CHAPTER XVI
THE DEFENSE OF CRANE VALLEY
It was two days before Cotton could be sent to the police outpost in awagon, but, so far as we could gather, the officer temporarily in chargetook it for granted he had been injured on his homeward ride around bythe Indian reserve which would have led him through Crane Valley. Sometime, however, passed before he was fit for the saddle. Meanwhile Steeland I discussed Lane's latest move, and the best means of counteractingit.
"If we knew just what he wanted it would give us a better show, but wedon't, and Lane doesn't tell anybody," my comrade observed gloomily.
"It's tolerably clear that he wants Crane Valley," said I. And Steelproceeded: "Then why doesn't he sail in and take all he's entitled to?"
"A part would not satisfy him when he wants it all," I said. "If heseizes the working beasts and breeding stock now we shall be lefthelpless for the season. He will take just enough to cripple me, andleave me still in debt, while it would be useless to try to raise moneyto pay him off until the question of the railroad is settled."
"Will it ever be built?" asked Steel.
"It must be, some day; but whether that will be before we are ruined orburied, heaven only knows," I said. "Haldane seems to think the timewill not be long, and judging by his tactics, Lane agrees with him.Still, the newspapers take an opposite view."
"If it isn't"--and Steel frowned at the harness he was mending--"whatwill we poor fools do?"
"Stand Lane off as long as possible, and then strike for the mines inBritish Columbia. That, however, concerns the future, and we have firstto decide what we will do if Lane arrives to-morrow."
Steel's face grew somber, but he waited until I added: "Then, becausethey're not my beasts as yet, if he can take them by main force--and Ialmost hope he'll try--he is welcome to do so."
"Now you're talking," and Steel smote a dilapidated saddle until thedust leaped forth from it. "The law on debt liens is mighty mixed, but Ifigure that the man who can keep hold has the best of it. Jacques,Gordon, and the rest will stand by us solid, and I'd work two years fornothing to get a fair chance at Lane."
We both determined on resistance; but it struck me that ours was a veryforlorn hope, and that the odds were heavily against two plain farmers,equally devoid of legal knowledge and of capital, who had pittedthemselves against a clever, unscrupulous man with the command ofapparently an unlimited amount of money.
Lane did not come next day, nor the following one.
Indeed, a number passed without bringing any word of him, and becauseidleness meant disaster, we perforce relaxed our vigilance and resumedour plowing. I had just yoked a pair of oxen to a double plow onemorning, when Boone's wagon came lurching up as fast as two whitenedhorses could haul it across the prairie.
"Lane came in with a hard-looking band of rascals by the Pacific Maillast night," he said. "They had got whisky somewhere, and smashed thehotel windows because Imrie wouldn't get them supper in the middle ofthe night. He would start as soon as they were partly sober. Are youprepared to protect your property, Ormesby?"
"I am ready to protect other people's, which will suit me a good dealbetter in this instance," I said, with a certain satisfaction that thetime for open resistance had come at last, though Lane had cunninglychosen a season when every man's presence was necessary at his ownhomestead.
"Don't count too much on that," said Boone. "If you have no documentaryevidence, even the actual owners might have difficulty in substantiatingyour claim. Now you see why I demanded a written agreement. It strikesme that in this case possession is everything."
"If I can keep whole in body until sundown, possession will remain withus," I said. "But there is no time to spare for talking. It will takehours to bring my neighbors up."
"Of course you arranged with Haldane to send you assistance?" saidBoone; and hurled out an expletive when I answered stolidly: "That isjust what I did not do. I do not even know whether he is at home. It isnot necessary to drag all one's friends into a private quarrel."
"Goodness knows why you are so unwarrantably proud, and it is not worthwhile wasting time over that question now," said Boone. "Roll up yourthick-headed stockmen. I'm going on to Bonaventure for the one man whosepresence would be worth a hundred of them."
