CHAPTER XIII.
AT WASHOUT COULIE.
"Is it very far we have to go for our herd, Ned?" asked Jimmy, as hegalloped along briskly at the side of his chum, managing the calicopony pretty fairly for one who had never been used to range riding andknew very little about the tricks of cow ponies.
"Yes, I believe further than any others of the lot," Ned told him.
"I heard some mention of a Washout Coulie; is that where we're headin'right now; and why d'ye reckon they give it such a funny name?" Jimmycontinued.
"We're making for a place of that name, I understood Chunky to say,"the accommodating scout master replied, "and he spoke as though theirbest herd might be using that section for a feeding ground just now;but why they call it Washout Coulie, I'm unable to say."
"A coulie is always connected with some sort of hill, isn't it, Ned?"
"Strikes me that way, Jimmy, and, as you know there _are_ hills overthis way, for we could see them when we came from the west and struckthe ranch. It might be the name came from a washout that happened sometime ago. They don't get much rain in this region, but once in a longtime there's a regular cloudburst and a flood."
Jimmy might have tried to keep the conversation going, for there were anumber of things he wanted to ask the scout master; but it happenedthat the obstreperous calico pony developed a streak of ugliness justabout that time and, consequently, Jimmy had all he could do to managethe beast so as to keep his seat in the cowboy saddle.
The sun had set shortly after they started away from the ranch, and thesky took on the brightest red colors that could be imagined. Butneither of the boys felt in a humor to admire the view. They hadbusiness on their hands of a nature to engross their everythought--Jimmy, with the control of his vicious mottle mount; and Ned,in calculating what the ill-natured suspect might attempt, in order tooutwit those who were pitted against him.
Night settles down promptly after sunset in this far southern country,there being very little gloaming, such as people living in morenorthern latitudes are accustomed to. But as the moon was due to peepabove the eastern horizon in short time this was not apt to give themany trouble.
Besides, Chunky and his riders knew every rod of the plain and couldeasily avoid such places, where the prairie dogs had their undergroundhomes and which have been the means of breaking the legs of manyvaluable horses.
Ned had already noticed how careful Chunky was to keep in a certainposition on the gallop. Here he could watch Sloper and at the same timebe ready to draw quickly upon him should the suspect attempt anycrooked business.
"He doesn't trust the man any further than he can see him," Ned wastelling himself, as he noticed this game that was being played betweenthe two men; and, at the same time, he meant to try and keep his owneye on the slippery customer, in so far as the conditions would allow.
The evening star shone in the western sky and they were making in astraight line away from it, Ned noticed. This told him what the coursewas. While Jimmy was apparently paying not the least attention to suchthings, content to trust himself in the hands of the puncher guide, Nedbelieved in knowing for himself. There might arise an occasion where hewould be thrown on his own resources; and, in such an event, it wouldbe a valuable asset to know just which way to head, in order to fetchup at the ranch house.
That was scout tactics and scout practice--being prepared againstpossible need.
And now over the low rim in the far east, where the squatty hills layagainst the sky line, a yellow glow began to appear. It was the moonrising to fulfill a night's vigil as sentinel while men slept.
Ned greeted it as an old friend, and Jimmy, too, expressed hissatisfaction over seeing it come upon the scene, for Jimmy and darknessnever did agree, and that was one reason he always wanted to keep thefire burning through the night while in camp, during the period whenthere was no moon.
As they drew closer to the hills, Ned began to calculate just about howmany miles they would have to drive the herd once they managed to roundit up and get it on the run for home. He knew from what he had beentold that what had taken them not more than an hour to cover, as thecrow flies, would mean at least four times that length of time with thecattle.
Perhaps, they would not be in until midnight had come and gone. And whocould say what might not happen in the long interval.
He wondered how far the rustlers were ready to go, in order to run offa herd that had excited their cupidity and, whether in case theyhappened to come up while the punchers were busily engaged, they mightnot attempt something like a stampede, hoping to frighten the fewcowboys off, when they could make way with the cattle.
