Shoot-out at Split Rock Page 9

  "Friend Tyson don't savvy ponies, or mebbe this is all he could lay his paws on," he comimented. He reached over and removed his rifle from the saddle of the black, and said to Sandy, "You an' Miss Carol go ahead; my boss is fast for a mile or two, but ain't got no bottom."

  "Like hell we will," the boy retorted hotly. "What you goin' to do?"

  "Stay an' argue with these copper-colored gents. That'll give you time to get the girl away—mebbe."

  Before Sandy could voice his objection to this proposal a fierce yell apprised them of another factor to be considered, and effectually closed the argument. Less than half a mile distant, and coming towards them, was another band of redskins who, at the sight of the whites, quirted their ponies into a run. The fugitives were between two fires. Sudden swung his horse to the right. "Follow me," he cried. "We gotta find a better place than this to stand 'em off."

  "Mebbe they'll scrap with each other an' give us a chance to sneak off," Sandy said hopefully, as they raced at top speed across the plain.

  "The second lot are Comanches too," Sudden told him, and shot a hasty glance over his shoulder. "HeU, they're gainin'. Head for that bluff; it looks a hkely spot."

  He pointed to a small plateau, the approaching slope of which was, at one spot, broken away, leaving a vertical wall. At the foot of this were several boulders. With the girl and the horses sheltered behind the largest of these, the two men gripped their weapons and waited. They knew their case was desperate, that they had scarcely one chance in a hundred, but death itself was perfer-able to falling into the hands of the foe again.

  "They may get us, boy, but we'll make 'em pay," Sudden grated.

  Eight

  The onslaught did not come at once. The white men saw the two bands meet and fraternize, with much shouting, gesticulation, and brandishing of weapons. Probably the position their prey had taken up did not please them; it meant a frontal attack, and most Indians had a healthy fear of the "guns that fired forever." Sandy was counting.

  "Thirty of 'em," he said in a low voice. "If they wait till dark we ain't got a hope."

  "They won't—Injuns don't like nightwork—^too many bad spirits about," Sudden reminded him. "They may decide to sit down an' starve us out."

  Sandy's face lengthened; they had neither food nor water. Lying, each behind a sheltering rock, they awaited the outcome of the argument taking place amongst the enemy.

  "Odd that fella Tyson showin' up," Sandy remarked. "He busted in on us just as you hid the knife in that skunk's guUet, an' believe me, he was welcome. HeU! they're goin'."

  The savages, strung out in a long Une, had turned tail and were trotting slowly away.

  "No such luck," Sudden said. "They're a-comin'. Don't shoot till yo're shore an' aim low; if you miss the man you'll get the hoss."

  He was right; with a whoop the warriors whirled their ponies and raced at the men they had hoped to catch unprepared. Like an incoming wave they swept on and it seemed inevitable that the white men must be overwhelmed. Sudden waited until they were some fifty paces distant, and then:

  "Let 'em have it," he said.

  The reports of the repeating rifles rang out and gaps showed in the advancing line as men and horses went down. Not waiting to reload, the defenders drew their pistols—which at the short range were as effective—and continued the fusillade. The deadly stream of lead was too much for the attackers; the line broke in the middle,

  the two halves sweeping round, to retreat at full speed. A grin spread over Sandy's perspiring features.

  "Reckon they won't come that caper again," he said, busy recharging his weapon. "Funny thing they didn't use their bows."

  "Want us alive," Sudden explained. "I'm bettin' they didn't savvy we'd got our guns."

  "Well, they know now," Sandy said, "though there's some it won't interest no more."

  He nodded grimly at the plain before them, where the bodies of seven men and as many horses could be seen. Even as they looked, one of the former rose, and crouching, ran towards his friends. Sandy's rifle cracked and the runner reeled and fell.

  "Been watchin' that jasper," the marksman said callously. "Had a notion I on'y got his bronc. Hi, Jim, they're linin' up; looks like they aim to have another try."

  The long line was moving forward again but this time it extended farther—yards separating the riders. Also, they were moving slowly, the ponies gradually gathering pace for the final dash. This made the task of the defenders more difficult, for instead of firing into a mass, they had to place every shot.

  "No use waitin' till they're near," Sudden said. "Pick yore man an' let fly soon as he's in range."

