mention it," laughed the sheriff.
"I've been havin' a awful hard time o' it, Timberlake."
"You don't say, Tim! What has happened?"
"Oh, 'twuzn't nuthin' wot occurred lately."
"To what do you refer then?" asked the perplexed sheriff.
"A leetle incident wot happened ter me when I wuz aboard o' the olefrigate Wabash in ther navy."
"Indeed! Was you in the navy?"
"A good many years, sir. Whar else did I git this leg blowed off?"
"You was just going to mention something that happened."
"Ay, ay. So I wuz. Yer see, it happened this way. We wuz a coastin'through ther Red Sea one brilln' arternoon, watchin' ther monkeys an'crocodiles on ther Arabian shore when all at onct I noticed a queeryaller-redness in ther sky on ther Afriky shore. It wuz caused by asimoom. Great clouds o' sand, driv' by the wind, wuz a-rushin' acrostther desert toward ther ship, an' as it came out toward us, we seed wewuz doomed."
"You were in a mighty tight box," observed the sheriff, interestedly.
"Keel haul me if we wuzn't," agreed Tim, with a nod. "Waal, sir, weknowed that ther minute them ere clouds o' red-hot sand came down onther ship, it would bury us an' bake us ter death. All my messmates wuzskeered ter death, an' droppin' down upon thar marrer bones about therdeck, they begun ter pray like sons of guns. Did I give away ter thergeneral panic? Not much.
"Cause why? I'll tell yer. A way ter save ther ship an' crew occured terme. Wot wuz it? Yer'll see. Yer know as crocodiles is reckoned therfastest swimmers in ther water. Waal, sir, as soon as I seed that erestorm abarin' down on us I knowed as our only chance to save ourselveslaid in runnin' away from it. Now thar wuzn't wind enough for ther sailster do it, so wot does I do but gits a rope; then I jumped overboardright in ther midst o' them crocodiles. Afore yer could count ten I madea slipnoose fast about ther necks o' forty o' them animiles, got backaboard the frigate an' tied ther other and o' ther line ter the capstan.Then I took a spear an' cllmbin' out on ther bowsprit I began ter jab'em an' away they went, pullin' ther frigate along like greasedlightning---"
"Say, Tim---"
"I ain't done yet---"
"But I tell you---"
"Awarst thar! As I wuz asayin' along we went like fury, ther simoonchasing arter us. It wuz a terrible race an' I yelled and poked at themere crocodiles like mad.
"In a few moments we wuz makin' eighty knots an hour, an' I noticed aswe wuz pullin' away from that ere storm werry stiddy, ontil at last welef it astarn, an' ther ship wuz saved. You'd oughter seed how glad mypoor messmates wuz when I finally cut ther crocodiles loose an' wesailed in clear water---"
"It must have been great," dryly said Timberlake.
"Ay now," proudly replied Tim. "That it wuz, sir."
"Say, Tim, that would be a splendid yarn only for one thing."
"An' wot might that be, Mr. Timberlake?"
"Crocodiles can't live in salt water, and as the Red Sea is exceedinglybriny, I don't understand how the ones you captured could have beenthere and submitted to being harnessed as you did it, without offeringto make a meal of you."
A rather startled look crossed Tim's face.
He thoughtfully rubbed his big red nose and gasped:
"Gee whiz!"
The fact was Tim was an awful liar.
He seldom spun a yarn without being tripped up.
That is the trouble with most liars; they generally make an error intheir stories which won't stand analysis.
"Will you be kind enough to explain how those saurians happened to be inthat sea in such a docile frame of mind, Tim?" asked Timberlake, with aprovoking smile of derision.
"No, sir," flatly answered the old sailor, who was utterly at a loss howto clear himself. "The fact are, sir, as I never gives explanations e'my yarns, an'---"
But here he was interrupted.
By the wild shriek of an accordeon.
In the hands of Fritz.
The Dutchmen hated Tim's yarns.
And Tim hated Fritz's music with equal fervor.
Consequently, while the yarn caused the fat fellow to strike up hisfrantic melody, the music grated on Tim's ears so that a wild desireentered his soul to pulverize the Dutchman.
"Hey!" he howled, shaking his fist at Fritz. "Belay thar!"
"Shiminey Christmas, vos yer tink I vould listen ter some more ohf demlies mitoud dot I trownd it oud alretty?" fiercely bellowed Fritz,working away at the wheezy box.
"Ye kin dash my toplights if I don't wipe up ther floor wi' yer then!"yelled Tim, and he made a rush for Fritz.
"Shtood beck!" roared the Dutchman. "Stob a leedle, or py yiminey I soakyer in der chaw mit dot moosic!"
He brandished his accordeon in the air by the strap as he spoke, and asit opened out and his fingers were pressing on several of the keys, itlet out a shrieking groan horrible to hear.
Tim did not pause.
His spunk was up.
As soon as he reached Fritz be gave a whoop and jumped on him.
The next moment they were tangled up in a heap on the floor, and aterrific struggle began between them, the sailor trying to put hiswooden leg through the accordeon, and the Dutchmen industriouslystriving to gouge Tim's glass eye out.
