CAPTURING THE CATTLE THIEVES
As they wound in and out among the hills and rocks, now ascending,
now going down steep pitches, the silence of their surroundings and
the realization that they were bent on a dangerous mission sobered
the boys and few words did they speak.
Once or twice the line halted as the leaders heard some sound that
roused their suspicions, and several times Sandy and Nails dropped
back. But nothing untoward occurred, and late in the afternoon
they descended into the valley that was the headquarters of the
raiders.
"We're in time; there's no one here," announced Lawrence after an
examination of the ground for fresh horse or cattle tracks.
Remembering their guide's statement about the cliff on which the
lookout was posted when the raiders were at the mine, die boys
sought it with their eyes. But though they scanned both sides of
the mountains, all they could see was trees.
Horace was on the point of mentioning the fact when the word was
passed back to dismount, and, leading their horses, they were soon
within the protection of the woods.
"Any of the ponies likely to whinny?" asked Lawrence as they halted
in a glen.
"Yes, Blackhawk," answered Horace. "It was he that gave warning of
Jeffreys' approach."
"Then we'll take them all pretty well up into the woods. He won't
be able to scent when he's above where Megget and the others will
enter the valley."
"Which way will they come?" asked Mr. Wilder.
"The opposite end from the way we did," responded the former
raider. "That's why I'm taking our ponies to a place on this side."
"Seems to me we're leaving too much to this fellow who's gone back
on his former pals," whispered the owner of the Three Stars to Mr.
Wilder. "It's all right if he plays fair, but if he doesn't we'll
be in a pretty mess."
"I believe he is acting square with us. Still it won't do to take
chances," returned the other ranchman, and calling to Lawrence, he
asked where the mine was.
"It's about two hundred yards to the right, Mr. Wilder. I'll show
you when we get up on top of the cliff. There's a big dead tree in
front of it, so you can't miss it, even in the night, for the bark
has been peeled off it by lightning and the wind, so that it stands
out like a white specter in the darkness."
Deeming it inadvisable to unsaddle the horses, in case they should
need them suddenly, the cowboys close-hobbled them on a plateau to
which Lawrence guided them and then followed him to the ledge.
No need was there for the tree that marked the mine to be pointed
out to them, for as the men looked down each one saw it.
To the east and to the west the ledge commanded a view of the
trails, and as they gazed along them, the owner of the Half-Moon
exclaimed:
"I don't wonder no one can surprise Megget with such a lookout.
Why, it's practically impossible to approach without being seen by
a man on guard."
"The only time is at night," returned Lawrence. "And, thanks to
the loneliness of the place and the stories of ghosts, no one has
ever tried to pass through or even come in at night while I've been
with the gang."
"Don't start talking about ghosts or you'll get us all nervous,"
said Mr. Wilder, fearing the effect on his men. "Now that we've
seen where the mine is, suppose you take us where you think we had
better wait till we make the round-up."
"That's right here," rejoined Lawrence. "We can see Megget and the
others when they arrive by being here."
"True enough, but how about the guard they send up?"
"There won't be any to-night, don't worry about that. They'll be
too busy celebrating your supposed loss in the fire last night."
This grim reminder of their escape caused all of the ranchers to
smile, and without further objection the men made themselves
comfortable while they waited the arrival of the raiders.
Huddled together, the boys sat where they could watch the trail.
Of a sudden Tom grabbed his brother by the arm and pointed to where
several specks were moving.
In silence they watched as more and more came into view, and then
Larry cried out:
"Here they come!"
Eager with excitement, the others crowded forward to catch a
glimpse of the men who had caused them so much trouble.
"Keep down!" snapped Lawrence. "Vasquez has an eye like a hawk."
No second warning did the cowboys need, and dropping flat on their
stomachs, they watched the raiders draw nearer and nearer.
Because of the cattle, their approach was slow, and it was fully an
hour after the chums had sighted them before they reached the
valley.
"That's Vasquez and Gus in the lead," announced the man who had
forsaken his life of wrong-doing. And as the other raiders rode
into sheltered grazing ground he mentioned them by name.
"There are only nineteen of them. I thought Nails said there were
twenty," exclaimed Bill.
"So there were till Lawrence joined us," rejoined his father.
"Thank goodness, my short-horn Durhams are all right. Now be
quiet. It would be too bad to spoil everything when things are
going so well for us."
Instantly the men obeyed, sitting with eyes and ears alert for any
sight or sound that should proclaim the approach of a guard.
But twilight fell and none came, as Lawrence had predicted.
Sounds of revelry, broken now and then by the lowing of the cattle,
were constant. In due time the moon rose and with its coming the
cowboys grew impatient.
The ranchmen, however, refused to move till no sound from the
raiders could be heard.
"It's midnight," announced Mr. Wilder, looking at his watch. "They
must be asleep, by this time. We'll chance it, anyhow. Careful,
every one. Come, Lawrence."
Overjoyed that the time for action had arrived, the boys followed
their guide, halting at the edge of the valley.
Ordering the others to wait, the owner of the Half-Moon and the
former raider glided noiselessly toward the mine.
All about were signs of the celebration in which the thieves had
indulged, and their loud snores told how sound asleep they were.
Confident the time was ripe for action, the two scouts returned to
their impatient fellows.
"Pete, Sandy, Nails, Skinny, Lawrence, you take the ropes and do
the hog-tying. The rest of you have your rifles ready for use.
But don't shoot till I give the word," commanded Mr. Wilder.
Opening the ropes so they could use them rapidly, the men selected
for the binding of the raiders moved forward, closely followed by
the others, guns ready for action.
Signing to Sandy and Skinny to tie the men lying outside, Lawrence
led the others into the mine.
More like a cavern did it seem to them than anything else as they
cast a hurried glance about the rock-walled room which two
flickering torches lighted.
Sprawled upon the floor lay the raiders, and to them Pete and Nails
turned their attention, while Lawrence glided among them, peering
into their faces.
Watching for the slightest move, stood a dozen of the cowboys, with
Mr. Wilder and the four lads.
Of a sudden Lawrence stooped down, worked his hand rapidly, then
rose, a smile on his face, and continued his search till he found
another form, when he repeated the operation.
Gliding to the owner of the Half-Moon, he whispered:
"I've bound Megget and Vasquez. If they wake up now it doesn't
matter."