"I couldn"t say as to that, sir. I guess we are not supposed to know about those things here on earth."
"No, a fellow doesn"t go till his time"s come," answered the Ranger with emphasis. "So what"s the use in dodging? Why, if my time had come and I had quit and gone to the city to live I"d most likely be run over by a trolley car or something of that nature. I"d a sight rather die in a gun fight with a real man than to get bucked over by a hunk of wood and iron and lightning, called a trolley car. No, I"ll take my medicine, as I always have and---But let"s go back."
"Still it is no worse than fighting the Germans," observed Tad. "I have wondered why you have not enlisted and gone to France, you and your men? What splendid fighters you would make."
"Every man of them wants to go---I want to go. I can hardly hold myself down, Kid. Every one of us has offered his services, but the government would not hear to it. Because of the activity of the Kaiser"s agents in Mexico and on the border, Uncle Sam decided that we could best serve him right here on the border, and here we are,"
answered the Ranger thoughtfully.
"Have you found what you came out here for?" asked Butler.
"Surely I have," smiled the captain. "Haven"t you?"
"I haven"t found much of anything unless you mean that a couple of hors.e.m.e.n crossed back there some few hours ago."
"How"d you know that?" exploded the captain.
"I saw the trail they left."
"Shake!" cried the captain leaning from his saddle. "You"re the alfiredest sharp youngster I"ve ever come up with. Oh, it"s too bad that you have to waste your talents in a city! Too bad, too bad!
You ought to be out here on the plains and in the mountains where one"s manhood counts for something."
"Did you come out to pick up that trail, sir?"
"That"s what I came for, my boy. I reckoned those two fellows who got after us in camp last night would take this trail and head for the lower end of the mountain range. That"s what they"ve done. This trail proves that. Of course they may get sidetracked, but that"s their idea up to this point. I think we are safe in following our original plans now."
Captain Billy did not say what those plans were, nor did Tad ask him.
They now turned about and started toward home at a slow jog trot, riding side by side where the trail permitted and in single file where it did not.
On the way back the captain asked Tad many questions about himself, the members of his party and their experiences during their various journeyings into the wilder parts of their native land.
"Ever think of joining the army yourself, Tad?" questioned the Ranger.
"Have I? I am thinking of it most of the time. Oh how I wish I were old enough. I know I could give my country good services now."
"You bet you could, Kid. You would make a wonderful scout over there,"
declared the captain, nodding.
"Some day, if the war lasts, I shall go," a.s.serted Tad in a low voice, tense with emotion.
Billy said he had been East to Chicago once, where he had been robbed of everything he had on except his clothes.
"Funny, isn"t it? I"d like to see a fellow go through me out here in my native pastures. But back there in the city---" Billy shook his head. The subject was too great for words.
They found the camp quiet and in order. The three boys and the professor had been sleeping a good part of the afternoon, and without having put out a guard, either. The captain shook his head, glancing significantly at Tad as he heard this. In fact the two had to shout to awaken the party. Then to learn that they had been sleeping all day---well, there was nothing to be said.
"Do we move to-night, sir?" asked the professor.
"Can"t tell you. Not until I hear the reports of my men, and the messenger or scout whom I looked for to meet us here at noon. Seen.
anything of that rattler around these diggings, Professor?"
"No, we haven"t seen any rattler."
"We don"t want to see any rattler," piped Chunky. "I"d snip his head off with my pistol if I caught sight of him."
"Yes, you would!" grinned Tad.
"You"d have to learn to shoot first," scoffed Rector.
"Perhaps Captain McKay will give us some lessons in revolver shooting,"
suggested Tad.
"From what I hear I guess you boys are pretty handy with both rifle and pistol as it is. However, if there are any drawing or sighting tricks I can show you I"ll be glad to do so."
"Thank you. If we are where it is safe we will ask you to make good that promise to-morrow," declared Tad Butler.
While they were preparing the supper that night the Rangers whom the captain had sent out on a scouting expedition rode into camp, tired and gloomy. It was a personal and keen disappointment to every man of them that some ruffian hadn"t shot at him once during the ride. Not once had the Rangers" weapons been out of their holsters. Whatever their mission the men merely shook their heads in reply to a questioning glance from their commander. That was all. No words were wasted in explanations. The captain knew that his men had done their work thoroughly. No explanations were necessary. This perfect confidence and understanding between commander and men was not lost on Tad Butler. It was an object lesson that made a deep impression on him.
The men had returned with sharp edges on their appet.i.tes, but they ate in silence. Stacy had little to say at dinner. He was observing the Rangers with wide eyes, stuffing his cheeks with food and listening while the professor, Tad Butler and Captain McKay discussed a variety of subjects.
"I don"t understand why Joe hasn"t come in, boys," said the captain finally. "He had pa.s.sed Tonka Gulch at four o"clock this afternoon.
He should have arrived here a long time ago."
The men nodded.
"Perhaps he"s come up with Withem," suggested Cad Morgan.
"I don"t think so. The lieutenant isn"t due there until some time to-morrow. He will have to finish investigating the El Paso end before he can come along and join up with us."
Tad wondered how the captain knew that his scout had reached a certain point in the mountains when none had seen him or heard from him. But there were many mysteries connected with the work of these brave men.
They worked in mysterious ways that added to the awe in which they were held by those whose ways were dark.
The night was warm and soon after supper the Rangers threw themselves down on the ground wrapped in their blankets. In view of the fact that the whole party might be called out all turned in early. The men had barely closed their eyes when suddenly there sounded the menacing hiss of a rattler right among them.
"Look out!" yelled Polly, jumping up.
"What is it?" cried half a dozen voices, as their owners sprang up with drawn weapons.
"There"s a rattler in camp. Get a torch, somebody!"
Tad, who had s.n.a.t.c.hed an ember from the dying campfire, was poking about cautiously, the torch in one hand, a club in the other ready to dispatch the reptile on sight. The Ranger who had been on guard duty hurried in upon hearing the uproar. He said he had heard a snake just after leaving the camp. The men jeered when they saw Stacy half way up a small tree, peering down at them with scared eyes.
"Afraid of the snake, eh, Bugs?"
"No, I"m not afraid of any snake. I just thought I"d get out of your way so you could work better."
The men jeered again. Morgan stepped over and gave the tree a shake, whereat the fat boy came sliding down to the ground. The search for the reptile was a fruitless one. After a time the Rangers turned in again. They had not been rolled in their blankets more than five minutes when that same fearsome, trilling hiss smote their ears again.
This time the men were mad. They declared they"d find the "pizen critter" before ever they turned in again.
"Pile on some wood. We"ve got to have light here," ordered the captain.