CHAPTER X.

ON WATCH.

Bob had not seen Jack before breakfast as he had gotten up some time before and had gone for a ride with Sue. But they returned before the meal was over and Bob came in for a good bit of joshing for being such a sleepy head.

"Your shift has been on duty two hours already," Sue told him.

"Then why isn't Jack on the job?" he retorted.

"Because I ordered him to ride with me," Sue told him.

"Then I reckon he's excused," Bob smiled.

Here Jeb broke in and told them what had happened during the night and what their plans were.

"I knew it," Sue declared as soon as he had finished. "I felt it in my bones that he was a bad one the minute I laid eyes on him."

"Your bones must be pretty sensitive," her father laughed.

"Well, you'll have to admit that they're usually right," she retorted.

"As if I'd dare to do anything else."

"You better hadn't."

Los Varney had been assigned to neither of the shifts but had been given work about the corral and, soon after breakfast was over, Bob wandered out that way. His idea was to talk with him and try and find out if he was in any way suspicious because of what had happened the night before. He found him mending the fence on the farther side.

"How come you ain't riding herd?" Los greeted him.

"Oh, Jeb seemed to think they didn't need us any more."

"I reckon he's right. Probably Hains has cleared out afore this. He don't often hang out long in one place. That's what makes him so hard ter catch."

"Did you ever see him?" Bob asked.

"Once, 'bout two year ago. He's a big brute of a man."

"So I've heard."

"He shore is an' I'd hate ter meet him on a dark night, that is if he had anything agin me. They say, though, that he treats his friends right."

"But that's not much in his favor."

"I 'spose not, but I've known some what didn't."

For a moment there was a pause while Los was fitting a board, then he looked up and asked:

"Do yer ever walk in yer sleep?"

Bob was prepared for the question and showed just the right amount or surprise.

"Why, no, not that I know of. Why?"

"Oh, nothin'. I jest thought mebby yer did. I had a brother once and he uster walk in his sleep most every night."

"But what made you think I had the habit?" Bob asked innocently.

"I didn't think so, I only thought mebby you had," he replied a bit impatiently.

"Oh, I see."

After a little more talk about things in general Bob took his departure well satisfied that the man had no suspicion that he was playing a part the previous night.

"I guess Jeb was right about him being slow witted," he thought as he walked slowly back to the house.

He found Sue, together with Jack and Royce on the porch and lost no time in telling them of his talk with Los. He did not hesitate to speak in Royce's presence as the boy had proved himself in the fight and he had every confidence that he was sincere in his reformation.

"It's funny that I can't place the man," Royce said when he had finished, "because, of course, there can be little doubt but that he's a member of the gang."

Jeb had left for town shortly after breakfast and returned late in the afternoon. That he was in a perturbed state of mind was easily seen.

"I don't know what we're coming to," he said as he came up on the porch.

"Smatter, Pop?" Sue, who was lying in a hammock reading a story aloud to the boys, asked.

"Fellow by the name of Harris lost over two hundred head last night. He lives over the other side of the town and has one of the richest and best ranches in the State. I tell you things are hot in town, and the way folks are razzing Skeets is a caution. He'll simply have to do something mighty quick or resign his job. The ranchers won't stand for it much longer. Sometimes I wonder if he isn't in cahoots with Hains in some way."

"Do you mean it, Dad?"

"Oh, I don't know whether I do or not. I always thought he was honest till lately but I don't see how a man can be sheriff and get away with as little stuff as he does."

Bob and Jack had a long conference together earlier in the afternoon and half decided on a plan, but Jeb's account of the robbery the night before so far away from the ranch had put a different light on things.

"The most of the gang must have been over there last night," Bob said as they met out in the big barn shortly before supper time.

"Then they probably left someone behind to signal Los," Jack suggested.

"Guess there's no doubt about that."

"Well, what'll we do now?"

"Watch him after it gets dark."

"Right."

"Do you think they're after the cattle or is it Royce they want?" Jack asked a few minutes later.

"Both, I imagine. Jeb was telling me the other day that the man Hains is a man who never forgets a real or a fancied wrong and that it's his boast that no man ever crossed him and didn't pay up for it."

"Lovely disposition, I'll say."

As soon as supper was over the boys went out by the shack and pitched horse shoes with those of the hands that were on the day shift. Los Varney was there, but took no part in the game declaring that he was too tired, and soon after eight he reckoned he'd turn in.

