THE RETURN TO THE RANCH
The knowledge that his herds had again been raided by cattle
thieves made Mr. Wilder very angry.
"This makes the third time some of my cattle have been stolen. The
thieves will find it is three times and out. I'll take their trail
this time and stick to it till I round them all up."
Never had Bill and Horace seen their father so wrought up, and they
wisely held their peace while the cowboy who had brought the news
of the raid busied himself removing the saddle and bridle and
wiping the lather from his pony.
Before Nails had finished the task, however, the ranchman had
regained control of himself.
"I am glad Pete is driving the cattle home," he said quietly.
"They will graze about the Witches' Pool without watching, so I can
take all the boys with me, and the more there are of us the less
trouble we will have. Sit down and eat breakfast, Nails, and then
tell me about the raid."
No urging did the cowboy need, for he had not tasted a mouthful
since he had left the herd, twenty-four hours before. He had
expected to find the ranchman at his home, and when he learned Mr.
Wilder had gone on a hunting trip he only stopped long enough to
change ponies and then started again to find him.
Attentively the boys waited on him, impatient to hear his story.
"It was night before last it happened," said Nails, after having
eaten more than it seemed possible for one man. "All during the
day the cattle had been restless and we boys were kept on the jump
holding 'em together. But with the darkness they quieted down and
we all turned in.
"When morning came, nary a steer was in sight. It didn't take us
long to get after 'em, and in about an hour we found them. But the
short-horned Durhams were missing."
"The best cattle in the herd," interrupted Mr. Wilder.
"Just what Pete said, but not in the same words," grinned Nails.
"But how do you know they were stolen?" asked Bill. "Perhaps they
only wandered off. You said the herd had been restless."
"A hundred head don't all go together," replied the cowboy.
"Besides, after looking around, we found the hoofprints of seven
ponies."
"Which way did they drive?" demanded the ranchman.
"Toward old Mex. But I reckon that's only a bluff. It's my idea
the headquarters of this gang are right in these mountains,
somewhere. Pete thinks so, too. That's why he set the pool as the
meeting place. There's an old trail he knows and he wants to
strike it, you agreeing of course," he added, looking toward the
ranchman.
"We'll decide about that later. But if Pete suggested it, he has
some good reason. Still, I can't see the necessity of getting any
of the neighbors. It will only take time, and we can save
twenty-four hours by riding straight to the pool from here."
"The reason for getting others is because the Half-Moon isn't the
only herd that's been raided."
At this statement the Wilders were amazed.
"By the tracks from the direction of the Three Stars there must
have been two hundred, at least, lifted from them."
"Then Jim Snider and his outfit are on the trail by this time,"
declared the ranchman.
"No, they aren't. I saw Sandy the other day, and he said they were
all going up to Tolopah to bring down a herd Snider brought from
Montana, It's my idea the thieves knew this and planned a wholesale
raid."
"H--m. That sounds likely," commented Mr. Wilder. "Who do you
think is at the head of it, Nails?"
"Gus Megget. He's the only one with the nerve to pull it off."
At the mention of the ruffian cow-puncher the boys looked at one
another and then at their father, who said:
"That can't be, Nails. Megget tried some of his funny business
with these two boys, Larry and Tom Alden, up in Oklahoma the other
day."
"And they made a monkey of him," interposed Horace gleefully.
"What, them two?" returned the cowboy, looking at the brothers with
keen interest.
"They certainly did," smiled the ranchman. "So I reckon we can't
blame Megget for this raid."
"But he could have come by train, the short line, you know."
"We'll find out in time. There's no use arguing, Nails," said the
ranchman. "Bill, bring up Buster and Blackhawk. Tom, you will
have to take Nails' pony. We must get back to the ranch as soon as
possible and that other horse is too played out.
"You boys can pack up and follow as fast as you can. Be at the
house by the middle of the afternoon, at the latest. Mind now, I
have enough to think of without worrying about you."
Nails was helping Bill with the ponies, and almost as soon as Mr.
