Part 32 (1/2)
”Where are we going to be?”
”He hasn't said. I did hear him say that we were going to watch singly instead of in pairs, in order that he might cover more territory with the men at his disposal.”
”Sounds s.h.i.+very.”
”I don't know why it should. It is night, that is the only difference. I am getting used to being out in the night and not knowing where I am,” laughed Tad.
Tucking the lunches that had been wrapped for them into their pockets, the two boys walked over to the place where their ponies were tethered. The animals had been left bridled and saddled, the saddle girths having been loosened. These the boys tightened and prepared to mount when Tad happened to think of something.
”Hold my pony, Ned. I want to get something from the tent.”
Tad returned a moment later with his lariat, which he coiled carefully and hung to the saddle horn, Ned Rector observing him with an amused smile.
”If you can't shoot them you're going to rope them, eh?”
”A rope is always a good thing to have with you. You don't think so, but it is. Never know what minute you are going to need it badly.”
”It wouldn't do me any good, no matter how much I needed it,” smiled Ned. ”I couldn't la.s.so the side of a barn.”
”You do very well. If you will practise every day you will be able to handle it as well as the average cowboy in less than a week.
Come along.”
As they left the camp, Luke Larue met them to conduct the boys to the places where they were to spend the last half of the night.
”After we leave the herd behind us, it's the frozen tongue for you,”
he said.
”You mean we are not to speak?” asked Tad.
”Not a word out loud. If you have anything you must say, whisper.”
”Oh, all right.”
They dropped Ned first. His station was nearer to the herd than that which had been a.s.signed to Tad. The latter went on with the foreman until they were fairly out by the foothills.
”I've given you one of the most responsible stations, you see,”
whispered the foreman. ”It will be lonesome out here. Do you mind?”
”Not at all. Anybody near me?”
”Noisy Cooper is over there to your left about ten rods away. Bat Coyne is to your right here. You're not so close that you can rub elbows, however. Be watchful. It's just the night for a raid. Use your own judgment in case you hear anything suspicious. Above all look out for yourself. You've got a pony that will take you away from trouble pretty fast if you get in a hurry. You know the signal?”
”Yes.”
”Then good night and good luck,” whispered Luke, reaching out and giving Tad's hand a hearty clasp.
There was something so encouraging--so confident in the grip, that even had Tad Butler's courage been waning, it would have come back to him with a rush after that.
”Good night,” he breathed. ”I'll be on the spot if anything occurs.”