"I'm glad we brought our rifles along with us," Ned was tellinghimself, as he studied out these things and tried to imagine what itwould seem like to actually find himself engaged in a regular battlewith cattle thieves.
He urged his pony forward enough to bring him close to Chunky.
"How much further do we have to go, Chunky?" Ned inquired.
"Be there in about ten minutes or so," came the reply. "Gotter kindersheer off a bit hereabouts on 'count of them ornery marmots what makesit unsafe for a pony to run over their holes. Been tryin' to clean thisvillage out a long time, but they seem too smart for the hull lot o'us. If so be ye wanter practice usin' a rifle ye'll find plenty toshoot at in knockin' these little runts over; and do the stockmen a bigfavor in the bargin."
"We'll remember that," Ned told him, though he rather fancied thatduring their stay at Double Cross Ranch he and his three chums wouldwant to do most of their hunting for larger game than poor littleharmless prairie dogs.
Jimmy had forged ahead slightly, or rather his impatient and ambitiousmount had taken the bit in its mouth and pulled a little harder thanusual. It may have been accident, but to Ned it seemed as though AllySloper must have some vicious idea in his mind when he suddenly flunghis quirt vigorously out, apparently intending to give his own pony acruel cut, and then struck the calico mount ridden by Jimmy.
Perhaps he thought to create a little excitement if the beast ran awaywith its rider, during which he might find a chance to slip offunobserved. Ned, as quick as a flash, dug his heels into his own pony,and was alongside Jimmy almost as soon as the spotted beast started toleap wildly forward under the impetus of that blow from the quirt,something he had never stood for in the past.
When he bent down and seized hold of the bridle close to the pony'smouth Ned was uttering soothing words. Between his efforts and those ofthe rider, the pony was kept from bolting, though it snorted and actedugly.
"I'm afraid you'll have to pay dear for picking out that calico nag,Jimmy," Ned told his chum, when they were riding along side by sideafter the little matter had been settled for the time being.
"'Tis too late to make any difference," replied the other scout; "anddo you remember tellin' me once that it's no time to change mounts whencrossin' a stream? Now that I've started on this painted pony I'llstick to the same through good winds and foul. If the little cayuse c'ndump me, he's welcome to try, that's all."
Evidently Jimmy's old stubborn nature was on deck again. He did hate togive anything up the worst kind; though he admitted that there weresome exceptions to this rule and one of them was whenever he foundhimself on a sickening heaving sea.
"I hope the cattle will be found feedin' in the place they called acoulie?" Jimmy went on to say a minute later, as he strove earnestly tomake out the conformation of the low hills they were approaching.
Now Ned had just been wondering on his own account what Chunky expectedto do in case the herd had wandered away. Would he start to followthem, making use of his training as a tracker in order to stick to thetrail the animals would have left behind them?
Ned believed so. He had studied the lanky puncher well, and foundevidences of great pertinacity in his make-up. Chunky would not be theone to quit easily. On the contrary, Ned felt positive he would keepmoving if it took the remainder of that n
ight.
"Chances are they'll not wander far away, Jimmy," he told the otherscout, who was evidently beginning to cross bridges before he came tothem, as was his habit, and so attempt more or less unnecessary work.
"But I don't hear any signs of the critters, do you, Ned?" continuedJimmy.
"Why no, and you couldn't hardly expect to, what with all the noisewe're making," Ned replied, shortly; "though the wind is coming almostin our faces, and seems like we might hear if a bull bellowed. Butleave all that to Chunky. He knows what to do, Jimmy. Just look out foryour pony, and keep close by; that's all you've got to do."
Gradually the hills assumed more shape, and they could even make outthe trees that covered their sides in most quarters.
"That dark place ahead must be the coulie opening," Ned suggested.