Wilder had finished his instructions the animals were ready.
Vaulting into the saddle, the ranchman again cautioned the boys to
be careful, shook out his reins and rode from the basin at a
gallop, the cowboy close behind.
With a will the four comrades went to work packing the saddle bags,
and less than an hour after the others had left were following them.
The raid, the pursuit, wonder if they would be allowed to go on the
man-hunt and speculation as to whether the thieves would be
captured formed topics for endless conversation as they rode.
"Do you suppose those men I saw on the cliff are part of the gang?"
hazarded Tom.
"They may be. I never thought of them," declared Bill. "I must
remember to speak about them to father. Still, I hardly think they
could have had a hand in it. It is all of thirty miles from where
we saw them to the Long Creek bottoms, and no sizeable herd of
cattle could be driven through the hills that far in a day. Twenty
miles on the prairies is a stiff hike and half that far would be a
good drive in the mountains."
When they were obliged to ride Indian file over the trail much
talking was not attempted, and each boy busied himself with his own
thoughts.
Because of his knowledge of the route, Bill led and Larry brought
up the rear. Their advance was slow, however, as they wished to
give the pony Tom rode as much chance to rest as possible before
they reached the plains.
With eyes and ears alert, they proceeded, and without mishap
finally rode out onto the prairie.
[Illustration: "With eyes and ears alert, they proceeded."]
"Let's eat now," suggested Horace. "That will give Whitefoot more
rest, and by the time we have finished he'll be as good as new.
He's a tough one and can stand sixty miles, day in and day out."
"Which is about half as much as he'll get this time," added Bill.
"Still I think Whitefoot's good for it, especially as he hadn't
been ridden for a week till Nails took him last night."
The halt was made and the boys ate as heartily as though they had
not breakfasted only three hours before.
When they were ready to start again Larry said:
"So long as Whitefoot is tired and Horace is the lightest, don't
you think he'd better ride him instead of Tom?"
"Good idea," acquiesced Bill, and the shift in mounts was made,
after which the boys headed for the ranch house.
As they were starting on the long forty-mile ride, Mr. Wilder and
Nails were ending it. Though forced to ride carefully so long as
they were on the mountain trail, when the latter reached the plains
they had "cut loose." Both were expert horsemen and the ponies
under them were mettlesome. Indeed, Blackhawk had not entirely
recovered his temper since his roping and it was he that set the
pace. Yet the riders did not allow the ponies to run themselves
out in the first few miles, holding them down to a long, steady
lope that covered the ground rapidly.
"Where do you suppose we are the most likely to strike the outfit
from the Three Stars, at home or in Tolopah?" asked Mr. Wilder
after a time.
"At home. They were to get the cattle day before yesterday, and
Sandy told me they planned to stay at the ranch to-day to pack grub
so as to save a trip of the wagon."
"Then we ought to find the whole crew at home."
"That's just what Pete and I were banking on," returned Nails.
This point settled, the ranchman refused further conversation, to
the disappointment of his companion, occupying himself with mapping
out his campaign.
After a time the ponies began to slacken their stride, but the
vigorous rowelling they received from the spurs of the men on their
backs told them they were bound on pressing business, and they
responded gamely.
"I hope Ned is at home," Mr. Wilder exclaimed suddenly. "If he
isn't, there won't be any but slow ponies in the corral. And that
means it will take me the whole afternoon to get to the Three
Stars."
"No, it don't," asserted Nails. "I kinder thought you might be off
somewhere, so I cut out three ponies from the bunch and brought
them up with me. When they told me you were hunting with the kids,
I naturally knew you wouldn't go far into the mountains, so I left
the best ones at the Half-Moon."
This foresight of his cowboy pleased the ranchman, and he commended
him heartily.
"You seem to have a pretty level head, Nails. What do you make of
these raids on my herd? This makes the third. It rather seems to
me as though the thieves had marked me for their particular victim."
"That's my idea exactly," declared the cowboy. "And that's what
makes me so sure Gus Megget had a hand in the raid."
