The Boy Ranchers on the Trail

Boy Ranchers on the Trail, The

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Title: The Boy Ranchers on the Trail
Author: Willard F. Baker
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THE BOY RANCHERS ON THE TRAIL
OR
The Diamond X After Cattle Rustlers By WILLARD F. BAKER

CONTENTS
I THE ROUND-UP
II A CURIOUS INSTRUMENT
III STARTLING NEWS
IV THE SCRATCHED SAFE
V THE BROKEN BOTTLE
VI MISSING STEERS
VII FOUR EYES
VIII THROWING THE ROPE

IX THE FIRE
X SERIOUS QUESTIONS
XI THE WATCH TOWER
XII IN SPITE OF ALL
XIII THE SIGNAL
XIV FOUR EYES-NO EYES
XV A BIG RAID
XVI ON THE TRAIL
XVII WILD COUNTRY
XVIII THE BOILING SPRING
XIX IN A MAZE
XX A SURPRISE
XXI IN PURSUIT
XXII BUD'S DISCOVERY
XXIII THE FIGHT
XXIV A DESPERATE CHANCE
XXV LIEUTENANT WAYNE

THE BOY RANCHERS ON THE TRAIL
CHAPTER I

THE ROUND-UP
"Come on, Nort! It's your turn to cut out the next one!"
"S'pose I make a mux of it, Bud!"
"Shucks! You won't do that! You've roped a calf before!"
"Yes, but not at a big round-up like this. If I make a fizzle the fellows
will give me the laugh!"
"What if they do? Everybody knows you haven't been at it long, and
you've got to make a start. Besides, anybody's likely to make a mistake.
That's why they put rubbers on the ends of pencils. Ride in now and
snake out the next one, Nort!"
"All right, Bud! Here goes!"
Blaze, the pony Nort Shannon was riding toward the bunch of cattle
gathered at Diamond X ranch for the big, spring round-up, leaped
forward at the sound of his master's voice, and in response to the little
jerk of the reins and the clap of heels against his sides. Into the herd of
milling, turning and twisting cattle the intelligent animal made his way,
needing hardly any guidance from Nort. The lad, by a mere touch,
corrected the course of Blaze slightly, and in a moment he was heading
for a calf which bawled loudly.
"Get him, Nort!" cried a voice from among the cowboys looking on.
"Don't get me fussed, Dick!" Nort shouted back to his brother, who sat
astride his pony near Bud Merkle. "It'll be your turn next!"
Into the herd he wormed his way on Blaze, dodging here and there, but
with his eyes ever on the calf he hoped to cut out so it could be branded.
Nort leaned forward in his saddle, and then his cousin and brother,
eagerly watching from outside the herd, saw the boy rancher's hand
shoot up.
Through the air the rope went, turning, twisting, writhing and uncoiling

like a snake. In an instant it had flipped around the hind legs of a calf.
"Good!" yelled Dick.
"Even Babe couldn't 'a' done better!" complimented Bud,
enthusiastically.
"'Tisn't over yet!" gasped Nort, for he had hard work ahead of him, and
the dust raised by thousands of hoofs was choking. "Wait 'till I get it to
the branding corral!"
He leaned over in his other stirrup, causing the lariat to pull taut and,
the next instant the calf flopped on its side.
"Snake him out, Blaze!" cried Nort to his pony, and the animal turned
and dragged the prostrate calf along over the ground, an operation not
as cruel as it sounds as the surface was inches thick in soft dust, like
flour.
"That's the boy, Nort!" called his cousin Bud. "I knew you could do it!
Now then, Dick! Let's see how you'll make out!"
"I can't throw a