CHAPTER XVII
ANOTHER RAID
“Here! where you goin’?” demanded the foreman after the retreatingcowboy.
“To see if I can catch that imp of Satan before he does any mischief,”was the reply, shot back over Gimp’s shoulder. “I can’t see how Jerrytook the wrong pony.”
“They look a heap alike to a fellow that don’t know much about hosses,”was the answer. “But if he doesn’t know Go Some’s tricks he sure willbe throwed, and likely trampled on. Think you can get to him in time?”
“I don’t know. They didn’t say where they was goin’, but I’ll do mybest.”
Gimp threw his saddle over his own mount that was having a “breather”after dinner, pulled tight the girths and swung himself up with apeculiar hitch that, as much as had his reputed ability to dance, hadgained him his nickname.
“Try down by Bubblin’ Spring,” directed the foreman. “I think I heardthe professor say he was goin’ that way, and he asked the boys to stopand flag him if they got the chance. He said he was after some new kindof frog or other. The spring’s full of ’em.”
“All right,” answered Gimp, as he galloped off.
“Queer, though, how Jerry took the wrong pony,” murmured the foremanas he went back to his office. “They look a bit alike--his’n and GoSome, but the last is meaner’n pizen. He’ll trot along with you for anhour or so and then he’ll get as wild as the wust buckin’ bronco thatever stiffened his legs and humped his back. Never could account forit--never. Guess I’ll get rid of him--if Jerry comes out of this allright. If he don’t I’ll shoot the imp.”
“What’s the matter? You got money in the bank?” asked Hinkee Dee,sauntering out of the bunk house.
“Why?” the foreman queried.
“Talkin’ to yourself like that.”
“Oh! I was just wonderin’ why he took him.”
“Who took him?”
“Jerry--you know--one of the boys. He rode off on Go Some and left hisown pony. Mistake, I reckon, but it’s like to be a bad one for him. Youknow Go Some.”
“I should say I did! Don’t care for his acquaintance, either.”
“Well, think of that tenderfoot lad on him. Gimp has rid off trying tocatch him. Maybe if you was to----”
“No thank you! I’ve got something else to do besides going to therescue of thick-headed tenderfeet.”
“But Jerry made a mistake I tell you! He took Go Some thinking he washis own pony. Must have been tethered where he left his mount, thoughI don’t see how that could be, as Go Some is never fastened with thesaddle ponies any more.”
Hinkee Dee said nothing as he strode away, but there was no look ofconcern on his face as there was on the countenance of the foreman.
“What’s the matter with your pony, Jerry?” asked Bob as he and Ned rodebeside their tall chum.
“Nothing that I know of. Why?”
“He seems to want to hurry up all the while. Never knew him to be thatway before. He was always at the tail end.”
“He is a bit speedy,” admitted Jerry, as he saw that his mount wasstepping along at a good pace. “I never paid much attention to himbefore. Maybe he has some friends over this way. I wonder,” went onJerry, speculatively, “if any of the cow rustlers’ ponies could begrazing around here?” for they were in the vicinity of the place wherethey had picked up the trail of the last raiding party.
“It might be,” agreed Ned. “Horses have relations, same as otheranimals, I reckon, and if your pony got a whiff of the family he mightbe in a hurry to rub noses. But, however that may be, I’d give a goodbit to know where they hide their horses and the cattle. Hold on there!Don’t be in such a rush!”
Jerry tried to rein in his mount, but it was too late, for, a momentlater, the animal had taken the bit in his teeth and was dashing acrossthe plain.
“What are you trying to do--start a race?” cried Ned.
“I’ll give you a brush!” added Bob, but he had a glimpse of Jerry’sface as the lad tore past him, and Jerry’s countenance showed anythingbut delight in a coming test of speed.
Meanwhile, Gimp, his anxious eyes scanning the horizon at every rise hetopped, was riding on, muttering to himself.
“That change of horses never was made natural,” he said. “Somebody whodidn’t like Jerry had a hand in it. Now I wonder who it could be? Well,better not ask too many questions, I reckon. But I’ll keep my eyesopen.”
He trotted on, now and then speaking to his horse as a range riderwill often do. But Gimp saw no trace of the boys of whom he was insearch--at least not for over an hour after he had fared forth.Then, as he turned away from Bubbling Springs where his search had beenunsuccessful, and headed for the defile where the trail of the cattlerustlers had been lost, he descried in the distance three figures, onefar in advance of the others.
“That’s them, sure!” exclaimed Gimp. “And Go Some has done his famousboltin’ stunt. Anyhow, Jerry’s still in the saddle. How long he’llstay is another matter. Hop along you rat-tailed runt!” and with thisaffectionate epithet directed at his own steed, Gimp shook the reinsand galloped off, making sure Lizzie, his horned toad pet, was safe inhis pocket.
He was within five hundred feet of the leading, onrushing Go Some whenthe maddened horse did just what was to be expected of him. He beganto buck, and as Jerry was no expert in the saddle he shot out at thesecond landing. And then, with fury, Go Some turned and rushed at theprostrate, motionless figure.
“GO SOME” TURNED AND RUSHED AT THE PROSTRATE, MOTIONLESSFIGURE.]
With yells of dismay, Ned and Bob tried to spur their alreadyhalf-exhausted animals forward to stop the maddened brute, but theirmounts were unable to give the necessary burst of speed.
“Leave him to me!” yelled Gimp, who rode up just then. “I’ll ’tend tohim!”
“Hump yourself now, you rat!” he yelled to his animal.
Like a polo pony, Blaze collided with the infuriated Go Some, the twohorses coming together with a thud that could be heard for a longdistance. Then Ned and Bob saw Gimp’s plan. He fairly knocked themaddened animal to one side so it could not trample on the unconsciousJerry.
But the shock was only momentarily successful. Thrown out of hisstride, and away from the object of his attack, Go Some swerved to oneside for an instant. But as he came on again, with no thought of givingup his plan, Gimp was ready for him.
Drawing his revolver, the cowboy fired directly at the furious animal.The bullet, as the marksman intended, creased a red line along thebeast’s neck, making a smarting, stinging wound.
“Maybe that’ll cure you!” muttered the cowboy as he saw the mad horseturn and gallop away across the rolling plain. Then Gimp reined Blazein, and slipped out of the saddle. He knelt beside Jerry, as Bob andNed jumped from their mounts.
“Is he--is he----” faltered Chunky.
“Not by a long shot!” exclaimed Gimp. “There’s a lot of fight left inhim yet! He struck on his head and he’s insensible, but there don’tnothin’ seem to be busted,” he added, feeling all over Jerry who laywith closed eyes.
“How’re we going to get him home?” asked Ned, when his chum had notaroused after they had wet his face with water and had tried to forcesome between his lips.
“Guess one of you’ll have to ride back for the ambulance--I mean awagon,” Gimp answered.
“Our auto would be best,” suggested Ned. “I’ll go get it and run itback here.”
Ned made good time back to the ranch, considering the half-exhaustedstate of his pony, and he made better time back with the automobile.Jerry was just opening his eyes when Ned returned, but he went offin another spell of faintness as they lifted him up on the pile ofblankets that had been slipped in by the anxious foreman.
As the automobile, carefully and slowly driven by Ned, while Bob andGimp rode beside it, came within view of the Square Z buildings theysaw a horseman riding toward them.
“What’s up now; more trouble?” asked Gimp, as he recognized the Pa
rson,who seemed excited.
“I should say so! Munson’s been shot.”
“Shot! How?”
“In a cattle raid. There’s been another.”