He lashed his horses as he spoke, and I roused myself to action, whilelong before his wagon dipped over the rim of the prairie Thorn had setout at a gallop to bring our neighbors in. A neighbor may dwell from oneto ten leagues away in that country. This left only Steel and me to holdCrane Valley, with the exception of Sally. The girl absolutely refusedto leave us, and it may not have been by accident that severalheavy-handled brushes lay convenient beside the stove. The stock weredriven off as far as we dare follow them across the prairie, and wehoped they would remain unseen in a hollow; the working horses were madefast in the stable; and when a few head of pedigree cattle had beensecured in the corral, we could only sit down and wait the siege.
I spent several hours perched most uncomfortably on the roof with a pairof glasses; but though the day was clear, nothing appeared above the rimof the prairie. It spread all around the horizon in low rolling rises,empty and desolate. My eyes grew dazzled, the continued use of theglasses produced a distressful headache; but still nothing moved oneither rise or level, and it was a relief when at last Sally hailed me:"Come down and get your dinner; scenery won't feed anybody."
I had forgotten there was such a thing as food, and my throat and lipswere dry; but on descending I was surprised to find myself capable ofmaking an excellent meal.
"You'll feel considerably better after that," said Sally, who watchedour efforts with much approval. "I guess you have forgotten you had nobreakfast, either of you."
"That's so," assented her brother. "It's the first time I ever forgot itin my life. Say, what are you going to do with that big hasp-bar,Sally?"
Miss Steel's movements were perhaps a little nervous, but she wasevidently not troubled by timidity. "I figured if anybody wanted to comepoking in here it might keep them out--if it was nicely warmed," shesaid.
"You must do nothing rash; and you must keep out of harm's way, Sally,"I said sternly. "They would be justified in seizing my householdproperty."
"There's mighty little of it." And Miss Steel glanced around the roomwith contempt. "Do you figure Lane would come out hundreds of miles foryour old crockery? Anything that's pretty round this place is mine, andI'm anxious to see the man who's going to take it from me."
I looked at the excited girl and then at her brother, who shook his headin signal that further remonstrance would be useless. My ideasrespecting women had changed of late, and I somewhat resented the factthat they would not be content to sit still and be worshiped, but mustinsist on playing an active, and often a leading, part in all thathappened.
"When Sally has made up her mind there's no use for anybody to talk,"said Steel.
I had hardly mounted to the roof again before a line of diminutiveobjects straggled up above the horizon, and I called down: "They'recoming!"
"Which way?" was the eager question; and Steel stamped when I answeredmoodily: "From the south."
"Lane's outfit. Can't you see the others?" he shouted.
I swept the glasses around the circumference of the prairie, and myvoice was thick with disappointment as I answered: "No."
"Then you and I will have all we can do; and I wish to the Lord Sallywere anywhere else," said Steel.
The diminutive figures rapidly resolved themselves into mounted men,with a wagon behind them, but still all the rest of the prairie wasempty, and each time Steel asked the question: "Can't you see them yet?"I grew more doggedly savage as I answered: "No."
At last, when the money-lender's party were close at hand, I called outthat three horsemen were just visible in the north. "That's Gordon;Jacques and the rest can't be here for a long while. It's time to comedown," said Steel.
I came down, guessing that Lane, being on a lower level, could not seeour allies,
and waited with Steel, apparently unarmed, though we hadweapons handy, in the space between the house and the stable. Sally haddisappeared inside the dwelling, and I trusted that she would remainthere. Presently, amid a rattle of gear and a confused trampling, a bandof men rode up to the homestead and ranged themselves in rude order oneach side of a wagon, some of them yelling in imitation of the Americancowboy as they wheeled. They were unkempt, dirty, and dissolute inappearance, and I was not altogether surprised to see that most of themwere English or Americans. One finds very little errant rascality on theCanadian prairie, perhaps because our money is very hardly earned, andthere are few people worth exploiting there; but odd specimens exportedfrom the great Republic and from the Old Country by disgusted friendsgravitate towards the smaller Western cities when they find life in thewaste too hard, and Lane had evidently collected some of the worst ofthem. He sat in the wagon, smoking, and actually smiled at me.