"Hitting the hay early, ain't yer, Los?" one of the men asked.

"Yep, yer see I been fixin' fence all day an' I ain't used ter the job. Good night."

"Night, Los," they all sang out as he entered the shack.

"He's certainly popular with the men," Bob told Jack a little later as they were walking back toward the house.

"Seems so, and it may seem strange to you, but somehow I can't help having a kind of sneaking liking for him myself. I'm ashamed of it, but it's so."

"Same here," Bob acknowledged. "He's a likeable fellow all right but we mustn't let that influence us. The man's crooked and he's got to pay if we can make him."

"Of course," Jack agreed.

On the porch they found Jeb and Sue. Royce had retired feeling a bit tired, Sue told them.

"We're going to watch Los tonight," Bob announced.

"Nothing doing," Jeb said promptly.

"Oh, we'll be careful and it's the only way we can think of," Jack argued.

Jeb held out for some time but finally they obtained a hesitating consent on the condition that they would be careful and take no chances.

"Remember I'm responsible to Mr. Leeds for you and if anything happens I'll get the blame," he cautioned them.

"We'll see that it doesn't," Bob assured him.

It was nearly dark by this time and, as the sky was clouded over, it gave promise of a dark night. Cowboys, as a rule go to bed early and, shortly after nine o'clock the light in the shack went out. They waited another hour and then decided it was time to go.

"You let me know if anything happens," was Jeb's parting order.

To the right of the shack and only a few feet away was a small shed with an open front where small tools were kept. From it the door of the shack was visible and the boys had decided to make it their headquarters for the night, there being little likelihood of their being seen by one coming from the shack.

"Now there's no need of both of us keeping awake," Bob said after they had arranged a couple of barrels in front of them leaving sufficient space between them for a lookout. "You lie down on those gunny sacks and I'll stand the first watch until twelve o'clock."

"You'll call me then?"

"Sure."

"That a promise, remember."

"Surest thing you know."

Jack threw himself down and in less than five minutes his regular breathing told his brother that he was in the land of Nod. It was very quiet and, save for the occasional whinnie of one of the horses in the corral, hardly a sound came to his ears. Slowly the minutes passed and it seemed to the waiting boy that two hours must surely have gone when his watch told him that he had been there but a little more than an hour. He was having a hard time to keep awake long before twelve o'clock came. But he persisted and at last the hands of his watch pointed to the hour.

"All quiet along the Potomac?" Jack asked as he awoke at his brother's touch.

"All quiet," Bob told him.

"All right, now you get to sleep."

"We'll only stay till three o'clock," Bob proposed. "If he doesn't do anything by that time there's not much chance that he'll make a move before tomorrow night."

"Then I'll call you at three," Jack whispered.

"Make it half after two and we'll take the last half hour together."

"All right. Half after two it is."

It was not fifteen minutes later that Jack heard a slight creaking sound. Instantly he was on the alert his eye glued to the space between the two barrels. Someone was cautiously opening the door of the shack and, an instant later he saw a form step out. Although it was so dark that he could hardly see the man he had no doubt, but that it was Los. Who else would be creeping out at that time of the night? For what seemed to the boy a long time the man stood on the steps as though listening. Then, evidently satisfied that he had gotten out without disturbing any of the men, he stole softly away through the darkness toward the corral.

Jack laid his hand on his brother's shoulder.

"He's come out," he whispered.

"Where is he?"

"Gone toward the corral."

"Then we must follow him, but don't make a sound."

At the door of the shed the two boys listened a moment but heard nothing.

"You wait here and let me see if I can get a line on him," Jack whispered.

"Better let me go."

"No, I spoke first. I'll get up close to the corral fence and if you hear me give the call of the whip-poor-will you come a-running."

"All right, but you be careful."

Jack stole away and in an instant the darkness had swallowed him up. Ten minutes passed and then the notes of the whip-poor-will floated to him from the direction of the corral.

"That's Jack," he whispered to himself as he set out.

He had covered only about half the distance to the corral when he saw a form coming toward him and in a moment Jack joined him.

"He's taken one of the horses and gone off toward the hills," he told him.

"What'll we do? Go tell Jeb?"

"And let him get away?"

"Think we'd better follow him then?"

"Sure. Come on."

"But we told Jeb we'd be careful."

