Chapter Twenty
The Cloudburst
It was on the ride back to the line camp of the Double O and the Box Bthat Lightning showed her magnificent stamina. Mile after mile the bigsorrel covered at a trail-eating lope.
Slim didn't dare return to the Creeping Shadows country through the lowpass. Instead, he rode miles out of his way and came in further north,cutting across a corner of the Diamond Dot range and then racing alongthe east line of the Double O.
It was late afternoon when threatening clouds rolled out of the ThreeSoldiers in the west. The air grew still and moist. Nature seemed tohush as the angry clouds climbed higher. The sun was blotted out. It wasone of those quick, terrible storms of midsummer and Slim looked forshelter. There was none. He could only ride, hoping that the rain wouldnot come down too hard.
The first big drops pelted him. Then the skies opened, a gray wall ofwater rushing down from the heavens. In spite of the poncho, Slim wassoon soaked and the water rushed off Lightning's flanks in torrents.Heads down, horse and rider plodded on.
It was impossible to see more than a few hundred feet, but Slim knew hewas in a valley. That was bad. The rain was of almost cloudburstproportions and a wall of water might come sweeping along at any moment.
Slim urged Lightning to a faster pace, and the faithful sorrelresponded. The cowboy looked for higher ground, but instead they seemedto be going down a gentle slope. Then they looked down on what had beena dry wash. It was running several feet deep with water and rising allthe time. On the other side lay higher ground and as Slim debated whatto do, the dull rumble of oncoming water could be heard above the noiseof the storm.
If he turned back, it might be hours before he could cross the stream.He leaned over and spoke to Lightning. "Let's go," he urged her and thesorrel started down the bank. Slim almost held his breath as the waterswirled about them. Lightning walked carefully, for a slip would sendthem both into the torrent.
The sound of the oncoming water filled the heavens with its terribleroar and Slim looked upstream. Around a bend poured a wall of water,black, raging, death-dealing.
Lightning's hoofs touched the other bank and with a great leap thesorrel left the water. But danger still lurked for horse and rider. Thewall of water was spreading out. They were far from safety.
As though sensing that death was riding hard behind them, Lightning shotahead, mud flying from her hoofs. In great leaps the sorrel kept aheadof the madly rushing waters, angling always toward the higher ground.
Slim looked behind. The water was gaining. He urged Lightning to anotherburst of speed and the great horse responded. It didn't seem possiblethat they would escape, but with a last noble effort, Lightning flashedover the muddy ground and they reached safety just as the flood watersswept by.
Slim pulled up his horse and watched the torrent roar down the valley.Gratefully he leaned over and stoked Lightning's head.
"That's another score in your favor, girl," he said. "Maybe I'll be ableto repay you some day."
Almost as suddenly as it had descended the storm broke and the skycleared. The sun went down behind the Three Soldiers in a crimson auraof light and Slim and Lightning pressed on over ground that had hardlybeen dampened by the rain. They reached the line camp just at dusk andfound the Double O and Box B riders getting ready for the night patrol.Slim swung out of the saddle as Joe and Nels hurried toward him.
"What luck?" asked Joe.
"Plenty," replied Slim, "but first I've got to take care of Lightningand then get a little grub for myself. I'm starved."
Half an hour later, with a plate of steaming food before him and theDouble O and Box B riders grouped around, he related the events of thelast few hours.
"I've suspected Hack Cook for some time," said Joe Haines, hitching hisgun belt higher when Slim told them that another shipment of stolencattle was to be dispatched the next night.
"They've shipped the last of _our_ cattle," rumbled Nels, his handsshaking with rage. The other cowboys backed up his remarks withdetermined expressions.
"What's the plan of action?" Joe asked Slim, for the young rider, by hisresourcefulness, had become the acknowledged leader now in planning thecampaign against the rustlers.
"I think we'd better hit the trail for Mopstick. Then swing south alongthe railroad and lay a trap for the rustlers. They'll drive the cattlethrough the low pass in the Cajons and we'll catch them red-handed. Thatwill give us all of the evidence we'll need."
Nels nodded his approval and Joe looked around at the others.
"You boys all set for a clash with the rustlers?" he asked.
"You know it," replied Al Bass.
Less than an hour later, the Box B and the Double O cowboys left theline camp, Slim taking the lead and Nels and Joe trailing close behind.At the pace they planned to travel, it would be an all night ride toMopstick, where they would water their horses, rest, and then rideleisurely down the railroad and lay their trap for the rustlers.
They crossed the country where Slim had almost been trapped by thecloudburst and found the stream nearly back to normal. Hour after hourthey moved along the trail, cutting through the foothills and then overthe Cajons and down the other side.
Slim was thinking of the action that would come the next night,considering first one plan and then another for cornering the rustlers.He didn't want bloodshed if it could be avoided. If things went well,the rustling in the Creeping Shadows country would be broken soon.
It was nearly dawn when they reached Mopstick, where they watered theirhorses at the trough under the railroad tank. A fast mail thunderedthrough the hamlet, and Al Bass was taken for a ride by his cayuse,which went wild at the sound of the locomotive whistle.
Pat Beals and one of the Double O riders had brought along the grub andthey all lent a hand in getting breakfast. After that the horses wereturned into the stockyard and fed while their riders slept in the coolshade of the water tank. It was noon before they were ready to startdown the railroad.
Slim went into the tiny depot and spoke to the agent.
"What time will the freight be along to pick up the cattle?" he asked.
"About six o'clock. That gives them better than an hour to get the beefloaded."
"Thanks," said Slim. "Mind you now, not a word about this to anyone."
A few minutes later an even dozen grim-faced cowboys started down therailroad, their horses refreshed by the feed and rest and the ridersalert and ready for whatever blazing action the next few hours mighthold for them.
The agent had given Slim explicit directions on just where the freightwould stop and how the cattle were loaded. It was midafternoon when thecowboys reached the place along the right-of-way. Fortunately there wasplenty of cover nearby, low undergrowth providing an excellent hidingplace for riflemen while an outcropping of rock would shelter the horsesfrom the rustlers.
Slim, Joe and Nels surveyed the scene carefully. There must be no slips.The trap must be carefully laid.
It was finally decided to place riflemen in the underbrush, holdingseveral riders in reserve behind the rock outcrop. The minute the firingstarted, they would sweep out and cut off the escape. With the trainblocking the railroad, the riflemen on each side and a mounted rearguard, there seemed little chance that the cattle thieves would be ableto get away.
Nels took charge of the riflemen while Slim and Joe elected to ride withthe men who would cut off the escape from the rear. By the time they hadtaken their places, a cloud of dust could be seen on the trail from theCajons. The rustlers were coming, driving the stolen cattle leisurely,for there was ample time before the freight arrived.
A small stream ran a half mile back from the right-of-way and it washere that the rustlers paused to water the cattle. Slim, watching fromthe protection of the rock outcropping, counted six riders.
The sound of an engine whistle came to them faintly and he turned to seea plume of smoke far up the track. The local freight was co
ming. Therustlers heard the whistle and started the cattle moving toward thetracks. The showdown was near and Slim felt cool and ready for anythingthat might happen.