CHAPTER IX.
A MOMENTOUS INTERVIEW.
"What can you compare the sound to?" asked Jack.
It was the next morning, and Ralph was relating his experiences.
"Well, it sounded like some one 'tap-tapping,' as well as I can explainit," replied Ralph.
"Whereabouts?" asked Walt, leaning forward from the interested circle.
"I don't know. It seemed to come from everywhere at once."
"But it stopped right off when you hollered?" asked Pete.
"Yes. I didn't hear another sound."
"What do you suppose it could have been, Pete?" asked Jack.
"Dunno. Mexican woodpecker, maybe," grinned the cow-puncher, "or maybea little overdose of im-ag-in-at-ion."
"I tell you I couldn't have been mistaken," exclaimed Ralph hotly. "Iheard it as clearly as I hear your voice now."
At this moment the clank of the metal bar of the door falling announcedthat the portal was about to be opened, and they all gazed upwardexpectantly as the studded oak swung back. Two figures appeared. Thefirst was that of a Mexican carrying a big tray of steaming food and awater-cooler. The other newcomer was the renegade cowboy, whom Pete hadrecognized the night before.
"Well, they don't mean to starve us, anyhow," said Jack, as his eyesfell on the food.
"Hum, poisoned, like as not," put in Ralph.
"I confess that I would dare even poison, such are my pangs of hunger,"spoke the professor.
Pete did not say a word, but kept his eyes fixed on the renegadecow-puncher.
"Nice business you're in, Jim Cummings," he growled. "Since when haveyou become a cattle-rustling, tamale-eating greaser?"
"Now, see here, Pete, don't rile me," growled the other, a short,red-faced man with bow legs and whiny voice. "What I'm doing is my ownbusiness, and I reckon I can mind it."
"Yes, some folks don't mind what they do," observed Coyote Petegrimly, "even down to associating with a bunch of cattle thieves andhorse-rustlers.
"There's a real nice specimen of the human toad," he went on, turningto his companions. "That feller yonder, Jim Cummings, was once a decentwhite man, punching cattle and shooting up the town on pay nights, likea Christian. Now look at him----"
But Jim Cummings had turned and was running for his life. He could notstand the raking cross fire of Pete's biting sarcasm. The Mexican whohad brought them their food followed him out.
"Why, we could have overpowered those fellows and escaped," said Jack."If we could once get our ponies, we'd give these ruffians a race tothe pass, and----"
"Yep, but that 'If' is a big word, sonny," said Pete grimly. "I reckonyou didn't see something I did when that door opened."
"No--what?" chorused the boys.
"Why, four of the handsomest looking rascals unhung parading up anddown with rifles. But let's get some of this grub down. That BlackRamon is likely to pay us a call after grub time, and if I'd see himfirst he'd take my appetite away."
Despite Ralph's gloomy fears of poison, they made a good breakfast,although some of the dishes were so peppery and fiery they could hardlyeat them.
"If Peary could have had some of this at the North Pole," said Jack, ashe hastily swallowed several gulps of water.
"Or Doc Cook," grinned Walt.
"Yes, and _if_ we could be in Albuquerque right now," laughed CoyotePete.
As he spoke the door opened once more, this time to give entrance tothe Mexican leader himself. As if he was not inclined to take anychances in trusting himself with the Americans, Ramon de Barrios wasaccompanied by two other of his countrymen. He lost no time in comingto the point.
"You boy there, Stetson," he said, pointing to Ralph, "how much is yourfather worth?"
"I suppose about five million dollars," said Ralph wonderingly.
"Phew!" exclaimed Coyote Pete, "I didn't know there was so much moneyin the world."
"Silence," growled Diego, looking at him from under his black brows."And your father loves you?" he went on to Ralph.
"Yes, of course," rejoined the Eastern boy.
"Hum! Well, if you ever want to see him again you must do as I say."
"What is that?"
"Write him a letter telling him to send a messenger with twentythousand dollars to a place I shall designate. If he does so I will letyou go free. If not--well----"
Black Ramon compressed his lips and gave Ralph a look not pleasant tosee. It seemed to promise ominously for the future.
"But what about my friends?" demanded Ralph.