"Just what it is," replied the lanky rider, "You foller it up a waysand all of a sudden-like you drop in on one of the finest littlevalleys that cattle ever nosed about in, knee-high in grass that ain'tthe buffalo stripe neither, and with a fine spring that sends its waterdown the hull place. We ain't got anythin' ekal to it for a harbor forcattle this side o' the Colorado. That's why we turned our prize herdin here, to pick up a little fat before the Kunnel he ships the sameoff to a show."
That was quite a long talk for Chunky to make. He was a man of fewwords as a rule and bit his sentences off as though it pained him torun on for any great length of time.
Ned understood. And he was glad that he had come with the man who wasnow temporarily in charge of Double Cross Ranch. Where Chunky happenedto be things were more apt to take place than elsewhere.
Now it was very likely that the waiting rustlers must have known allabout this unusually fine herd. Even if they had failed to locate it ontheir own account, while galloping around the country, Ally Sloperwould have put them wise.
If they were figuring on making way with any portion of the DoubleCross property shortly, it stood to reason that they would turn theirattention first of all to this valuable drove.
The moon had risen above the horizon and was pouring a flood of lightupon the scene. Ned could not remember when it had appeared moreradiant. He fancied that they would have very little trouble in makingthe round-up and drive, if only nothing happened to break up their welllaid plans.
No doubt when they had arrived at the bottom of the coulie Chunky wouldorder a short halt, in order to let the ponies get their wind again.And during that time they could be using their ears to catch any soundsthat might come from up the gully, such as the mooing of cows that hadcalves, the bellowing of a bull, or the clashing as horns beat againsthorns in a fierce fight for possession.
Sloper was still in line. He had not turned his face once toward Chunkysince starting from the ranch, and it was natural that he should belaboring under a high tension, possibly arranging scheme after scheme,only to cast them away when he discovered weak points.
Ned believed the fellow was only waiting to see what circumstanceswould do for him; and he felt that should the opening come he would beas quick as a flash to avail himself of it.
Well, here they were now at the foot of the hills, and apparently theirfast gallop must be near its end. Jimmy would not be sorry. He was sorewith being bounced about in that hard saddle, though no one could haveforced him to admit that he was having anything but a glorious time.But Jimmy was always full of grit, and disdained to call for helpunless it could not possibly be avoided. He would master that fancycalico pony, or know the reason why.
"Hold up!"
When Chunky called this out every one drew rein. They were undoubtedlyin the mouth of a coulie, which was merely a gully through which atvarious times in the ages that had passed floods had swept down theside of the hills, and following a set course washed this bed clear.Later on bushes and even trees had managed to obtain a foothold andseemed to thrive.
The horses were breathing heavily, as the six riders sat in theirsaddles and listened eagerly to catch any sounds that might come downfrom the feeding plateau above.
There was no lack of noise, as the two scouts quickly understood. Andif cattle made all those sounds while feeding Ned wondered what itwould be under stress of excitement and panic, when stampeded by astorm, or from some other cause.
He could hear much trampling, low bellowing, the mooing of cows fearfullest they be separated from their calves, and a confusion of othersounds of which, being more or less of a greenhorn on the range, hecould make nothing.
But it was different with Chunky and the other punchers. Their trainedears, accustomed to detecting even uneasiness in feeding stock, andguessing the cause, instantly picked up several things that told themthe startling truth.
When Ned himself plainly heard the neigh of an excited horse, and thenwhat appeared to be a half suppressed shout, he jumped to a suddenconclusion that very nearly took his breath away.
Something not down on the hills was certainly going on up there, wherethe prize herd fed. There were men there and they were stirring up thecattle, for the snap of whips could be heard together with variousother sounds such as Ned fancied might accompany the start of a drive.
He could give a pretty good guess what it all meant, and did not haveto wait for Chunky to pass the information along. Some other personsbesides themselves had taken a notion to start a round-up that was notordered, and right then were busily engaged in getting things moving.
Apparently the punchers had not arrived any too soon, for the rustlerswere undoubtedly abroad; and had the range riders been delayed anotherhalf hour they must have arrived at Washout Coulie to find the feedinggrounds bare, and discover that the herd had mysteriously vanished!