"Where was he?"
"That"s what we"re trying to find out, Captain. It isn"t any easy matter to locate a sound like that. The critter may be "most anywhere."
"Have---have you looked in your pockets?" stammered Stacy.
"Yes, maybe he"s crawled in your clothes to get warm," grinned Tad.
"Oh, close up!" growled a tired Ranger.
"I was just trying to help you," answered Chunky indignantly. "You needn"t get mad about it."
"No, don"t grouch," laughed the captain. "We are losing too much time as it is. Better roll in your blankets and go to sleep. The fire will drive the fellow away."
Some of the men tried to sleep standing, leaning against trees. Others took the chance and rolled in their blankets. But there was little rest in the camp that night. About the time the men had settled down, they would be awakened to their surroundings by that same trilling hiss.
It was beginning to get on the nerves of the Rangers. They were getting mad. The Pony Rider Boys felt a sense of discomfort too, though none showed any nervousness. It was not the first time the young explorers had pa.s.sed through such an experience. Just the same they would have preferred to be in some other locality just then.
Finally Stacy went to sleep. When he woke up with a start, he tried to recall what had been going on when he dropped off. Then he remembered. He had been indulging in his famous imitation of an angry serpent. Had any of the men been awake at the moment he might have seen the fat boy"s blanket shaking as if the boy were sobbing. But Stacy Brown was not sobbing.
It was some moments before he had subdued his merriment sufficiently to hiss again. The hiss was unheard. Stacy opened his eyes as he saw the captain striding into camp. He saw McKay awaken the Rangers, then start to arouse the Pony Rider Boys. In his wonderment at the proceeding Stacy forgot to hiss again for some time.
"Saddle up," commanded the captain sharply, but in a low tone.
The camp, so silent a few moments before, was now a scene of orderly activity. Every man in it was packing his pony and in less than ten minutes after the alarm had been given the men were in their saddles.
The Pony Rider Boys were full of antic.i.p.ation. It looked to them as if something were going to develop that was worth while.
Starting off in single file the men dozed in their saddles, but the Pony Rider Boys did not. The latter were too much excited for sleep.
All at once that trilling hiss came again. Two dozing Rangers landed on their backs in the bush. The party was in an uproar, but as suddenly quieted by a stern word from the captain. The latter wondered at their being followed by a rattler. It was peculiar to say the least.
Stacy hissed again. Then the boy shivered, for a heavy hand was laid on his arm, closing over it until the fat boy yelled.
"Ouch! Let go of my arm!" he cried.
"Young man, I think I"ve got the rattler this time," said the stern voice of Captain Billy McKay, as the fat boy fairly shrank within himself.
CHAPTER XIX
SURROUNDING THE ENEMY
"What"s that?" roared Dippy.
"Here"s your rattler. I"ve been suspecting him ever since early in the evening. This young man has been imitating a rattler"s hiss and I must say he did it mighty well."
"What"s that? "Bugs" been causing us all this trouble?" demanded Dippy.
"Let me at him! Let me at him!"
"Here, take him, but don"t make too much noise about it," grinned the Ranger captain. "And don"t be too rough about it, either."
Dippy had Stacy by the collar. With a powerful hand he jerked the fat boy across his saddle and such a spanking as Stacy Brown got that night he had not had since he was considerably younger. The other Rangers clamored for a chance at him, but after Dippy had finished the captain decided that the fat boy had had enough. There was stern business on hand. Still McKay thought a lesson might not come amiss at that time, so he had permitted the little diversion.
Growling and threatening, Stacy was dropped back into his saddle.
"Remember, we haven"t had our turn yet," warned Cad Morgan. "Remember, you"ve spoiled a few hours of sleep for us fellows."
"Yes and re---re---remember you made me stand in the mesquite bush for three hours waiting for the "possum to jump into the bag,"
reminded Stacy. "I guess we are about even now. But, if you want some more trouble, I"ll think some up for you. If I can"t think it out alone Tad will help me."
"I don"t believe you need any a.s.sistance," laughed the captain. "No more disturbance now. Gentlemen, I am going to divide up our party.
The time has arrived for me to tell you my plans. I have received information from one of my scouts that some half dozen of the men we want are heading for a point yonder in the mountains. They are to rendezvous at a place about three miles from here where they are to meet others of their outfit. It is my intention to surround them.
One of my men is now on their trail, following them as closely as possible. There may be some shooting. If any of you wish to stay back you may go into camp right here and we will pick you up later."
"No, no! Take us along," begged the boys. "We don"t want to be left behind. How about you, Chunky?" called Tad.
"No, I don"t want to be left. I---I guess I"d be afraid to stay here all alone."
The captain quickly disposed of his forces, directing Tad Butler to come with him. Upon. second thought he decided to take Stacy along also, perhaps believing that it would be safer to have the fat boy under his own eyes, as there was no telling what Chunky might otherwise do.
The party broke up, leaving the spot in twos, after having received their orders, but in each case the Pony Rider Boys were accompanied by one or more of the regulars.
In a few minutes all had left the place, except McKay, Tad and Stacy.
These waited for the better part of half an hour.
"Now forward and no loud talking, boys," the captain directed, touching his pony"s sides with the spurs. "Be ready to obey orders quickly.
And, Brown, no more imitations on your part. This is serious business.
A slip and you"re likely to stop a bullet "most any time."
The three men started away, with the captain in the lead. They traveled all of two miles when McKay called a halt.
"Butler, you will go to the right, straight ahead. Stop after you have gone about a quarter of a mile as nearly as you can judge. When you hear an owl hoot, move slowly forward. Don"t use your gun, no matter what happens, unless some one shoots at you. Even then don"t shoot unless you have to. But let no one get past you. We hope to get those fellows in a pocket and hold them up without any shooting.
But we may have to waste some powder. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"You are not afraid?"
"I am not."
"I thought you wouldn"t be."
"Where do I go?" asked Stacy apprehensively.
"You will remain with me. I"ll take care of you. All right, Butler."
Tad without another word rode away. Finally after having gone what he thought was the proper distance, he halted and sat his pony silently, head bent forward listening for the signal. It came at last, sounding faint and far away. The boy smiled, shook out his reins and the pony moved forward almost as silently as the boy could have done himself.
The night was dark, but Tad was able to make out objects with more or less distinctness. He used his eyes and ears to good purpose. Once Tad thought he heard a twig snap a short distance ahead of him. He halted abruptly and sat steadily for fully ten minutes. There being no further sounds he moved forward again.