Bert Wilson in the Rockies

Bert Wilson in the Rockies

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Title: Bert Wilson in the Rockies
Author: J. W. Duffield
Release Date: January 25, 2006 [EBook #17603]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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WILSON IN THE ROCKIES ***

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BERT WILSON IN THE ROCKIES
BY J. W. DUFFIELD
Author of "Bert Wilson at the Wheel," "Wireless Operator," "Fadeaway
Ball," "Marathon Winner," "At Panama."

NEW YORK GEORGE SULLY & COMPANY PUBLISHERS
Copyright, 1914, By SULLY AND KLEINTEICH
Published and Printed, 1924 by Western Printing & Lithographing
Company Racine, Wisconsin Printed in U.S.A.

CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I.
A Desperate Encounter
II. The Ranch in the Rockies
III. "Busting" a Broncho
IV. A Forest Terror
V. The Grizzly at Bay
VI. The "Ringer's" Downfall
VII. The Wolf Pack
VIII. With Teeth and Hoofs
IX. The Indian Outbreak
X. In Fearful Extremity
XI. Within an Ace
XII. Quick on the Draw

XIII. Trailing the Outlaws
XIV. The Race for Life

BERT WILSON IN THE ROCKIES
CHAPTER I
A Desperate Encounter
A shower of glass from the shattered windowpane fell over the floor
and seats, and a bullet embedded itself in the woodwork of an upper
berth. There was a shriek from the women passengers in the crowded
Pullman, and the men looked at each other in consternation. From the
platform came the sound of a scuffle, interspersed with oaths. Then,
through the narrow corridor that bordered the smoking-room, hurried
two men, pushing the terrified negro porter ahead of them. Each of the
intruders wore a black cloth tied over the lower part of his face, and
before the bewildered passengers knew what had happened they found
themselves looking along the blue-black barrels of two ugly revolvers.
It was a startling break in an uneventful day. For several hours the
Overland Limited had hummed along over the boundless prairies that
stretched away on either side with scarcely a break to the horizon. They
had time to make up, and on these open spaces the engineer had let it
out to the limit. So swiftly and smoothly had it sped along that the
"click, click" as it struck each separate rail had merged into one droning
"song of the road."
There had been no rain for a week past, and the dust lay thick on the
grass and cactus. The motion of the train drew it up in clouds that made
it impossible to keep the windows raised, and the sun, beating down
pitilessly from a brazen sky, added to the general discomfort. Cooling
drinks were at a premium, and the porters were kept busy making trips
to the buffet car, from which they returned with tinkling glasses and
cooling ices. Collars wilted and conversation languished. Women

glanced listlessly over the pages of the magazines. Men drew their
traveling caps over their eyes and settled down for a doze. Here and
there a commercial traveler jotted down some item or wondered how
far he dared to "pad" his expense account so that it would "get by" the
lynx-eyed head of the firm. In the smoking-room a languid game of
cards was being played, in an effort to beguile the tedious monotony of
the trip. Over all there brooded a spirit of somnolence and relaxation.
If there was life to be discerned anywhere, it was in a group of three
young fellows seated near the middle of the car. They would have
drawn more than a passing glance wherever seen. Tall, well set up,
muscular, they served as splendid types of young American manhood.
None of them were over twenty, and their lean, bronzed faces, as well
as the lithe alertness of their movements, spoke of a life spent largely in
the open. They were brimming with life and high spirits. Exuberant
vitality shone through their eyes and betrayed itself in every gesture.
That they were friends of long standing was evident from the utter
absence of ceremony and the free and easy comradeship with which
they chaffed each other.
From the beginning of the trip they had been full of fun and merriment.
Their college year had just closed, and they were like frolicsome colts
turned out to pasture. There was hardly an incident of the journey that
did not furnish to their keen, unjaded senses something of interest and
amusement. Their cup of life was full and they