Part 5 (2/2)

”Sure they must have been, Billie, and that remark shows that you've got your wits about you!” declared Donald; and then turning again to the third member of the little group he went on: ”if you mean it, Ad, and say the word, why we'll pull out of these diggings in a rush, and chase after the herd.”

”It wouldn't be very long before we'd hear the rumble again, if we kept right on the way they were heading when they pa.s.sed here,” observed Adrian, thoughtfully.

”That's right,” Donald a.s.sured him.

”Then the only question is, could we manage the bad men who are running off the Bar-S stock. At a guess now, Donald, how many of them do you reckon there might have been chasing after the stampeding herd?”

Donald seemed to study for a few seconds.

”I paid particular attention to their yelling,” he presently remarked; ”and noticed where the shouts came from. Now, I couldn't be dead sure, Ad, but as near as I can say I'd put it down as about four punchers.”

”Whee! they made a heap of noise then, for just that many,” remarked Billie.

”That's right,” agreed Donald, instantly; ”but when you come to know punchers as well as I do, Billie, you'll understand that four lively boys when they're slapping their chaps with quirts and hats, and howling like mad to frighten stock, can make a racket equal to a dozen other fellows. There may have been one or two more, but still I think four'd cover the bill, Adrian.”

”That settles it!” declared the other, briskly.

”We go, do we?” demanded Billie, all of a quiver with sudden excitement.

”Adrian says so,” Donald told him, just as though they must look to the owner of the Bar-S outfit for guidance on this campaign, since he was in his own country now, and his chums had accompanied him simply to carry out his wishes.

”Well, things are looking brighter already,” remarked Billie; ”because there's the old moon apeeping out, like she wanted to give us a helping hand. Now, I ain't much on signs and such things, fellows, as you know; but seems to me like that same was a lucky omen.”

”It'll give us some light to travel by, and that counts a heap,”

declared Donald always practical, and not given so much to sentiment as the fat chum, who had been a great reader of Marryatt and Cooper before coming out West, so that he had filled his mind with the romantic side of open air life.

”Then the sooner we get busy the better,” Adrian went on to say; and then turning on Donald he continued: ”if you're dead sure you meant that, when I mentioned wanting to chase after these rascals.”

”Let me tell you that I was just going to say the same thing myself, but thought you ought to have first chance,” the other boy a.s.sured him. ”You know me from the ground up, Ad. And why shouldn't I want to lend you a helping hand? Ain't you my good chum; and tell me, didn't you and Billie stand by me like bricks down there in the mountains of Arizona when it looked like Calvin Peets, the agent of the combine that was trying to steal the Red Spar Copper Mine away from my dad and his a.s.sociates, backed up by that anarchist, Laidlaw? Huh! turn about is only fair play, and it's come my chance now to stand back of my chum. Why, I'm that crazy to go after these rustlers that even if you held back I'd be wanting to take up the job by myself.”

Adrian gave a laugh as though his last lingering doubt had been removed.

”After hearing you talk that way I'd be a silly fool to doubt any longer,” he went on to declare; ”and so let's get back to our camp, start packing our duffel in a big hurry, and then make a start after that runaway herd with the brand of the Bar-S on their flanks!”

With which words he led the way back among the trees to the spot where their blankets, saddles, cooking utensils and other things were lying.

CHAPTER VII.

FOLLOWING THE CATTLE RUSTLERS.

”How about our ponies?” Billie wanted to know. ”Will they be able to stand for another dash so soon?”

”Cow ponies are tough little critters,” Donald went on to say, with the utmost confidence; ”and they recover from fatigue like magic. Right now I'd wager Wireless or Ten Spot would be good for a twenty mile gallop at full speed.”

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