CHAPTER XX
DOWN AND OUT
"It's a car!" Dick cried. "Must be the smugglers' machine, and theywrecked it and got away! Now we know they're at that ranch!"
"Wonder what happened to the Chinks?" the Kid said as he examined thewreck more closely. The mass of twisted metal lay still in themoonlight like some once-living thing that had met its sudden doom.
"Probably dragged them along too," Hawkins suggested. "Yep, I thinkthis is the smugglers' car, all right. Looks like the one we had ashort glimpse of, just before it turned off. And, if that's the case,our plan may succeed. Having a harbor close at hand, it's natural forthem to make for it. Now it's up to us to see that they stay thereuntil we capture them."
"That's our job, and we'll do it too," Bud said in a determined tone ofvoice. "Might as well get going. The longer we stay here, the moretime we give Delton."
"True enough," commented Dick. "I wonder if anyone was hurt when thiscar crashed?"
"Doubt it," Hawkins said. "Those boys are too lucky! If they weren'tthey never would have gotten away with the stunt they pulled to-night.Imagine riding right into our hands and getting away from us! Everytime I think of it I feel like kicking myself around the block."
"It wasn't any more your fault than the fault of the rest of us," Nortdeclared. "They were too many, and too clever. Let's forget it and goafter them again, and this time we'll win. What do you say, boys?"
"Sure will!"
"No more foolin' around for us!"
"Well, on our way," Bud called. He took one more look at the autolying on its side in a small depression, and spurred his horse onward.The rest followed quickly. The night was well spent, now, and butlittle time remained to reach the ranch and post the guard. However,it was not far now, and by dint of hard riding, following directionsfrom Bud, they reached the vicinity of the ranch house in half an hour.They halted well away from the house itself.
"Take it easy now," Hawkins cautioned. "We don't want to make too muchnoise. Bud, have you and Dick decided what you're to do?"
"Practically--he is going to take one side, and I'm to take the other,and if we see anyone come out we'll fire over their heads. That'llkeep 'em in all right, for they can't see us in the dark. No one likesto be fired on by someone he can't see--as we all found out. Now it'stime to give them some of their own medicine."
"Yes sir!" exclaimed the Kid. "I wish I could stay with you, Dick, andhave a crack at them myself."
"You come along with us, Kid. We'll be back before dawn, and you'llsee plenty of action then. Now is there anything you boys want beforewe leave?" asked the secret service man.
"Might bring back a snack for us," Bud suggested. "It's cold andhungry work waiting in the dark. Not that we mind it," he addedquickly, "as long as it helps capture Delton. And if you can make it,Mr. Hawkins, please get back as soon as you can. They may try to makea rush for it."
"We will--we'll be back as soon as we get things right at the ranch andmaybe snatch an hour's rest. Depends on how much time we have. Butwe'll surely be back before it's light."
This conversation was being carried on near a small group of trees,just out of sight of the old farm or ranch house. Now Hawkins and therest turned their ponies toward home. Dick and Bud, of course, weredue to remain and watch Delton's retreat.
"Now we're on our own," Bud said as he listened to the hoof-beats ofthe horses gradually dying away. "Let's get up to where we can see thehouse."
"What about the broncs? Think we better leave them?"
"Well, what do you think? We want them near us so we can get goingquick if we have to. Suppose we tie them as close to the house as wecan without being seen?"
"That's a good idea. Well, there's the place. Somebody's sure in it.All lit up!"
The boys stood and looked at the old farm house which loomed in themoonlight before them. It was certainly inhabited, for several lightswere glowing on the ground floor, and every now and then a figure wouldpass in front of the lamps, casting a shadow plainly visible from theoutside.
"Got a lot of nerve, walking around like that in front of lamps," Budcommented. "Easy to take a pot-shot at them."
"Guess they don't figure us as the kind for that sort of thing," Dickresponded. "And we're not, either--though it would serve them right ifsomeone did let ride at the window."
The two boys now took up their positions agreed upon--Dick around tothe left, and Bud to the right. They were thus separated from eachother by about three hundred yards.
"Mustn't start thinking foolish things!" Dick exclaimed to himself."Got enough on my mind now." He shook his head as though to rid it offancies which hung around it. The boy was certainly not of a morbidtype, and it was the most natural thing in the world for him to be abit uneasy, considering his situation. Yet he would not even admit tohimself that he was anything but wholly composed.
