With caution the boys approached the edge of the ravine and looked over.
They saw a spot where the dirt, rocks, and bushes had torn loose and slid down to the bottom of the hollow, carrying with the ma.s.s three of Mr. Endicott"s herd of cattle. Two of the herd had been driven up to safety by the cowboys, but the third--the vicious steer--was still below, unable to help himself, and showing fight whenever approached by the ranch hands.
"I see him!" announced Phil, pointing with his hand to some rocks below.
"He looks peaceful enough."
"So does a bomb--until it goes off," answered Dave. "The cowboys wouldn"t be afraid of him unless he was a bad one. Maybe he is really crazy. I"ve heard of a crazy horse."
"Say, that puts me in mind of a story Shadow Hamilton told," came from the senator"s son. "A boy in school was a regular blockhead, and one day the teacher asked him what made him so foolish. "I dunno," he answered, "excepting that my mother makes me sleep under a crazy quilt.""
"Say, that"s like Shadow!" cried Phil, after a laugh all around. "Wish he was here--what stories he would tell!"
For some little time the boys could not see the men, who were hidden by the rocks and brushwood. But presently they caught sight of Sid Todd. He was flourishing a stick at the steer. The animal paid no attention at first, but presently commenced to shake his head from side to side.
"Doesn"t like it," was Roger"s comment.
"He seems to be saying "No" quite forcibly," added Dave.
"Now Todd is after him," cried the shipowner"s son a minute later. "See, the steer is on the move at last."
"Yes, but he is going after Todd!" answered Roger.
Such was the fact, and presently man and beast disappeared behind some brushwood. Then, when they emerged again, it was seen that the cowboy had la.s.soed the animal by one of the forelegs. He was mounting the rocks, and the steer was limping behind, trying vainly to shake himself free. He did not seem to know enough to hold back altogether.
"Well, I think that rather dangerous!" declared Phil. "Supposing the steer should run for him?"
"I guess the cowboy knows what he is doing," answered Dave. "If he is pursued, he can easily scramble up on some of the steep rocks and get out of the way."
For fully ten minutes they watched the scene below them with interest.
At one time the cowboy would appear to have the best of the situation, then it looked as if the steer would have his own way. But gradually man and beast worked up toward the top of the ravine.
"He"ll worry the steer along, if he doesn"t get too tired," said Dave.
"But it must be a fearful strain on him."
The strain was heavier than the boys antic.i.p.ated and several times Sid Todd was on the point of giving up the struggle. Perhaps, had he been alone, he might have done so. But, with the others looking on, he felt that his reputation was at stake, and so he worried along, until he suddenly slipped on some rocks and fell flat.
As he went down, the steer appeared to realize the man"s helplessness, and with a weird snort he rushed forward, the la.s.so becoming tangled up on the front leg as he advanced.
"Look out, Sid!" yelled Yates. "He"s goin" to hook yer!"
Todd had been a little stunned by his fall, and a bit of brushwood hid the animal from his view. But at the cry of alarm from the other ranch hand he realized his peril and rolled over, between two tall rocks.
On came the steer and struck one of the rocks a blow that resounded loudly through the ravine. Then the beast gave a leap, directly over Todd"s body, and landed on the rocks beyond.
"Is he hurt?" asked Roger, anxiously.
"I don"t know, but I don"t think so," answered Dave.
"See, the steer is coming right up the side of the ravine!" cried Phil.
"He is dragging the la.s.so after him."
"Yes, and he is coming this way!" put in the senator"s son. "Perhaps we had better get out of the way!" he added, in alarm.
"Oh, I don"t think he"ll tackle us," answered Phil.
"There is no telling what he will do," said Dave. "He is coming to the top, that is sure. Maybe we had better get into the saddle. We"ll be safer on horseback."
The horses of the three boys were tethered some distance away, and as mentioned before, the lads had to move slowly, for fear of stepping into some hole. As they advanced they heard loud cries coming up from the bottom of the ravine.
"What can be wrong down there now?" questioned the shipowner"s son.
"I don"t know," returned Roger. "Perhaps they are shouting to warn us."
"That is just what they are doing!" added Dave, quickly. "Listen!"
"Look out, up there!" came from the ravine. "Look out! The steer is coming!"
The boys quickened their pace, but hardly had they covered half the distance to where the horses were tied when Roger suddenly slipped and went down.
"Hurry up!" called out Phil, who was near.
"Oh!" moaned the senator"s son, and his face took on a look of pain.
"What"s wrong?" asked Dave, coming up.
"My foot! It got twisted, and now it is fast in the hole!" answered Roger. "Gracious! how it hurts!" he went on, making a wry face.
"Come! come!" urged Dave. "That steer is coming! There he is now!" And he pointed to the lower end of the ravine, where the animal had just bobbed up among the bushes, shaking his head from side to side in a queer, uncanny way.
Roger tried to pull his foot from between the rocks, but was unable to do so. Phil had run on, thinking his chums would follow. Dave stopped short.
"Can"t you make it, Roger?" he asked, anxiously, and with another glance in the direction of the steer. The animal was now in full view.
"I--I--don"t seem to be--be able to!" panted the senator"s son. "Oh, if only that steer doesn"t come this way!" he went on, in fresh alarm.
"He is coming this way!" exclaimed Dave. "Oh, Roger, let me help you!"
And now he bent over and tried with might and main to get his chum"s foot free. As he did this the steer came forward slowly. Then the animal gave an unexpected snort of rage and charged full tilt at the helpless youth.
CHAPTER XIV
A FACE PUZZLES DAVE
It was a time of extreme peril for Roger, and no one realized it more fully than did Dave. The angry steer was still some distance away, but coming forward at his best speed. One prod from those horns and the senator"s son would be killed or badly hurt.
As said before, Phil had gone on, thinking his chums would follow. He was already at the side of his horse, and speedily untied the animal, and vaulted into the saddle.