A STRANGE DELAY.
Meanwhile Avon Burnet and Gleeson continued riding northward at an easy
gallop, their eyes and ears on the alert for sounds of their friends or
enemies.
"Do you remember this spot?" asked the elder, drawing his mustang down
to a walk, after going some distance.
The youth looked keenly round in the gloom, but saw only the level
plain, similar to that over which they had ridden since leaving the
cabin. A dark object on the ground caused him to force his pony toward
it.
"That must be one of our cattle," he said inquiringly.
"It's what is left of him; that's the steer that the Comanche brought
down when he took a shot at you."
"Ah, this is the place where you joined me?"
"Percisely."
"But where is _he_--that is, his body?"
"They've took it off; you know how hard the Comanches try to carry away
their dead and wounded."
"I saw a proof of that while hunting for Thunderbolt, but I didn't think
they would be able to find this one."
"They must have heard the shot and his cry, and though we made things
hum about them, they took time to look into it and bear the body away."
"I wonder now whether that could have been Wygwind," said Avon,
referring to the notorious leader of whom we have spoken.
"No," was the decisive reply of Ballyhoo.
"Why not?"
"He is a powerful brave Injin, but plenty of his warriors can outrun
him. This one was too good on his feet to be him."
The couple gave their horses rein again, and they broke into a gallop
which carried them swiftly toward their destination. The glimmer of the
camp-fire was discerned when they rode to the top of the next moderate
elevation.
"Hark!" exclaimed Ballyhoo, abruptly checking his pony.
His companion did the same, for he had caught the sound, which was that
made by many hoofs.
"The confounded beasts are still at it," added the elder, allowing his
steed to resume his walk.
"The boys may be driving them back to camp."
"No; it doesn't sound right."
"Do you imagine the Comanches are taking any hand in this?"
"It doesn't strike me so, but there's no saying what those varmints will
do; they're so fond of stealing that they'll run great risks."
However, since the couple were able to locate the running animals, they
felt it their duty to bear a hand in helping to bring them back to camp.
There was danger that if they were not speedily brought under control,
the start could not be made on time.
"Come on, Baby," called Gleeson, wheeling his animal to the right, and
sending him off at a dead run.
Thunderbolt knew what was expected of him, and without waiting for
orders, stretched away in the same direction, with the old thrill
stirring his rider at the prospect of exciting work at hand.
It was not long before they caught sight of the frightened animals,
going as if a legion of wolves were at their heels. They were running
from camp, and, unless their course could be changed, would be far from
it before daylight.
In fact their presence so comparatively near proved that they were
either another part of the main herd, or if the ones first stampeded,
had broken off again, after being well on their way to their regular
pasturing grounds.
"Look out! they may be Comanches!" called Ballyhoo to his youthful
companion. "No, they are not either."
The last remark was caused by the sight of two of their friends riding
like mad, shouting and swinging their whips, which they had brought
from camp. They were Madstone and Rickety, who were doing all they knew
how to check the animals that seemingly would not be checked or turned
aside.
It looked as if Ballyhoo and Avon must be trampled to death, for they
were directly in front of the rushing herd, but they swung their arms,
holding each his rifle aloft, and shouted loud enough to be heard miles
distant.
The mustangs were a little nervous, but were used to such experiences,
and they did not catch the contagion. They held their ground, though it
was manifest they would have preferred to be somewhere else.
Suddenly, when the terrified beasts were almost upon them, they swerved
to one side. The change of direction was slight, but it was important as
a beginning. The cowboys were quick to take advantage of it, and
redoubled their shoutings and gesticulations. The cattle trended further
and further from the course they had been following, and ere long were
headed toward the camp.
They were now on the run and the four men kept them there, determined
that they should not get away again.
Madstone explained that they were the ones that took fright earlier in
the evening, and were on a dead run, when Ballyhoo shot down the
Comanche that was pursuing Avon Burnet. The cattle had drifted a
considerable way, but they were soon brought under control and headed in
the right direction.
All was going well, when off they went again at a more frantic rate than
before. The cowboys were at loss to understand what caused the new
outbreak, when, to their amazement, three Comanches appeared in their
front.
The dusky scamps did their best to run them off, but it was evident they
were afraid of the Texans, who made a dash for them, whereupon they
disappeared.
But they had turned the cattle in a new direction, and the Texans had
all their work to do over again. There was little prospect of success,
until Ballyhoo and Avon added their efforts, when matters assumed a
better shape.
But the trouble was by no means over. If these animals should plunge
into the main herd at the rate they were now going, they were sure to
spread the panic, with the probability that the whole two thousand would
soon be on the run, and the difficulty of the ranchmen intensified
ten-fold.
Accordingly, as the ground was approached, the four horsemen resorted to
the well-known practice of what may be called rounding-up. They galloped
back and forth, on the outer edge of the herd, and here and there,
circumnavigating them continually and as fast as the fleetness of their
mustangs would permit.