"Kind of surprise party, isn't it, Ormesby?" he said. "I've come roundto collect what I can in accordance with the notice served on you.Here's a wallet full of papers, and this gentleman represents legalauthority. He had a partner, but we lost him. Now, I've no personalfeeling against you, and won't give you any trouble if it can beavoided."
Strange to say, I believed he spoke no more than the truth, and regardedus dispassionately as merely a source from which a little profit mightbe wrung. Neither Steel nor I, however, could look at the matter withequal calmness. We were standing for our rights, and ready to strike forshelter and daily bread, while the memory of former wrongs and a fiercerevolt against the rich man's oppression fired our blood. Nevertheless,I remembered that it was necessary to gain time, and answered as coollyas I could:
"In the first place, the stock and horses belong to my neighbors, and inthe second, you will be overstepping limits if you violently break intoany part of my homestead. Neither does the law allow any privateindividual to gather a band of ruffians and forcibly seize his debtor'sproperty."
Lane probed his cigar with slow deliberateness. "You are growing quitesmart, Ormesby; but isn't it a pity you didn't display your acumenearlier? I don't know that a stable can be considered a dwelling underthe homestead regulations, and there's nothing to prevent any man fromhiring assistance to drive home sequestrated cattle. It is thisgentleman's business to seize them, not mine. Neither is it clear howfar a proved agreement to feed another person's stock frees them of alien for debt. Have you got any in writing?"
It was evident that, in homely parlance, my adversary held the best endof the stick. The administration of justice is necessarily somewhatrough-and-ready in the West, and I saw that the representative of legalauthority was at least two-thirds drunk. I also had little doubt thatLane's mercenaries would act independently of him; while if theyexceeded legal limits there would be only our testimony to prove itagainst a dozen witnesses. Possession was evidently everything.
Lane had possibly guessed my thoughts, for he said: "Don't be mad enoughto start a circus, Ormesby. We have come a long way for the beasts, andmean to get them. Can't you see that we could beat you if it came totestimony? And I don't mind admitting that these rascals are notparticular."
His tranquillity enraged me, but I managed to answer him: "If you drivea hoof off you will have to defend your action against richer men thanI."
"Well, I'll take my chances. It would cost them piles of money, and theywould gain nothing then," he said. "Say, officer, hadn't you betterbegin?"
"Gotsh any papersh to prove objection?" demanded that individual,turning to me. And I took no pains to hide my disgust as I answered: "IfI had I should not trouble to show them to you."
Steel, however, broke in: "We have. I'll show you a receipt for so manybeasts to be fattened for Roland Adams."
"Whersh you keep them?" demanded the other.
"Where you won't find them; 'way back on the prairie," Steel answeredtriumphantly.
It was a blunder, for the other, who had a little shrewdness left,straightened himself. "Then all the beastsh heah belong to someoneelse," he said, with a tipsy leer, and waved his hand to the rest. "Nopapersh worth a shent. Whasher foolin' for? We'll just walk into thestable."
Several men sprang from their saddles, but Steel reached the door aheadof them, and stood with his back against it, swinging a great birchstaff. "Nobody comes in here," he said.
I was at his side the next moment with a keen hay-fork, and the menhalted in a semi-circle at the sight of our grim faces.
"These points will reach anybody within six feet," I said.
"Better quit fooling while your hide's whole. There's 'most a dozen ofus," said one, while another criticised my personal appearance inuncomplimentary terms. One or two in the background advised theircomrades as to how we might best be maimed, but stood fast themselves,for Steel was big and brawny, and looked coolly murderous as he balancedthe heavy staff; while whoever looked at me did so over the twin pointsof steel. The interlude lasted at least a minute, and I listened withstrained attention for the thud of hoofs. Gordon could not be far off,but he remained invisible behind a low rise, even if the buildings hadnot obscured our view. Then a newcomer shoved his way through the rest,and I saw that he was the genuine article as he stood before me inMontana cattle-rider's dress.
