The Saddle Boys of the Rockies | Page 5

to forget in a hurry. Some day,
perhaps, you'll wish you'd never tried to play the hero part, and hit me
when my back was turned. I've got a good notion to teach you a lesson
right now; that's what!"
"All right," remarked Bob, coolly. "Suppose you begin. I was never in a
better humor for trouble. Somehow I seemed to just know we'd hit it up
sooner or later if our trails crossed. I give you my word, my friend here
won't put a finger on you, if so be you get the better of the row; will
you Frank?"
"I should say not," declared the lad, instantly, adding: "and unless I
miss my guess there won't be any need of it, either."
"Are you coming on, Peg?" asked the Kentucky lad, temptingly.

From under his drooping eyebrows Peg observed how easily the other
had assumed a position of self-defense. Somehow Peg did not fancy the
athletic build of his antagonist; for, while Bob was rather slender, he
had the marks of one accustomed to exercise; possessing at least
ordinary ability to take care of himself.
"It'll keep, and be all the better for the delay," Peg grumbled, as he
clenched one fist furiously, and used the other hand to feel of his
injured optic. "Besides, I don't feel fit to fight right now, with this
bunged-up eye. But just wait till the right time comes, and see what you
get then for doing this."
"Oh! well, suit yourself," returned Bob, with a laugh. "If the little
brown-faced girl hadn't vamoosed I declare if I wouldn't feel like
making you get down on your knees, and asking her to excuse you. Bah!
you're not worth bothering about, Peg. Get out!"
The other moved away. He did not like the manner in which Bob said
this; and he seemed to be afraid that perhaps the other might yet decide
to press some further indignity on him.
When, however, he had reached the door of the inn, so that he could
have a way of escape open to him in case of need, he stopped and
shook his fist threateningly toward the saddle boys.
"You're both going to pay dear for this little fun, hear that?" he called,
his voice trembling with passion. "I'll find a way to get even, see if I
don't! And when Peg Grant says that he means it, too! Just you wait till
I----"
And then, as Bob started to advance toward the hostelery Peg retreated
in a panic, slamming the door after him.
"Well, what d'ye think of that?" asked Frank, who had been an amused
observer of this curious scene.
"He's turned out just what I thought he would," remarked Bob, as he
once more gained the side of his comrade, a grim smile on his face.

"Whenever you run across a fellow who likes to boast of the way he
does things, make up your mind he's a rank coward, every time. No
matter what he claims he will do, there's a yellow streak in him
somewhere, and sooner or later it's bound to show."
"I believe you're just about right, Bob," said Frank; "and it agrees with
my own opinion exactly. Still, that fellow can be dangerous if he
wants."
"So can a rattlesnake; but at any rate the reptile is honest, for he gives
plenty of warning before he tries to strike; and that's more'n Peg would
do, if I read him straight."
"You must keep an eye out for him after this, Bob. He'll never forgive
you that crack. My! but didn't it drop him, though! Just like a steer
would go down when the loop of a lariat closes on his foreleg. That
fellow will lie awake nights trying to get even with you."
"Let him," remarked Bob, carelessly; "next time perhaps I'll put a little
more steam back of my fist, if he pushes me too hard. That's the way
they treat cowards back where I was brought up; and they call anybody
by that name who will put his hand in anger on girl or woman. But see
here, Frank, is this little affair going to force us to change our plans?"
"Whew! I forgot all about that," said the other, with a whistle, and an
uplifting of his eyebrows. "If we go poking around Thunder Mountain,
and Peg is there, with a couple of the tough cowboys he has trailing
after him most of the time, Spanish Joe and Nick Jennings, perhaps
we'll run up against a peck of trouble."
"Well, how about it?" asked Bob, with a shade of annoyance on his
face.
"What do you say?" asked Frank, in turn.
"Go, by all means," came the quick response. "You don't think so mean
of me as