Part 9 (1/2)
”It's not so easy to build a bridge,” grumbled he called Saul, who appeared to be the leader of the trio. ”We ain't got no axes.”
”Well, I move we take a rest, anyway,” said Darry. ”I'm tired of riding a strange hoss over these yere hills.”
”All right, we'll lay off and have a bite of the stuff in Jeff's haversack,” replied the leader of the crowd.
They dismounted not over two rods from where Allen lay hidden in the brush, hardly daring to breathe. Being unarmed and knowing the temper of the rascals only too well, the young man kept himself covered and made not the slightest sound.
The negro brought forth an old army haversack and from it produced some crackers, jerked meat, and several other articles. Soon the trio were eating voraciously.
The horses had been tied to several trees in the vicinity, and while the men were eating and talking in low tones, Allen conceived the idea of gaining possession of one of the animals and riding off with it. He knew it would do no good to confront the thieves unarmed.
”I'll get on Paul's horse,” he thought, ”and if I can, I'll take Chet's animal with me. Then I'll have their horses back, even if I won't have my own.”
Watching for a chance, when the backs of the men were turned, Allen crept from his cover and wormed his way toward Paul's horse. His knife was in his hand, and noiselessly he cut the halter. Another cut and Chet's animal was also free.
The horses stamped as they recognized Allen, who always made pets of all in the stable. Then Jasper let out a loud neigh of welcome.
The sound reached the ears of the leader of the horse thieves. He sprang to his feet, and a second later, Allen was discovered!
CHAPTER IX.
A Visitor at the Ranch
Let us once more go back to the ranch, where Chet and Paul, as well as the newcomer, Noel Urner, anxiously awaited Allen's return.
The night had been a long one to the two boys, neither of whom had slept a whole hour at a time. As Chet expressed it, ”they felt it in their bones” that something was wrong.
At daybreak both rushed up to the roof of the ranch house, and with a field gla.s.s which Mr. Winthrop had left them, scanned eagerly in all directions.
”Not a man or horse in sight,” said Chet in deep disappointment. ”The chase must have been a long one indeed.”
”Like as not Allen has gone on to some town,” rejoined Paul. ”But he ought to be back by noon; he knows we will be anxious to hear how he made out.”
The two went below to meet Noel, who had just finished dressing. They set to work and a smoking hot breakfast was soon on the table.
”Well, I see nothing for me to do but to calmly wait for your brother's return,” said the young man from New York. ”I don't want to start out anywhere on foot, especially as I know nothing of the roads.”
”Yes, don't go anywhere till Allen gets back,” said Paul. ”I want you to tell him yourself all you know concerning Uncle Barnaby.”
The morning dragged by slowly, and at the pa.s.sage of each hour the boys grew more anxious.
”It's a dangerous proceeding, this chasing horse thieves,” explained Chet to Noel Urner. ”A fellow is apt to get shot, unless he is careful.
That is what worries us so.”
”Unless something turns up right after dinner, I'm going off on foot with my rifle,” put in Paul. ”I may not discover anything, but it will ease my mind trying to do something.”
It lacked half an hour of noon when the boys heard a cheery voice from the road hail them. They looked out and beheld Ike Watson, the hunter, from Gold Fork, resting in the saddle just outside of the semi-stockade.