"It's a mighty poor show you're making, boys," he said contemptuously."Stand out of my way. You can pick up the pieces when I've done withthem."
He danced up and down a few paces and yelled, either to bewilder or toimpress us, and I was conscious of a grim amusement, while Steel watchedhim narrowly. Then, for the man had spirit enough, he leaped at Steellike a panther, with something in his hand that twinkled. He was,however, a second too late, for the birch staff met him in the center ofhis face, and, falling like a log, he lay where he fell. Steeldeliberately snapped the knife beneath his heel, and Lane shoutedsomething as my comrade said: "The next man I down at that trick willget his skull smashed in."
There was a wrathful cry from the others, which convinced me that if wetook our eyes off them for an instant the rush would come; but theyhesitated, and Steel, standing poised with one foot forward and balefuleyes, made the staff whistle round his head. "You're a mighty long timebeginning. Who's next--or maybe you only brought one man along?" hesaid.
"Where's that blamed officer? I guess this is his job," said one; butthe worthy mentioned drew further back from the edge of the group.
"Deputsh you my authority. Thish not a house. Only beastsh live instables," he explained.
"Better get it over. Sail in!" said one of the biggest, and there was ashout of "Look out!" from Steel.
Four or five men made a rush upon us, and, not wishing to inflict lethalinjuries unless my life were threatened, I had barely time to reversethe fork before they were within striking distance. Another reeledbackwards headlong beneath the staff, and, knowing that a thrust is moreeffective and harder to evade than a blow, I used the long-hafted fork,blunt-end foremost, as a pike with considerable success. The strugglecontinued for perhaps a minute, and was sharp while it lasted. Severaltimes a panting man got within my guard, and Steel brought him down; butI was struck heavily, and had only a blurred vision of waving arms,scowling faces, and the whirling staff, while the air seemed filled withdiscordant shouts of encouragement from those outside. Either by sheerforce of desperation, or by the power of better weapons, we wore themout, and the group broke up. One or two limped badly as they straggledback, some swore, and there was blood on the faces and garments of therest.
"One fellow got me badly on the chest," said Steel, who breathedheavily, and I was conscious of several painful spots; and when I hadrecovered breath I saw that Lane had drawn his wagon back some distance,and was apparently upbraiding his bodyguard in no measured terms.
"Jump clear!" cried Steel presently, and I sprang aside a moment toolate, for an exultant shout went up when a heavy billet struck me on thehead. I felt the blood trickle warm and sticky into one eye, and I fellagainst the door feeling faint and sick,
then stiffened myself again,with the fork held points foremost this time. Lane, it seemed, had lostcontrol of his followers, and would doubtless rely on hard swearing toprotect himself from unfortunate consequences, for I now suspected therewould be bloodshed unless help arrived very shortly.
"They're going for the house, and Sally's inside there," cried Steel;and for the first time I remembered that the dwelling was unprotected,and feared that the girl had not slipped away, as she might have done bya rear window.
One of Lane's men reached the threshold before we did, and three or fourothers followed hard upon his heels. The door was wide open, and Isincerely trusted that Sally had made her escape. She had not, however,for the handle of a long brush swung out, and the first ruffian whorushed at the entrance staggered backwards against the comrade behindhim. Steel flung him headlong the next moment; the rest yielded passagebefore the tines of the fork, and we sprang into the house, while ourenemy's reinforcements came up at a run. So far we had succeeded betterthan might have been expected, but our adversaries were growing furious,and the defense of our property no longer appeared the main question.The girl had dropped the brush and grasped a red-ended iron bar.
"Give it to me, and reach down that rifle, Sally," I gasped, and whileSteel dragged up furniture for a barricade, the rest, not knowing itsmagazine was empty, recoiled before the Winchester muzzle.
"I'll be through in another minute. Keep them out," Steel said.
A brief respite followed, for the iron was glowing still, and ourenemies' supply of missiles was evidently exhausted; but as we waited,wondering what would happen next, I heard a beat of hoofs, and Sallycried out triumphantly as three well-mounted men swept up at a gallop.
