Goldfrap John Henry - The Border Boys with the Texas Rangers стр 5.

But of Shortys fury the boys were ignorant, for they quickly mounted and clattered back up the trail with the rest of the Rangers. On their return to the camp, as soon as each little pony had been given his generous allowance of hay, they found that supper was ready, the Chinaman announcing the fact by beating on a tin dishpan and shouting:

Come getee! Come getee!

None of the Rangers needed any second invitation; nor did the boys need any pressing to make hearty meals. Bacon, salted beef, beans, hot biscuits and strong coffee formed the bill of fare. After the meal had been dispatched Captain Atkinson beckoned to Jack and his companions, and they followed him a little apart from the rest of the Rangers who were singing songs and telling stories around a big camp fire, for the night was quite chilly.

Since you lads have joined us to learn all you can of the life of a Texas Ranger, he said, I think that you had better start in as soon as possible.

Right away if necessary, responded Jack enthusiastically.

Thats my idea, struck in Walt Phelps.

Cant make it too soon for me, captain, added Ralph, not a whit less eager than the others.

Very well, then, smiled the captain of the Rangers, you will go on sentry duty tonight, and tomorrow I shall see that you have some other work assigned to you.

Do we do we have to do sentry duty all night? asked Ralph, in a rather dubious tone.

No, indeed. That would never do. You must get your sleep. For that reason we divide the hours of darkness into regular watches. There are four of these. I shall assign you to go out with the first guard, said Captain Atkinson to Jack, and then in turn he informed Walt Phelps and Ralph Stetson that their assignments would come with the second and third watches respectively.

Jack was all eagerness to begin, and when at eight oclock he and six of the Rangers rode out of the camp toward the river his heart throbbed with anticipation of the duty before him. The men were in charge of one of their number named Baldy Sears. This Baldy was quite a character and had determined to give Jack a thorough testing out. As they rode out, the boy questioned Baldy eagerly about his duties, but didnt get much satisfaction.

As a matter of fact, Baldy entertained quite a contempt for Tenderfeet, as he called the boys, and was rather annoyed at having to take Jack out and act as school marm, as he phrased it.

They reached the river by the same trail that they had descended to water their ponies earlier that evening. As it was still dusk they rode down it without accident. In fact, the Rangers hardly appeared to notice its dangers. Jack, however, wondered how it would be possible to descend it in the dark without mishap. But, then, he recollected the surefootedness and uncommon intelligence of the average western pony, and realized that if given a loose rein, there probably was not a cayuse in the outfit that could not negotiate it without difficulty.

Now, then, said Baldy, when they reached the bottom of the path, line up and Ill give you your orders. You, Red Saunders, ride east with Sam, and Ed. Ricky, you and Big Foot ride to the west and keep patrolling. Ill take the young maverick here with me. If any of you gets in trouble or wants assistance fire three shots. I reckon thats all.

The men rode off into the night, and then Baldy and Jack were left alone.

Got a shootin iron with you, young feller? inquired Baldy.

A what? returned Jack.

Waal, if you aint the tenderfootedest of tenderfeets, scoffed Baldy; a shootin iron a gun!

Why, no, I didnt think it necessary to bring one, rejoined Jack. I dont like carrying firearms unless they are needful. Do you think that anything will happen in which firearms would be useful?

Firearms is always useful along the Rio, returned Baldy, I dunno if the cap told you, but were here on special duty tonight.

Dangerous duty? asked Jack.

You cant most genally sometimes allers tell, vouchsafed Baldy, examining the magazine of his rifle which he had taken from its saddle holster for the purpose.

CHAPTER V.

JACKS CHANCE

You mean that there is a chance of our being attacked?

Jack put the question in rather an anxious tone. But for some reason Baldy only grunted in reply.

Im going back to camp to git you a gun, he said; you stay right here till I get back.

Very well, Mr. Baldy, rejoined the boy, in as conciliatory a tone as possible.

Dont mister me. I aint got no handle to my name and dont never expect to have, grunted Baldy, as he swung his pony and rode off.

As Jack listened to the retreating hoof beats he felt strangely lonely. It was very dark down in the cañon, and the steely blue stars seemed very far away. Only the rushing of the water of the river disturbed the boys thoughts while he awaited Baldys return.

Hes not very lively company, he admitted to himself, but its better than being all alone. Wish Ralph or Walt had been ordered to share my watch.

But the next moment he was scolding himself.

For shame, Jack Merrill, he said, heres the first bit of duty youve been put to, and here you are complaining already. Its got to stop right here and now, and hello, what was that?

The boy broke off short, as through the darkness of the cañon he caught an odd sound from the river.

What can that sound be? he said to himself. It seems familiar, too. Where have I heard something like it before?

Then all of a sudden it dawned upon him what the odd noise was.

It was the splash of oars. But what could a boat be doing on the river at that time of night, and in such a place? Jack was asking himself these questions when he became aware of some words being spoken at a short distance from him. He recognized the language instantly. The men who were conversing were talking in Spanish, of which tongue Jack had a fair working knowledge, as we know.

He was in the darker shadow of the cañon wall and therefore, of course, quite invisible to whoever was on the river, and who had apparently come to a stop almost opposite to his station. He quickly slipped from his pony, and taking advantage of the brush that grew almost to the waters edge, he crawled along on his stomach in the direction of the unseen men.

At last he gained a position where he could hear them quite distinctly, and could even see their figures bulking up blackly in the general gloom. But what they were doing he could not imagine, and when he finally did find out he received the surprise of his life.

Listening to their talk, Jack heard them speaking of Rosario, the leader of the insurgents in that quarter of the Mexican Republic, and apparently they were discussing some mission on which they had been dispatched.

He heard the Rangers mentioned, and then came some information that was new to him. The Federal troops of Mexico were hot on the heels of the insurgent army, and the rebels were planning to bring the coming battle on to American soil if possible, in order to force the interference of Uncle Sam.

Evidently the men knew of the presence of the Rangers in the locality, and, by listening, Jack soon learned that they were there acting as spies in order to find out how strongly the Border was guarded at that point. Finally they strode off cautiously into the darkness, apparently with the object of reconnoitering the vicinity.

This was Jacks chance. Without a moments hesitation he made his way to the river bank and found that a large raft had been moored there. It was evidently on this that the spies had made their way down the stream from some point above. The raft was formed roughly of tree trunks, but appeared to be of stout construction. Some long oars for navigating it lay on the logs; but Jack, in his hasty search, could not see anything on board that might be of interest to Captain Atkinson.