In the midst of the scuffle, a monkey and parrot came flying in from thenext room, howling like fiends.
The parrot was named Bismarck.
Whiskers was the name of the monkey.
Fritz owned the bird, and Tim claimed the animal.
They had once been captured in Africa by their masters.
Since then the sailor and Dutchman invariably took their pets off on theexpeditions they made in Jack's inventions.
Between Bismarck and Whiskers there existed a deep rooted enemity, whichalways culminated in pitched battles.
The monkey had been chasing the parrot when Tim and Fritz got fighting,and as these two creatures possessed more than ordinary intelligence,they at once determined to take sides with their respective owners.
"Whee!" bowled Whiskers, and he hopped on top of Fritz's head, grabbedhim by the hair, and tried to pull it out by the roots.
"Mild up, Boilvar!" yelled the slangy bird, as he fastened his beak inTim's ear. "Waow! Whoop her up, boys! Cracker! Crack---"
Biff! went Tim's hand against Bismarck's head, interrupting him.
Bang! went Fritz fist against the monkey's neck sending him spinning.
"Wow!" screamed Whiskers.
"Root, you sucker, root!" yelled Bismarck.
Then he made a dive at the monkey, and as Whiskers scampered away, theparrot flew after him, plunged his beak in Whiskers' tail, and away theyflew into the next room.
Just then Jack interrupted the fracas.
"Stop, boys, and attend to business!" he sung out.
Tim and Fritz were accustomed to obeying him, and ceasing hostilities atonce, they rose, and the old sailor asked solemnly:
"Goin' ter stop playin' if I stops yarnin'?"
"For sure, Mikes," replied Fritz. "Put it dere."
They shook hands and that settled the matter.
Work on the electric stage was resumed, and by noon they had her inperfect condition for her long journey.
When they entered the house they met Jack's beautiful wife and brightlittle son.
Answers had arrived from Missouri.
The governor wrote Jack the following lines:
"Mr. Jack Wright,--In reply to your letter I beg to assure you of myheartfelt gratitude for your kind offer to try to apprehend the JamesBoys and break up their villainous gang. These outlaws have too longbeen a terror to the community, and there is not a decent man, woman orchild in the state who would not be glad to hear of the extermination ofthe gang. The list of crimes for which the James Boys are amenable istoo long and too horrible to enumerate here in detail. Let it sufficethat there are charges of every description in the category againstthem, including many atrocious murders.
"So bitter is the feeling against them that a reward of f
ive thousanddollars has been offered for the James Boys, dead or alive. I enclosewarrants and all necessary authority for you to act in league with theofficers of this State in the capture or killing of the bandits inquestion, and sincerely trust that you will meet with entire success. Bythis mail have also written to Sheriff Timberlake whom I am delighted tohear intends to go with you on your perilous expedition. He is a braveand true man, in whom I have the most implicit confidence. Yours truly, John Doe."
The papers in Jack's envelope were entirely satisfactory.
Timberlake's letter was of a personal nature, and when he finishedreading it, and heard what was communicated to Jack, he said:
"Well, now that all details are settled, when do you intend to go inpursuit of the outlaws?"
"To-night," replied Jack. "We have everything ready but the stowage ofour clothing aboard."
"Good! The sooner the better."
"I tink so neider," agreed Fritz.
"That settles it, then," Tim added.
It did not take them long to put their clothing and the parrot andmonkey aboard the Terror.
When night fell, Jack took leave of his wife and child.
They all then boarded the electric stage. Jack taking his seat at thewheel, and she started.
Many people in the village streets saw them as they went flying by, andheartily cheered them on their way, as the news of Jack's intention hadgot abroad.
The Terror soon left Wrightstown behind.
Following the hard country road he sped along swiftly, and soon was lostto the view of the villagers.
CHAPTER V.THE JAMES BOYS' MOTHER.
The trip to Missouri was made without adventure by the Terror, but herpeculiar appearance aroused the wonder of everybody who saw her duringher journey through several States.
Late in the afternoon of a pleasant day she passed Kearney, in ClayCounty, and followed an old country road.
A few miles from the town she arrived near a neat old log house standingback in a wooded pasture near the road.
This house contained three rooms; in the front yard were several lilacbushes, and all the way from its fences to the town many farm houseslined the road.
Sheriff Timberlake sat on the steerer's seat of the electric stagebeside Jack, and the moment the old fashioned Western home referred tocame in view he pointed at it and said:
"There is the home of the James Boys."
"Indeed!" exclaimed Jack, eying the house intently.
"Yes; it is the residence of Dr. Reuben Samuels, their step-father, andthe mother of the two villains. She's a Tartar about her boys--a regularshe-fiend in temper, although a woman of fifty-five. Ah--see! There sheis now!"
He pointed at the house.
The woman, in a gingham dress, stood at the door.
She was shading her eyes with her hand.
A look of surprise crossed Jack's face as he glanced at her.
"Why," said he, "she has only got one arm."
