Bar-20 Days by Clarence Edward Mulford (inspiring books for teens txt) ๐
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- Author: Clarence Edward Mulford
Read book online ยซBar-20 Days by Clarence Edward Mulford (inspiring books for teens txt) ๐ยป. Author - Clarence Edward Mulford
โYo're right; that's what we've got to do. He's sending 'em nearer every shotโGee! I could 'most feel the wind of that one. An' blamed if it ain't stopped raining. Come on.โ
They clambered up the slippery, muddy bank to where they had left their horses, and cantered back over their trail. Minute after minute passed before the cautious skulker among the rocks across the stream could believe in his good fortune. When he at last decided that he was alone again he left his shelter and started away, with slowly weakening stride, over cleanly washed rock where he left no trail.
It was late in the afternoon before the two irate punchers appeared upon the scene, and their comments, as they hunted slowly over the hard ground, were numerous and bitter. Deciding that it was hopeless in that vicinity, they began casting in great circles on the chance of crossing the trail further back from the river. But they had little faith in their success. As Red remarked, snorting like a horse in his disgust, โI'll bet four dollars an' a match he's swum down the river clean to hell just to have the laugh on us.โ Red had long since given it up as a bad job, though continuing to search, when a shout from the distant Hopalong sent him forward on a run.
โHey, Red!โ cried Hopalong, pointing ahead of them. โLook there! Ain't that a house?โ
โNaw; course not! It's aโit's a ship!โ Red snorted sarcastically. โWhat did you think it might be?โ
โG'wan!โ retorted his companion. โIt's a mission.โ
โAh, g'wan yoreself! What's a mission doing up here?โ Red snapped.
โWhat do you think they do? What do they do anywhere?โ hotly rejoined Hopalong, thinking about Johnny. โThere! See the cross?โ
โShore enough!โ
โAn' there's tracks at lastโmighty wobbly, but tracks just the same. Them rocks couldn't go on forever. Red, I'll bet he's cashed in by this time.โ
โCashed nothing! Them fellers don't.โ
โWell, if he's in that joint we might as well go back home. We won't get him, not nohow,โ declared Hopalong.
โHuh! You wait an' see!โ replied Red, pugnaciously.
โReckon you never run up agin a mission real hard,โ Hopalong responded, his memory harking back to the time he had disagreed with a convent, and they both meant about the same to him as far as winning out was concerned.
โThink I'm a fool kid?โ snapped Red, aggressively.
โWell, you ain't no kid.โ
โYou let me do the talking; I'll get him.โ
โAll right; an' I'll do the laughing,โ snickered Hopalong, at the door. โSic 'em, Red!โ
The other boldly stepped into a small vestibule, Hopalong close at his heels. Red hitched his holster and walked heavily into a room at his left. With the exception of a bench, a table, and a small altar, the room was devoid of furnishings, and the effect of these was lost in the dim light from the narrow windows. The peculiar, not unpleasant odor of burning incense and the dim light awakened a latent reverence and awe in Hopalong, and he sneaked off his sombrero, an inexplicable feeling of guilt stealing over him. There were three doors in the walls, deeply shrouded in the dusk of the room, and it was very hard to watch all three at once.
Red was peering into the dark corners, his hand on the butt of his Colt, and hardly knew what he was looking for. โThis joint must 'a' looked plumb good to that coyote, all right. He had a hell of a lot of luck, but he won't keep it for long, damn him!โ he remarked.
โQuit cussing!โ tersely ordered Hopalong. โAn' for God's sake, throw out that damned cigarette! Ain't you got no manners?โ
Red listened intently and then grinned. โHear that? They're playing dominoes in thereโcome on!โ
โAw, you chump! 'Dominee' means 'mother' in Latin, which is what they speaks.โ
โHow do you know?โ
โHanged if I can tellโI've heard it somewhere, that's all.โ
โWell, I don't care what it means. This is a frame-up so that coyote can get away. I'll bet they gave him a cayuse an' started him off while we've been losing time in here. I'm going inside an' ask some questions.โ
Before he could put his plan into execution, Hopalong nudged him and he turned to see his friend staring at one of the doors. There had been no sound, but he would swear that a monk stood gravely regarding them, and he rubbed his eyes. He stepped back suspiciously and then started forward again.
โLook here, stranger,โ he remarked, with quiet emphasis, โwe're after that cow-lifter, an' we mean to get him. Savvy?โ
The monk did not appear to hear him, so he tried another tack. โHabla Espanola?โ he asked, experimentally.
โYou have ridden far?โ replied the monk in perfect English.
โAll the way from the Bend,โ Red replied, relieved. โWe're after Jerry Brown. He tried to kill Johnny, an' near made good. An' I reckon we've treed him, judging from the tracks.โ
โAnd if you capture him?โ
โHe won't have no more use for no side pocket shooting.โ
โI see; you will kill him.โ
โShore's it's wet outside.โ
โI'm afraid you are doomed to disappointment.โ
โYa-as?โ asked Red with a rising inflection.
โYou will not want him now,โ replied the monk.
Red laughed sarcastically and Hopalong smiled.
โThere ain't a-going to be no argument about it. Trot him out,โ ordered Red, grimly.
The monk turned to Hopalong. โDo you, too, want him?โ
Hopalong nodded.
โMy friends, he is safe from your punishment.โ
Red wheeled instantly and ran outside, returning in a few moments, smiling triumphantly. โThere are tracks coming in, but there ain't none going away. He's here. If you don't lead us to him we'll shore have to rummage around an' poke him out for ourselves: which is it?โ
โYou are rightโhe is here, and he is not here.โ
โWe're waiting,โ Red replied, grinning.
โWhen I tell you that you will not want him, do you still insist on seeing him?โ
โWe'll see him, an' we'll want him, too.โ
As the rain poured down again the sound of approaching horses was heard, and Hopalong ran to the door in time to
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