Latest / The Boy Scout Book of Campfire Stories / Chapter 8: The End of the Trail by Clarence E Mulford

Transcript

Chapter 8: The End of the Trail by Clarence E Mulford · The Boy Scout Book of Campfire Stories

• 0:01
  Speaker 1: Chapter eight of the Boy Scout's Book of Campfire Stories.
• 0:05
  Speaker 1: This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
• 0:08
  Speaker 1: the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
• 0:11
  Speaker 1: visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by Andy Soule, The Boy
• 0:16
  Speaker 1: Scout's Book of Campfire Stories, Chapter eight, The End of
• 0:20
  Speaker 1: the Trail by Clarence E. Mulford. Author's note. Buck Peters,
• 0:27
  Speaker 1: foreman of Bar twenty ranch, had many cowboys, Pete Wilson,
• 0:30
  Speaker 1: Red Connors, Billy Williams, Johnny Nelson, and a goodly number more,
• 0:34
  Speaker 1: But chief among them was hop Along Cassidy. Many interesting
• 0:37
  Speaker 1: stories are told about him in Bar twenty Days, but
• 0:40
  Speaker 1: none of his thrilling experiences ever ended, as did the
• 0:42
  Speaker 1: one recited in this most unusual story, The End of
• 0:46
  Speaker 1: the Trail. The editor. When one finds on his ranch
• 0:50
  Speaker 1: the carcasses of two cows on the same day, and
• 0:52
  Speaker 1: both are skinned, there can be only one conclusion. The
• 0:55
  Speaker 1: killing and skinning of two cows out of herds that
• 0:58
  Speaker 1: are numbered by thousands need not in themselves bring lines
• 1:01
  Speaker 1: of worded any Foreman's brow. But there is the sting
• 1:03
  Speaker 1: of being cheated, the possibility of the losses going higher
• 1:06
  Speaker 1: unless a sharp lesson can be given upon the folly
• 1:08
  Speaker 1: of fooling with a very keen, inactive buzzsaw. And it
• 1:11
  Speaker 1: was the determination of the outfit of the Bar twenty
• 1:14
  Speaker 1: to teach that lesson, and as quickly as circumstances would permit.
• 1:17
  Speaker 1: It was common knowledge that there was a more or
• 1:19
  Speaker 1: less organized band of shiftless malcontents making its head quarters
• 1:23
  Speaker 1: in and near Perry's Bend, some distance up the river,
• 1:25
  Speaker 1: and the deduction in this case was easy. The Bar
• 1:28
  Speaker 1: twenty cared very little about what went on at Perry's Bend.
• 1:31
  Speaker 1: That was a matter which concerned only the ranches near
• 1:33
  Speaker 1: that town, so long as no vexatious happenings sifted too
• 1:36
  Speaker 1: far south. But they had so sifted, and Perry's Bend,
• 1:40
  Speaker 1: or rather the undesirable class hanging out there, was due
• 1:42
  Speaker 1: to receive a shock before long. About a week after
• 1:46
  Speaker 1: finding the first skin cows, Pete Wilson tornadoed up to
• 1:49
  Speaker 1: the bunk house with a perforated arm. Pete was on foot,
• 1:52
  Speaker 1: having lost his horse at the first exchange of shots,
• 1:54
  Speaker 1: which accounts for the expression describing his arrival. Pete hated
• 1:58
  Speaker 1: to walk. He hated still more to get shot, and
• 2:00
  Speaker 1: most of all, he hated to have to admit that
• 2:02
  Speaker 1: his rifle shooting was so far below par. He had
• 2:05
  Speaker 1: seen the thief at work, and too eager to work
• 2:08
  Speaker 1: up close to the cattle skinner before announcing its displeasure,
• 2:10
  Speaker 1: had missed the first shot. When he dragged himself out
• 2:14
  Speaker 1: from under his deceased horse, the scenery was undisturbed save
• 2:17
  Speaker 1: for a small cloud of dust hovering over a distant
• 2:19
  Speaker 1: rise to the north of him. After delivering a short
• 2:22
  Speaker 1: and bitter monolog, he struck out for the ranch and
• 2:24
  Speaker 1: arrived in a very hot and wrathful condition. It was
• 2:27
  Speaker 1: contagious that condition, and before long the entire outfit was
• 2:30
  Speaker 1: in the saddle and pounding north. Pete overjoyed because his
• 2:33
  Speaker 1: wound was so slight as to not bar him from
• 2:35
  Speaker 1: the chase. The shock was on the way, and, as
• 2:38
  Speaker 1: events proved, was to be one long to linger in
• 2:40
  Speaker 1: the minds of the inhabitants of Perry's Bend in the
• 2:42
  Speaker 1: surrounding range. The patrons of the oasis liked their tobacco strong.
• 2:47
  Speaker 1: The pungent smoke drifted in sluggish clouds along the low
• 2:50
  Speaker 1: black ceiling following its upward, slant towards the east wall
• 2:54
  Speaker 1: and away from the high bar at the other end.
• 2:56
  Speaker 1: This bar, rough and strong, ran from the north wall
• 2:59
  Speaker 1: to within a scant two feet of the south wall.