"Yes; the other was blown off by the explosion of a hand grenade which aPinkerton detective threw into the house some years ago in an attackupon her sons. There was a younger son of hers killed by the same bomb."
Mrs. Samuels was suspiciously and curiously eying the Terror as itrolled toward her.
Then she suddenly disappeared in the house.
Her action struck Jack as being very significant.
"Did you see that!" he asked the sheriff.
"Yes. She's a queer, violent tempered woman,"
"Perhaps she has gone in to warn her sons of our coming."
"By thunder, you may be right."
"We'd better search that house, Timberlake."
"I intend to do so."
"The woman is acquainted with you, ain't she?"
"Well, I should say so," laughed the officer. "I've been here oftenenough to be pretty well known. My posse has shot bullets into nearlyevery square inch of that house and the fence, in our past efforts toget at the two bandits."
"The woman can't have much affection for you."
"She would gladly kill me, I believe, if she had the chance."
By this time the Terror reached the house.
Jack cut out the current and alighted with his companion.
They knocked at the door, and a moment later it was opened by Mrs.Samuels, who glared at her callers and demanded:
"Well--what do you want, Timberlake?"
"Your sons, madam," blandly replied the officer.
"They ain't here."
"I am not sure of that."
"Search the house if you like."
"Thank you. I shall."
He swiftly passed inside and went through the rooms, but saw nothing ofthe James Boys.
Jack remained at the door with the woman.
He saw by her nervous manner that she was smothering a feeling ofintense agitation.
Whether it came from her aversion of the officer, or because her sonswere around, Jack could not judge.
"That's a mighty queer wagon you've got there," she remarked presently,as she pointed at the Terror.
"Yes," replied Jack. "It is designed to run down your sons."
She started, and a tigerish look flashed from her eyes.
"So you are leagued against them, too, eh!" she hissed.
"Yes. I am here to capture them if I can."
"But you will never succeed."
"That remains to be seen."
At this moment Timberlake rushed out.
He was terribly excited.
A smothered cry of alarm escaped Mrs. Samuels.
"I've seen them!" gasped the officer.
"Where?" demanded Jack, quickly.
"Both were here. She warned them. They got down in the cellar. I found atunnel there, leading over to that timber. They had gone through.Jesse's horse, Siroc, and Frank's horse, Jim Malone, must have beentethered there, for they mounted and dashed away."
"Get aboard, and we'll chase them."
"You shall not go!" hissed the woman.
She slammed the door shut, and put her back against it, a look of fiercedetermination upon her face.
It was clear that she designed to delay them so as to give her fugitivesons as long a lead as possible.
Jack saw through her scheme.
"Get away from there! he cried, sternly.
"You can't leave this house!" she shrieked.
"I see through your plan."
"Stand back, or I'll brain you with this!"
She had been holding her hand behind her back.
As she now brought it into view, they saw that she held a hatchet with akeen, glittering edge.
"This way, Mr. Wright!" cried Timberlake.
And he dove headfirst through a window.
Jack started to follow him, when the woman rushed after him with thehatchet upraised.
There was no such emotion as fear in the mother of the Missouri bandits,and she had bred her ferocity and evil will into her two detestablechildren.
Jack's life was in danger, for she could have dealt him a death blowwith the weapon before he could get out the window after the sheriff.
He therefore turned upon her.
The young inventor was noted for his enormous strength.
Avoiding an ugly blow she aimed at his head by nimbly leaping aside, heseized the hatchet before she could raise it again and made an effort totake it away from her.
She was wonderfully strong in her single arm.
In fact, the strength she lost with the arm which had been blown offseemed to have concentrated in this remaining arm.
Jack found it no easy matter to get the weapon, for she held on to itwith great persistence, and exerted every device to delay him as long aspossible.
"You shall not have it!" she raved as she struggled.
"Let up!" cried Jack, losing patience. "I don't want to use you roughlyon account of your sex and crippled condition. But I'll have to do it."
He thereupo
n tore the hatchet from her hand.
Flinging it into the next room, he saw her spring toward him, and makean effort to grapple him.
Struggling with women was very distasteful to Jack.
He therefore avoided her and rushed out the door.
She ran after him screaming and threatening, but he kept out of herreach and got upon the stage.
The sheriff was already aboard.
Jack sent the Terror flying along the road.
In a few moments she was out of reach of the woman.
There was a door in the forward part of the vehicle beside Jack, and Timand Fritz now opened it.
"Gee whiz," chuckled the old sailor. "She wuz ther most piratical craftin petticoats wot I ever seen!"
"I don't blame her for trying to protect her sons."
"Yah; but she vos delay us!" growled Fritz.
"Only a few moments."
"There they go now!" cried Timberlake.
He pointed up the road at two flying horsemen.
They were so far away that their figures could hardly be distinguished,and their steeds were going like the wind.
"What a magnificent black horse," commented Jack.
"That's Siroc," informed the sheriff, "Jesse's horse."
"We'll overhaul them though."
"Let her fly if you wish to succeed."
"Are you sure they were the James