  "I'm takin' that jigger on the pinto," Sandy said, and pulled the trigger. "Cuss the luck," he added, as the horse went down, and its rider, after rolling on the ground, arose and shook a vengeful fist.

  Sudden toppled a tall warrior from his seat and then an amazing change came over the scene. From somewhere behlad the attacking line rang out a volley of rifle-fire which sent half a dozen ponies careening mas-terless across the plain. The Comanches, taken utterly by surprise, scattered and fled, hotly pursued by the newcomers, who wore the garb of white men. Sandy swung his hat and whooped.

  "Itll be the boys, Jim; they've found us at last,** he cried. "Why you lookin' as if you'd lost a dollar?"

  "If that's the outfit, the S-E has been takin' on hands— there was a dozen of 'em," Sudden replied, "Ever hear o' the famous steak that fell outa the frying pan?"

  Before the boy could reply, the rescuers came racing back, and their leader, reining in, pushed up the brim of his battered sombrero and disclosed the malevolent face of Navajo. He grinned evilly as he recognized the men to whose aid he had come.

  "Well, well, see who's here," he drawled. "Sandy, his sidekick, an'"—his triumphant eyes traveled to the girl —"that must be Eden's gal. Shore was lucky for you that we took a fancy to see what mischief this red scum was up to."

  "We're obhgcd to you," Sudden said shortly.

  "Oh, yeah," the ruffian sneered. "But seein' we're Rogue's men you'U have to thank him in person. I'm bet-tin' he'U be pleased to see you."

  The covert intimation that they were prisoners was no more than Sudden expected. "I was wantin' a word with Rogue anyway," Sudden said.

  "Good, then we'll be movin'—I reckon them 'paints has got their needin's," Navajo returned. His eyes narrowed. "There's only one point: you boys must be tired; guess we'U carry yore guns for you."

  Sudden laughed scornfully. "You don't guess very good," he retorted. "If you want our weapons you'U have to buy 'em an' the price wiU be high. Sabe?"

  Navajo did. The cowboy rested his rifle against a rock and now stood with hands hovering over the butts of His revolvers, his sUtted eyes boring into those of the other. The half-breed hesitated; he had seen those long, nervous fingers at work before. It was twelve men against two, but... His glance went to the plain, stiU dotted with brown bodies. His shoulders shrugged submission.

  "You an' yore men lead the way—we'U foUow," Sudden said. "At the fixst sign of funny business, you'U take a header into heU, Navajo."

  The man scowled, but made no reply. He realized that the prisoners would be of no use dead, and he was not sure of his leader's attitude toward them; Rogue did not confide in him. So, when they set out, he and his ruffians went first, foUowed by Sudden and Sandy with the girl riding between them. Carol, who had not heard aU that passed, was curious.

  "Who are these men?" she asked.

  "Some of Rogue's Riders an' they are takin' us to their chief," Sudden told her, "We ain't out o' the wood yet."

  "Rogue?" she cried in amazement. "But he's a Texan outlaw. What is he doing so far north?"

  "He followed us—it was his gang stampeded the herd.'*

  One consoling thought the captives had, they were traveling west, and therefore must be going in the direction of the herd. Two hours of slow but arduous riding brought them to the outlaws' camp.

  Rogue's eyes widen
ed when he saw the last three of the party. "How come?" he asked sharply.

  Sullenly the man recounted the circumstances. His coup was not being received with the enthusiasm he had looked for. His chief heard him with an expressionless face until he came to the weapon incident, and then he said:

  "So Jim didn't wanta part with his guns, huh?"

  The jeer in his voice stung the half-breed. "It would have meant a battle; I reckon I played it right," he retorted angrily.

  "You played it safe, anjrway," came the sneer. "Aw-right, I'll talk to Jim now—alone,"

  "You ain't overlookin' what this means, Rogue?" the other urged, "That's Carol Eden there, an' her dad'll turn over the whole herd to git her back. Why, it's a pat hand. But mebbe this is what you bin plannin'? Mebbe Jim an' Sandy was fetchin' her in when the Injuns—"

  His leader's cold gaze stopped him . "Mebbe you'll mind yore own business, Navajo," he said. "When I want yore advice I'll shorely ask for it. Tell Jim I'm waitin'."

