CHAPTER XXIII
THE STAMPEDE
"What d'ye call this, anyway?" exclaimed Bluff, panting with hisexertions.
"I'd say it was crowding the mourners, for these things to chase eachother so fast, and the elements to make playthings out of four confidingchums," said Frank.
"Tell me about that, will you! First a scorching, then put to soak,after which comes another hot experience, and now treed by a flood! Uponmy word, things are happening a little too rapid even for me," put inJerry.
"There!" remarked Will, with a satisfied chuckle. "I think you threefellows will make a splendid showing, perched along that limb like a lotof crows, and the water rolling along below."
"Talk to me about the industrious photographer! If that chap hasn'ttaken our pictures in this ridiculous attitude! Why, they'll believewe've gone back to the old days, when our ancestors used to live intrees."
"Speak for yourself, Jerry. I refuse to admit that I am descended from amonkey," declared Bluff indignantly.
"How long do you suppose we may have to hang out here?" asked Will.
"Oh, a day or so, I suppose," replied Jerry, keeping a straight face.
"A day or so! Listen to him say that without a show of feeling! Why,long before that time elapsed I'd grow so weak from fatigue that I'dhave to be strapped to my limb to keep from falling into the treacherouswater," stammered Will.
"And what of me?" burst out Bluff. "I'd waste away to a mere shadow fromhunger. Sooner than submit to that, I'd try swimming ashore."
"Do you think the water will get any higher? Could it possibly overwhelmus in this tree? We could climb up twenty feet if necessary."
"Well, I hardly think that emergency is going to arise, Will; not atthis time, at least. To tell the truth, the water is already receding,"announced Frank, taking pity on Jerry's victims, both of whom lookedworried.
"Oh! do you really think so?" cried Will. "Then Jerry is only up to someof his old foolishness. Yes, I can see that it does not quite come up tothe wet mark on the trunk of the tree. Then perhaps we won't have tostay up here all night."
"Well, I guess not. I expect that in less than twenty minutes we'll beonce more afoot, and on our way to camp. This must have been a genuinecloudburst, and they tell me those sort of things, while severe at thetime, are quickly over."
"Bully for you, Frank! You always look on the bright side of things,while Jerry tries to dash a fellow's spirits. Things have come outpretty well, after all. We've had some strange experiences, come throughthem all in decent shape, and to cap the whole thing I've captured somedandy views. I can hardly wait to develop them."
"Go ahead, then. Plenty of water at hand for washing off the hypo,"suggested Jerry wickedly.
By the time the twenty minutes had expired the water had subsided so farthat the imprisoned chums were able to lower themselves from the treeand once more resume their journey.
Of course, they were an uncomfortable lot, being soaked to the skin,and, as Will declared, looking like a lot of hoboes. Brisk exertion keptthem from feeling cold, however; but they were one and all delighted toset eyes on the familiar tents of the home camp.
Their welcome was a warm one, for Mr. Mabie had been more or lessworried concerning them, owing to the forest fire and the fiercecloudburst.
"We hoped you were safe, and tried to believe it, boys; but at the sametime, even a veteran hunter in these parts might have been caughtnapping, and I tell you we're mighty glad to see you back safe andsound. Now, tell us how it happened," was Mr. Mabie's greeting as hesqueezed a hand of each.
"If you mean the fire, sir, we know nothing about it. We have not strucka match since leaving here, and only Bluff shot once. The fire came froman entirely different quarter, I assure you," said Frank.
"I never doubted that, my lad. I've seen enough of you boys to know thatafter all I've said none of you would be careless enough to endangerthings. But perhaps, after all, the fire was more of a blessing thanotherwise, for it probably helped to hurry that rainstorm along, andthat has saved our pastures."
Of course, the boys were for getting into dry clothes at once. The firewas heaped high with fresh fuel, so that a delightful warmth would bediffused around the immediate vicinity, after which there was a generalchange of garments.
"I feel better than I thought I would after all that rumpus," admittedBluff, as he capered about, trying to keep his muscles from gettingstiff.
"We'll look back to this day as one of the strangest in all ourexperience," remarked Frank, hanging his wet garments where the sunwould fall upon them, for the clouds had passed away, leaving a clearsky overhead.
