If Bud and the others expected to engage in a sharp fight as soon as they reached the scene, they were disappointed. True, the sheep herders became aware of their arrival, and there was some talk, and not a little excitement, among the Greasers. But there were no hostile acts, and no attempt was made to drive over any sheep.
"I wonder if there is a ford here?" said Yellin" Kid.
"I reckon there is," said Snake Purdee. "You can see where it has been used," and he pointed to marks on their bank of the stream.
"They either know about this place, or they"ve made some tests and are satisfied that it"s safe," declared Bud.
"But if what Lanky says is true, though it may have been safe early this morning, it might not be safe now," said d.i.c.k.
"That"s true, but I think they"ll take a chance," Bud declared. "There isn"t fodder enough on that side to last the sheep very long."
This was perfectly true, and it was evident that the herders would endeavor to get their woolly charges on the other side of the stream as soon as possible, to take advantage of the rich grazing on the open range, newly made available to all comers.
"But I thought when the government opened new land it could only be taken by citizens, or those about to become citizens," questioned d.i.c.k, when, as they watched the sheep herders, they talked over the situation.
"That is the law," said Bud. "But down here you"ll find the law doesn"t amount to much when a man wants a thing. He generally goes and gets it, and thinks about the law afterward. That"s why Dad has to do what he is doing. If the law was as tight here as it is in the east, he could get out an injunction, or something, against these herders, and stand them off until he could find his papers proving his claim."
"Think he"ll ever find "em?" asked Nort.
Bud shook his head.
"It"s hard telling," he answered.
Meanwhile there appeared to be "nothing doing" among the sheep herders.
They had gathered their flocks together and were making a rough camp, as if they intended to stay for some time.
Then, about an hour later, Billee arrived with a couple of his cowboys, bringing food for Bud and his comrades--food that was greatly appreciated, for it was a long time since supper the night before.
The boy ranchers ate and waited. Still there was no action on the part of the Greasers. They appeared content to wait for something to "turn up," as Mr. Micawber would say.
"What are we going to do when they start to cross?" asked Nort.
"That"s so--we"d better make a plan," added d.i.c.k.
"Shall we fire at the men, their horses or the sheep?" Bud wanted to know.
"Fire at everything and everybody!" decided Snake vindictively. "We"ve got to break up the first rush."
"And yet it seems too bad to kill innocent animals," went on Bud. "Do you know, I have an idea!" he cried.
"No? Really?" asked d.i.c.k with a playful attempt at sarcasm.
"Sure I have," Bud went on. "What we want to do is to drive them back, isn"t if?"
"That"s it," said Billee. "We not only want to drive "em back, but we want to discourage "em from coming over again."
"Then I think I know what will do the trick!" went on Bud. "It won"t be powder and bullets, either," he added. "We won"t have to kill anything or anybody."
"How you going to do it?" asked Snake, a bit skeptical.
"I"ll show you," said Bud. "Wait until I make one."
His companions wondered what his scheme might be. The older cowboys were great believers in the efficacy of the .45, and they had their guns ready.
But Bud busied himself with some things he took from a bundle he carried on his saddle. d.i.c.k and Nort saw their cousin had some strong rubber bands, bits of cord, squares of leather and a Y-shaped branch he cut from a cottonwood tree.
"Say, are you making a sling shot?" asked d.i.c.k.
"That"s just what I"m making," answered Bud. "If we each have a slingshot, and a supply of stones, I think we can turn the Greasers and their horses, as well as the sheep back without killing any of "em!"
For a moment they regarded Bud in silence. Then Nort cried:
"I believe it"ll work!"
And as Bud finished his sling shot and sent a stone zipping into the creek with a vicious "ping!" Billee cried:
"That"s the best trick yet. I think it"ll work! I hated to shoot to kill, but I didn"t see any way out of it. Now we can sting "em enough with stones to turn "em, especially as they"ll be in the water. Bud, I think it"ll work."
"I don"t want to throw a monkey wrench in the gears," said Snake softly, "but it "pears to me that while we"re shootin" harmless stones they"ll be firin" real bullets. An" where will we be then?"
"We don"t run any more risks than if we were firing bullets, too," said Bud. "And I think with them having to guide their horses in the water, look out for quicksands and drive the frightened sheep over, we can demoralize "em with these slingshots."
"Sure you can!" cried Billee Dobb. "Come on," he ordered. "Every man make a slinger. It"s like the old Bible story of David and Goliath.
But how"d you happen to have those rubber bands, Bud?"
"Oh, I got "em to make a model airship," the boy confessed, "but I didn"t find time. I"ve been lugging "em around this last week. Now they"ll come in handy."
In a short time each cowboy had made himself a slingshot, of the style you boys have, doubtless, often constructed. With strong rubber bands they send a stone with great force.
The slingshots were no sooner made, and a supply of ammunition secured from the edge of the creek, than an unusual movement was observed among the sheep herders. Some of them separated from the main body, and began driving a flock of the lambs, rams and ewes toward the creek.
"Ready for the first skirmish!" cried Old Billee.
"Let her come!" sang out Yellin" Kid.
Nearer to the edge of Spur Creek approached the sheep herders. The animals bleated and tried to turn back, but the dogs barked at them and snapping whips whirled viciously over their backs. Then, too, they were urged on with horses at their heels.
"They"re coming right over," said d.i.c.k to his brother and cousin, the three boy ranchers being close together.
"And not one of "em has a gun out," added Bud. "I reckon they are making this a sort of test so they can claim we fired on "em first if it comes up in a law court. Well, we aren"t exactly _firing_ at "em,"
he chuckled. "We"re just _stoning_ "em."
"And we"d better begin to stone!" cried Nort.
He drew back the strong rubber bands of his sling. In the leather piece was a round pebble. Nort took aim at one of the approaching Mexicans.
The skirmishing was about to begin.