CHAPTER XXI
NEWS FROM THE 8 X 8
The next morning Peter Ball sent a car for Nell and Ethel, and, together with Bug Eye, the girls went back to the 8 X 8. Roy and Teddy were sorry to see them go, as was Belle Ada, but they consoled themselves with the thought that they could easily ride over to the Ball ranch later and see them. It was arranged that Belle should go on a visit to the 8 X 8 before the summer was over.
The business of ranching was taken up once more at the X Bar X, although an undercurrent of vigilance seemed to be ever present. Days of being without Star and Flash did not seem to console the boys appreciably for their loss. Rather, as each day passed they realized more and more keenly that Flash and Star had meant a great deal to them. Mr. Manley, although he did not dwell on the misfortune of losing General, as did Roy and Teddy over their ponies, yet wished heartily that he had the bronco back.
Gus Tripp’s arm healed rapidly, and he was in the saddle again within a week, looking, as he said, whiter than he had since he was four years old. Otherwise he was little the worse for his experience. Of course the arm was still bandaged but Gus said that was only a reminder, “like you’d tie a string around yore finger, so’s not to fergit somethin’.� When asked what it was that he wanted to remember, he answered vaguely that it had something to do with rattlesnakes.
Several times Nick and Pop had ridden into Eagles, watching for Checkered Shirt, but the man seemed to have left that part of the country. No one in town had seen him for a week. The barkeeper at Rimor’s had likewise disappeared for the time being.
One morning Roy and Teddy determined to go fishing. The day was just right for the sport, cloudy, and they had hopes of bringing home a mess of mountain trout. By common consent, the boys agreed to ride to Harver’s Gully and cast along that part of Rock Run River which flowed by the spot.
Having arrived at the gully, the two boys rode slowly through the grove of quakermasts where Roy had been held captive. Then they mounted the hill on the other side and looked sharply about them.
“Don’t see much of importance, do you?� Teddy queried.
“Not much. Guess I was mistaken. But it looked queer, I’ll tell a maverick! I thought sure we’d find something hereabouts.�
“After all, it was only a hunch,� Teddy stated. “Most of the time they go wrong. Come on, let’s give the fish a whirl. Pop said they’re running fine.�
Riding down the incline, the boys came once more to the river. At this time of year it was a sizable stream, the snow on the mountains, having melted and run down, had swelled it to almost a flood stage. The water hissed merrily against the lines as Teddy and Roy cast.
For some minutes neither got a strike. Then Roy, who was up-stream from his brother, suddenly saw his line go taut.
“Strike!� he called out, and Teddy, abandoning his own casting, ran toward Roy.
“Feels like a whale!� the boy sang out. “Hand me that net, Ted!�
There was haste to oblige, and Roy played his fish carefully. The trout seemed not unused to the ways of anglers, for it did not dash aimlessly about, but with short, purposeful spurts prevented the young rancher from taking in much line.
“Looks as if you were in for a fight!� Teddy exclaimed, watching with interest the contest between his brother and the fish. “He’s no amateur at this business, that trout! He knows his stuff!�
“I’ll tell a maverick he does!� Roy said, breathing hard. “Golly, he must weigh a ton! He’s some scrapper!�
Suddenly the line swayed down, hanging loosely.
“Now’s your chance!� Teddy shouted. “Reel in! Reel in!�
Roy needed no such advice, for he was reeling in as fast as he could. Then, with a slight twang, the line tightened. Roy was still taking in slack when it happened, and he could not stop in time. There was a quick jerk, and the frayed end of the cord dangled from the tip of the rod. The fish had won.
Roy threw the pole down in annoyance.
“Thought I had him, sure!� he declared. “Ever see a fish act like that before? Wise as they make ’em! He just waited until I started to reel in, then stopped short and broke the line. Well, he sure timed it pretty. My respects to a clever fish,� and he removed his hat and made a mock bow.
“But he’s carrying quite a weight of line,� Teddy said, with a chuckle. “He’ll have that to remember you by, Roy.�
“Like fun he will!� his brother cried. “He knows his apples, that fish. He’ll just swim around a stump a few times, tangle the line in it, give a jerk and he’s free. I know that kind. Some of ’em can speak Greek and Latin.�
The boys fished with fair luck for an hour or so longer, Teddy landing two large ones and Roy three smaller trout. The “whopper� that had struck Roy’s line did not return, though the ranch lad had coaxed him with all the brightly colored flies in his packet.
