CHAPTER VIII
STALKING THE FAT BOY
The country on the other side of the rise was rugged, dotted withhuge rocks and well wooded with second growth. It made an idealhiding ground for one who wished to conceal himself.
"Cut off to the right," shouted Tad.
"Watch out that he doesn't go by us and get lost," warned theProfessor.
"You all keep quiet," directed Butler. "I'm going to have some funwith Stacy. Maybe it will teach him to be more watchful. Chunkywould go to sleep even if he knew a band of Indians were creeping upon his camp."
The outfit swerved to the right as suggested by Butler, and soon waswell screened by rocks and foliage. It was some little time afterthat before Chunky topped the rise.
"Hoo-oo-oo-oo!" he called in a long-drawn shout. "Hoo-oo-oo-oo!"
Not a sound greeted his call. Chunky fired his revolver into the air.Instead of stopping to look about more carefully, and evidently notsuspecting another trick, Stacy dashed down the incline at a perilouspace, leaping small obstructions in order to take a shorter course tothe point where he thought his party had entered the thicket.
Stacy had not penetrated into this very far before he pulled up andsat pondering deeply. Even yet he did not think far enough torealize that the boys would not desert him in this way.
Riding slowly into a thinly wooded space the boy fired the remainingchambers of his revolver, listening intently, then, with a grunt,recharged the weapon and got down from his pony.
"I'll stay here all the rest of the day. If they want me they cancome back after me, that's all. If they don't, why I'll just go backto Hunt's Corners. I can get something to eat there. Yes, and thefellows will think something's happened to me and they'll be in anawful stew. I'll pay 'em back for this trick, I will. I guess theycan't get so funny with me without getting the worst of it in theend."
Tad Butler, in the meantime, had left his pony and run towards theplace where Chunky had entered the rugged, wooded stretch. Tadfinally got near enough to be able to overhear the fat boy's angrymutterings. In fact, Butler was near enough to have roped Stacy. Hethought of doing so, at one time, but decided that it would giveChunky too much of a fright. Then again, the fat boy might send abullet Tad's way in case he were to make a miss with the rope. Tad,having stalked his prey as silently as a panther, had not evendisturbed Stacy's pony. But now Butler observed that the animal waspricking up its ears, tossing its head as if it had scented something.
"Hang that pony. Has he discovered me?" thought Tad.
"Whoa there!" shouted Chunky. "Do you want to run away and leave me,too? Well, if you do, you just go on. I don't ask any odds of ahorse, I don't. I can walk and I can get along without the rest ofthat crowd."
A faint noise to the left of Tad called his attention sharply in thatdirection. The sound was so faint that it might have been caused bya bird alighting on a treacherous small stone. At least somethingalive had caused it. The listening boy was sure of that.
Crouching lower, Tad listened, every faculty bent to the task ofdetermining what had caused the slight sound. Chunky's continuedtalking made the task somewhat more difficult.
"I actually believe some other person is stalking him," muttered Tad."I wonder if Ned has followed after me? No, he wouldn't come fromthat direction. He would not be likely to do so."
"Ho--ho--hum," yawned Chunky. "I suppose I might as well take a napwhile I'm waiting for something to turn up. Guess I'll tie thecritter, then stretch out on this rock. It feels nice and warm, butit's pretty hard."
The fat boy actually did what he had suggested. After securing thehorse, he lay down on the rock, pillowing his head on his arms.
It was at about this time that Butler came to the conclusion thatsome person other than one of his own party really was creeping up onStacy. From Tad's position he was unable to see what was happeningon the other side of the rock behind which he was crouching, so,taking a long chance, he crept around it on all fours like an ape.
A stick snapped under a foot less than ten yards away. Tad put on alittle more speed. Perhaps some harm was intended the fat boy. Ifso, Tad proposed to know about it and take a hand in the affairhimself.
Suddenly the lad discovered what had caused the disturbance, and henearly betrayed himself by an exclamation as he made the discovery.There, cautiously creeping up on the drowsy fat boy, was a man. Theman's face was swollen and bloody, but the swollen eyes were fixed onthe form of Chunky Brown in a malignant stare.
"Smoky Griffin!" gasped Tad under his breath.
The bully had discovered Stacy. Perhaps the fellow had been lying inwait for the party and had been a witness to their running away fromBrown. If so he had shown more cleverness than Tad had given himcredit for. The situation was certainly a critical one--for Stacy.
In his hand Smoky held a stone that must have weighed at least tenpounds. It was plainly his intention to smash the stone down on thesleeping fat boy. Tad Butler was thankful that he had thought toplay a further trick on his companion. Perhaps that very prank hadsaved Stacy's life, or would save it, for Tad had already made up hismind what he was going to do.