• 3:01
  Speaker 1: The opening bridged by a hinged board which served as
• 3:03
  Speaker 1: an extension of the counter. Behind the bar was a
• 3:06
  Speaker 1: rear door, low and double, the upper part barred securely.
• 3:09
  Speaker 1: The lower part was used most In front of and
• 3:12
  Speaker 1: near the bar was a large round table at which
• 3:14
  Speaker 1: four men played cards silently, while two smaller tables were
• 3:17
  Speaker 1: located along the north wall. Besides dilapidated chairs, there were
• 3:21
  Speaker 1: half a dozen low wooden boxes, partly filled with sand,
• 3:24
  Speaker 1: and attention was directed to the existence and purpose of
• 3:26
  Speaker 1: these by a roughly lettered sign on the wall, reading,
• 3:29
  Speaker 1: gents will look for a box first, which the gents
• 3:33
  Speaker 1: sometimes did. The majority of the gents preferred to aim
• 3:36
  Speaker 1: at various knot holes in the floor and bet on
• 3:38
  Speaker 1: the result, chancing the outpouring of the proprietor's wrath if
• 3:41
  Speaker 1: they missed. On the wall. Behind the bar was a
• 3:44
  Speaker 1: smaller and neater request leave your guns with the bar
• 3:47
  Speaker 1: tender edwards. This, although a month old, still called forth
• 3:51
  Speaker 1: caustic and profane remarks from the regular frequenters of the saloon,
• 3:55
  Speaker 1: For hitherto restraint in the matter of carrying weapons had
• 3:57
  Speaker 1: been unknown. They forthwith evaded the order in a manner
• 4:01
  Speaker 1: consistent with their characteristics, by carrying smaller guns where they
• 4:04
  Speaker 1: could not be seen. The majority had simply sought off
• 4:07
  Speaker 1: a generous part of the long barrels of their colts
• 4:09
  Speaker 1: in Remington's, which did not improve their accuracy Edwards, the
• 4:13
  Speaker 1: new marshal of Perry's band had come direct from Kansas,
• 4:16
  Speaker 1: and his reputation as a fighter had preceded him. When
• 4:18
  Speaker 1: he took up his first day's work, he was kept
• 4:20
  Speaker 1: busy proving that he was the rightful owner of it,
• 4:22
  Speaker 1: and that it had not been exaggerated in any manner
• 4:25
  Speaker 1: or degree. With the exception of one instance, the proof
• 4:29
  Speaker 1: had been bloodless, for he reasoned that gunplay should give
• 4:32
  Speaker 1: way whenever possible, to a crushing right or left, to
• 4:35
  Speaker 1: the point of the jaw, or to the pit of
• 4:37
  Speaker 1: the stomach. His proficiency in the manly art was polished
• 4:40
  Speaker 1: and thorough, and bespoke earnest application. The last doubting Thomas
• 4:45
  Speaker 1: to be convinced came to five minutes after his diaphragm
• 4:48
  Speaker 1: had been rudely and suddenly raised several inches by a
• 4:50
  Speaker 1: low right hook. And as he groped for his bearings
• 4:53
  Speaker 1: and got his wind back again, he asked very feebly
• 4:56
  Speaker 1: where Kansas was, and the name stuck. The Marshal did
• 5:00
  Speaker 1: not like the oasis. Indeed, he went further and cordially
• 5:03
  Speaker 1: hated it. Harlan Saloon was a thorn in his side,
• 5:06
  Speaker 1: and he was only waiting for a good excuse to
• 5:08
  Speaker 1: wipe it off the local map. He was the law,
• 5:11
  Speaker 1: and behind him were the range riders, who would be
• 5:13
  Speaker 1: only too glad to have the nest of rustlers wiped
• 5:15
  Speaker 1: out and its gang of ne'er do wells scattered to
• 5:18
  Speaker 1: the four winds. Indeed, he had been given to understand
• 5:22
  Speaker 1: in a most polite and diplomatic way that if this
• 5:25
  Speaker 1: were not done lawfully, they would try to do it themselves,
• 5:28
  Speaker 1: and they had great faith in their ability to handle
• 5:31
  Speaker 1: the situation in a thorough and workmanlike manner. This would
• 5:34
  Speaker 1: not do in a law abiding community, as he called
• 5:37
  Speaker 1: the town, and so he had replied that the work
• 5:40
  Speaker 1: was his and that it would be performed as soon
• 5:42
  Speaker 1: as he believed himself justified to act. Harlan and his
• 5:45
  Speaker 1: friends were fully conversant with the feeling against them, and
• 5:48
  Speaker 1: had become a little more cautious, alertly watching out for trouble.
• 5:52
  Speaker 1: On the evening of the day which saw Pete Wilson's discomfiture,
• 5:55
  Speaker 1: most of the habituae had assembled in the oasis, where,
• 5:58
  Speaker 1: besides the card players already mentioned, eight men lounged against
• 6:01
  Speaker 1: the bar. There was some laughter, much subdued talking, and
• 6:05
  Speaker 1: a little whispering. More whispering went on under that roof
• 6:09
  Speaker 1: than in all the other places in town put together,
• 6:11
  Speaker 1: For here rustling was planned wayfaring strangers were trimmed in
• 6:15
  Speaker 1: frame up at cards, and a hunted man was certain
• 6:18
  Speaker 1: to find assistance. Harlan had once boasted that no fugitive
• 6:22
  Speaker 1: had ever been taken from his saloon, and he was
• 6:25
  Speaker 1: behind the bar and standing on the trap door which
• 6:27
  Speaker 1: led to the six by six cellar when he made
• 6:29
  Speaker 1: that assertion. It was true, for only those in his
• 6:32
  Speaker 1: confidence knew of the place of refuge under the floor.
