CHAPTER XXI.
'WARE THE GRAY WOLVES.
As Ted and Stella were walking slowly back toward the house they heard aseries of shouts from the direction of the corral.
They then saw Kit at the corral gate waving frantically to them.
"Something wrong there," said Ted. "I'll get up behind you, and we'llhurry to the corral."
He jumped upon the pony's back, and Stella rode as fast as possible towhere Kit stood holding the gate of the corral.
Inside the corral was a scene of confusion.
The ponies were running around and leaping in the air, snorting andedging away from the little bay pony which had come across the plainchased by the wolves.
As Ted rode up to the corral fence he looked through the bars, thenstarted back in surprise with an exclamation.
"What is it?" asked Stella.
"A man tied to the back of the pony," replied Ted.
"Who?"
"I cannot tell. I cannot see his face."
"Open the gate, Kit, and let me in," said Stella, gathering up herreins.
"What are you going to do?" asked Ted.
"I'm going to catch that pony and bring him out. That man will besmashed to death in there by the other ponies if he isn't gotten outsoon."
"Go ahead, but be careful."
Kit swung the gate open, and Stella dashed into the corral.
The ponies were running around the corral, following the line of thefence, and in the center of the bunch was the little bay pony with theinert, and probably dead, body of a man hanging head downward on thepony's flank, rolling horribly, and in constant danger of being hit bythe flying heels of the other ponies, who were frantic at the smell ofblood.
Stella rode among the ponies, following the circle with them, all thewhile edging in more and more until she was close to the little bay.
Then she was able to see the face of the man tied to its back.
"It's Farnsworth," she shouted to Ted, who was standing on the fencewatching her movements.
"Get him out as soon as you can," Ted answered.
Stella rode to the pony's side, and managed to get hold of the bridleclose to the bit.
Then she maneuvered for an opening by which she could lead thefrightened animal out of the bunch.
"Get ready to open the gate," she called at last, and Kit stood with hishand on it.
As she came around again she began pushing the bay pony outward.
"Now!" she cried, swinging her own pony against the other with a prickof the spur, and breaking through the galloping bunch.
The next moment she and a half dozen of the frightened ponies sweptthrough the gate, and as Kit closed it again Ted ran forward and caughtthe bay pony.
"Hurry him to the house," he said, running beside the bay.
His long yell brought the boys and the major to the veranda, and whenthey saw Ted running beside the bay pony, with Stella and Kit following,they rushed out to help.
"What is it?" asked the major, as Ted drew up to the veranda.
"Your brother," answered Ted gently, indicating the inert body tied tothe pony's back.
"Get him off and into the house," said the major brusquely, his facewhite with apprehension.
Bud and Ben were working as for their lives at the rope by which thebody of Frederic Caruthers was bound to the pony's back.
Soon they had him released, and between them bore the limp form into theliving room and laid it on a lounge.
The clothes on the body were torn into strips, and the flesh was gashedin numerous places. This was the work of the wolf's teeth, which, duringthe chase, had repeatedly leaped at the unconscious man, trying to draghim from the pony's back.
"These wounds are not the worst," said Ted, looking down at Caruthers."Off with his clothes, boys, and let us see where his real hurt is."
It did not take long for the boys to get Caruthers' rags stripped fromhis body, and Ted bent over him, examining him closely.
"Ah, here it is," he said, as he turned Caruthers over.
"What?" asked the major, crowding in.
"Here in the back," said Ted, pointing to a small, round, bluish holejust under Caruthers' right shoulder blade.
"By Jove, he's been shot through the body. That's what brought him tothis."
"But how did it happen, I wonder, that he was tied to the back of thepony?" asked Ted.
"We'll never know until he tells us, probably," said the major. "If,indeed, he ever is able to do that," he continued, after a slight pause,looking sorrowfully at the young fellow, who seemed to have breathed hislast.
But Ted's ear was pressed close to his heart, and his fingers sought thewounded man's pulse.
In a moment he straightened up.
"He's alive--only alive, and no more. But perhaps we can save him yet,"he said. "Hustle, fellows! Stella, get me some hot water as soon aspossible. Bud, arrange a cot in my room near the window. Major, if youhave any brandy, let me have some. Kit, get the bandages ready andprepare some carbolated water. All alive now."
