The Saddle Boys of the Rockies; Or Lost on Thunder Mountain, Page 2

  CHAPTER II

  THE STRANGE ACTIONS OF DOMINO

  "Well, I declare!" exclaimed Frank; which remark showed how muchsurprised he was to recognize the youth whom his chum had sent to theground.

  "What do you mean by hitting me like that?" snarled the rich man's son,as he managed to scramble to his feet again, though he seemed a bit"groggy," and one of his eyes was already turning dark, as if it hadcome in violent contact with a stone when he struck the ground.

  "What do _you_ mean, hurting that poor little Mexican girl?" demandedBob, who stood on his guard, as though he might not be averse to tryingconclusions with the bully, if so be the other felt like seekingsatisfaction for his upset.

  "She sassed me when I ordered her to get out of my way, that's what shedid;" declared Peg, wrathfully, "and I'd look nice now, wouldn't I,letting a little greaser kid talk back to me? So I was just giving hera good shaking when you broke in. Guess you didn't know who you werehitting when you did that, Bob Archer!"

  "Perhaps I didn't," replied the Kentucky lad, calmly; "though thatwouldn't have made any particular difference. Any cur who would layhis hands on a child like that ought to get knocked down every time.I'd do it again if you gave me the chance!"

  Peg stared at him. Perhaps he had never been treated in this mannerbefore. All his life his acquaintances had truckled to him on accountof the great wealth of his father, and the liberal way he himself, as aboy, rewarded those who were allowed the privilege of being his croniesor mates.

  "You--would, eh?" he gasped, as if hardly daring to believe his ears."Even if you knew it was Peg Grant you'd treat me that way; would you?I'll remember that! I'm not the one to forget in a hurry. Some day,perhaps, you'll wish you'd never tried to play the hero part, and hitme when my back was turned. I've got a good notion to teach you alesson right now; that's what!"

  "All right," remarked Bob, coolly. "Suppose you begin. I was never ina better humor for trouble. Somehow I seemed to just know we'd hit itup sooner or later if our trails crossed. I give you my word, myfriend here won't put a finger on you, if so be you get the better ofthe row; will you Frank?"

  "I should say not," declared the lad, instantly, adding: "and unless Imiss my guess there won't be any need of it, either."

  "Are you coming on, Peg?" asked the Kentucky lad, temptingly.

  From under his drooping eyebrows Peg observed how easily the other hadassumed a position of self-defense. Somehow Peg did not fancy theathletic build of his antagonist; for, while Bob was rather slender, hehad the marks of one accustomed to exercise; possessing at leastordinary ability to take care of himself.

  "It'll keep, and be all the better for the delay," Peg grumbled, as heclenched one fist furiously, and used the other hand to feel of hisinjured optic. "Besides, I don't feel fit to fight right now, withthis bunged-up eye. But just wait till the right time comes, and seewhat you get then for doing this."

  "Oh! well, suit yourself," returned Bob, with a laugh. "If the littlebrown-faced girl hadn't vamoosed I declare if I wouldn't feel likemaking you get down on your knees, and asking her to excuse you. Bah!you're not worth bothering about, Peg. Get out!"

  The other moved away. He did not like the manner in which Bob saidthis; and he seemed to be afraid that perhaps the other might yetdecide to press some further indignity on him.

  When, however, he had reached the door of the inn, so that he couldhave a way of escape open to him in case of need, he stopped and shookhis fist threateningly toward the saddle boys.

  "You're both going to pay dear for this little fun, hear that?" hecalled, his voice trembling with passion. "I'll find a way to geteven, see if I don't! And when Peg Grant says that he means it, too!Just you wait till I----"

  And then, as Bob started to advance toward the hostelery Peg retreatedin a panic, slamming the door after him.

  "Well, what d'ye think of that?" asked Frank, who had been an amusedobserver of this curious scene.

  "He's turned out just what I thought he would," remarked Bob, as heonce more gained the side of his comrade, a grim smile on his face."Whenever you run across a fellow who likes to boast of the way he doesthings, make up your mind he's a rank coward, every time. No matterwhat he claims he will do, there's a yellow streak in him _somewhere_,and sooner or later it's bound to show."

  "I believe you're just about right, Bob," said Frank; "and it agreeswith my own opinion exactly. Still, that fellow can be dangerous if hewants."

  "So can a rattlesnake; but at any rate the reptile is honest, for hegives plenty of warning before he tries to strike; and that's more'nPeg would do, if I read him straight."

  "You must keep an eye out for him after this, Bob. He'll never forgiveyou that crack. My! but didn't it drop him, though! Just like a steerwould go down when the loop of a lariat closes on his foreleg. Thatfellow will lie awake nights trying to get even with you."

  "Let him," remarked Bob, carelessly; "next time perhaps I'll put alittle more steam back of my fist, if he pushes me too hard. That'sthe way they treat cowards back where I was brought up; and they callanybody by that name who will put his hand in anger on girl or woman.But see here, Frank, is this little affair going to force us to changeour plans?"

  "Whew! I forgot all about that," said the other, with a whistle, andan uplifting of his eyebrows. "If we go poking around ThunderMountain, and Peg is there, with a couple of the tough cowboys he hastrailing after him most of the time, Spanish Joe and Nick Jennings,perhaps we'll run up against a peck of trouble."

  "Well, how about it?" asked Bob, with a shade of annoyance on his face.

  "What do you say?" asked Frank, in turn.

  "Go, by all means," came the quick response. "You don't think so meanof me as to believe I'd be frightened off by the bare chance of runningacross that fellow's trail out there; do you, Frank?"

