按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
direction； Kentuck let out with all there was left in him。 He leaped and whirled； pitched and swerved； in a roaring； clashing； dusty melee。 Beating hoofs threw the turf； flying tails whipped the air； and everywhere were dusky； sharp…pointed heads； tossing low。 Kentuck squeezed out unscathed。 The mob of bison； bristling； turned to lumber after the main herd。 Jones seized his opportunity and rode after them； yelling with all his might。 He drove them so hard that soon the little fellows lagged paces behind。 Only one or two old cows straggled with the calves。
Then wheeling Kentuck； he cut between the herd and a calf； and rode it down。 Bewildered； the tously little bull bellowed in great affright。 The hunter seized the stiff tail； and calling to his horse； leaped off。 But his strength was far spent and the buffalo； larger than his fellows； threshed about and jerked in terror。 Jones threw it again and again。 But it struggled up； never once ceasing its loud demands for help。 Finally the hunter tripped it up and fell upon it with his knees。
Above the rumble of retreating hoofs； Jones heard the familiar short； quick； jarring pound on the turf。 Kentuck neighed his alarm and raced to the right。 Bearing down on the hunter； hurtling through the air； was a giant furry mass； instinct with fierce life and powera buffalo cow robbed of her young。
With his senses almost numb； barely able to pull and raise the Colt； the plainsman willed to live； and to keep his captive。 His leveled arm wavered like a leaf in a storm。
Bang！ Fire； smoke； a shock； a jarring crash； and silence！
The calf stirred beneath him。 He put out a hand to touch a warm； furry coat。 The mother had fallen beside him。 Lifting a heavy hoof； he laid it over the neck of the calf to serve as additional weight。 He lay still and listened。 The rumble of the herd died away in the distance。
The evening waned。 Still the hunter lay quiet。 From time to time the calf struggled and bellowed。 Lank； gray wolves appeared on all sides； they prowled about with hungry howls； and shoved black…tipped noses through the grass。 The sun sank； and the sky paled to opal blue。 A star shone out； then another； and another。 Over the prairie slanted the first dark shadow of night。
Suddenly the hunter laid his ear to the ground； and listened。 Faint beats； like throbs of a pulsing heart； shuddered from the soft turf。 Stronger they grew； till the hunter raised his head。 Dark forms approached； voices broke the silence； the creaking of a wagon scared away the wolves。
〃This way！〃 shouted the hunter weakly。
〃Ha！ here he is。 Hurt？〃 cried Rude； vaulting the wheel。
〃Tie up this calf。 How manydid you find？〃 The voice grew fainter。
〃Sevenalive； and in good shape； and all your clothes。〃
But the last words fell on unconscious ears。
CHAPTER 4。 THE TRAIL
〃Frank； what'll we do about horses？〃 asked Jones。 〃Jim'll want the bay； and of course you'll want to ride Spot。 The rest of our nags will only do to pack the outfit。〃
〃I've been thinkin'；〃 replied the foreman。 〃You sure will need good mounts。 Now it happens that a friend of mine is just at this time at House Rock Valley； an outlyin' post of one of the big Utah ranches。 He is gettin' in the horses off the range； an' he has some crackin' good ones。 Let's ooze over thereit's only thirty milesan' get some horses from him。〃
We were all eager to act upon Frank's suggestion。 So plans were made for three of us to ride over and select our mounts。 Frank and Jim would follow with the pack train； and if all went well； on the following evening we would camp under the shadow of Buckskin。
Early next morning we were on our way。 I tried to find a soft place on Old Baldy； one of Frank's pack horses。 He was a horse that would not have raised up at the trumpet of doom。 Nothing under the sun； Frank said； bothered Old Baldy but the operation of shoeing。 We made the distance to the outpost by noon； and found Frank's friend a genial and obliging cowboy； who said we could have all the horses we wanted。
While Jones and Wallace strutted round the big corral； which was full of vicious； dusty； shaggy horses and mustangs； I sat high on the fence。 I heard them talking about points and girth and stride； and a lot of terms that I could not understand。 Wallace selected a heavy sorrel； and Jones a big bay； very like Jim's。 I had observed； way over in the corner of the corral； a bunch of cayuses； and among them a clean…limbed black horse。 Edging round on the fence I got a closer view； and then cried out that I had found my horse。 I jumped down and caught him； much to my surprise； for the other horses were wild； and had kicked viciously。 The black was beautifully built； wide…chested and powerful； but not heavy。 His coat glistened like sheeny black satin； and he had a white face and white feet and a long mane。
〃I don't know about giving you Satanthat's his name；〃 said the cowboy。 〃The foreman rides him often。 He's the fastest； the best climber； and the best dispositioned horse on the range。
〃But I guess I can let you have him；〃 he continued； when he saw my disappointed face。
〃By George！〃 exclaimed Jones。 〃You've got it on us this time。〃
〃Would you like to trade？〃 asked Wallace； as his sorrel tried to bite him。 〃That black looks sort of fierce。〃
I led my prize out of the corral； up to the little cabin nearby； where I tied him； and proceeded to get acquainted after a fashion of my own。 Though not versed in horse…lore； I knew that half the battle was to win his confidence。 I smoothed his silky coat； and patted him； and then surreptitiously slipped a lump of sugar from my pocket。 This sugar； which I had purloined in Flagstaff； and carried all the way across the desert； was somewhat disreputably soiled； and Satan sniffed at it disdainfully。 Evidently he had never smelled or tasted sugar。 I pressed it into his mouth。 He munched it； and then looked me over with some interest。 I handed him another lump。 He took it and rubbed his nose against me。 Satan was mine！
Frank and Jim came along early in the afternoon。 What with packing； changing saddles and shoeing the horses； we were all busy。 Old Baldy would not be shod； so we let him off till a more opportune time。 By four o'clock we were riding toward the slopes of Buckskin； now only a few miles away； standing up higher and darker。
〃What's that for？〃 inquired Wallace； pointing to a long； rusty； wire…wrapped； double…barreled blunderbuss of a shotgun； stuck in the holster of Jones's saddle。
The Colonel； who had been having a fine time with the impatient and curious hounds； did not vouchsafe any information on that score。 But very shortly we were destined to learn the use of this incongruous firearm。 I was riding in advance of Wallace； and a little behind Jones。 The dogsexcepting Jude； who had been kicked and lamedwere ranging along before their master。 Suddenly； right before me； I saw an immense jack…rabbit； and just then Moze and Don caught sight of it。 In fact； Moze bumped his blunt nose into the rabbit。 When it leaped into scared action； Moze yelped； and Don followed suit。 Then they were after it in wild； clamoring pursuit。 Jones let out the stentorian blast； now becoming familiar； and spurred after them。 He reached over； pulled the shotgun out of the holster and fired both barrels at the jumping dogs。
I expressed my amazement in strong language； and Wallace whistled。
Don came sneaking back with his tail between his legs； and Moze； who had cowered as if stung； circled round ahead of us。 Jones finally succeeded in gettin him back。
〃Come in hyah！ You measly rabbit dogs！ What do you mean chasing off that way？ We're after lions。 Lions！ understand？〃
Don looked thoroughly convinced of his error； but Moze； being more thick…headed； appeared mystified rather than hurt or frightened。
〃What size shot do you use？〃 I asked。
〃Number ten。 They don't hurt much at seventy five yards；〃 replied our leader。 〃I use them as sort of a long arm。 You see； the dogs must be made to know what we're after。 Ordinary means would never do in a case like this。 My idea is to break them of coyotes； wolves and deer； and when we cross a lion trail； let them go。 I'll teach them sooner than you'd think。 Only we must get where