“Getting sort of late,� Teddy remarked, as he stood on the bank adjusting a hook. “What say we cut for home? We’ve got quite a ride ahead of us, you know. Let’s get started.�
Roy nodded.
“I just want to make one more cast. Something tells me that the big fellow I hooked first is still hanging around. If he is, and wants some more fun, I’ll give it to him! Just once more, Teddy.�
The boy drew back his rod for a cast. His arm still bent back, Teddy caught his wrist. Roy looked up in surprise.
“What—â€� he began. Then he saw the look on his brother’s face and stopped.
“Keep quiet!� Teddy whispered. “Through the bushes there! See? A man on horseback!�
Roy stared intently. But he did not get a good view of the intruder, for the sound of a pony breaking trail came to the ears of the boys at that moment, and the horse and rider disappeared.
“Roy, I’ll bet anything that was Froud!� Teddy exclaimed excitedly. “And he was on Flash, too! I’d know that horse among a million! Golly, that settles it! Froud is the thief!�
“Are you sure it was Froud?â€� Roy asked. “I didn’t get a good look at him—but what I saw didn’t look a great deal like Scar Face!â€�
“He did to me!� Teddy insisted. Then the boy stepped from the side of the stream into the woods. He parted the bushes, and glanced about.
“Not a sign of him,� he said regretfully. “Let’s get our broncs, Roy, and ride around here! There may be something to that theory of yours about the gang’s headquarters.�
The boys ran quickly to where they had left the horses. Teddy half expected to find them gone, but they were not, and, in a moment, the two young ranchers were mounted, having taken their rods apart and slipped them into a case as they ran.
They rode toward the place they had seen the figure and examined the earth for hoofprints. These they easily discovered.
“He went this way,� Roy declared, pointing. “We can ride along and see what we can find. It’s toward home, anyway.�
“I’ll bet anything that was Froud on Flash!� Teddy remarked, almost to himself. “When he saw us he beat it. Let’s follow up these tracks, Roy.�
The boys cantered along, eyes upon the ground, easily tracing the marks in the soft earth near the side of the stream. For about a mile they rode. Then they were halted. The tracks led directly down into the stream.
“That stops us,� Roy declared, in a disappointed tone. “He may have gone any place from here. Most likely he doubled back and crossed to the other side. Well, that’s that! Another failure!�
“But I’m sure it was Flash he was on!� Teddy said in a positive voice. “I couldn’t be mistaken there. We’ll hurry back and tell dad. Maybe he’ll want to go after the skunk.�
The day was drawing to a close, and the two boys started homeward. Roy had not forgotten the fish, and these hung from the pommel of the saddle, giving the horse many uneasy moments trying to figure what those cold things were that kept tapping him on the side.
Teddy was really disappointed that they had not succeeded in catching the lone horseman, but Roy still had his doubts about the fellow being Froud. Little was said concerning the incident, however, until the boys reached the ranch yard of the X Bar X.
There all was confusion. Punchers were rushing about, catching their ponies and throwing saddles on with almost indecent haste. The corral was nearly empty of horses. Mr. Manley stood in the center of the yard issuing orders.
As the brothers rode up they eyed this strange scene with puzzled frowns.
“For Pete’s sake, what’s all the shooting for?� Teddy inquired.
“Blamed if I know!� Roy answered. “Looks as if everybody was going some place! Hey, Dad, what’s the trouble? Why all the fuss?�
“Didn’t you hear?â€� Mr. Manley called out. “Where’ve you been— Oh, that’s right, you’ve been fishin’. Well, we got some bad news from the 8 X 8.â€�
“What do you mean?� came from Teddy quickly. “Have they been raided again?�
“That’s just what happened!â€� the boys’ father declared. “Rustlers got away with a hundred head of their cattle last night, an’ plugged two of their men! We’re ridin’ out after the thieves—the whole 8 X 8 outfit an’ us! This time we stay ridin’ till we round up that gang, too.â€�
Teddy and Roy looked at each other. Had the figure they had seen at Harver’s Gully anything to do with this new outrage?