"Well, we will, but we've simply got to know what he's up to. Of course he's gone to meet someone."

"Unless he's gone for good."

"But I don't believe that."

"Well, neither do I."

They had been moving rapidly toward the corral while talking and by this time had reached the big gate. Opening it a trifle they stepped inside and Bob called softly to Satan. A soft whinnie answered him and a moment later a soft nose was rubbing his shoulder. It took Jack a bit longer to pick out his horse, but it was not much more than ten minutes after the man had started before they too were off.

"I'm not sure but we're doing a fool thing after all," Bob said as they started.

"How come?" Jack asked.

"Well, what chance have we of finding him in this darkness?"

"Perhaps not much but it's a chance."

They did not dare to gallop the horses for fear the man would hear them so they held them in to a fast trot which, on the soft ground, made hardly a sound. They had been riding in this way for the better part of an hour when Jack, who was slightly in the lead, saw a spot of light flash up far ahead.

"Did you see that?" he asked turning around in the saddle.

"Yes," Bob replied.

"What's your guess?"

"Someone lighting his pipe."

"Mine too. I believe he's reached the rendezvous and is waiting. What do you say?"

"Wouldn't wander."

"How far away should you say he is?"

"It's pretty hard to judge, but I'd set it at 300 yards."

"You hold the horses and I'll creep up and see if I can get a line on what's doing," Jack suggested.

Bob objected at first but finally, after Jack had positively refused to let him go, gave a reluctant consent cautioning him not to try to get too close.

There was neither tree nor shrub on the prairie to give him concealment but he knew that a man could see but a few feet in that darkness and he thought he could get near enough to overhear a conversation if there was one being carried on. He stopped every few feet to listen and it was not long before he heard a voice.

"Seems ter me he ought ter be gettin' here prutty soon."

It was Los's voice and it was evident that the man was talking to himself. Jack could tell that he was not many feet distant although he could not see him and he decided to wait where he was and not risk trying to get closer. So he stretched himself at full length on the ground and waited. He could hear the other's horse as he moved about feeding on the short grass and, every now and then, the man muttered a few words of impatience.

Then, after he had been lying there for some thirty minutes the soft sound of hoofs striking the ground reached his eager ears.

"He's coming," he thought.

Nearer and nearer came the hoof beats and soon it was plain that the rider was urging his horse at a fast pace. The sound was coming from the direction of the hills and for a time Jack was afraid that he was in the line and was about to crawl to one side when the rider evidently changed his course a bit to the right and he kept his place. Almost at the same time a flash of light came from Los as a signal to the unknown rider. The man must have seen it at once for he again changed his course and once more the boy was in line. Quickly he crawled to one side and had covered but a few feet when the horse dashed past.

"Pretty close shave that," he thought as he again stretched out at full length.

"Your late, Gramp," he heard Los say a moment later.

"Couldn't help it," was the answer which Jack barely caught.

Then they lowered their voices to such an extent that he was unable to catch a word. So he crept softly, careful to make no sound, until he could see their forms. He was now not more than twenty feet away and he dared not go nearer. But, to his great disappointment, they were talking hardly above a whisper and he could only catch a word now and then, not enough to get the drift of the conversation. He heard Los mention the name of Royce but in what connection he could not tell.

It was maddening to be so near and yet he told himself, he might just as well be a thousand miles away for all he was learning. So intent was he in trying to hear them that he failed to note that a rift in the clouds was rapidly widening and, to his consternation, the full moon suddenly burst through, throwing a flood of light over the prairie. It seemed to the fear-stricken boy almost as light as day. He could see the two men so plainly that he could easily distinguish their features and he saw that Los was talking with a large black bearded man who was well past middle age.

What was he to do? He asked himself the question several times. Should he keep perfectly still where he was and trust to luck that they would not see him or should he try to creep away? Neither plan seemed to promise much hope of escaping detection. Carefully turning his head he saw Bob and the two horses and was amazed that they loomed up so plainly. He fancied that Bob was beckoning to him but was not sure.

"Then yer understand?"

He heard the black bearded man ask the question in a much louder tone than he had been using.

"Sure," Los replied.

"Good. Then I'll beat it. Don't ferget day after ter-morrow."

"I won't."