• 6:36
  Speaker 1: It had been dug at night, and the dirt carefully
• 6:38
  Speaker 1: disposed of it had not been dark very long before.
• 6:42
  Speaker 1: Talking ceased and card playing was suspended, while all looked
• 6:46
  Speaker 1: up as the front door crashed open and two punchers entered,
• 6:49
  Speaker 1: looking the crowd over with critical care. Stay here, Johnny
• 6:53
  Speaker 1: hoplong told his youthful companion, and then walked forward, scrutinizing
• 6:57
  Speaker 1: each scowling face and turn. While Johnny stood with his
• 7:00
  Speaker 1: back to the door, keenly alert, his right hand resting
• 7:03
  Speaker 1: lightly on his belt, not far from the holster. Harlan's
• 7:07
  Speaker 1: thick neck grew Crimson and his eyes hard lookin for something,
• 7:11
  Speaker 1: he said, with bitter sarcasm, his hand under the bar.
• 7:15
  Speaker 1: Johnny grinned hopefully, and a sudden tenseness took possession of
• 7:18
  Speaker 1: him as he watched for the first hostile move. Yes,
• 7:21
  Speaker 1: hop along, replied coolly, appraising Harlan's attitude and look in
• 7:25
  Speaker 1: one's swift gaze. But it ain't here now, Johnny, get out,
• 7:30
  Speaker 1: he ordered, Backing after his companion and safely outside, the
• 7:34
  Speaker 1: two walked towards Jackson's store, Johnny complaining about the little
• 7:37
  Speaker 1: time spent in the oasis. As they entered the store,
• 7:41
  Speaker 1: they saw Edwards, whose eyes asked a question. Did you
• 7:45
  Speaker 1: look all over behind the bar? Edwards asked slowly, he
• 7:50
  Speaker 1: can't get out of town. Through that cordon You've strung
• 7:53
  Speaker 1: around it, and he ain't nowhere else, leastwise I couldn't
• 7:57
  Speaker 1: find him. Come on back, excitedly, exclaimed Johnny, turning towards
• 8:01
  Speaker 1: the door. You didn't look behind the bar. Come on,
• 8:04
  Speaker 1: bet you ten dollars, that's where he is. Maybe you're right, kid,
• 8:06
  Speaker 1: replied Hoblong, and the Marshal's nodding head decided it. In
• 8:10
  Speaker 1: the saloon, there was strong language, and Jack Quinn, the
• 8:13
  Speaker 1: expert skinner of the other men's cows, looked inquiringly at
• 8:16
  Speaker 1: the proprietor. What's up now, Harlan. The proprietor laughed harshly
• 8:21
  Speaker 1: but said nothing. Taciturnity was his one redeeming trait. Did
• 8:25
  Speaker 1: you say cigars, he asked, pushing a box across the
• 8:28
  Speaker 1: bar to an impatient customer. Another beckoned him, and he
• 8:32
  Speaker 1: leaned over to hear the whispered request. A frown struggling
• 8:35
  Speaker 1: to show itself on his face. Nix, you know my rule,
• 8:39
  Speaker 1: no trust in here. But the man at the far
• 8:42
  Speaker 1: end of the line was unlike the proprietor, and he
• 8:44
  Speaker 1: prefaced his remark with a curse. I know what's up.
• 8:48
  Speaker 1: They want Jerry brown, that's what, and I hope they
• 8:50
  Speaker 1: don't get him, the bullies. What did he do? Why
• 8:54
  Speaker 1: do they want him? Asked the man who had wanted
• 8:56
  Speaker 1: trust skinning. He was careless or crazy work, and so
• 9:00
  Speaker 1: close to their ranch houses. Nobody that had any sense
• 9:03
  Speaker 1: would take a chance like that, replied Boston. Adept at
• 9:05
  Speaker 1: sleight of hand with cards, and very much in demand
• 9:08
  Speaker 1: when a frame up was to be rung in on
• 9:09
  Speaker 1: some unsuspecting stranger. His one great fault, in the eyes
• 9:13
  Speaker 1: of his partners was that he hated to divvy's winnings,
• 9:16
  Speaker 1: and at times had to be coerced in sharing equally. Ah,
• 9:19
  Speaker 1: them big ranches make me mad, announced the first speaker.
• 9:22
  Speaker 1: Ten years ago, there was a lot of little ranchers,
• 9:25
  Speaker 1: and every one of em had his own herd, and
• 9:26
  Speaker 1: plenty of free grass and water for it. Where are
• 9:29
  Speaker 1: the little herds now? Where are the cows we used
• 9:32
  Speaker 1: to own? He cried hotly. What happens to a maverick
• 9:35
  Speaker 1: hunter nowadays? If a man helps his self to a poor,
• 9:37
  Speaker 1: sick doggie's hunted down, it can't go on much longer.
