CHAPTER XI.

SKEETS STAGES A FARCE.

Although it had been after three o'clock when they got to bed the boys were up before seven. In the first place, they were anxious that Jeb should know the little they had learned and then they feared that, should they sleep later than usual, Los might know of it and be suspicious. Jeb was eating breakfast alone as they came from their room.

"Well?" he asked as they took their seats.

"Not particularly," Jack replied.

"Not particularly what?"

"Well."

"Oh, I see, and what's wrong?"

"That's what we don't know," Bob told him. Then he gave him an account of what had happened in the night.

"But you said you'd keep out of danger," Jeb said, turning to Jack after Bob had finished.

"But I didn't know that cloud was going to break open just at that time. You see, there would have been no danger if it hadn't."

"No, I don't see, but we'll let it go at that," Jeb said dryly. "Did you say you heard him say to-morrow?"

"The day after to-morrow," Jack corrected him. "To-day's Wednesday and, as he was speaking last night, I suppose he meant Thursday."

"That's the way we took it, but it was after twelve and I suppose he might have meant Friday," Bob suggested.

"Not a chance," Jeb assured them. "The next day doesn't come out here till it's daylight. He meant Thursday, all right, but just what he meant is an unknown quantity."

Just then the telephone rang and Jeb got up to answer it. The instrument was in the dining-room and they could readily hear what he was saying.

"I'll bet it's the sheriff," Bob whispered.

"Wouldn't wonder," Jack agreed.

"All right," Jeb was saying. "We'll be ready. How many? Why there'll be six or eight of us. I'll have to leave a few of the boys here to look after things, you know. About ten? All right, good-bye."

"That was Skeets," he told them as he resumed his seat. "He's got a posse together and is going to make another of his spectacular hunts for Hains and his gang. Guess he got tired of being razzed. But it won't mean a thing. He won't find 'em."

"But you said you'd go," Jack said.

"Sure I said I'd go. I always do. It wouldn't do not to back him up, you know. He'll come riding up here in about two hours at the head of about twenty men and boys all armed to the muzzle, so to speak, and he'll tell about how he's sure to find 'em this time and what he'll do with 'em once he gets his hands on 'em. I wish I knew Skeets was honest," he added after a short pause.

"Can we go?" Bob asked.

"Why, sure. There's no danger along with Skeets."

"How about me?" Sue had entered the room unobserved in time to catch the drift of the conversation.

"Nothing doing," her father said. "Not," he added, "that there's the least bit of danger, but how'd it look for a girl to be galavantering off with a gang of men and her the only female in the party. No, sir, you're enough of a tom-boy as it is."

She did not press the point, contenting herself with saying that it wouldn't be much fun, anyway.

"You see, she's used to Skeets' raids," Jeb laughed.

"I'll say I am," she agreed.

"Suppose one of you boys run down to the shack and tell the boys to get what sleep they can before ten o'clock. They've been in most two hours and likely some of 'em are in bed now."

"How about Los?" Bob asked as he started up from his chair.

"That's so. What about Los?" Jeb repeated thoughtfully. "What do you think. Better tell him about it?"

"I'd say yes," Bob declared, adding: "If we don't it seems to me he'll suspect that we suspect him."

"Guess you're right. Anyhow I don't see's he can do any harm if he goes along."

When Bob reached the shack he found all the boys off duty in bed except Slim and Grumpy.

"Now, what do yer know 'bout that?" Grumpy growled after Bob had delivered Jeb's message. "After workin' all night, too."

"But think o' the glory," Slim told him.

"Glory nuthin'. Whar's the glory in chasin' all over the country an' never findin' anything?"

"But the sheriff thinks this is going to be an exception," Bob told him.

"Aw, he's allays thinkin' that kind o' stuff," Grumpy snorted as he turned in.

Bob found Los out behind the corral still working on the fence, and he watched him closely as he told him about the coming hunt, but there was no trace of surprise or fear in the man's manner as he listened.

"Did Jeb say he wanted me ter go?" he asked.

"No, not particularly. He just said to tell you together with the rest of the men."

"Well, tell him I'll go 'long," he said after a moment's thought. "I planned ter get this fence done ter day, but that's up ter him. Don't make no difference ter me."

By ten minutes before ten o'clock the boys, including Los, were gathered near the porch, their horses all ready.

"Bet yer two bits he's half an hour late," Grumpy growled to no one in particular.

"Take yer," Stubby shouted.