Ted's vigorous action was followed by the others, and in a few minutesCaruthers was stretched out on the cot in Ted's room.
At the movement the wound began to bleed, which was a good sign, and Tedproceeded to wash it with warm water, and began to probe for the ball,to ascertain, if possible, how deep it had gone.
As he was engaged in probing a slight groan came from between the bluelips of the victim.
"All right, I've found it," said Ted, in a low voice to the major, whowas bending anxiously over the body of his brother.
"It's all right," continued Ted reassuringly. "It didn't go in verydeep, and if he can hold out for a moment or two I think I can get itout. I've taken out worse ones than this."
Ted continued to work with the probe, and occasionally Caruthers stirredand groaned.
Then came a gentle tug, and the bullet rolled out of the wound upon thesheet.
It was followed by a spurt of blood, which Ted looked at closely.
"No danger," he said. "It is not arterial blood. Give me the water, andthen the bandages."
With deft and practiced fingers Ted bound up the wound as well as asurgeon might.
"Now for a sip of the brandy, and we'll have him around all right," saidthe young amateur surgeon.
He forced a teaspoonful of the ardent spirits between the pale lips ofthe wounded man, which was followed by a spluttering cough, then a longsigh, and Caruthers opened his eyes.
For a moment he glanced around, and with a faint smile closed his eyesagain, and sank into a gentle sleep.
"Bully!" exclaimed Ted, with satisfaction. "He'll get well now, I think,but he had a close call. A little longer on the back of that pony,jostled and being tossed around, would have finished him in spite of hissplendid physique."
"What shall we do now?" asked the major.
"There is nothing we can do except care for him faithfully, and nursehim. Some one will have to watch him, and give him his medicine, which Ishall prepare from your medicine chest, major."
"Let me nurse him," exclaimed Stella, who had come into the room in timeto hear this.
"The very thing, if you don't mind," said Ted.
"Mind! I should like to. And you know that I can nurse some," saidStella proudly.
"I know it from experience. Keep him quiet. Don't let him talk, andwhenever he gets restless give him a spoonful of his medicine. Hemustn't be allowed to toss around, for that would start internalbleeding. He is not out of the woods by a long shot. When he is wellwill be time enough for him to do his talking, and tell us what happenedto him. Now, fellows, we'll clear out and give nurse and patient a fairshow."
For several days Caruthers hung between life and death. Most of the timehe was in a state of delirium, during which he continually mutteredsomething about "joy." When Stella told Ted about this he was greatlypuzzled. What had the poor chap to do with joy?
Then it suddenly occurred to him that Caruthers meant Ban Joy, HelenMowbra
y's Japanese servant, who was called Joy for short.
"He wants to tell us about that Jap," said Ted. "Evidently he knowssomething about the murder of his sister, and wants us to find the Jap."
"Thar's nothin' doin' until he gets over his fever an' is strong ernoughter talk," said Bud, "So ther best thing ter do is not ter mind what hesays, but ter git him over his fever."
Stella was well-nigh worn out, but she would not consent to leave thebedside of the sick man, except at short intervals, when Ted or Bud, whowere the best nurses among the boys, took her place that she might getsome much-needed sleep.
That night Caruthers awoke from a long sleep and looked up at Stella.
"Where am I?" he asked, in a low voice.
"You are with friends," she replied gently. "Hush, you are not strongenough to talk."
"Yes, I am. I am all right now. Whose house am I in?" he asked.
"You are in Major Caruthers' house."
"I am glad. Is Ted Strong here?"
"Yes."
"Send him to me. I must talk to him. How long have I been here?"
"About a week."
"Hurry. It may be too late."
Stella saw that Caruthers' head was clear, and that he had somethingimportant to communicate, and that it would not be well with him if hewere permitted to worry, so she went out, and presently Ted entered theroom.
"Well, old chap, you look fit," he said, giving Caruthers' hand a gentlepressure.
"I'll be all right in a day or two. But I must talk with you. Tell me,have the Gray Wolves been here yet, and have you driven them off?" saidCaruthers excitedly.
Ted was sure now that the patient had relapsed back into his delirioustalk, and tried to soothe him.