By this means they finally succeeded in turning the heads of the cattle
toward each other, and they were crowded into a compact mass, whose
members were obliged to stand still, since they were huddled in one
heap, with the yelling cowboys careering back and forth, around the
circumference.
This was not accomplished a moment too soon, for they were close upon
the main herd, which showed a restlessness that might have broken forth
into another stampede, but for the skill of the other cowboys who had
them in charge.
When the reunion of the Texans took place near the camp-fire, and there
was a general talk over the incidents of the evening, the arrangements
were made for the night. All had been so actively engaged that rest
would have been acceptable, but there was not one who would have
murmured, had he been ordered to take his position and hold it for
hours.
Indeed Avon Burnet volunteered to do his part in looking after the
cattle that it was necessary to keep under watch through the darkness.
"No," replied Ballyhoo, "I've fixed it. You and me will take a hand
to-morrow night, when we're likely to find it a blamed sight more
unpleasant than now."
"And why so?"
"That storm that we've been talking about is holding off, as though it
finds it hard to make up its mind to come, but it will be here within
twenty hours or less."
"I am glad of it," remarked the youth, thinking of his friends in the
distant cabin, which had escaped burning by such a narrow chance.
It was now past midnight, and those who were to be off duty did not
squander the precious hours; but, crawling into the covered wagon,
bundled themselves up and slept the sleep which waits on rugged health.
At the earliest streakings of light the camp was astir. The man who
served the party as cook had no light task on his hands. He generally
carried a lot of wood in the wagon with him, for the reason that it was
not always easy to obtain, and, by doing this, he was sure of always
having enough dry fuel to burn readily when wanted.
Those Texans were satisfied at times to go without anything at all in
the way of food, or to snatch a bite by checking their mustangs long
enough to allow them to receive it, when they were off again; but
whenever the opportunity for a "square meal" presented itself, they
proved themselves full hands.
Gleeson, who acted as master during the absence of Captain Shirril,
mounted his horse and rode out to inspect the herd. He was relieved to
find them all in place. Most of them were lying down, drowsily chewing
their cuds, but a few had risen and were cropping the grass, which grew
quite abundantly in the neighborhood.
While employed in this duty, Ballyhoo cast frequent looks in the
direction of Captain Shirril's home. He expected to see their leader
before it was light, but the sun was already showing in the horizon and
he was not in sight.
The Texan galloped to the top of the adjoining elevation, from which he
could see the low flat building in the distance. Shading his eyes with
his hand, he peered long and earnestly, but without catching sight of a
horseman galloping toward him.
"It's very odd," thought Gleeson, "that he doesn't show up; something
must have taken place. I wonder if those varmints have come back after
Baby and I left last night."
It seemed impossible that anything like this should have occurred, but
it was beyond his power to explain the non-appearance of the "boss" on
any other theory. He was prompt and energetic, and was more likely to be
ahead than behind the time he set for his own appearance at a particular
place.
Without giving expression to his fears, he joined the group at the wagon
and partook of his breakfast, washing down his food with a cup of
delicious steaming coffee. He avoided Avon for a time, because he
plainly saw the young man was disturbed; but, when the meal was
finished, the remarks became general over the absence of Captain
Shirril.
"I've just come from the top of the swell," said Madstone, who had been
there since Ballyhoo, "and can't see anything of him. I 'spose he has
overslept himself, because of the flurry last night."
"I wish I could believe it is nothing worse," said Avon, walking
thoughtfully out to where his mustang stood saddled and bridled.
"Why, what else could it be, Baby?" asked Ballyhoo, repressing his own
uneasiness.
"That's just what I want to find out; I tell you, I don't think we
ought to stay here, when it's pretty sure something is wrong at the
house; if the Comanches are going to keep this up, it will never do to
leave the women alone; I shall have to go back and stay with them."
"I can't believe it's that, but we shall soon know."
He sprang into the saddle, and the two rode to the elevation which has
already been referred to several times.
"I will wait here," said the elder, checking his animals, "while you
ride on to the cabin."
Avon looked inquiringly at him.
"Don't you think it best you should go with me?"
"No; I will keep you under my eye all the way; if you see anything out
of gear, you need only to signal, and I will fetch two or three of the
boys with me."
It struck the youth as strange that Ballyhoo should stop after starting
for the dwelling. The young man had made up his mind there was something
wrong there, and it seemed to him like a waste of time for his friend
to hold back.
However, he said nothing further in the way of protest, but, speaking
briskly to Thunderbolt, sent him off at headlong speed toward the
cabin.
"I am afraid this knocks all my plans to smithereens," he said to
himself; "for if there is the least danger of the Comanches putting in
their appearance again, it would never do for me to leave home. It is
bad enough for uncle to go, but there is no help in his case, while
there is in mine."
As he drew near the dwelling his feelings intensified, and all other
thoughts went from him.
"I don't see a sign of a living person," he added, slowing the gait of
his steed; "suppose the Comanches made a descent upon them in the night
and managed to secure entrance--well, by gracious!"