"But what grudge has Megget against me?" asked Mr. Wilder in
surprise.
"You are the one who leased the Long Creek bottoms, aren't you?"
returned Nails, answering the question, Yankee fashion, by another.
"To be sure. But what has that to do with it?"
"Everything. Megget's been rustling cattle for years, and the Long
Creek bottoms were where he used to drive the cattle he'd lifted.
If any one jumped him, he could either cross the line into old Mex
or strike out for the mountains. Maybe you don't know it, but
there's a greaser just across the line--they call him Don
Vasquez--who makes a fat living buying stolen cattle. He's got
some old Indian remedy for making hair grow, and he cuts out the
old brands, makes hair grow out and then burns in his three
crosses."
"And so my leasing the bottoms has spoiled this criminal dealing?"
"That's what. I heard a greaser down in El Paso last winter
boasting you'd sell your ranch inside of two years."
"Why didn't you tell me?" demanded Mr. Wilder severely.
"Didn't think it was necessary. Fatty and I fixed him so he
wouldn't brag any more."
Deeming it unwise to inquire Into the means taken for silencing the
Mexican, the ranchman lapsed into silence for a few minutes and
then declared:
"No cattle thieves can drive me out of business, Nails. I have the
right on my side, and right always triumphs."
"We boys are with you, Mr. Wilder. You've always played more than
fair with us, which is more than we can say of some folks, and we
appreciate it. Cowboys have feelings same as other people, though
there seem to be a lot of folks who don't think so. And I'm
speaking for the other boys of the Half-Moon as well as myself. We
talked it all over before Pete sent me to the ranch. But when you
join 'em at the pool, don't say anything about what I've told you.
Sentiment and hunting cattle thieves don't mix."
This expression of the esteem in which his men held him, crude
though it was, moved Mr. Wilder deeply, and reaching over, he
seized the cowboy's hand and shook it warmly, an action that
delighted Nails greatly.
The statement about Megget gave the ranchman a new train of
thought. He realized for the first time that he was engaged in a
cattle war which would only end with his ruin or the capture of the
entire band of thieves. And being a man who could not be
frightened, the owner of the Half-Moon Ranch vowed to accomplish
the latter alternative.
The hard ride was tiring the ponies, wiry though they were, and the
men on their backs were obliged to resort to almost continual use
of their spurs. But at last the buildings of the ranch home came
into view, and soon Mr. Wilder and Nails were at the corral.
"Saddle the best of the bunch for me," ordered the ranchman as he
dismounted. "I'll go to the house for a bite and then start for
the Three Stars."
"What about me?" inquired the cowboy, disappointment in his voice
at the thought of being left behind.
"I want you to ride into Tolopah. Don't say anything about the
raid. Just listen round and see if you can learn anything." And
turning on his heel, Mr. Wilder started for the house.
"Where are the boys? You didn't let them stay to hunt, did you?"
inquired his wife anxiously as he sat down at the table and ordered
Hop Joy to bring him something to eat.
"No. They'll be here during the afternoon. I'm going to get Jim
Snider and his outfit. Nails says they are at home." And briefly
he told her of the information he had received from his cowboy.
No longer than necessary did the ranchman linger at the table, and
when he had finished a hasty meal went out, mounted the pony Nails
held waiting and galloped away in the direction of the Three Stars
Ranch, which lay to the east.
Having far less to go, the cowboy ate leisurely and then rode
toward Tolopah.
In the meantime the four boys were making the best time they could,
but before they had covered half the distance Whitefoot gave out
completely.
For a time they proceeded, with Horace riding now with one boy and
now with another. But it was slow work, and at last Bill suggested
that he ride on ahead, get fresh horses and return. After some
argument, this plan was agreed upon.
As she saw her elder son ride up alone, Mrs. Wilder was greatly
alarmed, but he quickly reassured her, and with Ned's help caught
two ponies, saddled them and went back to meet the others, all
reaching the house a little later.