CHAPTER XVIII
ON THE TRACK
"Now you look more as though you belonged in Fairfax," declared one ofthe loungers as Bob joined them.
"All except the clothes and hat," grunted Higgins. "Say, you won't haveany trouble getting a job if you go just as you are. Any rancher wouldhire you to scare coyotes away from the home ranch."
This sally at his expense sent a hot flush to Bob's cheeks, but,remembering the agent's advice to give back better than he received, heretorted:
"If there were any such jobs around, I should think they'd pay youdouble wages!"
"_Now_ will you try to get fresh with a tenderfoot?" asked one of theothers when their laughter at Bob's sharp rejoinder had subsided.
"I ain't trying to get fresh," returned Higgins. "I'm just feeling theboy out. The sooner he gets used to Fairfax ways, the better."
But Bob's retort evidently inspired in him a greater respect for theboy and he refrained from making any more comments on his personalappearance.
After the interchange of a few general remarks, Bob said:
"I should be very grateful if some of you _gentlemen_ would tell me of aranch where I can apply for a job. I'd rather like to get one withoutMr. Thomas' assistance."
In this request Higgins saw his chance. About ten miles from thesettlement there lived a ranchman who was a man of mystery. Though hisgrazing ground was good and well-watered, and his pay prompt, he hadsuch a temper that few cowboys would stay with him longer than a monthor less, and to him Higgins decided to send Bob.
With this purpose, while the others were evidently trying to think of asuitable place for the boy, he said:
"There's only one I can think of and that's John Ford."
"Ford?" repeated Bob, his memory instantly recalling what the strangeman with the scar had said about Sam and John Ford. "Where does helive?"
"Ten miles due west."
"Now, Higgins, you know better than to send this boy out there. Rememberwhat Hal said about playing tricks on him."
Evidently this reminder had an effect upon the schemer, for he answeredapologetically:
"Well, he asked about a place and I told him. You know as well as I dothat John Ford always wants help."
"Sure we know it. But it ain't no fit place for such a boy."
Something suggested to Bob, however, that he should go to this ranchman,and accordingly he said:
"You needn't think I am so tender. Just because other men can't getalong with Mr. Ford is no sign I can't. What is the nearest way to getthere?"
"So long as you've got to walk, go straight down the track till you seea building with a red roof, on the left hand side," directed Higgins.
And before the others could protest, Bob uttered a hasty "thank you,"and set off along the track at a dog trot.
"You'll get yours, Higgins, when Hal gets back," asserted the man whoprotested against Bob's being sent to Ford's.
"And you didn't even warn him about the dog," chided another.
At this reminder of the savage wolfhound that John Ford kept to guardhis cabin, the idlers grew serious and exchanged uneasy glances.
"Oh, well! Ford'll probably see the boy so long as he comes from thedirection of the railroad. Yellow Tom told me he sits by the hourlooking toward the track--and he'll call off the brute."
"Providing the beast don't chew the boy up before John sees him,"interposed another.
"Now, Tracy, don't always be looking for trouble," growled Higgins."Life out West ain't no kindergarten. We had to take our knocks. Let thekid get his. Just because his father is rich ain't no reason why weshould carry pillows around for him to fall on."
This crude viewpoint, if not satisfying to the consciences of Higgins'companions at least afforded relief, and they fell to wondering what Bobwould say to them on his return--for return they expected he would.
In the meantime, the object of their thoughts was hurrying as rapidly ashe could over the rough roadbed.
The crisp, bracing air seemed a stimulant to his lungs which had neverbreathed any but the contaminated air of New York, and he gloried in thefact that he was at last in a land where success did not depend oninfluence and riches, but where a man "made good" or failed, accordingto whether he was made of the right stuff or not.
For a time, his mind dwelt upon the insinuations Higgins and the othershad made against Ranchman Ford, but the same power that had urged himto seek a job of this man whispered to him that he had nothing to fear.Dismissing all forebodings, therefore, Bob began to wonder if therecould be any connection between Ford, the man with the scar and hisfather. The subject suggested so many possibilities and was, altogether,so vague, that, healthy-minded boy as he was, he decided not to ponderover it longer.
"There's no use building air castles," he told himself. "If Mr. Fordhires me and knows anything about father, I'll find it out in due time.There's one good thing, if I do land the job, Red Top will be ten milesnearer--and I can get away without exciting so much comment as fromFairfax."
From time to time as Bob trudged along, he scanned the plains on bothsides of the track.
Thanks to the milestones placed at the side of the roadbed he was ableto keep count of the miles he walked. Just after he had passed theeighth stone from Fairfax, Bob was electrified to see a herd of cattlein the distance. Pausing, he gazed at them interestedly, noticing thatthey were moving steadily instead of grazing. What this meant, he was ata loss to understand until of a sudden he saw three men on horsebackemerge from the herd and, with arms waving, ride like mad to the head ofthe line and gradually change the direction of the cattle away from thetrack.
No need was there to tell him the riders were cowboys, and Bob thrilledwith excitement as he watched their wonderful riding. But he did notwait till they were out of sight. Instead, he quickened his pace,murmuring:
"The sooner I get to Mr. Ford's, the sooner I'll be a cowboy."
The walk on the track was tiresome, however, unaccustomed to such roughtraveling as he was, and it was with a sigh of relief that he finallycaught sight of a group of buildings, one of which had a red-top roof.
"That must be the place," he exclaimed and, quickly leaving the track,started across the prairie. But Bob found that walking on the ties waseasy compared to forcing his way through waist-high grass and stubbornsage-brush.