"How much longer do we stay here?" asked Will, who had been doing somefiguring. "Because my films are getting low. I have three rolls still atthe ranch house, and when they're exhausted my business is done."
"Sorry to tell you, lads, that I had word from the house while you weregone, and it's absolutely necessary for me to start back in the morning.Now, if you would like to remain a little longer in camp, why, Reddy andBilly will keep you company. Don't give up unless you're satisfied withwhat fun you've had," said the stockman just then.
The boys looked at each other.
"I think we've seen enough of this life, and that there are dozens ofthings about the ranch we ought to know more about. So I vote that wereturn with Mr. Mabie," was Frank's suggestion.
"Count me in that," echoed Jerry.
"And I'm just wild to print a few of the remarkable pictures I've madeup here, which I can't do until we get back to the house; so I'm onlytoo willing to say yes to the proposition," put in Will.
"And I'm just as happy one place as the other, so long as the cookdoesn't strike, or put us on short rations," added Bluff.
In this spirit of humor it was therefore decided that on the followingmorning they would break camp and return to the ranch.
"I feel that I'm cheating you out of some of your expected fun, boys,"apologized the stockman that evening, as they were packing some of theirstuff, so as to lighten the labor in the morning.
"Why, I don't know what else we could do here. Seems to me we've aboutexhausted the list of excitements. We've shot elk, grizzlies, a panther,a wolf, met up with Indians, been chased by a forest fire, soaked in theriver and treed by a cloudburst. There could hardly be anything more,sir," laughed Frank.
"Well, I admit that you have made hay while the sun shone; and such apushing lot of boys always will get all the fun there is going. It'sbeen the happiest event of my last ten years of life to have you withme, and when you see my old side partner of long ago just tell him thatI'll never get over being thankful to him for having sent you up hereto break the dreadful monotony of existence on a stock ranch."
They passed a delightful evening. The boys sang many of their schoolsongs, and Bluff was induced to give a recitation, which called forthvociferous applause from the cowboy audience.
"I can see very plainly that you are going to make a worthy successor tothat lawyer father of yours, Bluff," declared Mr. Mabie as he clappedhis hands.
"And I expect to live to see him on the Supreme Bench yet," said Jerryseriously.
In the morning preparations for their departure were soon completed. Thetents, and all material connected with the camp, went in the wagon,while the boys, together with Mr. Mabie and Reddy, rode horseback. Itwas an invigorating gallop back to the ranch house, and on the way thechums indulged in a number of little races. But Will would not allowhimself to enter as he was afraid that something might happen to hisprecious camera, which he carried by a strap over his shoulder.
Once back in their old quarters, for several days the boys took lifeeasy, each being busily engaged in some favorite pursuit. Will developedall his films, and made copious prints of the same, which kept him in afeverish state of mind. When one turned out especially fine he was inthe seventh heaven of delight; and if he met with disappointment, whichwas seldom the case, his laments were dismal indeed.
Thus a week more passe
d, and the boys were beginning to think of turningtheir faces toward the East again. They would leave the ranch with manyregrets, for Mr. Mabie had certainly quite won their youthful hearts byhis genial ways.
Frank was the last one to meet with an adventure on this occasion, whichwas fated to be written down in his logbook as worthy of remembrance.
He had been out riding, and his horse, stepping into a gopher hole,threw him. Frank was not seriously hurt, but the horse went lame, sothat he could not be ridden. As this happened miles away from the house,and night was coming on, with a storm threatening, Frank knew he was infor an experience; but even then he did not dream of all that was downon the bills for that special occasion.
Through the darkness he went, leading his limping horse. Then the stormbroke, and the crash of thunder, as well as the vivid lightning, wassomething such as he could not remember ever meeting before.
He was just thinking that the pony had recovered enough to enable him tomount and make his way slowly along, as the ranch house was not morethan a mile off, when something came to his ears that arrested hisattention. For half a minute he wondered what it might be, sounding likeincreasing thunder. Then the appalling truth flashed upon him. There wasa stampede of cattle, and he seemed to be directly in the way of themadly galloping herd!