Part 25 (1/2)

”A little,” d.i.c.k answered, and he tried to smile, though it was not a very good attempt.

”Get back under cover,” advised Nort, for there was cover, of a sort, behind where the cowboys were fighting, a range of low hills that would effectually screen the bullets of the Greasers.

”Oh, it doesn't amount to anything,” d.i.c.k insisted, holding his left hand over his right, for it was the latter that was. .h.i.t. ”It's only a scratch.”

”Well, get a bandage on it and come back in the game--if you can, boy,”

advised Billee, who had ridden up on hearing d.i.c.k's cry. ”We'll look after it later--when we drive these skunks back where they belong.”

This, from Billee, amounted to an order, and d.i.c.k obeyed, wheeling his horse and taking refuge behind a hill. There, in antic.i.p.ation of some casualties, a sort of emergency dressing station had been laid out, with water, lint and bandages. There was water not only for man but for beast, since it was impossible to let the horses go to the creek in the face of the fire from the sheep men. So d.i.c.k and his steed drank thirstily and then d.i.c.k bandaged, as best he could, his wounded hand.

It was more than a scratch, being, in fact, a deep flesh wound, but the bullet had struck a glancing blow and had gone out again, for which d.i.c.k was thankful.

Meanwhile he could hear the shooting going on at the scene he had left.

The cowboys, riding up and down the bank of the creek on their fleet horses, offered very poor marks for the indifferent shooting of the Mexicans, or the casualties on the part of the Diamond X forces would have been much heavier than it was. Even then several were hit, and Billee's hat was carried off his head by a bullet, which, if it had gone a few inches lower, would have ended the career of that versatile cowboy.

But the quick and accurate firing of the cowboys was having its effect, and it was an effect that was telling not only on the morale but on the fighting ability of the sheep men. For several horses were killed, and a number of men put out of the game.

For a few minutes, though, it seemed that, after all, the attackers would make a landing. But with a burst of furious yells Snake and Kid led a charge against the foremost of the sheepmen and turned them back.

They could not stand the withering fire that was poured in on them and they wheeled their plunging horses in the swirling stream and made for the opposite sh.o.r.e whence they had come.

”Hurray!” cried Bud as he saw this.

”We've got 'em on the run!” shouted Nort.

Just then d.i.c.k rode back to join the fray, having bound up his wounded hand as best he could unaided.

”What's doing?” he asked.

For answer his brother and cousin pointed to the retreating Greasers.

”Good!” exclaimed d.i.c.k. ”Do you think they'll come back?” he asked.

”No telling,” remarked Bud.

”I don't believe we'll have gotten rid of them so easily,” was Nort's opinion.

There was some confusion now amid the ranks of the sheep men. Those who were wounded were being cared for, and they all gathered around what had been their central camp fire.

”They're debating whether to give up or not,” was Snake's view of it.

And if this was the subject of the talk it ended in a decision not to give up the fight. For presently another attempt was made to cross the creek. This time the Greasers divided forces, separating about a quarter of a mile, and thus necessitating a division in the ranks of the cowboys. This, of course, made the odds against the Diamond X outfit rather heavier.

But again the Greasers were repulsed, with several wounded, though the same might be said of Old Billee's forces. Again the sheep men withdrew across the creek.

Again was there a conference, and then the same tactics were tried as at first--the main body came directly across the stream.

But now a new element entered into the battle. For, no sooner had the fight started for the third time than some of the Mexicans began driving into the water, at a point perhaps half a mile from the fray, a flock of sheep.