• 9:40
  Speaker 1: And that's sure, slivers Low leaped up from his chair.
• 9:44
  Speaker 1: You're right, Harper dead right. I was a little calvial
• 9:47
  Speaker 1: owner Oncet, and so was you, and Jerry and most
• 9:50
  Speaker 1: of us slivers found it convenient to forget that fully
• 9:53
  Speaker 1: half of his small herd had perished in the bitter
• 9:55
  Speaker 1: and long winter of five years before, and that the
• 9:58
  Speaker 1: remainder had either flowed down his parched throat or been
• 10:00
  Speaker 1: lost across the big round table near the bar. Not
• 10:03
  Speaker 1: a few of his cows were banked in the east
• 10:05
  Speaker 1: under Harlan's name. The rear door opened slightly, and one
• 10:08
  Speaker 1: of the loungers looked up and nodded. It's all right, Jerry,
• 10:11
  Speaker 1: but get a move on here, you, called Harlan, quickly
• 10:15
  Speaker 1: bending over the trap door lively. Jerry was half way
• 10:19
  Speaker 1: to the proprietor when the front door swung open, and
• 10:22
  Speaker 1: hop along, closely followed by the Marshal, leaped into the room.
• 10:25
  Speaker 1: And immediately thereafter the back door banged open, and it
• 10:27
  Speaker 1: admitted Johnny. Jerry's right hand was in his side coat pocket,
• 10:31
  Speaker 1: and Johnny, young and self confident and with a lot
• 10:33
  Speaker 1: to learn, was certain that he could beat the fugitive
• 10:35
  Speaker 1: on the draw. I reckon, you won't blot no more
• 10:39
  Speaker 1: brands he cried triumphantly, watching both Jerry and Harlan. The
• 10:43
  Speaker 1: card players had leaped to their feet, and at a
• 10:45
  Speaker 1: signal from Harlan, they surged toward the bar and formed
• 10:47
  Speaker 1: a bear between Johnny and his friends, and as they
• 10:50
  Speaker 1: did so, that puncher jerked at his gun, twisting to
• 10:53
  Speaker 1: half face the crowd. At that instant, fire and smoke
• 10:56
  Speaker 1: spurted from Jerry's side coat pocket, and the odor of
• 10:59
  Speaker 1: burning cloth. As Johnny fell, the wrestler ducked low and
• 11:03
  Speaker 1: sprang for the door. A gun roared twice in front
• 11:06
  Speaker 1: of the room, and Jerry staggered a little and cursed
• 11:08
  Speaker 1: as he gained the opening, but he plunged into the
• 11:10
  Speaker 1: darkness and threw himself into the saddle on the first
• 11:12
  Speaker 1: horse he found in the small corral. When the crowd massed,
• 11:16
  Speaker 1: Hoplong leaped at it and strove to tear his way
• 11:18
  Speaker 1: to the opening at the other end of the bar,
• 11:20
  Speaker 1: while the marshal covered Harlan and the others. Finding that
• 11:23
  Speaker 1: he could not get through, Hoplong sprang on the shoulder
• 11:25
  Speaker 1: of the nearest man and succeeded in winging the fugitive
• 11:27
  Speaker 1: at the first shot. The other going wild, then frantic
• 11:31
  Speaker 1: with rage and anxiety, he beat his way through the crowd,
• 11:34
  Speaker 1: hammering mercilessly at heads with the butt of his colt,
• 11:37
  Speaker 1: and knelt at his friend's side. Edwards, angered almost to
• 11:40
  Speaker 1: the point of killing, ordered the crowd to stand against
• 11:42
  Speaker 1: the wall, and laughed viciously when he saw two men
• 11:45
  Speaker 1: senseless on the floor. Hope he beat in your heads,
• 11:48
  Speaker 1: he gritted savagely. Harlan, put your paws in sight, or
• 11:52
  Speaker 1: I'll drilly a clean. Now, climb over and get in
• 11:55
  Speaker 1: line quick. Johnny moaned and opened his eyes. Did did
• 12:01
  Speaker 1: get him? No? But he gimleted you all right, Hoplong replied,
• 12:06
  Speaker 1: you'll come round if you keep quiet. He arose, his
• 12:09
  Speaker 1: face hard with the desire to kill. I'm coming back
• 12:12
  Speaker 1: for you, Harland, after I get your friend and all
• 12:15
  Speaker 1: the rest of your pups too. Get out here, whispered Johnny.
• 12:21
  Speaker 1: Sure enough, kid, replied Hoplong, picking him up in his
• 12:24
  Speaker 1: arms and moving carefully towards the door. We'll get him
• 12:27
  Speaker 1: Johnny and all the rest too. When the voice died
• 12:31
  Speaker 1: out in the direction of Jackson's in the marshal, backing
• 12:33
  Speaker 1: to the front door, slipped out into one side, running backward,
• 12:36
  Speaker 1: his eyes on the saloon. You're day's about over, Harlan,
• 12:40
  Speaker 1: he muttered, There's going to be some few funerals around
• 12:43
  Speaker 1: here before many hours pass. When he reached the store,
• 12:47
  Speaker 1: he found the owner and two double arrow punchers taking
• 12:50
  Speaker 1: care of Johnny. Where's hoplong? He asked, gone to tell
• 12:54
  Speaker 1: his foreman replied Jackson, Hey, youngster, you let them bandages alone.