  The scowling half-breed slouched to where the girl and her companions were standing and gave the message. When he had gone, the girl turned to her companion and said quietly, "What is going to happen?"

  "I dunno," the young man told her. "Jim'll get us out; he's a wizard, that fella."

  "You seem to think a great deal of him," she said.

  "I think more of him than anyone else in the world— but two," he added hastily.

  "Your father and mother?" she suggested.

  Sandy shook his head. "Dad, yes, but I can scarcely remember my mother."

  Sudden found the outlaw sitting on a fallen tree at the edge of the camp. He greeted the young man with a hard smile. Sudden sat down and roUed a cigarette.

  "Howdy, Jim," the oudaw greeted. "Navajo said you wanted to see me."

  "Well, I wasn't goin' to let him fancy he fetched me in," Sudden explained.

  Rogue nodded in comprehension. "Allasame, you've lost out, Jim, an' I've won," he stated.

  Sudden's eyebrows went up. "That so?" he queried. *'The game ain't finished yet."

  "Talk sense, boy," Rogue retorted. "Sam Eden thinks • the world an' ail o' that girl; I can make my own terms. She's the winnin' card an' I hold it."

  "But you won't play it," Sudden said quietly.

  The elder man glowered at him. "The hell I won't! Who'll stop me?"

  "You will," came the cool response. "Listen to me, Rogue. Yo're one tough hombre —I never met a tougher —but at the bottom yo're a man an' you can't forget that once you had womenfolk you thought a lot of, an' that there was a time when you'd 'a' shot a man just for speakin' disrespectful of a girl like Miss Eden. She's in yore han's by accident; you can't use her to rob her father, an' you know it."

  For a moment he thought the man he had spoken to so boldly was about to spring upon him. The cold eyes had grown hot and the big fists were bunched into knots. But the outlaw held himself in, only his voice betraying the tearing passion which possessed him.

  "What's past is past an' no damn business o' yores," he said thickly. "Why should I care how she comes to be here? To Sam Eden I'm a road agent an' cattle thief an' if I fell into his han's, even by accident"—with a heavy sneer—"he'd stretch my neck. AH right, I ain't blamin' him, but this time it happens to be my turn. I'd be loco to pass up such a chance as this, an' what d'you s'pose my men would say, huh?"

  Under his hat brim, the younger man's eyes gleamed slyly. "Hadn't thought o' that," he admitted. "Yeah, I reckon you'd find it middlin' hard to persuade 'em."

  He saw the other's jaw tighten and his own face re-

  mained wooden under the sharp scrutiny it received. Rogue pondered heavily for a while, his brows knitted, and then stood up, motioning the cowboy to follow. The men were gathered in a group listening to the half-breed. They opened out when their leader approached.

  "Well, Navajo, you got it figured out to yore satisfaction?" Rogue asked.

  The man shrugged his shoulders. "Don't need any figurin'," he rephed. "Eden hands over the herd an' gits his gal back; that's aU there is to it."

  The outlaw leader folded his arms, his eyes flinty. "The girl goes back to her father, now, an' without conditions," he said deliberately. "I don't war with women,"

  The decision stunned them to silence for a moment and then babel broke out. Above the protesting voices that of Navajo made itself heard:

  "See here, Rogue, we all got a say in this," he cried. "You ain't the on'y one."

  "I've said it," the outlaw told him. "As long as I'm boss o' this band I run things my own way."

  "Sangre de Diosf" one of the gang hissed. "Then it is better we have a new boss, I think."

  His arm flashed up, the blue glint of steel along the palm; an instant, and the blade would have been buried in the outlaw chief's breast. But Sudden had been watching; a dart of flame from his hip and the knife dropped from shattered fingers. A second later. Rogue's arms feU apart, and with the gun he had drawn from his shoulder-holster, he sent two bullets into the would-be assassin's chest. Staggering, fighting to keep his footing, and mouthing curses, the man went down.

  Ignoring the limp figure, Rogue's raging gaze swept the others. He was mad with passion, his whole body—save only the hand that gripped the smoking revolver—^trembled with it.

  "Who's next?" he barked harshly. "Which o' you wants to give me orders? Navajo, you set that coyote on. You got ambitions to fiU my shoes. Step out an' pull yore gun; we'll settle it here an' now."

