For the Liberty of Texas | Page 8

cabin from their view, he also dropped his hold,
feeling that, even though a boy, his presence might be needed
elsewhere.
When Dan reached the clearing about the ranch home he found his
father in the doorway, rifle in hand, gazing anxiously in one direction
and another. Mr. Radbury was tall and thin, and constant exposure to
the sun had browned him considerably. A glance sufficed to show what
he really was, a Southern gentleman of the old school, despite the
rough life he was at present leading.
"Dan!" cried the parent, gladly. "I am happy to see you are safe. Where
is Ralph?"
"He is just behind me, father. But what's the trouble? Has anything
happened here while we have been away?"
"I hardly think so, but the Indians are around,--I saw two of them
directly across the river, and half a dozen at the big tree ford, all
Comanches, and several of them in their war-paint. I was afraid you
had had trouble with them."
"No, we've had trouble with somebody else," answered Dan, but before
he could go any further Ralph appeared. The tale about the deer and
Hank Stiger was soon told, Mr. Radbury listening with close attention.
"And do you think I did wrong, father?" questioned the youngest
Radbury, as he concluded his narrative.
"No, I can't say that, Ralph," was the grave answer. "But I am afraid it
will make us more trouble all around. Stiger and Bison Head are
intimate friends, and if the Indians are going on the war-path again, the

half-breed may direct an attack upon us. It was a great mistake to speak
about that stolen horse. We can't prove that Stiger took it, although I
am morally sure he was the guilty party."
After a short talk, it was decided that Mr. Radbury should go into the
timber for the deer alone, leaving Ralph and Dan to watch around the
cabin and the cattle shelter. At the shelter were several cows, used for
milking, and a number of pigs. The other stock was off on the range
between the ranch and Gonzales, grazing.
"I'd like to know if the cattle are safe," remarked Dan, after his father
had left. "If those Indians should take it into their heads to round them
up and drive them off it would be a big loss."
"Perhaps Hank Stiger will put them up to it," returned his brother. "I
suppose he is mad enough to do most anything."
Leaving Ralph to see to the defences of the ranch home, Dan hurried
down to the cattle shelter. This was in plain view of the cabin and could
readily be covered from two firing-holes left in the shutter which
covered one of the windows of the sleeping apartment.
Everything was as the youth had left it that morning, and there were no
indications that any marauders had been around during the absence of
Ralph and himself. The gate to the cattle enclosure was open, and some
of the cows were outside. These he drove in and then barred up the
gate.
Back of the cattle shed, at a distance of several hundred feet, was a
slight hollow, where there was a pool of water surrounded by
mesquite-trees and bushes. This pool could be seen only from the back
of the shed, and as Dan walked in that direction, something caught his
eye which instantly arrested his attention.
It was a plume of feathers waving above the bushes close to the pool.
There was a similar plume a short distance away.
"Turkey feathers," he muttered to himself. "But there are no wild

turkeys down there, and I know it. Father was right, the Comanches are
watching our home and surrounding it."
As soon as he had made his discovery, Dan felt inclined to run back to
the cabin with all speed. But this would let the Indians know that they
were discovered and probably make them hasten their plans. So instead
of running he took his time, walked completely around the shed,
stopped to pat a favourite cow on the nose, and then sauntered slowly
to the cabin.
Once inside, however, his manner changed. "Ralph, father was right,
the Comanches are on the war-path!" he exclaimed. "Bar up the
windows, and I'll look to it that every gun and pistol in the house is
ready for use."
"Then you saw more of them?"
"Yes, two down by the hollow."
"Do they know that you saw them?"
"I hardly think so." Dan began to look over the stock of pistols, several
in number, including a "hoss" nearly two feet long. "I wish father was
back," he added, anxiously.
"Shall I fire a signal?"
"Not yet, for it may only make the Comanches hurry up. But you can
watch for