Ted Strong in Montana | Page 4

they're all turned that way now with their tails to the wind. As soon as
they get cold they will begin to move. Don't let 'em do it."
"All right, Ted. We'll do the best we can. You take care o' ther
wimminfolks. So long, an' good luck."
Ted rode back to where Mrs. Graham was shivering in the closed
wagon the boys had provided for her, and Stella was sitting her pony by
her side, trying to encourage her.
Carl Schwartz was the jehu of the outfit, and sat on the driver's seat, a
fair imitation of a snow man.
"Carl, get a move on you. We're going to try to make the Long Tom
ranch house," said Ted. "I'll lead, and you follow. If you lose sight of
me, yell to me and I'll come back. I've got my pocket searchlight, and
will send you back a flash now and then."
Carl was half frozen and would have been pleased to get down and
walk the rest of the distance, but he knew the danger that surrounded
them, and simply yelled back "Yah!" and gathered up the reins for a
start.
"Come on, Stella," said Ted. "We're going to try to make the ranch
house."
Without a word Stella followed him, and the little caravan struck into
the teeth of the snow-laden wind, which was now blowing half a gale.
The wagon moved slowly through the snow, which was getting deeper
every minute, and was like heavy sand.

Every few minutes Carl's voice could be heard, and Ted called back to
him.
Ted was traveling entirely by instinct, for it was so dark that he could
not see a foot in front of them.
So they struggled on for an hour, halting occasionally to give the horses
a breathing spell, then drove obstinately forward again.
"We should have been at the ranch house long ago," shouted Ted at last,
pulling in his panting horse.
"Then we're lost, I suppose," shouted Stella in return.
"Looks that way."
"What are you going to do?"
"Stop for the rest of the night."
"I wouldn't. Keep on until the horses won't go any farther."
"All right, if you think best."
On they went again for a half hour more, and Ted was beginning to
believe it was folly to go any farther when his pony stumbled and
almost fell.
In front of them loomed a darkness more intense than before.
Ted scrambled from the back of his pony and led it forward. The pony
had stumbled over the horse block at the very door of the Long Tom
ranch house.
CHAPTER II.
THE LONG TOM RANCH.
Ted and Stella raised such a shout that Carl pulled his horses up just in

time to keep them from trying to climb upon the veranda.
With the aid of his searchlight Ted had found the door and entered the
house, followed by Stella.
In the big, front living room they found a lamp, which they lighted and
looked around.
The house had been left ready for occupancy, and in the great, wide
fireplace logs were piled high ready to be burned.
In a moment Ted had a fire leaping high up the chimney, then hastened
out to the carriage.
Carl had scrambled down from the seat of the carriage, and was so cold
and numb that he couldn't walk, while Mrs. Graham had to be carried
into the house by Ted and placed before the fire to thaw out.
Soon the room was comfortable, and Ted, who had set out on a tour of
inspection, found that the kitchen was well stored with food.
He started a fire, and soon had coffee and bacon cooking.
Outside the storm continued to rage through the night, but all within
was tight and warm, and Stella and her aunt retired to their comfortable
bedrooms. But Ted sat up through the night.
He had considered starting back through the storm to the herd, but
thought better of it, for Bud was perfectly capable of doing all that
could be done with the cattle until daylight came to their rescue.
While daylight was struggling up through the leaden eastern sky the
wind died down as suddenly as it had risen, and the snow ceased
falling.
Ted had fallen into a doze in a chair in front of the fire, but a stray
sunbeam coming through a window fell upon his closed eyelids, and he
awoke with a start. For a minute he could not think where he was. Then
the cheery voice of Stella fell upon his ears. Somewhere in the distance

she was singing, and he sprang to his feet and looked about him.
It came to him that he was at the Long Tom, and he remembered
having left the Circle