Ralphson George Harvey - Boy Scouts on the Open Plains; The Round-Up Not Ordered стр 19.

If theres even two dollars apiece, it would net a feller thirty plunks right now, to raise the hair of this bunch, speculated Jimmy.

But we dont want to go into the wolf scalping business, do we, Ned? expostulated Harry, who viewed the idea with considerable disgust.

Certainly not, replied the scout master. Let Harkness come and get his property if he wants, for all of us. Weve saved him all the trouble of cleaning up his pack. He ought to thank us for it; but, if what Amos here says about him is true, I dont believe he will.

Well, said Jack, frowning, hed better not get too gay and try to blame us for cleaning out the pack, because we wont stand

any abuse. It was a case of give and take. They meant to pull us down and make a fine meal; and they got what was coming to them. Harkness had better go slow how he complains.

I was wondering, mused Ned, as he settled down comfortably again, just as though nothing worth mentioning had happened to disturb him, whether anything had come to Harkness?

How could there? demanded Jimmy.

Oh! of course, I dont know, but then it might be the wolves had caught him off his guard and torn him to pieces before they skipped out. If we have time, perhaps we ought to go around that way and see if theres anything wrong.

The others did not seem to look at it in the same light that Ned was doing.

A waste of time, Ned, Jack declared, vehemently.

Thats what I say, added Harry.

Cant see what it matters to us whether the old rascal has been hoisted by his own infernal machine or not! grumbled Jimmy.

But dont forget that were scouts, Ned continued impressively, and that we ought to follow the scout law which teaches us to do good, even to our enemies, if the chance opens up.

After weve licked the same good and plenty, I admit, Jimmy spoke up, with one of his famous grins decorating his freckled face and a twinkle in his eye. Praps youre right, Ned; and, as weve upset the old mans business, we could call that a lickin and let her go at that. If youre of the same mind in the mornin, tell me. But say, I blieve I could snatch a few winks right now, since things have calmed down.

Save for the distant mournful howling of several of the hungry wolves nothing was to be heard all around them. So after arranging for keeping watch and watch, the scouts turned in. Amos snuggled down alongside them; while Jack, upon whom had fallen the choice for the first spell at playing sentry, settled his back up against a tree, laid his ready gun across his knees, and prepared to do his duty.

The fire burned brightly for a long time and Jack sat there thinking of many things connected with both the past and the immediate future. Doubtless, he felt that it began to look as though they were not yet through with hazards and adventures on this trip, when, on what was practically their first night out on the open plain, they had been so savagely beset by Harkness escaped wolf pack.

By degrees even the distant howling of the few survivors died away, as they no doubt started for the distant mountains, afraid to come back to the scene of the recent carnage, even though the scent of blood must have tempted them dreadfully.

Jimmy had gone to sleep immediately he lay down, for he never knew the time when he could not forget his troubles in sweet slumber. Once or twice he managed to get on his back and aroused Ned by his heavy breathing. On these occasions the scout master was in the habit of giving the offender a sharp punch in the ribs and it seemed as though Jimmy understood what was wanted, even in his sleep, for he would inevitably turn over on his side.

Ned had just been through the third experience of this kind and was wondering whether he had not better suggest that they always tie Jimmy in a certain position as he lay down to sleep, when he heard a voice close by.

As Ned instantly sat up he recognized the tones as belonging to Pard Jack, who was evidently laying down the law to some party:

Hold up your hands, you there in the bushes, and step right up to the fire, or Ill shoot; and, let me tell you, this gun goes straight! Lively now, Mister, and no foolishness! Oh! Ned! come here, will you? Weve got a visitor!

CHAPTER VIII. AN UNWELCOME GUEST

Here, whos doin that now? broke from Jimmys lips, and then, no doubt, he suddenly realized that there was something up, for he saw Ned poking the fire, holding his gun in the other hand, and Harry also standing erect, armed in the same manner.

Accordingly, Jimmy made haste to discover his gun and follow after them. In the meantime, the dusky figure among the bushes which Jack was covering had stood erect and started to advance toward the fire, as ordered, holding his hands high above his head.

Its Harkness! cried out the kid puncher, who had been on his feet about as soon as Ned; and, somehow, no one was much surprised at the information thus conveyed.

Ned saw that Harkness was just about such a looking man as one might picture if asked to describe a wolf-raiser.