Part 19 (2/2)
”We ought to arouse him. Run, Paul, while I keep watch.”
”I will, but don't do anything rash during my absence,” replied Paul Winthrop.
He sneaked along in the tall gra.s.s until the outbuildings were left a hundred feet and sped like a deer toward the ranch home, showing dimly in the grim shadows ahead.
Less than sixty seconds pa.s.sed, and he was pounding vigorously on the front door of the heavy log building. Not content with using his fist he banged away with the toe of his cowhide boot.
”Who's thar?” came from within presently.
”Mr. Dottery!”
”That's me, stranger.”
”Come out. It's Paul Winthrop. There are horse thieves at your barn.”
”What!” roared Dottery. He was a heavy-built man, with a voice like a giant. ”The same chaps ez robbed you?”
He unbarred the door and came out on a run, gun in hand and a long pistol in his belt. He was an old settler, and rarely took the trouble to undress when he went to rest for the night.
”Yes, the same, unless I am very much mistaken. My brother Chet is down there now on the watch.”
”I'll fix 'em. Go back and call Jack, my man.”
Paul hesitated and then did as directed. It took some time to arouse the cowboy, Jack Blowfen, but once aroused, the man quickly took in the situation, and arming himself, joined the boy in a rush after Dottery.
”The pesky rascals!” he muttered. ”Yer brother told us about 'em when he stopped here on his way to the railroad station. It's a pity Ike Watson didn't plug every one of 'em when he had the chance. Next thing yer know they'll be runnin' off with a bunch o' cattle.”
”Be careful when you shoot; my brother Chet is there,” continued Paul, not wis.h.i.+ng Chet to be mistaken for a horse thief in the dark.
”I know the lad, and I also know this Saul Mangle and his crowd,”
returned Jack Blowfen. ”I owe Mangle one for the way he treated me in Deadwood one day.”
He ran so swiftly that Paul had hard work to keep up with him. Dottery had already disappeared in the darkness of the night.
Bang! Bang! The shots came from behind the barn, while Paul was some distance away. It was Dottery firing at the thieves. Jack Blowfen was chasing them down by the wire fence.
”Paul! Paul! Hold on!”
It was Chet's voice. As he cried out the lad arose from the gra.s.s and caught his brother by the sleeve. Paul had pa.s.sed so close that he had almost trodden on Chet.
”Come on, Chet.”
”I'm coming. But hadn't we better look to our horses?”
”In a minute. Let us find out what that firing means.”
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