A Man Four-Square

a-Buck

for Bill

ay here trailed with Sieber. I want you an' him to scout in front of us an'

man of few wo

tras in place of that broomtail he's ridin'," continued the drover. "Look alive now. I don't want my cattle stamp

just before daybreak, but it is just as wel

have 'em loaded an' distribute 'em among the boys. Billie, tell Ya

their way to the remuda. Joe gave a snort of derision, but let it go at tha

ncher was a long-bodied man, smooth-muscled and lithe. The boy had liked his level eye a

the year. Both had already given proofs of their ability to look out for themselves in emergency. A wise, cool head rested on each of these pairs of young shoulders. In this connection it is worth men

rming it. He examined the hoofs of the horse and felt its legs carefully. He looked well to

, looks like,

in the remuda-not

se into the air, humped its back, and came down with all four legs stiff. The quirt burned its flank, and the anima

h the unreasoning impulse of the half-broken co

s were still there Thursday thought altogether likely, for he knew that it takes a week to make

te that pushed out as a salient into the plain. From i

s drive the boss stopped an' bought a bunch of three-year-olds from him. He's got a daughter that's sure a pippin, old

d him. In the soft sand of the wash were tracks of horses' hoofs. Patiently the trailer followed the

his son Jean after str

ere, how it's broken off

rday, this was on

se are 'P

es

own young face had been stricken gray. Bleak fear lay in the gray eyes. His c

ven. Not s

w o

here not an

hope had been lit in t

me to help yet. K

en wily savages? But it was the sort of madness that he loved. His soul went out in a gush of warm, boyish admiration to Billie Prince. It was the beginning of a friendship that was to endure, in spite of rivalry and division and misunderstanding, through many turbid years of trouble. This was no affair of theirs. Webb had sent them out to protect the cattle d

he faint sound of a shot. It was

s on," crie

o the ca?on his companion caught up with him. From the rock wal

e standin' 'em of

by surprise? Is there any

to find out. I'm goin'

ranchman was in desperate case and in need of immediate help

lders and cottonwoods, the Indian line stretched across the gorge and along one wall. The buildings lay in a little valley, where an arroyo

man could throw a shot quicker than Jim Thursday, if the stories still told of him around camp-fires are true. Now he did not wait to take sight, but fired from his hip.

selves from their hor

d caught them in a trap. Between two fires, with one line of retreat cut off, the bronco Apaches wasted no time in deliberation.

s of the ponies. Without saddle or bridle, except for the simple nose rope, they guided their mo

e his horse was splashing through the creek the Mescaler

its head. With a "Yip-Yip!" of triumph Thursday drew a bead on the man as he rose and dodged forwa

imself to the back of a pony already carrying one rider

o Injun," he cal

o the saddle-back between two p

at moment while they watched her she realized for the first time her danger. She turned to fly, and

sure git her!" cried Bil

while his weight rested on the wounded foot as he dragged himself to the saddle.

he young men used the spur, for the chase might develop into a long one with stamina the deciding factor.

ither of the young men wasted powder in answer. They knew that close-range wo

is partner, a moment later, knew the reason for it. One of the Apache

d never have reached the valley right side up. It was a stretch of broken shale with much loose rubble. The soft sandstone farther along

o doubt, one or more ca?ons cut like sword clefts. The cowpunchers had picked mounts, b

al. It looked for a moment as if the raiders were going to make a stand, but presently their purpose became clear to those in pursuit. The one that Billie had picked for a renegade wh

time. The pursuers, thundering across the valley, h

a ca?on. Here they pulled up to check the cowboys, who sl

. "We combed it for cattle last year. About three miles up it runs in

oss the back of his pony, and took careful aim. An Indian plunged from his hors

. "You got him right.

Buck Ca?

tion and changed their minds about holding th

"They don't like the way we fog 'em and

He swung astride and found the stirrup. A puff of smoke came from the entrance to the gulc

ad

dle. His friend helped him to the

an' you'll be good as ne

toward the gorge. No

e hands of those devils can't. Are you

rec

y took. Where the gulches come together be waitin' an' git 'em from the

me fine. I'll go earn that name I

watched the youngster disappear at