Both men mounted their horses and Jack tried to flatten himself still farther into the grass. It was a tense moment and to say that he was frightened would hardly begin to express his feelings. He was scared stiff, as he afterward confided to Bob. It seemed impossible that both men would fail to see him and that they would shoot him on sight under the circumstances was, he believed equally certain.

He had decided that his best chance was to lie perfectly still and trust that either they would fail to see him or, in case they did, would take his form for a rock or log. It was a slim hope, but all he had. Did you ever try to lie perfectly still knowing that a single slight movement might be the last you would ever make. If so then you have some idea of Jack's feelings.

All these thoughts passed through the boy's mind in the time that it took the two men to get into their saddles and he was afraid they would hear the beating of his heart so loudly did it seem to thump.

"Well, so long, Los," he heard the older man say.

"So long, Gramp," Los responded.

He knew that the stranger was turning his horse and, in a minute, would be facing directly, or nearly so, toward him. Could he hope to escape detection in that bright moonlight. A silent prayer for protection welled up in his heart as he heard the man speak to his horse. And the answer to the prayer came. Just as suddenly as the rift in the clouds had opened letting out the flood of moonlight, it now closed. It seemed as though a giant hand had drawn a giant curtain over the face of the moon and darkness, seemingly more intense than before, settled on the prairie. Jack's relief was so great that, for an instant, he was incapable of action then, as he heard the heavy breathing of a horse only a few feet away, he quickly sprang to his feet and darted off.

"What's that?" he heard a voice cry out.

"Nothin' but a buzzard," another voice replied.

Jack ran for a hundred yards or more before he stopped to listen. He could hear the rapid beat of hoofs not far off, but he quickly perceived that they were getting farther and farther away. So, with a prayer of thankfulness in his heart, he started on again.

"Bob!" He did not dare speak the word very loudly, but he was sure that if he had kept the right direction, his brother should be close at hand.

But there was no reply and he walked a bit further straining his eyes in an effort to pierce the darkness.

"Bob!" Again there was no answer and he began to fear that he had gotten off the course.

Then, a moment later, he saw a short distance ahead a tiny point of light and hastened toward it and in another moment the brothers were in each other's arms.

"Talk about close calls," Jack whispered.

"You said it," Bob agreed.

"I sure thought I was a gone gosling."

"And you would have been if luck hadn't been with you."

"Or God," Jack added quickly.

"You are right. I believe it was God who pulled those clouds together over the moon at just the right time."

"He saved my life, I really believe," Jack said, and, moved by the same impulse, the two brothers sank on their knees in the grass and no more sincere thanks ever reached the ear of God.

"But what did you find out?" Bob asked as they got to their feet.

"That's the worst of it," Jack replied sadly. "I didn't learn a thing except that it's day after to-morrow."

"What is?"

"That's what I don't know. You see I didn't dare get a foot nearer and they talked almost in whispers and I could only hear a word now and then. I heard the big man say day after to-morrow but I didn't get the connection at all."

"It's too bad, of course, but I'm mighty glad you didn't get any nearer. They'd have seen you sure as fate if you'd been a foot closer and it wasn't worth that, boy, not by a long shot."

"But we know that something's on the cards for the day after tomorrow. I suppose he really meant tomorrow as it was after twelve o'clock."

"Probably."

"But it's not dead sure."

"No, I suppose not."

"I wish we could be sure."

"'If wishes were horses,' you know," Bob quoted.

"Well, I guess we might as well be getting back now," Jack proposed after a moment's pause.

"But we've got to be mighty careful that Los doesn't run into us."

"That's so. If he found out that we're out to-night he'd know something was up."

"Sure he would. Now I reckon we'd better take it easy and let him get in first. He'll probably hit it for home about as fast as he can make it."

"But suppose he should notice that our horses are gone?"

"He'd probably smell a mouse, but he isn't apt to notice it. He'll just turn his horse in and hit the hay as soon as he can. Anyhow, that's a chance we've got to take. We probably couldn't beat him to it now even if we tried."

"You're right, of course, but I'll be nervous till I know he doesn't know that we know what we know."

"Two bad you couldn't get a few more knows in that last statement," Bob laughed.

They waited a few minutes longer and then mounted the horses and started at a slow trot for the ranch. The first hint of the coming dawn was showing in the eastern sky as they stole swiftly into the house after turning the horses into the corral.

"I'm not sure the game was worth the candle," Jack declared as he tumbled info bed.

"Time will tell," Bob replied sleepily from beneath the covers.