• 12:58
  Speaker 1: You hear me? Hello, Kansas, remarked John Barlett, forming of
• 13:04
  Speaker 1: the double arrow. I come now gettin' your man. Somebody
• 13:07
  Speaker 1: rode past me like a streak in the dark. So
• 13:09
  Speaker 1: I just ups and let's drive for luck. And so
• 13:12
  Speaker 1: did he. I hearn him cuss, and I emptied my
• 13:15
  Speaker 1: gun after him. The rain slanted down in sheets, and
• 13:19
  Speaker 1: the broken plaine, thoroughly saturated, held the water in pools,
• 13:23
  Speaker 1: or sent it down the steep side of the cliff
• 13:25
  Speaker 1: to feed the turbulent flood, which swept along the bottom
• 13:28
  Speaker 1: foam flecked and covered with swiftly moving drift wood around
• 13:31
  Speaker 1: a bend where the angry water flung itself against the
• 13:34
  Speaker 1: ragged bulwark of rock and flashed away in a gleaming
• 13:37
  Speaker 1: line of foam. A horseman appeared, bending low in the
• 13:40
  Speaker 1: saddle for better protection against the storm. He rode along
• 13:44
  Speaker 1: the edge of the stream on the farther bank, opposite
• 13:47
  Speaker 1: the steep bluff on the northern side, forcing his wounded
• 13:50
  Speaker 1: and jaded horse to keep fetlock deep in the water,
• 13:53
  Speaker 1: which swirled and sucked about its legs. He was trying
• 13:56
  Speaker 1: his hardest to hide his trail lower down the hard,
• 13:59
  Speaker 1: rocky round extended to the water's edge, and if he
• 14:02
  Speaker 1: could delay his pursuers for an hour or so, he
• 14:05
  Speaker 1: felt that even with his tired horse, he would have
• 14:08
  Speaker 1: more than an even chance. But they had gained more
• 14:10
  Speaker 1: than he knew. Suddenly, above him, on top of the
• 14:13
  Speaker 1: steep bluff across the torrent, a man loomed up against
• 14:17
  Speaker 1: the clouds, peered intently, and then waved his sombrero to
• 14:20
  Speaker 1: an unseen companion. A puff of smoke flashed from his
• 14:23
  Speaker 1: shoulder and streaked away, the report of the shot lost
• 14:26
  Speaker 1: in the gale. The fugitive's horse reared and plunged into
• 14:30
  Speaker 1: the deep water, and with its rider was swept rapidly
• 14:32
  Speaker 1: towards the bend the way they had come. That makes
• 14:35
  Speaker 1: the fourth time I've missed that, coyote angrily exclaimed hop
• 14:40
  Speaker 1: along as red corners joined him. The other quickly raised
• 14:43
  Speaker 1: his rifle and fired, and the horse spilled its rider
• 14:45
  Speaker 1: out of the saddle floated away tail first. The fugitive,
• 14:49
  Speaker 1: gripping his rifle, bobbed and whirled at the whim of
• 14:51
  Speaker 1: the greedy water as shots struck near him. Making a
• 14:54
  Speaker 1: desperate effort, he staggered up the bank and fell exhausted
• 14:57
  Speaker 1: behind a boulder. Well the kyout is a foot anyhow,
• 15:02
  Speaker 1: said Red, with great satisfaction. Yes, but how are we
• 15:05
  Speaker 1: going to get to him? Asked hop Along. We can't
• 15:08
  Speaker 1: get the cases down there, and we can't swim that
• 15:11
  Speaker 1: water without them, and if we could, he'd pot us easy.
• 15:14
  Speaker 1: There's a way out of it somewhere, Red replied, disappearing
• 15:17
  Speaker 1: over the edge of the bluff to gamble with fate. Hey,
• 15:21
  Speaker 1: come back here, you chump, cried Hoplong, running forward. He'll
• 15:24
  Speaker 1: get you. Sure, that's a chance I've got to take
• 15:27
  Speaker 1: if I get him, was the reply. A puff of
• 15:29
  Speaker 1: smoke sailed from behind the boulder on the other bank,
• 15:32
  Speaker 1: and hop Along, kneeling for steadier aim, fired and then
• 15:34
  Speaker 1: followed his friend. Red was downstream, casting at a rock
• 15:38
  Speaker 1: across the torrent, but the wind toyed with the heavy
• 15:40
  Speaker 1: water soaked rayata as though it were a string. As
• 15:44
  Speaker 1: Hoplong reached his side, a piece of driftwood ducked under
• 15:47
  Speaker 1: the water, and an angry humming sound died away downstream.
• 15:50
  Speaker 1: As the report reached their ears, a jet of water
• 15:52
  Speaker 1: spurted up into Red's face, and he stepped back involuntarily.
