Lonely on the Mountain by Louis L'Amour

Author:Louis L'Amour [L'Amour, Louis]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Siblings, Juvenile Fiction, Westerns, Family, Fiction
ISBN: 9780808516583
Publisher: San Val, Incorporated
Published: 1999-10-14T23:00:00+00:00

"There's a-plenty off to the southwest," Haney told them. "I saw maybe fifty, sixty head in one bunch and glimpsed several other scattered bunches.

"It won't be easy," he added. "They're scattered wide, and there's still a good many buffalo among 'em who will stampede again at the slightest excuse. If they do, most of those damn fool cows will go right along with them." "We need more help," Orrin suggested, "but tomorrow we'll have the Ox helping us." "I ain't in no shape to ride," the Ox muttered.

"If you want to eat," Orrin replied, "you'll ride. You can work with me. I think we understand each other mighty well." The Ox glared but made no comment.

"We may be able to get some help," Shorty suggested. "This country isn't as empty as a body might think. I came on two sets of tracks today, both of them shod horses and none of them our horses." Orrin knew he had been shying away from the thing that must be done. He had been avoiding the site of the stampede, and he knew why. If Tell and Tyrel were dead, he did not want to know it.

Until he actually saw their bodies or some other evidence that proved them dead, he could still delude himself they were alive still.

"Tomorrow I am going over to check their last camp." Orrin glanced at the Ox. "You can show me where it was." The Ox said nothing, sipping a cup of coffee, and Shorty smiled. "Ain't much to see," he said. "I was over there." They waited, and he said, "I scouted that country some. The buffalo hit that camp goin' all out, and they just run everything right into the ground.

But I don't think anybody was in the camp." "What?" Orrin turned to stare. "Then where in God's name--?" "They were with the cattle. They were moving them when the stampede hit them." He glanced at the Ox.

"Wasn't that what you said? You were off on the flank?" "I was." The Ox paused. "It was like I said. They were here, then they were gone, and the cattle with them. I heard one man scream. I've no idea who it was." "Did you see any Indians?" Orrin asked.

The Ox hesitated. "Can't say I did.

I heard whooping. I figured it was Indians, and I lit out." "Haney, you and Shorty continue the roundup.

The Ox and I will go over the site of the stampede before we settle down to rounding up cattle." Orrin glanced at Baptiste. "You stay with the carts and keep your rifle handy. Any sign of trouble everybody closes in on the carts, do you hear? We need that grub." It was a quiet night, and before daybreak they were in the saddle. Orrin, with the Ox beside him, rode down toward the site of the stampede.

The Ox turned in his saddle to look at Orrin. "You don't like me much, do you, Sackett?" "No, I don't." "When the right time comes, I'll take pleasure in beating your head in," the Ox said.

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