"I'll give Smoky a surprise for the second time today," thoughtButler, cautiously slipping his rope from his belt, straightening outthe coils wholly by the sense of touch, never for a second removinghis gaze from the face of Smoky Griffin.
Finally, having got the rope in shape for a throw, he took a lightgrip on the honda, or slip knot, then stood crouched as if for aspring.
Smoky straightened up. Tad was taking a great chance, but Chunky wastaking even greater.
The bully drew back his hand. He was not more than six feet fromwhere Stacy Brown lay asleep.
Suddenly the big loop of the Pony Rider Boy's lasso wriggled throughthe air. Smoky's keen ears caught a sound. He started to turn, thenhe uttered a yell and began clawing frantically at the namelessterror that had pinioned his arms to his side.
With a yell of fright Smoky toppled over on his side, then rolled tohis back as Tad leaped away and began dragging and tugging at therope.
Then another yell was heard. This time it was the fat boy's.
"Oh, wow! Wha--what is it?" he howled.
Just then his glances caught the livid face of Smoky writhing on theground. Stacy did not see the rope, but he realized at once thatGriffin was there to do him harm. With another yell Stacy let gothree shots into the air.
"Yeow!" howled the fat boy.
Professor Zepplin and the other two boys heard both the shots and theyells. Tad's little joke was working out better than they hadthought. Laughing and shouting they put spurs to their mounts androde at a fast gallop towards the spot where they decided Chunky hadmet his surprise.
Ned was the first to reach the scene, with the Professor followingclose after him, Walter Perkins and the grinning Billy Veal followinghard behind. Young Perkins brought his pony up sliding.
"What--what--" he gasped. "Professor!"
Ned was out of his saddle in a flash.
"Put up your gun!" he shouted, as Chunky began making threateningmotions with the weapon.
"That's right, Ned. Hold him!" cried Tad, as Ned threw himself uponthe fallen bully.
"What's this? What's this?" demanded the Professor, gazingperplexedly at the sight.
"Nothing, only there were two of us planning to give Stacy asurprise. This is our old friend, Smoky Griffin, otherwise thefallen bully. Get up!" Smoky got sullenly to his feet.
"What is the meaning of this?" demanded the incisive voice ofProfessor Zepplin.
Smoky made no reply.
"Stacy, what was this man trying to do to you?"
"I--I don't know. I--I was asleep."
"He was asleep," mocked Rector in a deep voice. "Of course he was.He always is. I'm going to organize a first aid to the sleepycorps."
"There won't be any corps, 'cause we'll all be patients," retortedStacy quickly.
Tad
answered the look of inquiry in the eyes of the Professor byexplaining what had occurred.
"I believe the fellow intended to crush Stacy's head with the stone.It is fortunate that I got here ahead of him. What do you think wehad better do with him?"
"We will talk that over, Tad. All being agreeable we will first seeka more favorable location for camping. Is there water down in thegully yonder, guide?"
"Nassir, yassir. Ah reckon."
"Go look for it. When you find water return here and lead us to it."
"I would a heap sight rather be led to a lemonade stream," declaredStacy.
"You will be wanting hot and cold water on tap next," laughed Ned.
"I have them already," answered Stacy.
"You have?"
"Of course I have. I'm in hot water all the time, and there's plentyof cold water in the stream. Say, I've got a bone to pick with youfellows, but--I've forgotten what it's about."
Billy Veal had ridden away in search of water while the two boys weretalking. At the same time the Professor and Tad were observing theprisoner, who had been tied to a tree, and were conversing in lowtones.
"I think we had better let him go in the morning, Professor. We shallhave to take our chances of more trouble from him. If he were wantedby the authorities, I shouldn't be in favor of this move. As it is,we can't bother with him."
"Yes, I agree with you. But why wait until morning?" urged theProfessor.
"Because he might hang around after dark and get into mischief. Ifwe send him away in the morning we shall have an opportunity to get agood distance away from the fellow before night."
"That is good judgment," agreed Professor Zepplin. "It shall be asyou suggest. Hasn't that lazy guide returned yet, boys?"
"He is coming now, Professor," answered Walter.
"It strikes me it is about time."
"Did you find water?" called Ned.
"Nassir, yassir."
"Tad, how do you translate it?"
"He has found water," answered Butler.
"I've got it," cried Chunky. "If he'd said 'yassir, nassir,' thatwould mean that he had not, wouldn't it?"
"You have solved the problem, Chunky," nodded Tad.
