Ted Strong in Montana | Page 8

The grass was high and nutritious, and
there were plenty of water holes.
Once on the pasture the cattle scattered into smaller herds, each under
the leadership of a bull, while the steers drifted off by themselves.
All that was necessary to care for the herd was to ride the lines of the
pasture, and keep the cattle on their own feeding grounds, prevent them
from straying, and hunt down the packs of wolves which preyed upon
the weak cows and young cattle.
At stated intervals along the lines of the pasture were cabins, known as
"sign camps," in which the line riders lived.
The first sign camp out of the home pasture was eight miles distant, and
the next was under the lee of the mountains, on the west line.
As Ted directed the drive of the herd to the big pasture, on the south
and west line of which the first sign camp was situated, he cut out part
of the herd and held it back, while the remainder of the cattle went
forward.
At the first sign camp Bud and Carl were dropped, for they were to ride
the line to the north and east from that point.
Bud was glad to get some rest, and with a wave of the hand went on his
way to the camp to await the arrival of Carl, who had ridden back to the
ranch house for his blankets and other supplies.
During the day the chuck wagon, following the instructions of Ted,

stopped at the sign camp, and left a supply of provisions and Bud's
blankets.
Bud looked out the window of the cabin, and saw that the herd was
grazing quietly, for the cattle were very hungry, and as they were safe
for the time being, he rolled himself in his blankets and was soon
sleeping soundly.
He awoke on hearing a fumbling at the door, and sat up.
It was pitch dark, and he had slept nearly all day.
Unlimbering his six-shooter, he called, "Who's thar?"
"Ach, Pud, it's me alretty," came the muffled reply.
"So it's you, Carl. Why don't you come in?"
"Der door open, Pud, please. I my arrums full mit dings have."
Bud sprang from his blankets and threw the door open, admitting a cold
blast and a flurry of snow.
"Ugh!" he ejaculated, with a shudder. "Come in, yer fat wad o' Dutch.
What yer waitin' fer?"
"Someding has my hat stolen off mit my head." Carl's voice expressed
both perplexity and awe.
Evidently something unusual had happened, and Bud put on his hat and
stepped outside.
He had no sooner passed through the doorway than his own hat was
snatched from his head.
He drew his revolver, leaped into the open, and looked about him.
There was no one in sight except Carl, who was standing near him with
his arms full of blankets and bundles.

Carl could not have played the trick on him, and there was not wind
enough to have blown the hat away. Anyhow, it had been snatched
from his head by a hand and not by the wind.
There was something uncanny about this.
It was still light enough to see out in the open, and the snow-covered
ground reflected light enough to have discovered an intruder had one
been there.
Bud ran around the house, but could find no person, and there were no
tracks of a man's foot in the snow.
"Jumpin' sand hills, but that's queer," said Bud, coming back to where
Carl was still standing in the snow before the door, staring about in a
bewildered way. "Gosh ding yer, Carl, I believe yer swiped my hat, an'
if yer don't give it up I'll plant my toe whar it'll be felt onpleasantly."
"Honest, Pud, I ain't your hat taking," said Carl distressfully. "Vhy, I
my hat losing too, yet."
"That's so, an' yer loaded down with truck. Throw them things inter
ther house an' help me hunt ther thief. Don' be standin' thar like a
sausage."
"Don'd you calling me a sissage," said Carl wrathfully. "I ain't feeling
mooch as having fun mit you now. I bring all dese dings mit der saddle
on, und I lose two or three every dime der pony makes his jumpings,
und get down kvick to pick dem up maype as fifty dimes."
"Oh, all right. Quit yer bellyachin', an' come an' help. We can't get
along without hats. That's a cinch."
Carl retired into the house with his bundles.
"Wow! Stop it, cuss ye," yelled Bud, as Carl came out of the cabin.
"I ain't didding noding," said Carl, backing away as Bud rushed upon
him.

"Yer did, yer fat galoot. Yer pulled my hair 'most out by ther roots."
"I ain't pulling no hairs," Carl persisted.