• 15:56
  Speaker 1: He's some shaky, Hoplong remarked, looking back at the rear
• 16:00
  Speaker 1: of smoke above the boulder. I reckon, I must have
• 16:02
  Speaker 1: hit him harder than I thought in Harlan's gee. He's
• 16:05
  Speaker 1: wild as blazes. He ejaculated as a bullet hummed high
• 16:08
  Speaker 1: above his head and struck sharply against the rock wall. Yes,
• 16:12
  Speaker 1: Red replied, coiling the rope. I was trying to rope
• 16:15
  Speaker 1: that rock over there. If I could anchor to that,
• 16:18
  Speaker 1: the current would push us over quick. But it's too far.
• 16:20
  Speaker 1: With this wind blowin'. We can't do nothing here scept
• 16:24
  Speaker 1: get plugged. He'll be gettin steadier. As he rests from
• 16:26
  Speaker 1: his fight with the water, hop Along remarked and added quickly,
• 16:30
  Speaker 1: say remember that meadow back there a ways. We can
• 16:32
  Speaker 1: make her from there, all right, You're right, that's what
• 16:35
  Speaker 1: we gotta do. He's sending a mirror every shot. Gee,
• 16:38
  Speaker 1: I can most feel the wind of that one, and
• 16:41
  Speaker 1: blamed if it ain't stopped. Rainin come on. They clambered
• 16:44
  Speaker 1: up the slippery Muney bank to where they had left
• 16:46
  Speaker 1: their horses and cantered back over their trail. Minute after
• 16:49
  Speaker 1: minute passed before the cautious skulker among the rocks across
• 16:52
  Speaker 1: the stream could believe in his good fortune. When at
• 16:55
  Speaker 1: last decided that he was alone again, he left his
• 16:57
  Speaker 1: shelter and started away with slowly weakening stride over cleanly
• 17:01
  Speaker 1: washed rock where he left no trail. It was late
• 17:04
  Speaker 1: in the afternoon before the two irate punchers appeared above
• 17:07
  Speaker 1: the scene, and their comments as they hunted slowly over
• 17:10
  Speaker 1: the hard ground were new merc and bitter. Deciding that
• 17:12
  Speaker 1: it was hopeless in that vicinity, they began casting in
• 17:15
  Speaker 1: great circles on the chance of crossing the trail further
• 17:17
  Speaker 1: back from the river, But they had little faith in
• 17:19
  Speaker 1: their success, as Red remarked, snorting like a horse in
• 17:23
  Speaker 1: his disgust, I'll bet four dollars in a match. He's
• 17:25
  Speaker 1: swum down the river just to have the laugh on us.
• 17:28
  Speaker 1: Red had long since given it up as a bad job,
• 17:31
  Speaker 1: though continuing to search, when a shout from the distant
• 17:34
  Speaker 1: hop Along sent him forward on a run. Hey, Red
• 17:37
  Speaker 1: cried hop Along, pointing ahead of him. Look, there, ain't
• 17:40
  Speaker 1: that a house. Naw course not. It's a it's a ship.
• 17:45
  Speaker 1: Red snorted sarcastically. What did you think it might be?
• 17:50
  Speaker 1: Go on, retorted his companion. It's a mission, ah, go
• 17:54
  Speaker 1: on yourself. What's a mission doing up here? Red snapped,
• 17:57
  Speaker 1: what do you think they'd do? What do they do anywhere?
• 17:59
  Speaker 1: Hotly rejoined Toplong, thinking about Johnny. There see the cross,
• 18:03
  Speaker 1: sure enough, and there's tracks at last, mighty wobbly, but
• 18:07
  Speaker 1: tracks just the same. Them rocks couldn't gone forever. Red,
• 18:10
  Speaker 1: I'll bet he's cashed in by this time, cash nothin
• 18:13
  Speaker 1: them fellers don't well, if he's in that joint, we
• 18:15
  Speaker 1: might as well go back home. We won't get him,
• 18:17
  Speaker 1: not know how, declared Hoplong. Huh you wait and see,
• 18:20
  Speaker 1: replied Red, pugnaciously. Reckon, you never run up again? A
• 18:24
  Speaker 1: mission real hard. Hop Along responded, his memory, HARKing back
• 18:28
  Speaker 1: to the time he had disagreed with a convent and
• 18:31
  Speaker 1: they both meant about the same thing. To him as
• 18:33
  Speaker 1: far as winning out was concerned. Think I'm a fool kid,
• 18:36
  Speaker 1: snapped Red aggressively. Well he ain't no kid. You let
• 18:40
  Speaker 1: me do the talkin. I'll get him all right, and
• 18:43
  Speaker 1: I'll do the Laughin', snickered Hoplong at the door, sick'm Red.
• 18:48
  Speaker 1: The other boldly stepped into a small vestibule, hop Along
• 18:52
  Speaker 1: close at his heels. Red hitched his holster and walked
• 18:54
  Speaker 1: heavily into a room at his left, with the exception
• 18:57
  Speaker 1: of a bench, a table, and a small altar. The
• 19:00
  Speaker 1: room was devoid of furnishings, and the effect of these
• 19:02
  Speaker 1: was lost in the dim light from the narrow windows.