"Guide, lead the ponies to the place, and if the camping ground issuitable, prepare to pitch the camp. We will join you soon."
"Yassir."
"Hey, Chops, you forgot something," called Stacy.
"Yassir?"
"No, sir, 'nassir.'"
"I think we might as well be getting over to the camping ground,Professor," suggested Tad. "It is understood, then, that Smoky is toremain with us until morning?"
"Yes, if you think best."
The boy walked over and untied the bully. Griffin started to walkaway. Butler laid a hand on his arm.
"Not so fast. We are not going to lose you yet awhile."
"What are you goin' t' do?"
"Going to keep you with us for a time," smiled the Pony Rider Boy.
"You ain't got no right t' hold me."
"I think you are right about that. Neither did you have any right tointerfere with us at Hunt's Corners, nor to try to shoot me, whichyou surely would have done had I not taken your pistol away. If youthink we ought to let you go, why I'll do so after I have turned youover to a sheriff. Which shall it be?" questioned Butler sweetly.
The prisoner grunted. His rage threatened to get the better of him,though he was making strenuous efforts to control himself. Tadmotioned to the man to come along, which Smoky did, walking sullenlyby the side of the Pony Rider Boy, though he was not bound. He wasas free as ever save that he knew any attempt to run away would meetwith a quick, stern check. He had had evidence of the Pony RiderBoy's prowess with his fists. Smoky looked enviously at the pistolin its holster at Tad's side. The boy observed the glance in thedirection of the weapon, but made no comment.
"Keep your pistols where they won't be a temptation to Smoky,"whispered Tad to the boys after they had reached the camping ground,which was on a gentle slope leading down to a mountain stream. Theyunderstood, and were on their guard from that time on.
Griffin sat sullenly watching the pitching of the camp. No oneappeared to be giving the slightest attention to him, yet he knew hewas being watched just the same.
Twenty minutes sufficed to pitch the tents, after which duffle-bagswere stowed in the peak of the triangle formed by the rear of thetents, beds made, and all preparations completed for the night.
"How's that for record time, Smoky?" chuckled Tad, turning to theprisoner.
"All right," grumbled Griffin.
"Come, cheer up," urged Tad. "Don't be a grouch. We don't like tohave grouches around this camp. The fat boy is our official grouch.We can't stand more than one at a time."
"I guess I'm no more a grouch than some other folks I know of,"protested Stacy. "Say, I know now what that bone is I want to pickwith you. Why did you fellows run away from me this afternoon?"
"Run away from you?" exclaimed Ned.
"Yes, run away from me. You needn't look so innocent. You know youdid and you did it on purpose, and you nearly got me killed.That--that gentle soul over there was about to smash my head with astone. He would have done so, too, if I hadn't woke up and scaredhim off with a shot or two."
"You have another guess coming."
"Do you mean to say you didn't run away from me?" demanded Stacyindignantly.
"I haven't said. We were ready to go and we went, that's all thereis to it."
"No, that isn't all there is to it, Ned. There's some more to it,but the other part hasn't come to pass yet," declared Chunkysignificantly. "That means you, too," he added, turning to Griffin."I'll have something to say to you also for wanting to smash me witha rock. I ought to take it out of you right here and now. I wouldif you weren't so bunged up already. I don't like to pitch into ahelpless man."
Smoky growled long and deep. Tad signaled Stacy to keep away fromthe prisoner. About half an hour later an early supper was spread.
"Come, Griffin, join us," urged the Professor.
"Don't want no supper," grunted the prisoner.
"You must eat," insisted Tad, stepping up to him. "Because we arenot good friends is no reason why you shouldn't eat. It will notimpose any obligation on you. If you want to fight right after youhave broken biscuit with us there's not the least objection in theworld to your doing so."
With an unintelligible grunt the fellow got up and dragged himselfover to the blanket on which the supper had been spread. Perhaps itwas the savory odor of the bacon and the steaming coffee that sotantalized the prisoner as to cause him to be willing to sit downwith his enemies and eat. At least Smoky's appetite had not sufferedby his unfortunate experiences. Even Chops opened his eyes on seeingthe mountaineer stow away food. Chunky watched the fellow almostadmiringly.
After supper the prisoner was permitted to smoke by the campfire.Tad Butler was shrewd. He hoped by this friendliness to disarm thebully so that the fellow, when released, would go on about his ownbusiness and give them no further trouble. Butler did not knowGriffin. His hope was vain. Revenge deep and deadly was smoulderingin the heart of the mountaineer. At that very moment he was planninghow he might get even with the boys who had so humiliated andpunished him. They would hear from Smoky Griffin again and in nouncertain tone.