"Wonder how Bud is making out?" he thought. "Perhaps I'd better sneakover and see. But no, there's no sense in that." Thus did he dismissthe craving for company. "Besides, I've got my job cut out for mehere."
He looked more intently at the house, seeking to concentrate hisattention on the everyday affairs of life. Smuggling. The reward ifthey caught Delton. What they could do with it. A new herd of cows.The Kid's bronc--whether he would see it again. How Delton timed thearrival at the Shooting Star ranch just when the smuggling car gotthere. The getaway. How it did rain!
Still, in spite of himself, that uneasy feeling was stealing over theboy. Surely there was no one around but Bud, away over on the otherside. Of course it was night, but there was plenty of moonlight, andthere was not much chance of Delton's men prowling about. Perhaps itwas because there were trees back of him that Dick felt restless.Might be better to move more out in the open.
The boy arose, then suddenly froze into stillness. That peculiarfeeling that there was someone behind him became stronger.
It seemed as though a pair of eyes were boring into his back. Helistened intently. Suddenly he heard a voice.
"Hey, Dick!"
The boy turned swiftly, hand on his every nerve a quiver!
"It's me, Dick! Billee Dobb!"
What a relief! The boy now recognized the old rancher's voice, and thenext moment Billee appeared, walking as noiselessly as possible.
"What on earth are you doing here, Billee?"
"I decided to come back. Didn't want to miss all the fun."
"Yes, but you weren't supposed to, were you?"
"I told Hawkins, an' he said go ahead. So here I am."
"So I see." Dick could now afford to laugh at his foolish fears. "Butlet me tell you, you gave me a thrill for a moment. Now that you'rehere, what are you going to do?"
"Watch with you. That's what I came back for."
"Nice of you to do it, Billee. What time is it, do you know?"
"'Bout two. Lots of time yet."
The rancher was observing the activity within the old house. Nothingcould be seen but the passing and re-passing of the figures in front ofthe windows, but for some reason it appeared that more persons weremoving about.
"Looks as though something was goin' to happen," Billee commented in alow voice.
"Think so? Well, we've just got to wait, that's all."
The time passed slowly. Billee and Dick were observing the situationwithin the house as best they might, without necessarily exposingthemselves.
"Say, Dick," said the veteran rancher after an hour that seemed like ayear, "I'm goin' to investigate."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm a-goin' up and have a look inside an' see what's happenin'."
"I don't know, Billee--they might spot you and let ride with some lead."
"Don't worry about that, Dick. They'll never know I'm there. Now youwait here an' I'll be right back."
"Well, for the love of Pete, be careful! We don't want anything to gowrong."
"Nothin's goin' wrong. Now you wa
it."
Billee Dobb moved softly in the direction of the ranch house, walkingso easily it seemed as though he were stepping on wool. Unlike mostother punchers, who spend most of their time on horseback, Billee wasexceptionally surefooted. Much tramping about the country did that forhim, and there were some who said he had been active in Indian warfare,long ago. He would be the first to deny this, however, as it would addtoo much to his age.
So while Dick waited impatiently, the rancher went toward the house,shoulders low, making himself as inconspicuous as possible. Thedistance between the house and where Dick was waiting was not far, butit was all open, and with the moon lighting up the scene almost likeday, a person crossing might be easily seen.
Nearer and nearer Billee crept. Dick could see him picking his waylike a dancer, so that he might step on no branch or twig which wouldbreak and give him away. Now he was almost at the side of the house.Dick saw him lean forward and cautiously peer in the window.
Then it happened. Dick saw a flash of fire from within the room, andthe roar of a gun awakened the stillness of the night. Billeestaggered back. He fell to the ground, but was up in a moment, and ranswaying toward Dick. The door of the house flew open, and a man with agun in his hand burst out on the porch. Like a flash Dick had his gunout and fired. The man ducked back as the bullet struck the side ofthe house with a resounding "ping!"
With a supreme effort Billee reached the shelter of the trees. Dickran to him. The old man's face was twisted with pain, and he sank tothe earth.
"Dick--Dick--" he gasped, "they got me! They got me! I'mdown--and--out!"