• 19:05
  Speaker 1: The peculiar, not unpleasant odor of burning incense and the
• 19:08
  Speaker 1: dim light awakened a latent reverence and awe in hop Along,
• 19:12
  Speaker 1: and he sneaked off his sombrero, and inexplicable feeling of
• 19:15
  Speaker 1: guilt stealing over him. There were three doors in the walls,
• 19:18
  Speaker 1: deeply shrouded in the dusk of the room, and it
• 19:20
  Speaker 1: was very hard to watch all three at once. Red
• 19:24
  Speaker 1: listened intently and then grinned hear that they're playing dominoes
• 19:28
  Speaker 1: in there. Come on, ah, you chump Domini means mother
• 19:32
  Speaker 1: in Latin, which is what they speaks. How do you know, hanged?
• 19:37
  Speaker 1: If I can tell I've heard it somewhere, that's all. Well,
• 19:39
  Speaker 1: I don't care what it means. This is a frame
• 19:41
  Speaker 1: ups that coyote can get away. I'll bet they gave
• 19:44
  Speaker 1: him a chaouse and start him off while we've been
• 19:46
  Speaker 1: losing time in here. I'm going inside and ask some questions.
• 19:50
  Speaker 1: Before he could put his plan into action, hop Along
• 19:52
  Speaker 1: nudged him, and he turned to see his friend staring
• 19:54
  Speaker 1: at one of the doors. There had been no sound,
• 19:56
  Speaker 1: but he would swear that a monk stood gravely regarding them,
• 19:59
  Speaker 1: and he rubbed his eyes. He stepped back suspiciously, and
• 20:02
  Speaker 1: then started forward again. Look here, stranger, he remarked, with
• 20:06
  Speaker 1: quiet emphasis, we're after that cow lifter and we mean
• 20:10
  Speaker 1: to get him savvee. The monk did not appear to
• 20:12
  Speaker 1: hear him, so he tried another trick, ob la espaniol.
• 20:16
  Speaker 1: He asked experimentally. You have ridden far, replied the monk
• 20:21
  Speaker 1: in perfect English, all the way from the band. Red replied, relieved,
• 20:26
  Speaker 1: we're after Jerry Brown. He tried to kill Johnny, judging
• 20:28
  Speaker 1: from the tracks, and if you capture him he won't
• 20:32
  Speaker 1: have no more use for no side pocket shootin. I
• 20:34
  Speaker 1: see you will kill him shores. It's wet outside. I'm
• 20:39
  Speaker 1: afraid you are doomed to disappoint, Yes, asked Red, with
• 20:44
  Speaker 1: a rising inflection. You will not want him now, replied
• 20:48
  Speaker 1: the monk. Red laughed sarcastically, and Hoplong smiled. There ain't
• 20:52
  Speaker 1: a goin to be no argument about it. Trot him out,
• 20:55
  Speaker 1: ordered Red grimly. The monk turned to Hoplong Do you
• 20:58
  Speaker 1: want him to Hoplong nodded, my friend, he is safe
• 21:02
  Speaker 1: from your punishment. Red wheeled instantly and ran outside, returning
• 21:06
  Speaker 1: in a few moments smiling triumphantly. There are tracks coming in,
• 21:10
  Speaker 1: but there ain't none going away. He's here. If you
• 21:12
  Speaker 1: don't lead us to him, we'll shore have to rummage
• 21:14
  Speaker 1: around and poke him out for ourselves. Which is it?
• 21:18
  Speaker 1: You are right, he is here, and he is not here.
• 21:21
  Speaker 1: We're waitin', Red replied, grinning. When I tell you that
• 21:25
  Speaker 1: you will not want him, do you still insist on
• 21:27
  Speaker 1: seeing him? We'll see him and we'll want him too.
• 21:30
  Speaker 1: As the rain poured down again, the sound of approaching
• 21:33
  Speaker 1: horses was heard, and Hoplong ran to the door in
• 21:35
  Speaker 1: time to see buck Peters, swinging off his mountain, step
• 21:37
  Speaker 1: forward to enter the building, hoplong stopped him and briefly
• 21:40
  Speaker 1: outlined the situation, begging him to keep the men outside.
• 21:43
  Speaker 1: The monk met his return with a grateful smile, and,
• 21:45
  Speaker 1: stepping forward, opened the chapel door, saying follow me. The
• 21:50
  Speaker 1: unpretentious chapel was small and nearly dark, for the usual
• 21:53
  Speaker 1: dimness was increased by the lowering clouds outside the deep
• 21:57
  Speaker 1: narrow window openings, fitted with stained glass, and almost to
• 22:00
  Speaker 1: the rough hewn rafters supporting the steep pitched roof, upon
• 22:03
  Speaker 1: which the heavy rain beat again with a sound like
• 22:05
  Speaker 1: that of distant drums. Gusts of rain in the water
• 22:08
  Speaker 1: from the roof beat against the south windows, while the
• 22:11
  Speaker 1: wailing winds played its mournful cadences about the eaves, and
• 22:14
  Speaker 1: the stanch timbers added their creaking notes to swell the
• 22:17
  Speaker 1: dirge like chorus. At the far end of the room,
• 22:20
  Speaker 1: two figures knelt and moved before the white altar, the
• 22:23
  Speaker 1: soft light of flickering candles playing fitfully upon them and
• 22:26
  Speaker 1: glinting from the altar ornaments. While before a rough coffin
• 22:30
  Speaker 1: which rested upon two pedestals, stood a third whose rich,
• 22:34
  Speaker 1: sonorous Latin filled the chapel with impressive sadness. Give eternal
• 22:38
  Speaker 1: rest to them, O Lord. The words seemed to become
• 22:41
  Speaker 1: a part of the room. The ineffably sad, haunting melody
• 22:44
  Speaker 1: of the mass whispered back from the roof between the
• 22:46
  Speaker 1: assaults of the enraged wind, while from the altar came
• 22:49
  Speaker 1: the responses in a low Gregorian chant, and through it
• 22:52
  Speaker 1: all the clinking of the censor chains added intermittent tones.
