Ralphson George Harvey - Boy Scouts on the Open Plains; The Round-Up Not Ordered стр 13.

Jimmy only grinned. He did not know whether Jack was joking or not, but there seemed to be something complimentary in his way of talking; and Jimmy was not at all averse to being known as a champion wolf killer.

I only hope I get a chance to see this Harkness and his bunch of slick critters before we quit this neck of the woods, he remarked. But as I aint a butcher you neednt think that Id ask him to let me cut down his list with my new Marlin gun. Out in the open Im death on the sneakers every time; but itd go against my grain to knock em over, when they hadnt got any show for their money. I never could do the axe business for a chicken at home, even when we were livin in the country.

Oh! well, you must excuse me for speaking of such a thing, Jimmy, said Jack, with assumed gravity; I was mistaken, thats all, in sizing you up. Appearances are often deceitful, you know, and things dont always turn out as they seem. Now, few people looking at you would ever dream that they were gazing on a marvelous phenomenon. I guess you caught that trick from association with Ned, here, and Jack might have continued along that vein still further had he not been nudged sharply by the scout master, and heard Ned mutter:

Mums the word, Jack. Dont tell all you know!

This brought him to his senses, for he remembered that there was a stranger present, and that it had been decided not to expose their full hand to the gaze of Amos, at least for the present.

In this fashion the time passed.

All of the scouts were in a humor to vote that one of the most delightful camps they had ever been in. Perhaps this partly arose from the great contrast it afforded when compared with recent nights passed under the most trying of conditions, when crossing the desert, and the terrible valley lying to the east of it.

Amos had a blanket along with him. Apparently the lad was accustomed to sleeping by himself on the open plain, and always went prepared. Things were not as pleasant as they might be at his cabin home, frequently enough; and besides this, he must be possessed of a wandering nature, feeling perfectly satisfied to take care of himself, and capable of doing it, too.

They were still lying around the dying fire, and each waiting for some one else to take the lead in mentioning such a thing as going to sleep, when Amos suddenly sat upright.

Ned noticed that he had his head cocked on one side, and appeared to be in the attitude of listening for a repetition of some sound that may have struck his acute hearing.

There it comes again, Amos remarked. You see, the wind has veered around that way more or less; but say, twelve miles as the crow flies is pretty hefty of a distance to hear that pack give tongue, seems to me.

Ned had caught it that time.

You must mean the wolves that Harkness keeps shut up in his pen for breeding purposes, is that it, Amos? he inquired.

Nothing more nor less than that, came the reply.

There, I caught it as plain as anything then! acknowledged Jimmy, with a vein of triumph and satisfaction in his voice, as though he did not mean to be left at the post, when the whole bunch was running swiftly.

Whew! they do make a racket, when theyre excited, for a fact! declared Jack.

Is it the wolves youre talking about? asked Harry.

Dont you be hearing the noise beyond there? Jimmy asked him. Praps now, meat is so scarce that the old mans put his pets on half rations, and the whoopin we hear is meant for a protest.

Well, what of that? Jack wanted to know; I guess youd raise a bigger howl than that, Jimmy, if we tried to put you on half rations. I can fancy how youd be trying to lift the roof off, and theyd have to call the fire company out to

soak you with their hose so as to make you stop. But dont get alarmed, Jimmy, because none of us have any intention that way.

They sat there and listened for several minutes. No doubt, Jimmy was endeavoring to picture in his mind what the den of trapped wolves must look like; and at the same time, he was promising himself once more to try and visit the Harkness place before leaving the country. He would like to be able to say he had set eyes on so strange a thing as a wolf ranch.

Harry began to yawn, and stretch tremendously.

What ails you fellows; dont any of you expect to crawl into your blankets and pick up a little sleep? Talking may be all very well, but it doesnt rest you up any. Ned, why dont you tell Jimmy to sound taps, all lights out so the rest of us can adjourn? As long as Jimmys afloat to do the grand talking act, it isnt any use trying to go to sleep, because you just cant.

Jimmy seemed ready to take up that challenge, and entered upon an argument calculated to prove that he was a mild mannered individual alongside of some people he could mention, though not wanting to give names. Ned, however, put his foot down.

Harrys right this time, Jimmy, and you know it. So make up your mind to simmer down, and keep the rest for another time. Well find a soft spot and see how well this ground lies. And we ought to make up some for lost sleep to-night, with that soft breeze blowing, and the air getting fresher right along.