Stubby won the bet, for it was only fifteen minutes later when a cloud of dust was seen and in another ten minutes the small army swept in through the gate. There were, as Jeb had predicted, about twenty in all and the sheriff was riding at the head. He was a middle-sized man of about forty, his face tanned to the shade of a Mexican and he looked very pompous as he rode up to the porch leaving the rest of the men a few yards away.

"All ready?" he shouted in a deep bass voice.

"All set, Skeets," Jeb assured him waving his hand toward the horses. "What's the dope?"

"Dope's all right an' we're goin' ter get 'em this time. I've put up with all I agoin' ter an' I'm jest goin' ter clean that gang up good an' thorough an' show some of the folks 'round here who's who."

"That's the talk, Skeets. That's the kind of sheriff this county needs," Jeb told him.

By this time they were all in the saddle and lost no time in setting out for the hills. The boys brought up the rear and Sue waved them a good-bye from the porch.

"I reckon Jeb had him sized up about right," Jack said in a low tone to Bob as they rode through the gate.

"You mean the sheriff?"

"Sure."

"He plays the part, all right."

As soon as they were away from the house they turned toward the north and the sheriff set a rapid pace. Sue had pointed out to them a narrow cleft in the hills in the direction they were heading and had explained that it was called "the Crotch," and for nearly two hours they kept on, stopping only once to allow the horses a short breathing spell. They reached the entrance to The Crotch shortly after noon and there they halted while those who had brought a lunch ate it and also to allow the horses a short time to graze.

"What makes you think he's up this way, Skeets?" Jeb asked the sheriff as the latter came up where he and the two boys were sitting.

"Well, I'll tell yer. Yer see one of the Halliday boys was in ter town yesterday an' he said that as he was coming through The Crotch he heard a powerful lot of shoutin' an' it sounded 's though thar was a lot of cattle not far off. So I figger that Hains must have his place whar he rebrands up this way somewhere."

He passed on and Jeb laughed. "That's always the way with him. Always has plenty of dope and sometimes a hunch. Funny he didn't say anything about a hunch. But that's all it amounts to. I'll bet a five dollar gold piece against a lead nickel that Hains ain't within twenty miles of here and, the worst of it is, I'm afraid that he knows it. I hate like blazes to think it of Skeets but I can't help it."

"Now, boys," the sheriff was standing on a large rock so that all could see him. "I've got a hunch that Hains' place is somewhere not far from here and that the trail ter it branches off from The Crotch. Now my idea is ter ride along slow like an' examine every bit of the way. He can't drive a big lot of cattle off the main trail an' not leave no marks, that's sartin, and we can't help findin' 'em if we look sharp enough."

"Got a magnifying glass, Skeets?" someone called out.

"What you want a magnifying glass fer?" the sheriff snapped.

"Thought mebby we'd be able ter see them signs better."

A shout of laughter went up and the sheriff grew very red in the face as he got down from the stone and mounted his horse without another word, and soon they were in motion again.

The Crotch was a deep defile between the high hills which in places rose almost perpendicularly. The path itself was several feet wide in places, but now and then narrowed down so that but one rider could pass at a time. Under foot it was uneven and rocky, making fast riding impossible.

"Who'd be fool enough ter try ter drive a bunch of cattle in here?" one man growled.

"It's probably because he's gone where no one would expect him ter go that nobody's been able fer find him," another retorted.

For over an hour they plodded through the passageway, every man keeping a close watch for any sign, however small, which might indicate a lead-off into the hills. But no such passage was found and about two o'clock they suddenly emerged onto a broad plateau which sloped gently down to the Rio Grande some two miles off.

"Guess your hunch had a kink in it, Skeets," someone called out.

The sheriff appeared quite crestfallen, although it seemed to Bob that he rather overdid it.

"Looks kinder like it fer a fact," he acknowledged. "And I was sartin we'd find him this time. But, remember, boys, you all get paid fer a day's work jest the same."

After a short rest for the horses they started home and reached the ranch soon after four o'clock.

"Didn't I tell you it was all a fake?" Jeb asked as soon as the rest of the party had gone on. "He had no more idea of finding Hains than a squirrel has of storing up cheese for winter."

"It looked that way to me," Bob said.

"Why a blind man could see it," Jeb insisted.

"Pretty near," Jack agreed.

"Did you notice Los any to-day?" Jeb asked after a short pause.

"Yes," Bob replied, "and it seemed to me that he was particularly light-hearted."

"Of course he was. He knew we were on a wild goose chase, and that their plans for to-morrow weren't going to be interfered with, at least so far as Skeets was concerned. But I'm some worried about them same plans. I have a hunch they're planning something big and that I'm to be the goat."

