CHAPTER XVII
A NIGHT OF WAITING
"The old rascal!" Nort exclaimed after Bud had finished. "So that'swhat they were doing at the water hole? If we had known that we wouldhave taken a chance and rushed them."
"Just as well you didn't," Bud declared. "Wouldn't have gainedanything by it. And anyway, we don't want to upset their plans forto-morrow night. The Kid, here, thinks they'll go through with theidea."
"Don't be too sure," warned Dick. "It may never come off, since theyknow Bud overheard them planning."
"Yes, but don't you see they can't get word to the others in time?" theKid insisted. "They can't call it off. The other end of the smugglingline has already made plans that they can't break, so this end has togo through with their scheme. At least that's the way I look at it."
"Seems reasonable," Dick agreed. "But just the same I think it'sbetter to be prepared."
"Naturally. What did you find out about the sheep-man, Dick?"
The latter spoke of one tentatively engaged and told the Kid his newhorse would be sent over in a day or so.
The remainder of the day went quickly. When evening came the boys wereexcitedly making plans for the following night. After "chuck" theygathered around the table in the sitting room and discussed ways andmeans. The Kid was in favor of drastic action.
"No, we've got to go slowly," Dick cautioned. "This isn't strictly ouraffair, you know. The government is interested in it. And it'sanything but a joking matter. The other adventures we had--at SpurCreek and in the desert--were our own concern entirely. This isdifferent. Hawkins hasn't said so, but I think it means a lot to himif we aid in capturing the smugglers."
"Thought you were out here to herd sheep?" Billee Dobb put in.
"We were--at first. But there's no use trying to dodge the issue--fromnow on until this business is finished, we have one job on hand--tohelp stop Chink smuggling. The sheep can wait."
"That's the stuff!" Yellin' Kid burst out. "I was waitin' to hear yousay that, Dick. Might as well look things in the face! We've gottentoo deep into this to drag freight now!"
"You're right, Kid," approved Bud. "And truth to tell, I'm not a bitsorry. I don't care for Delton a-tall. We'll go through with this,and finish it up right."
"And get my ole bronc back," the Kid said loudly.
"We might do that, too," Dick laughed. "Well, let's hit the hay.Plenty to do to-morrow."
The night passed quietly. The punchers were up with the sun, all eagerfor the task on hand. Directly breakfast was over, Dick and Bud rodeto town in order to see Hawkins. All thought it best that the deputyshould learn, as soon as possible, of the new development, for he mightwant to change his plans in accordance. The boys found him in hisoffice.
"Come in, boys!" he invited when Dick and Bud stood in the doorway."How's everything? Any more cyclones?"
"Not yet," answered Bud with a laugh. "The weather is quiet, butthat's the only thing that is."
"What do you mean?" the deputy asked quickly.
Without any preliminaries Bud told the story of his capture and escape.The deputy listened carefully, now and then asking a question. WhenBud had finished he sat silent for a moment, drumming his desk with hisfingers. Suddenly he brought his fist down with a bang and looked up.
"That settles it!" he cried in a decided tone of voice. "Delton isfinished! From now on we go after him tooth and nail! And I want youboys to know something. I can rely on you, of course, to keep it asecret." Strangely the deputy's western accent seemed to leave him,and he assumed a more cultured tone of voice. He held a shiny piece ofmetal out toward Bud. "I'm from Washington--Secret Service--here's mybadge."
Bud took it silently. It was, indeed, the badge of a federal official.
"I took this job as an ordinary deputy to disarm suspicion," Hawkinswent on. "I knew if I came to Roaring River as a stranger I'd beinvestigated, and perhaps have to give myself away. So I just gotmyself appointed a deputy, and then I could work openly. No one wouldsuspect a western deputy of being a federal man--there's too many ofthem. Now you know why I'm so interested in this smuggling. We'vesimply _got_ to stop it--somehow! Even the Chinese who are in thiscountry legitimately don't like to see their countrymen come in by theback door. And what good are immigration laws if we can't enforcethem? I'm just telling you this to impress upon you the seriousness ofthe project."
"It is certainly no joking matter," Bud agreed, handing back the badge."So you're a federal man! I should think if you wanted to trace thesmugglers secretly you'd take another position than deputy."