• 22:56
  Speaker 1: Aloft streamed, the vapor of the incense, wavering with the air,
• 22:59
  Speaker 1: currents now lost in the deep twilight of the sanctuary,
• 23:02
  Speaker 1: and now faintly revealed by the glow of the candles,
• 23:05
  Speaker 1: perfuming the air with its aromatic odor. As the last,
• 23:08
  Speaker 1: deep toned words died away, the celebrant moved slowly round
• 23:12
  Speaker 1: the coffin, swinging the censer over it, and then sprinkling
• 23:15
  Speaker 1: the body and making the sign of the Cross above
• 23:17
  Speaker 1: its head. Solemnly withdrew from the shadows along the side walls.
• 23:21
  Speaker 1: Other figures silently emerged and grouped around the coffin, raising it.
• 23:25
  Speaker 1: They turned it slowly round and carried it down the
• 23:27
  Speaker 1: dim isle and measured tread, moving silently as ghosts. He
• 23:31
  Speaker 1: is with God, who will punish according to his sins,
• 23:34
  Speaker 1: said a low voice, and hoplong started, for he had
• 23:36
  Speaker 1: forgotten the presence of the guide. God be with you,
• 23:39
  Speaker 1: and may you die as he died, repentant and in peace.
• 23:44
  Speaker 1: Buck chafed impatiently before the chapel door leading to a small,
• 23:47
  Speaker 1: well kept graveyard, wondering what it was that kept quiet
• 23:50
  Speaker 1: for so long a time his two most assertive men,
• 23:53
  Speaker 1: when he had momentarily expected to hear more or less
• 23:55
  Speaker 1: turmoil and confusion. Creek, he glanced up, gun in hand
• 24:01
  Speaker 1: and raised. As the door swung slowly open. His hand
• 24:04
  Speaker 1: dropped suddenly, and he took a short step forward. Six
• 24:07
  Speaker 1: black robed figures shouldering a long box stepped slowly past him,
• 24:11
  Speaker 1: and his nostrils were assailed by the pungent odor of
• 24:13
  Speaker 1: the incense. Behind them came his fighting punchers, humble, awed, reverent.
• 24:19
  Speaker 1: They're sombreros in their hands and their heads bowed. What
• 24:23
  Speaker 1: in blazes? Exclaimed Buck, wondering surprise, struggling for the mastery.
• 24:27
  Speaker 1: As the others cantered up, He's cashed, Red replied, putting
• 24:31
  Speaker 1: on his sombrero and nodding towards the procession. Buck turned
• 24:36
  Speaker 1: like a flash and spoke sharply, Skinny Lanky, follow that
• 24:39
  Speaker 1: glory outfit, and see what's in that box. Billy Williams
• 24:43
  Speaker 1: grinned it red your shore piece, read shut up, snapped
• 24:48
  Speaker 1: red anger glinting in his eyes, and Billy subsided. Lanky
• 24:51
  Speaker 1: and Skinny soon returned from accompanying the procession. I'd looked
• 24:55
  Speaker 1: twice to be sure it was him. His face was
• 24:58
  Speaker 1: plumb happy like a baby. But he's gone all right,
• 25:00
  Speaker 1: Lanky reported, all right, he knowed how he'd finished when
• 25:05
  Speaker 1: he began. Now for that, dear mister Harlan, Buck replied,
• 25:09
  Speaker 1: Vaulting into the saddle, He turned and looked at hop Along,
• 25:11
  Speaker 1: and his wonder grew. Hey you, yes, you come out
• 25:15
  Speaker 1: of that and put on your laid straddle leather. We
• 25:18
  Speaker 1: can't stay here all night. Hoplong started looking at his
• 25:21
  Speaker 1: sombrero and silently obeyed. As they rode down the trail
• 25:24
  Speaker 1: and around a corner, he turned in his saddle and
• 25:26
  Speaker 1: looked back, and then rode on, buried in thought. Billy grinned,
• 25:30
  Speaker 1: turning and playfully punching him in the ribs. Get in glory, Hoppy,
• 25:34
  Speaker 1: Hoplong raised his head and looked him steadily in the eyes,
• 25:37
  Speaker 1: and Billy, losing his curiosity in the grin, at the
• 25:39
  Speaker 1: same time looked ahead, whistling softly. End of Chapter eight.
• 25:48
  Speaker 1: Recording by Andy Sole