"The same condition applies to Merrill, only in his case, as hisfather is poorer, I shall be considerate and only demand ten thousanddollars."
"You can have my answer now," spoke up Jack. "It is--'No'!"
"The same goes here," chimed in Ralph slangily, but with conviction.
"What, you won't do it? Boys, you must be mad. You do not know themeans I can use to enforce my demand. If you fear to cause your parentsalarm, I can cause them more suffering by sending them word that youare dead."
The Mexican gave a smile of triumph as he saw a serious look cross theboys' faces. The thought of what this would mean--of the grief intowhich it would plunge their families, made them shiver, but neitherhesitated when the cattle-rustler asked once more:
"Well, what do you say?"
"Still--no," said Jack.
"That's me!" snapped Ralph.
"In any event," demanded Jack, "suppose we did sign, what would you dowith our friends?"
"That would concern me only," said the Mexican. "As for thiscow-puncher here----"
"Mister Pete De Peyster is my name," spoke up Coyote Pete, caressinghis yellow mustache.
"Well, De Peyster, then, I have an old score to even up with you----"
"Oh, you mean about the time I snaked you off your horse when you weregoing to ill-treat a pony," said Pete. "Yep, I reckon the bump youlanded with must have left some impression on your greaser mind."
Black Ramon stepped forward. It looked for a second as if he was goingto strike the venturesome cow-puncher, but instead he restrainedhimself and remarked in a calm voice, even more terrible than a ragingtone would have been:
"As you are in my power to do as I like with, I will not discuss thematter with you. I will think it over. You know I am good at thinkingup original punishments."
Jack shuddered at the level, cold-blooded tones of the man. Some of themost terrible tales of the border had to do with the fiendish torturesthought of by the man before them. But Pete was undismayed, at leastoutwardly.
"Anyhow, Ramon," he said, "you ought to get somebody to touch off yourdynamite who will be on the job when wanted. That fellow you had on thebattery at the bridge must have got cold feet at the critical moment,eh? If he had touched off the charge at the right time he could haveblown us all to Kingdom Come. As it is, Mr. Merrill and Bud Wilson aresafe, and sooner or later they'll take it out of your yellow hide,whatever you may do to us now."
Now Pete had an object in talking thus. He wanted if possible to findout what had become of the ranch party when the bridge was blown up.If he expected to learn anything, however, he was disappointed, as theMexican was far too crafty to be led into so easy a trap.
"Oh-ho, you are trying to draw me out to learn what became of yourfriends," he grinned. "Well, what if I should tell you they were blownup?"
"Wa'al, personally, I'd say you were an all-fired liar!" drawled Pete.
"Before long, what you say will not matter," snarled the Mexican, "you,or the boy Walt Phelps. I owe your father a grudge," he continued,turning to the red-headed ranch boy, "and I mean to avenge myself withyou."
Walter gazed back at the wretch as calmly as had Pete. He said nothing,however. He did not wish to betray by even a quaver in his voice thathis feelings were in a state of tumult.
"As for you, you bony old man," said the Mexican, turning to professorWintergreen, "I have a mind to marry you off to an old Indian squaw,and keep you 'round here as our medicine man."
&
nbsp; "In that case I know the medicine I should prescribe for you," said theprofessor calmly.
"What, if you please?" asked the Mexican, with mock humility.
"Six bullets in the region of your black heart," snapped out the man ofscience.
"Bully! Good for you!" yelled Pete, capering about and giving theprofessor a slap on the back that sent the savant's spectacles flying.
"I will give you boys till to-morrow to think this over," said theMexican, deciding, apparently, not to tamper any more with such anedged tool as the professor. "In the meantime, I have decided toseparate you. Merrill, you and this cow-puncher I shall confineelsewhere; you are too dangerous to leave with the rest of them."
He gave a shrill whistle and instantly ten men appeared from the door.Under Black Ramon's directions they bound and blindfolded Pete and JackMerrill.
"I have a place where I keep such firebrands as you two," said Ramonin his most vindictive tone, as amid exclamations of dismay from theircompanions the cow-puncher and the ranchman's son were led from the oldchapel.
The Border Boys on the Trail Page 9
