Part 21 (1/2)

This would happen if a battle came off, for he felt sure Tucker would do exactly as he proe had determined to be on hand Secreted in a tree or elsewhere he could fire a dozen shots or so into the air, and this would arouse both cavalrymen and boomers to think that actual hostilities had already started, and then neither side would longer hold off

”When will the boomers move?” was one of the cavalry for pawnee Brown,” said the spy

”Where is he?”

”Somewhere about the country”

”Can he be up here?”

Vorlange started

”I--I think not

”He's a slick one, Vorlange; remember that”

”I know it, but some men are slicker Wait until this booain”

So the talk ran on Rasco listened withthe fact that he had promised to follow pawnee Brown as soon as the stray-away horse was secured

What he had heard surprised hireatly

Many of the plans of the booovernment authorities The plan to h to Oklahoma from that direction was, consequently, out of the question

”The boys ht Rasco ”I must tell Cleo after Nellie If there was a fight as Vorlange seeht be a hundred oroverheard all that he deemed necessary, the man of the plains started to retreat

He had taken but a few steps when he found himself cut off from his horse

Three additional cavalry from the thicket

”Here's a horse tied up!” cried one ”Boys, whose animal is this?”

The call instantly attracted the attention of Vorlange and his companions They turned toward the speaker, and now there re for Rasco to do but to run for it, and this he did at the top of his speed

As long as he could he kept out of sight behind the bushes But soon Tucker caught sight of him

”Halt, or I'll fire!” came the command

Tucker spoke first, and several others followed As Rasco was now in plain view, and as each of the enemy had a firearm of some sort aimed at him, it would have been foolishness to have thus courted death, and the man of the plains halted