Part 24 (2/2)
”Wecaptain ”I ht, no nificent buffalo behind,” pleaded his brother ”Darry and I ant the skin, and we'll want to mount the head and horns, eh, Darry?”
”To be sure”
”How long will it take to skin the beast, Benson?”
”An hour and over, if I want to ood job of it,” was the slow reply ”It's too nice a hide to ruin by quick cutting”
”Supposing I ride ahead then, and you folloith the boys as soon as you are ready?”
This was agreed to, and in ahis horse forward at the animal's best speed
”Now I can take -knife”
”Where is it?”
”It was lost in the shuffle with those desperadoes I put in the hole”
The old scout chuckled ”My!'eet out,” remarked Darry
”Oh, I'm not afraid, lad”
The buffalo had fallen into so of a heap, and it took their coe carcass over Then old Benson got out his clasp-knife, sharpened the blade upon the leather of his boot, and set to work, the boys assisting him as much as possible, which was not much, since the process was entirely new to them
”That will be a load,” said Joe, when they had the skin and a part of the head free ”How h, Benson?”
”Close on to a hundred pounds”
”And how shall we carry that load?”
”We'll tie it up into so it behind our saddles Of course on't be able toas fast as before, but that won't be necessary, now the captain has gone ahead to break the news”
The trail now led toward the river where Darry had al tree The path was uncertain in spots, and they had to be careful for fear of getting into soy hole
”What a splendid place for a ranch hoested Darry ”Benson, I ahborhood”
”There used to be quite a nuh here, lad; but the Modoc and other Indians burnt them all down I suppose new settlers will co the theood deal better than forhborhood who seems to want to cause trouble”
”And who is that?”
”White Ox He is so Bull, so I've been told, and he won't give in that the white et his warriors to rise against us several times, but so far he hasn't accomplished much”
”Where is White Ox now?”