"It seems to me," Bob began, "that you've got enough evidence against him to warrant accusing him of being in cahoots with the rustlers."

For several moments Jeb was silent and the boys could see that a struggle was going on in his mind.

"I suppose you're right," he finally said. "But I sure do hate to do it."

Just then the object of their conversation came up to the porch where they were sitting and Jeb decided to take the bull by the horns and have it over with.

"Los," he began before the man had time to speak, "I want to ask you a question and I want a straight answer. Who were you signaling to night before last?"

Bob was watching the man closely and he saw him give a sudden though slight start.

"What yer mean, signaling?" he demanded.

"You know what I mean. Come, out with it."

"I didn't signal no one."

"What's the use of lying, Los? You know me well enough to know that I wouldn't accuse you if I didn't have you dead to rights."

Los turned a look of malignancy toward Bob as much as to say he knew where Jeb had gotten his information.

"I reckon it ain't any use fer me ter say any more," he said sullenly.

"Then you refuse to tell?"

"You heard me."

"Then I don't suppose you'll tell me who it was you met out on the prairie last night."

"Who--" Los began but Jeb stopped him.

"It's no use for you to deny it, man. I know that you're a member of Red Hains' gang and that you've got a plan on for tomorrow."

"Then you know more'n I do," he growled.

As he spoke Bob saw his hand creep back toward his hip pocket and was about to utter a warning when Jeb said:

"Keep your hands away from your pocket and put 'em up."

Bob had one eye on him as he spoke and he afterward declared that he did not see his hand move but before he had finished speaking Los was looking old Betsey in the face.

"I hate to have to do this, Los, but I reckon you've forfeited all claim to my friendship and if you make a single move I'll put a hunk of lead where it'll do the most good."

"But I tell yer yer've got this all wrong, Jeb," Los insisted.

"Sorry, but I don't think so. In the drawer in my desk, Bob, you'll find a pair of handcuffs. Get 'em, will you?"

Bob hastened to obey and, at Jeb's order, snapped them over the wrists of the angry man.

"This here's the worst job yer ever did fer yerself, Jeb."

"May be it is but, in this world we have to do what seems best at the time and, much as it goes against the grain, it sure seems the proper caper just now. Jack, run down to the shack and tell a couple of the boys I want 'em, will you? Get Slats and Slim if you can."

"Boys," Jeb said a few minutes as Slim, Slats and Jack came up, "I have reason to feel sure that this man's a spy and a member of Hains' gang of rustlers."

"You sure, Boss?" Slim looked his incredulity.

"I'm dead certain." And he told them the evidence against him.

"It's all wrong," Los insisted but they paid no attention to him.

"Now what yer know 'bout that?" Slim turned to Slats who merely shrugged his shoulders. "Guess then the only thing ter do is to swing him," he suggested.

"No, boys, we won't hang him though I've no doubt he richly deserves it. Take him out to the barn and lock him up in one of the box stalls. They're good and strong and, with these bracelets on, I reckon he'll stay put."

"Seems ter me that's goin' ter a lot of trouble when he'll swing later on anyhow. Of course, what yer say goes, Boss. Come on thar, yer mangy coyote."

"Yer'll be sorry fer this the longest day yer live, Jeb," Los threatened as the men led him away.

"I'm sure sorry that a thing of this sort should have happened," Jeb told the boys after Los was out of hearing. "But I do wish I had a line on what was on the cards for tomorrow."

"You don't suppose it's to be an attack on the ranch, do you?" Bob asked, but Jeb shook his head.

The night passed quietly. Bob and Jack were both wakeful and several times between cat naps they stole softly out of the house and watched the distant hills. Jeb too was uneasy and nearly every time they awoke they could hear him moving about in his room. But at last morning came and it was a rather mournful crowd that gathered about the breakfast table.

"Goodness gracious!" Sue broke out when they were about half through eating. "A body'd think this was a funeral. What's the matter with everyone?"

"Guess we're all kind of scared and don't want to say so," Jeb smiled.

"Well, I'm not scared. What is there to be afraid of I'd like to know? Here we've got fourteen able bodied men and they haven't got more'n about half that number at the most. You say the word and I'll go out alone and bring 'em in."

"You got gumption enough to do it all right," Jeb grinned, "but I reckon you'd find that you had bit off more'n you could chew."

"Well, maybe so but I'm off for a ride. Come on, boys, bet I'll get my saddle on first."

It was a glorious morning as they set out a few minutes later at a slow canter across the prairie in the direction of the hills.

