserted his hand, and opened it,
then drew it out concealed in his palm. He felt sure that if it was
discovered that even this chance would be taken from him.
Again and again Woofer cast and Ted dodged, and the soldiers were
getting tired of the monotony of it, and began to deride Woofer for not
being able to get Ted.
This aroused the man to anger, and the next time he sent the rope over
Ted's shoulders, and drew it taut. A wild cry went up as Ted was being
dragged along as fast as he could run, and Stella turned white and gave
a cry of fear.
But Ted reached up, just as he was about to be carried off his feet, and
cut the rope in two.
At this a yell of protest rose from Woofer, but the men had at last
turned with sympathy to Ted.
"Let him have the knife," they cried. "You have the horse and the rope."
Woofer was forced to be content, and he slowly dragged the rope back
again, and made a new noose.
He was getting rattled, while Ted was gaining courage, and the rope did
not come as accurately as when Woofer had not begun to grow weary.
The soldiers were now addressing rough pleasantries at Woofer, who was
growing angry and trying harder than ever to rope Ted and drag him to
death.
Then, quite unexpectedly, the rope settled over Ted's arms, for he had
grown a little careless, and his eyes had been directed toward the top
of the hill behind the cabin, where he had seen something that caused
his eyes to open with wonder.
But when he felt himself being dragged along on a run he came to his
senses. Stooping his head, he managed to get the knife between his
teeth. Then he went along the rope, gathering it in his hands as he
went, as if he were climbing it hand over hand.
A shout of joy went up from the two girls at this, for they saw his
purpose.
On he went, the rope coming into his hand and being coiled on his arm.
Woofer all the while was urging on his pony, trying to throw Ted off his
feet.
Ted had now gathered in about thirty feet of the rope, or about half of
it.
Woofer saw his game, and swore horribly, as he tried in vain to throw
Ted.
When he thought he had enough rope, Ted bent his head once more, and his
fingers grasped the knife with which he cut the rope and was free.
Suddenly a shrill whistle left his lips, and there was a nickering
answer as Sultan left the other horses and came galloping to his side.
Stella threw up her hat and shouted, and the soldiers followed her
example.
As Sultan galloped on, Ted leaped into the saddle, and began to make a
noose in his lariat, for he now was equally armed with his enemy.
But Woofer was game, and came galloping back. He didn't know how good a
roper Ted was, but he felt confidence in himself.
Around they went, circling like horsemen in a circus ring, with watchful
eyes and whirling lariats.
But suddenly Ted's rope left his hand before Woofer could divine his
meaning, and pinioned the cow-puncher.
At the same moment Ted gave Sultan a prick with the spur, and the little
stallion leaped into the air.
Woofer left his saddle and struck the ground with a bump that knocked
the wind out of him.
This was not to the liking of the soldiers, who ran howling toward Ted.
"Drag him from his horse," they shouted.
"No, yer don't. Fair play fer all!" a clear voice rang out above the
din, and the soldiers turned toward the hill behind the cabin.
On the summit stood Bud Morgan, his long, fair hair floating in the
breeze, and on either side of him ten cow-punchers with their
Winchesters trained upon the unarmed soldiers, whose carbines were
stacked in the house.
"Three cheers for the broncho boys!" yelled Stella shrilly. "You can't
beat 'em anyway you try."