Happy Jack by Max Brand

Author:Max Brand [Brand, Max]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Western
Publisher: Roy Glashan's Library
Published: 2017-10-16T22:00:00+00:00

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CHAPTER XII

HE had gained a position close beside the house, by this time, and from this point he could quickly circle around it, get to the stable, and escape at once with Rags—unless the marshal gave more attention to her than to the capture of the men. That was not likely.

So the boy hesitated for half an instant between the temptation to escape and the feeling that he must do his duty even by such recently found friends as Champ Logan and his ruffians.

That hesitation did not last long. He had one swift and sure way of giving the warning, and that was by uttering a long, wailing war whoop, and sending two bullets scattering through the branches above the heads of the men of the law.

They might be brave as heroes, but at this, they whirled with one impulse and dived out of sight among the trees.

For his part, he felt that he had done enough, and dropping a little deeper into the shadows, he sprinted at full speed for the stable.

The house wakened as he ran, and as some one stepped to the door, a rifleshot from the willows sent the man back with a shout of fear and anger. That told the outlaws where their enemies were, and they could lay their plans accordingly.

He had the saddle dragged over the mare’s back when the next man came in, running hard. He was from the house, huddling on his clothes as he went, so that Aberdeen had no doubt about what the outlaws would do. It was not their intention to stand and fight it out; they were going to run to save their own necks.

He called out softly, simply to identify himself, and at the same time there was a rattle of gunshots from the house and the woods beyond.

Some of them would doubtless head for the stable, led there by Tiny Tom to cut off the retreat. Happy led Rags out the back door, as soon as he had saddle and bridle on her, and then he went back among the trees and waited, because he knew that he was helpless in this man trap. He would have to wait for expert leadership!

That came almost at once.

He heard other noises of men working furiously in the stable. There were no more gunshots from the house, but all were desperately struggling to get away on horseback. And in a moment a rider shot out from the rear stable door, a rather heavily built man, bent low in the saddle, his hair blowing in the wind of his gallop, for he was bareheaded.

The boy recognized Champ Logan and gladly preferred to ride behind him. Jack was not the only one who saw the chief, however, for two repeating rifles instantly opened on him from the trees on the left and sent a stream of lead crashing about him through the branches; but he was presently away, riding hard down a winding path, and the boy galloping dear-footed Rags behind him.

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