"Don't get too far away," Jeb shouted as they left.

"I'll race you to the top of the knoll," Sue challenged as soon as they were fairly away from the house.

It was merely an excuse for a burst of speed as Satan could easily out run the other horses and they were some distance in the rear when Bob drew rein on the top of the rise.

"He sure can run some," Sue declared as she rode up a moment later about fifty feet ahead of Jack.

"You said it," Bob agreed proudly.

For a few minutes they waited to give their mounts a breathing spell then Bob asked:

"Shall we keep on or circle around?"

"Oh, let's keep on," Sue said, "So long as we don't go into the hills we'll be safe enough."

So they rode on and on until the foothills were only a few hundred yards away. Then Bob drew up.

"I reckon this is as far as we'd better go," he said.

"I suppose so," Sue agreed. "We'll let the horses breath a spell and then hit the back trail."

They dismounted and, throwing the reins over the horse's heads allowed them to browse on the thick grass while they strolled about to stretch their limbs.

"Well, I guess it'll be about time for chow by the time we get back," Sue said a half hour later.

She had scarcely spoken the words when Bob uttered an exclamation of dismay.

"Look," he gasped.

Out from the foothills came a half dozen men riding at full gallop directly toward them.

"It's the Hains gang," Jack gasped.

"Let's beat it," Sue cried springing for her horse.

"No use," Bob told her. "They'll be here before we can get started."

She saw that what he said was true for, even then, the men were close at hand, and a moment later they were surrounded.

"What yer doin' out here?" the leader, whom they at once recognized as Hains, demanded.

"Just taking a little ride," Bob told him.

"Be, eh. Well, suppose you take another back the way yer came."

"We were just going to," Bob said as he vaulted into his saddle.

"Wait a minute," Hains demanded. "You got a feller by the name o' Royce at the ranch, ain't yer?"

"What if we have?" Bob asked easily.

"A lot of it. I want him, that's what."

"Then you'd better come and get him."

"I don't have ter. Yer agoin' ter send him ter me."

"What makes you think so?"

"I don't have ter think so, I know it."

"Indeed."

Bob could keep his temper down as well as most boys but he was a bit nettled by the man's assurance and could not help showing it.

"Indeed I'll show yer," Hains snapped. "You two youngsters get out o' here while the gettin's good. The girl stays with us."

"What?"

"Yer heard me. Git."

"But--"

"Thar's no buts about it. When I say git I mean git."

Bob could see that the man meant business and his heart sunk within him. He was no coward but what could he and Jack do against six armed men? And yet, to desert the girl, even under the circumstances, seemed to him impossible.

"What are you going to do with her?" he asked.

"Keep her till Royce comes back ter me."

"Why not keep me instead?" Bob asked eagerly.

"Nuthin' doin'. We're goin' ter keep the girl an' yer can tell her father that when he gives that guy Royce up ter us he kin have his gal back and not afore."

"I won't go," Bob asserted stoutly.

"You might as well, Bob," Sue broke in. "They've got me and you can't help it."

"But, Sue, I can't leave you like this," he protested.

"I reckon as how yer kin an' what's more yer a goin' ter an' pronto too. Git hold of her reins, Jim, an' be off with yer. I'll tend ter these kids," Hains ordered.

The man called Jim rode up beside Sue and, taking hold of her reins, spoke to his horse and at once started back toward the hills followed by the rest with the exception of the leader.

"Haven't you any manhood?" Bob asked scornfully.

"I've got six hunks o' lead in this gun if yer don't do what I say," Hains growled. "An' I'll give yer just one minute ter start goin'."

The man had the gun in his hand and, seeing that resistance would be folly, Bob turned to Jack.

"Come on, Jack."

But before giving the word to Satan he looked the man full in the eyes and said:

"You dare to harm one hair of her head and I'll get you if it's the last thing I ever do."

"Git."

"This is awful, Jack," Bob groaned as soon as they were out of hearing.

"I'll say it's awful and then some," Jack repeated. "But I can't see that it was our fault."

"No time to argue about that now. We must get to the ranch as soon as possible and give the alarm."

They were riding side by side while talking but now Bob spoke to Satan and the horse seemed to spurn the ground beneath his feet as he drew away from Jack. Bob never could seem to remember much about that wild ride home. His brain seemed dulled by the calamity and all he was able to think was, "How can I tell her father?"

Jeb was on the porch reading a paper as Bob, his horse covered with lather, dashed in at the gate.

"Sue," he gasped as he threw himself from the saddle.

Jeb sprang to his feet. "What about her?" he shouted.