  The other men watched the half-breed curiously. Any one of them might have shot down the challenger but it would have meant a batde, for not all of them were dis-

  loyal to Rogue. Also, there was that lean-limbed cowboy, of whose ability to use his gun there was no doubt. Navajo was not the stufiE to stand an acid test.

  "You got me all wrong, Rogue," he protested. "I ain't makin' trouble, an' I reckon the boys don't want none neither. Gittin' the herd is aU that matters. It seemed an easy way, but if you got it fixed different, we ain't carin'."

  Having gained his end, Rogue was too astute to overplay his hand. He knew the men, understood that self-interest was the only factor which governed their crude natures. Once satisfied that they would not lose, they would be tractable enough.

  "I want them cattle as bad as you do—got to have 'em, in fact," he said quickly. "So you needn't worry 'bout that."

  Boldly turning his back on them, he walked to the tree trunk. Sudden stepped after him. The tempest of emotion which had raged through him seemed to have weakened the outlaw physically; he looked tired and his face' was drawn. He was silent awhile, pondering. "How in hell am I to get that gal back to her ol' man? It's most of ten mUes. Can't use any o' the boys, an' I dursn't leave 'em just now."

  "Send Sandy, an' you can have my word, an' his, that he'll come back—alone," Sudden suggested. "You can tell him that my life depends on his doin' that, though there's no need."

  "You trust him that much?" the outlaw asked, almost a wistful note in his voice, and when Sudden nodded, "Well, it 'pears to be the on'y trail out."

  He walked over to where the girl and her companion were waiting, anxiously, for though they had heard the shooting, only Sandy guessed that a man had died. Carol, bom of fighting stock, faced the famous desperado fearlessly. With scarcely a glance at her, Rogue said roughly:

  "I don't want you here. This feUa"—he gestured to Sandy—"wiU take you back to yore camp; it ain't so far."

  "Thank you," the girl said. "I am sure my father—"

  "Don't get any fool notions," he interrupted harshly. "Tell Eden I can win without usin' women." He beckoned Sandy aside. "The herd lies due west—you can't miss it. Now, I want yore word that you'll come back—alone.

  If you don't show up, or bring company; it will go hard with Jim. You sabe?"

  "I'll be back—^if the war whoops don't get me," the young man promised. "An' Rogue, I wanta say this is a mighty han'some act—"

  "Aw, go to heU," the outlaw retorted. "She inter
feres, an' that's aU there is to it. Get agoin'."

  When they had gone. Rogue came to Sudden.

  "What about them guns o' yores, Jim?"

  "I've pledged myself to stay^ here till Sandy returns. Don't you reckon it would be wiser to let me wear 'em tiU then?"

  The other considered the proposition; in the event of more trouble with the men, the prisoner would necessarily be on his side.

  "Mebbe yo're right," he decided.

  Meanwhile the girl and her escort were slowly making their way in the direction they beUeved the S-E camp to he. Her first words, after they had ridden a rmle in silence, took him by surprise:

  "Some of those men seemed to know you.**

  "We'd met 'em," Sandy admitted. "You run up against all sorts when you're driftin' round."

  She did not speak again.

  In the S-E camp, anxiety at the absence of their young mistress deepened when neither Sandy nor Sudden put in an appearance. A search party was sent out but owing to the redskins' ruse of dividing their forces, was led astray and lost the trail completely on a wide strip of stony ground. Its return without Carol reduced the invahd to a state of blasphemous despair: he cursed everything and everybody, including himself for exposing her to such a peril.

  Morning broke upon a helpless, and well-nigh hopeless community. The cattleman, propped up by the fire, looked at his foreman in sullen misery.

  "Never oughta let her come," he burst out. "Jeff, you gotta find that damn trail. Take all the boys—"

  "The herd—" the foreman began, and stopped when the Hghtning conmienced to flicker in his employer's eyes.

  **Hey, Jeff, there's a coupla riders a-comin'," Pebbles yelled.

  The foreman ran to the speaker's side. Two horsemen were entering the vaUey at the far end. Jeff studied them for a moment and shook his head in disappointment

  "That ain't Jun's black," he said.

  "They might 'a' swapped hosses," Pebbles said hopefully.

  "It ain't neither of 'em," Jeff replied, and, as the visitors drew nearer, added, "Why, if it ain't Mister Baudry."