CHAPTER XVI
STRANGE ACTIONS
Until there was what in law is termed an "overt act," the boy ranchersand their friends could do nothing against the sheep herders who werethere in plain sight, with their woolly charges on the far side of SpurCreek. "Overt act" is a law term, and practically means an open act asdistinguished from one that is done in secret and under cover.
Thus if the sheep herders should openly attempt to cross the creek, anddrive their animals up on Mr. Merkel's land--or land which heclaimed--then Bud and his associates could proceed against them,driving them off--"repelling boarders," as Dick expressed it, having inmind some of his favorite pirate tales.
But until the sheep men had done something--had committed an overtact--they could not be molested as long as they remained where theywere.
"It's like this," explained Bud, for his father had made matters plainto him over the mended telephone line. "We got to wait until they setfoot on our land--or until some of their onery sheep begin tonibble--and then we can start something."
"What, for instance?" asked Dick.
"Well, we can order 'em off--that is, order the Greasers off," repliedBud. "Not much use talking to sheep, I reckon."
"Nor to a Greaser, either," murmured Snake. "One is about as brightand smart as the other."
"Anyhow," resumed Bud, "we can't do anything until they startsomething."
"Not even if we know they're going to do it?" asked another of thecowboys who, meanwhile, had arrived from Diamond X ready for a fight.
"Not even then," answered Bud. "But once they cross the creek and landhere, then we'll begin," and he looked to his gun.
"What'll we do with the sheep?" asked the cowboy. There seemed to beno doubt in the minds of the men as to what they would do with theGreasers.
"We'll have to dispose of 'em," said Bud regretfully. "It seems apity, too, for the poor things haven't done any harm. But it's eithertheir lives or those of our cattle. The two can't live on the samerange, and the sheep have no right here."
"Shoot 'em and drive 'em back into the water if they try to swimacross--is that it?" asked Dick.
"Yes, but hang it all!" cried Bud, "I hope that doesn't happen. I surehate to do it!"
And to give them credit, the others felt the same way about it.
Meanwhile the sheep having settled down to a quiet but fastfeeding--which is their characteristic--the actions of the band ofGreaser and Mexican herders who had them in charge was eagerly watchedby the boy ranchers and their friends.
They saw two horsemen ride down to the bank of the creek at one spotand urge their steeds in. For a time all seemed to go well, butsuddenly, when a few yards out in the stream one of the Mexicansfrantically called to his companion, who shouted an inquiry as to whatwas wrong.
Something very dangerously wrong seemed to be the trouble, for thefirst Mexican was now frantically appealing for help, and a momentlater his companion sent his lariat hissing through the air, the coilssettling around the frightened man who grasped the rope and leaped intothe creek.
But the horse remained in the water, though the animal was wildlystruggling to turn and go back to the southern shore, along which thesheep were feeding, some of them slaking their thirst in Spur Creek.
Pulling his companion along by the lariat, the still mounted Mexicanmade for the shore he had so recently quitted, leaving the lone horseto struggle by itself.
"What does that mean?" cried Dick.
"Quicksands--just what I told you about," answered Bud. "There are alot of places where the bed of the creek is pitted with quick sands,and this Greaser struck one."
"One did and the other didn't," observed Snake, for it was evident thatthe rider who had used his lariat had found firm footing for his steed.
"That's it," Bud explained. "You can't tell where the sands are andwhere they aren't. I happen to know some places that are free," hewent on, "but, even there the water is too deep for the sheep to getacross, on account of the current."
The two Mexicans, one on his horse and the other swimming at the end ofthe lariat, had reached the shore they so recently quitted, on whatobject could only be guessed. Then there was very evidently aconference among the sheep herders during which the excited men who hadtaken part in the adventure pointed to the spot where the horse wasstruggling.
"I hope they aren't going to leave that poor brute to suffer," murmuredYellin' Kid, his voice low for one of the few times in his career.
But it was evident that whatever were the faults of the sheep herdersthey did not number among them too much cruelty to a horse. For whenit was evident that the animal could not free himself, a number of theGreasers rode as close as was safe, and tossed their lariats about theanimal's neck. Then they began pulling.
But the quicksands had too firm a grip on the animal's legs. He hadsunk lower in the stream, and his struggles were less, simply becausehe was now so nearly engulfed in the powerful suction of thewater-soaked and ever-shifting sands.
"They'll never get him out,' said Dick.
"Have to pull his poor head off if they do," agreed Bud.
And this was so evident that the Mexican sheep herders soon gave up theattempt. They dared not even go close enough to the horse to releasetheir ropes, but, casting them off from their saddle horns, had to seethem sink down in the quicksands with the poor beast.
For this is what happened. The unfortunate animal, unable to extricatehimself from the terrible grip of the sands, being too firmly held topermit of being dragged out, sank lower and lower. The water came halfway up his sides. It closed over his back, but still his head was free.
With all his power the brute struggled, but with four legs gripped hecould do little more than shudder convulsively. Then as the waterscame closer and closer to his head, caused by the fact that the horsewas sinking lower and lower in the soft sand, the beast gave a terriblecry--terrible in its agony.
A moment later it was gone from sight forever.
A hush fell upon the assemblage of cowboys in front of the Spur Creekfort of Diamond X ranch. And a hush, no less, came over the bunch ofMexican sheep herders on the far side of the stream. But that the mancould leap off and swim to shore, aided by his companion's lariat, thefate of the horse in the quicksands might have been his fate.
"What's going on?" asked a voice behind Bud and Dick.
They turned quickly to behold Nort, who had ridden back from the ranchheadquarters.
"What you all looking at?" he asked, for the cowboys were gazingsilently at the spot in the stream where the tragedy had just takenplace.
They informed Nort in a few words.
"Well," he remarked, "that's the best protection we could have againstthe sheep coming over--quicksands in the creek."
"The only trouble is," said Dick slowly, "that the quicksands are onlyin certain places. They can cross safely elsewhere."
"The point is, though," observed Bud, "that they can only guess atthose places. And, not knowing where they are, may make them stay awayaltogether."
"I hope so, but I don't believe it," remarked Snake. "You'll see theywon't give up so easily."
Nor did the sheep herders thus forego an attempt to graze their flockson the rich pasture claimed by Mr. Merkel. It was too late that day toattempt anything more. Night settled down, but with an augmented forceof cowboys at the fort the boy ranchers were not apprehensive.
Tours of duty were arranged, so that two or more cowboys would be onguard all night. However, the hours of darkness passed with no furtheractivity on the part of the Mexicans.
In the morning, however, the forces from Diamond X ranch observedstrange actions on the part of their enemies.
"What in the world are they up to?" asked Nort, as he and his brotherand cousin looked across the river.
Well might he ask that.