"They--they've got her."

"Who has?"

"Hains and his gang."

"Give it to me quick," Jeb demanded, and, with hanging head, Bob told him what had happened.

The man did not say a word until he had finished.

"It's bad, mighty bad," he declared as Bob came to the end of his tale.

"I--I," Bob began.

"No, you're not to blame. You did all you could. I know you'd have saved her had it been possible. Did he say how long he'd wait?"

"No, he set no time limit. He only said that when Royce came back to him he'd let Sue go."

"But he'll kill the boy," Jeb groaned.

"Do--do you think so?" Bob stammered.

"I'm afraid so."

"Well, he'll have the chance."

Royce was standing in the doorway as they looked up.

"You mean--?"

"That I'm going to Hains at once, of course."

There was no trace of bravado in his voice as he made the statement, only a fixed determination.

"But--" Jeb began.

"There's no room for buts," Royce declared. "You don't suppose I'd be enough of a skunk to allow your daughter to suffer after what you've done for me. Thank God I've got some manhood left."

Jeb could say nothing more but dropped his head into his hand as Royce turned back into the house to come out again almost immediately hatted and booted.

"I reckon I'll have to take one of the horses," he said as he paused a moment beside the two. Then, as Jeb nodded his head, he went on: "I want to thank you both for what you did for me and if I never see you again, I'll never forget you, never."

He was gone, running toward the corral, before either Jeb or Bob could find words to answer him and, a moment later, they saw him ride out mounted on a roan, the poorest horse on the ranch.

"There goes a brave man to his death," Jeb groaned.

"While there's life there's hope," Bob quoted.

Just outside the gate Royce met Jack.

"Where you goin?" Jack shouted.

"Just for a ride," the other called back. "Goodbye if I don't see you again," and with a wave of his hand he was gone.

"Was he going to give himself up to Hains?" Jack asked a moment later as he joined Bob and Jeb on the porch.

"Yes," Jeb replied sadly.

"But what--?"

"I know, but what could I do?" Jeb groaned.

"You did just right and so did he," Bob declared. "But we must do something and do it quick."

"What can we do?" Jeb asked looking up.

"Get the boys and follow him just as soon as he gets far enough away so he won't see us."

"But he'll get out of sight in the hills long before we can get there," Jack objected.

"Of course we'll have to take the chance of finding him. Remember he doesn't know where Hains' hiding place is."

"Then how does he expect to find him?"

"I don't know. Do you suppose he thought of that?" Bob asked turning to Jeb.

"I doubt if he did. But it's more'n likely that Hains will have a man on the watch for him. In fact I imagine he knows that he's coming before this."

"Then he'd see us if we start before dark," Jack suggested.

"Another chance we'll have to take, but, man, we've got to do something."

"Surest thing you know. I wasn't hinting at not going," Jack assured him.

"I know that," Bob said quickly. "But how soon do you think we'd better start?" he asked turning to Jeb.

"I'd say pretty soon," Jeb replied rising from his chair. "You boys go and tell the others about it and send one of them after the boys who are on shift and tell them to leave two on guard and the rest follow us. I'll get my boots on and be ready by the time you get them rounded up."

The night shift had been inside the shack eating dinner and so had seen nothing of Royce as he left nor had they seen the boys return. Great was the excitement when Bob burst in and told them what had happened.

"The miserable skunks! Just wait till I get my hands on 'em," Grumpy shouted as he jumped up and strapped his gun belt about his waist.

"Thar won't be enough left of that Hains guy ter sling a cat at when I get through with him," Slats declared as he followed suit.

Many other remarks of like character were uttered as they were getting ready but the boys were already on their way back to the house. They found Jeb waiting for them and in a few minutes the boys came with horses.

"Spike's gone fer the others," Slats called out as he rode up.

"Then I reckon we'd better be on our way," Jeb said. "But," he added, "we'll take it easy first along."

"Fer why?" Slats asked indignantly.

"I suspect Hains or one of his men is watching from the hills to see if Royce is coming and we want to give him time to quit before we get over the rise," Jeb explained.

"But s'pose he don't quit?" Slats asked.

"Then he'll see us and, of course that'll make it harder but I don't see as we can help it. If we wait too long we'll likely lose him."

"We'll find him all right," Stubby shouted encouragingly.

"I hope so," Jeb returned soberly.

They started off at an easy lope and hardly a word was spoken until they reached the top of the rise.

"There he is," Bob said pointing toward the distant hills.

They could see Royce about half way between where they were and the hills and they knew that he was making the best time possible with the horse he had.