"I'm all right," said Caruthers impatiently. "I know what I'm saying. Idon't mean the pack that chased me."
"No, we have not been attacked by wolves," Ted answered.
"Then you will be. Have you seen Joy--Ban Joy, the Jap, I mean?"
"No."
"That is strange. He should have been here if he got away."
"I'm up in the air as to what you mean. If you are strong enough,perhaps you'd better tell what you mean, beginning at the time you leftus, and telling it as briefly as possible."
"All right. But first give me a dose of that medicine."
Ted administered the medicine, which was a mild stimulant, and Caruthersbegan:
"When I jumped through the window, I did so, not because I was afraid ofthe four men, but to save you from trouble. I knew that the fellows hadbeen sent to get me, not by the authorities, but by my brother-in-lawMowbray. You know about him?"
Ted nodded, and Caruthers went on:
"I went directly to Sombrero Peak. I knew they would look for me inanother place. I was right, but I had not foreseen another thing. When Iwas in hiding I was surprised by the sudden appearance of Ban Joy andhis sister Itsu San, the servants of my sister. They, too, had fled fromMowbray and his gang of murderers.
"This was somewhat inconvenient for me, for I knew that Mowbray, whilehe would not probably get on my track until I could communicate withyou, would easily track the Japanese, and I was not in any position todefend myself and them, for I was out of ammunition, having lost mycartridge belt. But I found a small cave and fortified it as well aspossible, and awaited the coming of the Gray Wolves."
"The Gray Wolves?" said Ted, with interrogation in his voice.
"Yes, that is what Mowbray and his thieves and murderers callthemselves. You will know why, I'm thinking, before long.
"But to proceed: We continued to live in the cave for a few days, Joycontriving to trap rabbits and birds, upon which we lived. Then, in amoment of foolhardiness, I determined to go out and see if I could findout whether we had been followed, and at the same time try to get to SanCarlos and supply myself with a Winchester and some cartridges, for Iknew that, if I was properly armed, I could stand off the gang.
"Well, I saddled the little pony and started out, after telling Joy tocome here if I didn't return. I scouted cautiously among the hills,trying to find the pass on the other side of the peak which led out toSan Carlos.
"To make a long story short, I rode right into the trap, and was caughtby the Gray Wolves. I had six shells in my revolver, and as theysurrounded me I fought for my life, and I am glad to say I got three ofthem before they got me. But I couldn't hit Mowbray, although I tried mybest to do so. He seemed to bear a charmed life. As soon as I had firedmy last shot I wheeled the pony and fled. Up to this time I had not beenhit, but just as I was getting safely away, having jumped through themen surrounding me, clubbing them to the earth with the butt of mypistol, I turned to look back. I saw Mowbray bring down his rifle andtake deliberate aim at me, and I shuddered, because Mowbray is one ofthe finest shots in the world. Then I heard the report of his weapon,and felt the sting of the bullet. He had aimed to strike my heart, butthe turn of my body saved me."
"But how did you come to be tied to the pony's back?" asked Ted.
"When I was struck by the bullet I felt myself going. I knew that verysoon I would lose consciousness, and in that event I would soon becaptured, so it behooved me, while I still retained my senses, to savemyself. There was a lariat hanging to the horn of the saddle, and Iproceeded to tie myself to the pony's back as well as I could. You see,I knew that the pony would go home when he found himself free.
"I was no sooner well tied to the pony's back when I heard the howl ofthe wolves, and recognized the voice of White Fang."
"White Fang?"
"Yes, the master of the pack. Have you not heard of him. He is wellknown in this part of the country--a wolf with almost humanintelligence, fierce, a perfect devil of an animal, to whose pack everyranch in this country has paid heavy tribute. You will know more abouthim if you stay here. He is the devil in the hide of an animal.
"Well, I resigned myself to my fate, with a prayer that the little ponywould get me to the Bubbly Well Ranch before the wolves pulled me fromhis back. And he did."
"But you said something about the Gray Wolves visiting us?"
"Yes. They will be here. Prepare to defend your lives and the house.They know I am here, and they know that you have my sister's treasure.That is what they want."
"How do you know that?"
"Joy told me, and more, which you will learn later. But I feel faint,and can talk no more. 'Ware the Gray Wolves!"