Ralphson George Harvey - Boy Scouts on the Open Plains; The Round-Up Not Ordered стр 20.

He had grayish hair and a scraggy beard; his face was ugly, and his eyes, like those of a rat for keenness and audacity. Taken in all, he was as tough looking a character as the scouts had run across in many a day.

Wot dye mean a holdin a man up thisaway, when he jest natrally draps in to arsk who killed them pets o hisn? the wolf-herder blurted out, though careful not to take his hands down, for he knew that Jack was still covering him with that dangerous looking repeating rifle, and there was an air of business about the weapon that warned him not to get careless.

Oh! you can lower your hands now, if you want, Jack sang out, because were all on deck and could riddle your hide with lead if you tried to use your gun. So just take things easy now, Mr. Harkness, if thats your name.

It air! growled the man, staring hard at each boy in turn, as though he did not know what to make of their khaki uniforms and was a little afraid he had run up against a detachment of United States regulars.

And I reckon then that all these dead wolves belonged to you? Ned went on to remark, as he swept his hand around.

The man said something hard under his breath.

Ye gone an busted up my bizness, thets wot ye done, wen ye laid out tuh kill the animiles! he complained, as he gritted his yellow teeth very much as one of the wounded wolves had done at Neds approach.

That couldnt be helped, Harkness, the scout master told him. Your wolves had broken out, and you couldnt expect to ever trap many of them again, at the best. They came at us like fury, and we had to defend ourselves, or wed have been torn to pieces like a flash. And thats why this happened. We werent out hunting for trouble; but youve lost you pack on account of a weak place in your pen.

But aint yuh meanin tuh pay me anything fo shootin up my pets thisaways? Harkness demanded, trying to look fierce, though keeping an eye on Jack with his ready gun.

Jimmy laughed out very loud.

Would you be after hearing the nerve of him, fellers? he exclaimed in derision. Tis meself that thinks it sounds like adding insult to injury. After lettin the pack loose to make a square meal from us, then askin pay, because we had to fight to save our precious lives. Tis a rare joke, it is not on your tintype, Mister Harkness. Our principle is millions for defense, not a plunk for tribute. So put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Youve got a lot of assurance, Harkness, Ned told him, severely, to think of asking such a thing. Why, the boot is on the other foot, and we ought to be demanding that you pay us back for all the ammunition it took to clean up your pack for you. Im half inclined to believe we could prosecute you for keeping such a lot of savage animals. Youd be wise to go mighty slow about trying to make trouble for any of us. We might take a notion to run you in.

The mans whole demeanor changed when he discovered that his bluster was not going to alarm the scouts.

I hopes now, he went on to say in a whining tone, thet yuh wont keep me from taking the pelts off my poor pets. Theys worth sumpin tuh me, likewise the scalps o the same. I been bankin on thet money this long time. Hits all I got tuh see me through the winter. Dont be too hard on me, gents. Im out o the wolf raisin line fo keeps, arter this bust-up.

Ned consulted with his chums for a minute or two and then turned again to the intruder.

Heres what we propose to have you do, Harkness, he remarked, with such an air of finality that the man knew he must yield to circumstances, hand over that gun of yours to me; youll get it again in the morning, when we break camp. Then lie down and go to sleep. One of us will be on the watch all the time, so if you try any monkey-doodle business, as Jimmy here would call it, better go slow, or something will happen. Do you understand that, Harkness?

The mans ugly face grew as black as a thunder cloud, and then with an effort he tried to grin, though it only added to his unsavory appearance.

Thar be times wen a feller has tuh eat crow an I reckons as how this be sech a time fo me, younker, he said, slowly. Oh! I haint no jections tuh stayin hyar alongside the fire; but I hopes as how yuhll let me hev my pelts wen monin comes long.

Yes, well agree to that and, if you behave, you can take your property after we clear out in the morning. Perhaps well go so far as to invite you to breakfast, too, in the bargain, Harkness, to show that we have no bad feelings because your pack made us have a pretty hot session to-night. So thats settled. Your gun, please.

The wolf-herder handed it over, though with an ill grace. No doubt, he was what they call a bad man down in the Southwest, and this thing of being made a prisoner by a parcel

of half-grown boys, as it seemed, galled him greatly.

After that he dropped down near the fire, clasped both arms about his knees and stared moodily into the flames.

Jack, seems to me youve outstayed the time limit we set, Ned suggested, after taking a quick look up to where the moon was sailing through a star-decked sky; for scouts early learn to tell time from the positions of heavenly bodies, and the setting of a star will be almost as sure an indication that a certain hour has arrived as though a watch had been consulted.