"You'll see how it will work out," Hawkins said. "It's sometimes bestto seem almost what you are, to avoid seeming what you really are.Figure that one out. What I mean is, if I openly assume the aspect ofa man of the law, no one will look further than that. Understand?"
"I do," responded Dick. "And now let's decide on our plan of action.Do you think what happened to Bud will change any of the details, Mr.Hawkins?"
"Don't see why it should. In fact I think it makes our scheme all themore advisable. Personally, I believe the run will go throughto-night. There's no doubt but that's what you heard referred to, Bud,for I had a tip concerning the same thing. They will depend on theelement of surprise and the superiority in number to succeed. We'llhave our hands full, at any rate."
"Somehow this doesn't seem real," mused Bud. "Here we are planning tocapture a gang of smugglers who _know_ we're after them, yet they goright ahead and play into our hands."
"My dear boy," said Hawkins grimly, "you don't quite understand.Delton is far from playing into our hands. In fact, if truth be told,our chances are rather slim that we'll ever see Delton. He's no baby.But I think we've got him beaten in one way--the gang across the borderdoesn't know what we know. Now here's the situation." Dick and Budcame closer. "A shipload of Chinks have just landed in Mexico. Nevermind how I know, but I do. These Chinese have got to be smuggled overthe border within three days, to make room for another bunch. Allright. This gang in Mexico corresponded with Delton last week, tellinghim that he was to receive the Chinks on a certain night.
"There's one thing we want to make sure of--and that is to avoidfrightening them off. Has there been much action around your ranch?"
"None at all. We've kept things pretty quiet."
"That's good. Tell you--I think it would be best if you fellows wouldstay as close to the ranch house as possible, until this thing is over.You see the smugglers might send out a one man auto patrol, some timeto-day or this evening, to look over the lay of the land, and if hesees anything suspicious the chances are that he'll choose anotherroute to ship the Chinks over the border by. But I don't think they'llgo far from Roaring River. They got away with it so easy last time,that they'll probably try it again. Well--" Hawkins tightened his lipsgrimly--"they won't work it twice."
"Any more instructions?" Dick asked.
"No--I'll be over to the Shooting Star sometime this afternoon. Maybring a friend with me--Larry O'Connor--one sweet shot with a revolver.That is if I think we need him."
"Well, we've got five men all told," Dick declared. "And all of us arefairly used to handling guns. Target practice at tin cans keeps youreye in, and we do lots of that."
"Good idea, if you can afford the money for ammunition. Never knowwhen you'll need to rely on a well-placed shot."
"Are you just going to ride over to the ranch openly?" Bud asked."Won't someone see you?"
"Even if they do, they won't suspect anything. But to make sure I'llwait until after dark. Guess that would be best. No attempt will bemade until well on into the night, and we'll have plenty of time to getset for them."
"Then we'll see you to-night?" inquired Dick as he arose.
"Sure thing! Oh, by the way--keep an eye on that Mex cook of yours,will you? I want him where I can grab him quick if I need him."
"We will. Good-bye until to-night, Mr. Hawkins."
"S
o-long, boys."
Bud and Dick rode back to the Shooting Star. As soon as possible theytold the others of their talk with Hawkins, and of his being a secretservice official. Billee Dobb said he "opined as much long ago."
The day dragged on. The boys were all slightly nervous, though theywouldn't admit it. Several times one would catch the other fingeringhis gun unconsciously. But evening finally came, and while they wereeating supper Joe Hawkins arrived. He was alone.
"Thought you were going to bring someone with you?" Bud said when thegreetings were over.
"Decided it wasn't necessary. We've got plenty here. Now, boys, areyou all set?"
"All set!" the Kid said loudly. "Bring 'em on!"
"They'll come without us bringing them," Hawkins declared a triflegrimly. "Turn that lamp low, Dick, and let's get out of here."
"What about the Mex?" inquired the Kid.
"Bring him along," the agent declared. "Want him where I can keep aneye on him."
In spite of his wordless protests, the cook was dragged out of thekitchen and made to accompany the punchers to a place near the side ofthe house. And there the six men watched, each with his hand on hisgun and with ears strained for the sound of a car. There was a roadwhich ran past the ranch and into the town. It was over this road thatthe watching men expected the smugglers to come.
And now all settled down to a night of waiting.