  "All right, call it a bargain, then. I'm with you through thick andthin, Bob. Let Peg have a care how he meddles with us. We're going topay attention to our own business, and he'd better do the same. Butwhat became of the little Mex? I thought I'd seen her face before,somewhere, but she skipped out before I could take a second look. Somecowboy, or cattle rustler's child from beyond the Rio Grande, I reckon.Well, come along, let's get in the saddle again, and finish ourshopping. Then we'll go out to the country along the river, and put ina day waiting for Peg to have his chance at finding out what makesThunder Mountain groan and shake just so often, and scare the Injunsout of their seven senses."

  As the two chums swung themselves into their saddles, and canteredaway, a head was thrust cautiously out from behind a pile of boxes nearby; and then, finding the coast clear, the small girl who had been thecause of all the trouble darted across the courtyard, vanishing beyondthe gate.

  Frank and Bob went about making their purchases, first fastening theirhorses to a rail in front of the general store, where everything theyneeded could be bought.

  More than one cattleman in passing would cast an envious eye towardthose two splendid mounts, for they could not fail to catch theattention of anyone accustomed to judging horseflesh, as these Westernmen were. Still, it would be a bold man indeed, white or Indian, whowould dare attempt to steal a horse in broad daylight, in a countrywhere such a thief was treated to a rope when caught.

  Frank had had considerable experience in roughing it, while his comradewas, in a measure, new to such a life. Consequently it was Frank whosejudgment was called into play when making a selection of the thingsthat would be essential to their comfort when on this new campaign.

  Many articles they could do without; but a blanket apiece wasabsolutely necessary, as was a frying pan and coffee pot, two cups, asmany platters, as well as common knives, forks and spoons such asprospectors and cattlemen use.

  For food they took some bacon, coffee, dried meat, hard-tack in placeof bread, a can of condensed milk, and several other things which wouldcarry well.

  "We must make them up in two packs," Frank went on; "so t
hat each of uscan fasten one to his horse, back of the saddle. And, as I'm an oldhand at this business, just watch me get a hustle on. Next time you'llknow how to go about it for yourself, Bob."

  The Kentucky boy always studied everything his comrade showed him, forit was his ambition to excel in the many little tricks connected withthe free life of the plains. Things were done so differently here fromwhat he had been accustomed to in his old Kentucky home, before hisfather died, that they often puzzled him; but Bob was a persistent boy,and would never rest content until Frank could teach him no more.

  Neither of them suspected what was going on outside, while they busiedthemselves in purchasing the supplies needed for the little campaign inthe neighborhood of the mysterious mountain. And yet all was not asquiet as it might be.

  The saddle boys had hardly been inside the general store ten minutesbefore a slinking figure might have been observed drawing nearer andnearer to the horses ranged along the bar. There were several besidesthe animals of our two young friends; but, somehow, the handsome blackseemed to attract the entire attention of this shadowy form.

  Twice he stopped, and assumed an attitude that would indicate his utterindifference to such commonplace things as horses. Then, finding thatit must have been a false alarm, he would edge closer.

  Finally he was beside the black horse, uttering low words such ascowboys make use of to soothe a restive steed when they mean to throw asaddle across his back, and cinch the girth.

  Two men came out from the store, and drew near. The slim figure,finding it out of the question to flit hurriedly away, withoutattracting attention, which was just the thing he wished to avoid,commenced stroking the sleek side of the big black Kentuckythoroughbred, as though he might be a cowboy connected with the farfamed Circle ranch of Frank's father.

  Casting just one casual glance toward him, the men threw themselvesinto their saddles with the rapidity and grace of true plainsmen, andwent galloping off.

  Two minutes later the shadowy figure of the man flitted away from theline of horses that remained. If his purpose had been to steal theblack he must have changed his mind, for there was no break in thechain of horses that stood there, impatiently scraping the ground withtheir forefeet.

  A little later out came Frank and Bob, each bearing a compact bundlewhich they quickly fastened back of their saddles.

  Bob was the first to mount, and this action was hurried because hehardly knew what to make of the restless actions of Domino. The animalseemed to be dancing up and down as though he had stirred up a hornet'snest, and the little insects were charging his exposed legs.

  No sooner was Bob in the saddle than the horse gave a shrill neigh, anddashed off like a crazy creature. Indeed, a less experienced riderthan Bob would have been instantly thrown by the sudden and unexpectedmove, something that Domino had never been known to attempt before.

  Frank looked up in astonishment. His practiced eye told him in aninstant that the sudden violent dash had not been engineered in theleast by his chum; but was altogether the result of fright on the partof Domino. Why, the big and powerful black acted as though he had gonewild, jumping madly about, now fairly flying off to one side, only towhirl and dance and leap high in the air, until every one within seeingdistance was staring at the strange spectacle. And this, too, in atown where bucking broncos were a common sight.

  Frank had gained his saddle, and was chasing after his friend, but justthen the black had taken a notion to run, and apparently nothing inthat country could overtake him while his present savage mood held out.

  "What ails the beast?" Frank asked himself, as he drew rein and watchedthe other passing beyond range of his vision among the stuntedmesquites outside of the edge of the town. "He acts like a locoedhorse; but there isn't a bit of the poison weed growing within twentymiles of here. And why was Peg Grant standing on the stoop of thetavern grinning as I rode past? Can he have had a hand in this suddencrazy spell of the black? Spanish Joe knows all the tricks of puttinga thorn under a saddle, that will stab the horse when the rider mounts.Is that the trouble now? If it is then it's lucky my chum knows asmuch as he does about managing a horse, or he would never come backalive from that mad ride. And all I can do is to sit here, wait forhis return, and watch Peg Grant and his cronies!"