"Ride over them!" shouted somebody. Warning cries went up, there was ascattering of Lane's ruffians, and the leading horseman pulled up hisbeast just outside the door. He was dripping with perspiration,bespattered all over, and his horse was white with lather.
"Couldn't get through earlier. Jacques' boys are away, but we sent a manto look for them, and he'll bring them along," he said.
We were very glad to see Rancher Gordon and his sturdy followers,though it was bad news he brought. Further reinforcements could hardlyarrive in time to be of service, and where we had expected more than adozen we must be content with three. Meanwhile, Lane's men had mountedand were trotting off across the prairie.
"They have probably gone in search of the loose stock. Come in. We havegot to talk over our next step," I said.
The newcomers did so, and we were all glad of a breathing space. My headwas somewhat badly cut, several purple bruises adorned my comrade'scountenance, and the rest had ridden a long way in furious haste. Atfirst the conference was conducted in half-breathless gasps, then thevoices deepened into a sonorous ring, and I can recall the intentbronzed faces turned towards me, the thoughtful pauses when each speakerhad aired his views, and how the slanting sunlight beat into the partlyshadowed room. Last of all Rancher Gordon spoke: "We are waiting to hearyour notions, Ormesby."
"The stable and corral must be held at any cost," I said, smearing myhands as I tried to clear my eye, while red drops splashed from them onto the table. "While that ought to be possible, we are hardly strongenough to force a fight in the open unless it is necessary. Lane'srascals may not find the stock, and may only be trying to draw us off,so my decision is to remain here. If they are successful we can see themfrom the roof, and must run the risk of taking their plunder from them.Should we fail we could follow them when our friends turn up."
"That's about my notion. We'll see you through with it," said Gordonquietly.
We had waited a considerable time before Steel hailed us from the roofthat he could see our enemies riding south behind a bunch of cattle, andwe mounted forthwith. There were now three rifles among us, but we hadagreed these were not to be used unless somebody fired upon us. Ridersand cattle dipped into a hollow, and we had covered several milesbefore we sighted them again. Lane and the representative of authorityno longer accompanied them. The whole body wheeled around and haltedwhen we came up. There was sweet grass in the hollow, so the cattlehalted too, and for a space we sat silent, looking at one another. Idare not risk a blunder in face of such odds, though I determined tomake an effort to recover the stock.
"You make us tired," said the American, whose face was partly covered bya dirty rag. "Go to perdition, before we make you!"
He waved his arm around the horizon, as though to indicate where theplace in question lay, and I edged my horse a little nearer to him. Hewas the leading spirit, and it seemed possible that we might perhapsdisperse the rest if I could dismount him. The man had evidentlyrecovered from Steel's blow.
"We are not going away without the cattle, and you can see there aremore of us now, while two proved too many for you before," I said, stilldecreasing the distance between us; but my adversary perhaps divined myintention, for a short barrel glinted in his hand when he raised it.
"It's going to be different this time. Keep back while you're safe," hesaid.
There was apparently no help for it, and I was not quite certain hewould shoot, so balancing the long fork, lance fashion, I tightened mygrip on the bridle, when Gordon drove his horse against me and grippedit violently. "Hold on; the boys are coming!" he said.
Friends and foes alike had been too intent to notice anything beyondeach other during the past few minutes; but now a drumming of hoofs rosefrom behind the rise which shut in the hollow. Then a drawn-out line ofmounted men came flying down the slope, and Steel flung his hat up witha triumphant yell. "It's the Bonaventure boys," he said. "There's Adamsand Miss Haldane leading them."
The American looked in my direction, and raised his hand in ironicalsalute. "I'm sorry to miss a clinch with you. It would have been a goodone, but I can't stay," he said. "Get on, you skulking coyotes. Unlessyou're smart in lighting out those cow drivers won't leave much of you."
His subordinates took the hint, and bolted down the hollow as hard asthey could ride, while I drew a deep breath and turned towards therescue party.