A MYSTERIOUS CALL
Horace and Larry having picked up their rifles, the three boys
resumed their way, Larry leading slowly, taking care to make his
steps of as nearly equal length as possible, and in due time they
came onto the prairie.
"My, but this stretch of level does look good," declared Tom, and
his companions expressed their hearty agreement as they hastened
toward the spot where they left their ponies.
Finding them without difficulty, the lads broke out the food and
ate ravenously,
"Hey, go easy on the grub," cautioned Larry as he noted the amount
his companions were eating. "This is all we have to last us until
we meet the others--or get back to the ranch," he added as the
thought recurred to him that luck would play a large part in the
success of their search for the pursuing party.
"You can go easy if you like. So long as there's anything to eat,
I am going to eat," returned his brother. "Don't worry. We won't
starve. If worse comes to worse, I can get you some deer meat,
provided you'll lend me your rifle."
"Or I can get you some mountain lion meat," added Horace.
"I notice neither of you mention bear meat," chuckled the elder of
the chums.
"Because it doesn't agree with us," returned Tom, and at this
allusion to their recent adventure they all laughed merrily.
In delight at the extrication from their dilemma the boys chatted
and joked as they repacked the saddle bags, unhobbled their ponies
and prepared to resume riding.
"There's only one thing that could, add to my happiness," remarked
Larry as he swung onto Lightning's back.
"What's that?" Inquired his companions.
"About a gallon of drinking water."
"I'm some thirsty, too," said Horace, "but I don't know of a place
where there is any water."
"Then we'll leave it to the horses," asserted Tom. "Mr. Wilder
told me they would always locate water if there was any about.
From the way Blackhawk acts, I think he scents some."
"Scents water!" sneered Horace.
"Just you wait and see," retorted the younger of the comrades, and
giving free rein to his pony, he let him nose along through the
grass for some distance when the animal turned abruptly and entered
the woods, stopping beside a brook.
"You'd better appoint me guide and captain of this company," smiled
the boy as they dismounted and drank greedily of the cool water.
"You'd be a fine captain without a gun," retorted Larry, and in
high spirits they remounted.
For a time the boys had the moon for company, but toward, midnight
clouds gathered in the sky and a chilly wind began to blow.
"How about pitching camp pretty soon?" suggested Larry.
"Wait till we get to Elkhorn River," answered Horace".
"How far is that? I didn't suppose there was such a thing in these
plains."
"Oh, I should say it was fifteen miles from here," returned the
young rancher. "It isn't much of a river, but it's better than
none."
"Wouldn't ride fifteen--Hello! What's that glow in the sky right
next the mountains?" exclaimed Tom, pointing to where a faint glare
was visible against the dark background of trees.
"It's a fire," asserted Horace, "a camp fire. You can tell by the
steadiness of the light."
Excitedly they speculated as to whose it could be.
"If it's raiders, we want to know it. Perhaps we can round up some
of them," declared Horace.
And urging their ponies into a gallop, the boys rode forward.
When they were near enough to distinguish the flames they
dismounted, hobbled their horses in the underbrush and approached
on foot.
No sign of man or beast could they see, and their curiosity was
further aroused.
"Stoop down so your heads are In the grass," admonished Horace.
"It may be they have seen us and are hiding among the trees. Don't
make any noise and stick close together."
Crouching low, the trio advanced stealthily. Nearer and nearer
they drew, yet no sound could they hear. Consumed with curiosity,
Horace suddenly stood up, determined to learn if any one were
sleeping beside the fire.
Yet no sooner had he risen than a command rang out:
"Throw up your hands!"
The two brothers, ignorant of their companion's action, gasped at
the words. But Horace let out a whoop of joy.
"Hooray! It's father and the boys," he cried so loud that
instantly a dozen figures bounded from about the fire.
"Well, if it ain't them kids!" ejaculated Pete, who had been on
guard. "It's lucky you recognized my voice, Horace."
By this time Tom and Larry had straightened up and all three were
hastening toward the camp fire, thinking only of their good fortune
in finding their friends.
"Horace, what does this mean?" demanded his father sternly. "I
told you to stay at home, and yet we haven't been gone but
twenty-four hours and you come tagging along."
But the severity of his father did not dismay the young rancher.
Looking straight at him, the boy hastily told of the ride to the
pool and the discovery that more cattle had been driven away.
The information excited the cowboys greatly, and emphatic were
their opinions of the daring of the thieves in making another raid
and within a few hours after the men pursuing them had set out.
"They probably were watching us all the time," asserted the owner
of the Three Stars.
"Probably," agreed Mr. Wilder. "But what have you boys been doing
since you learned of the raid? You could almost walk your ponies
from the pool to here in all this time."
Before any of them could reply, however, a long, low wail rang out.
Surprised, the men glanced at one another,
"That sounds like a coyote, but it ain't," asserted Pete.
Again the cry broke on the air and was repeated twice.
"Why, it's the very same sound we heard in the mountains!"
exclaimed Larry. And his companions confirmed him.
"The same cry you heard in the mountains?" repeated Mr. Wilder.
"Yes, sir," and in a few words the elder of the brothers related
their adventures.
"Then it's a signal," declared Pete. "You boys have been followed.
It's a mighty good thing we were camping here."
"Those cries came from the plains. Mebbe it's the thieves going
for more cattle," declared Sandy.
"We'll find out what it is. Everybody to horse!" commanded Mr.
Wilder. "Pete, three or four of you go with Horace and the Aldens
to get their ponies. We'll ride up and join you."