by Quincy Allen
CHAPTER XIX
A STRANGE DISCLOSURE
"Hello, there, Charlie! How's your health?"
Reddy swung himself down from the limb on which he had been perched, andkicked out with his feet in such a way that he attracted the attentionof the beast.
"He's coming! Look out, Frank!" shouted Will, who, secure in his perch,had, of course, been manipulating his camera with burning zeal.
Bang!
It was Bluff who had fired, but if he hit the great beast at all, thelatter minded the wound no more than he would a flea bite.
Jerry also took a turn as the grizzly passed the tree in which he washidden.
"I hit him!" he whooped as the grizzly gave a snap backward at hisflank.
But the enticement offered by Reddy's swinging form proved too much forthe enraged animal. Doubtless he imagined that all his troubles camefrom that biped or monkey hanging up yonder, just within reach of hisclaws if he arose on his hind legs. Hence his eagerness to make theattempt.
"Pull up, quick!" exclaimed Frank as the grizzly rushed under the treeand immediately started to rear up.
The daring cowboy had held out until the very last second, meaning thatnothing should balk his design of enticing the enemy under their refuge,where Frank could get in his work.
Afterward Frank understood his motive. Reddy was especially fond of him,though he also liked all of the other chums. He believed that Jerry hadsecured enough honors in being given the chance to knock over the otherbear, and it was his desire to see Frank even up the score.
Just in the nick of time the cowboy swung his legs up around the limb.The horrible claws of the grizzly swept through the air not a foot belowwhere he had hung. Frank shuddered at the consequences had anythinghappened to bring Reddy within reach of such a powerful beast.
"Now get him, Frank!" gasped the one who hung on with arms and legs.
Neither Bluff nor Jerry thought to shoot a second time. They seemed tounderstand that the game had passed them by, and that it was Frank'sturn.
When he saw the right chance the young sportsman pulled the trigger. Hehad not made any mistake in judging just where he should aim, for withthe report of his rifle the grizzly floundered, and fell over.
"Wow! That did the business!" shouted Jerry.
"Hold on, boys! Don't get down yet!" called Mr. Mabie hastily, as hethought he detected a disposition on the part of either Bluff or Jerryto drop from their secure perches to the ground.
It was well they refrained, for already the monster was once more on hisfeet, and, roaring with fury, endeavoring to reach the enemies who clungthere so tantalizingly, just beyond his extended claws.
"Give him another!" cried Reddy promptly.
Frank did; and wishing to end the beast as quickly as possible, he aimedto send the lead straight to the heart. But he was compelled to useevery bullet in his six-shot repeater before the giant received hisquietus, and rolled over, to rise no more.
Frank had a queer feeling as he dropped to the ground and stood over hisbig game. Deep down in his heart he envied his chum, because Jerry hadbeen able to kill _his_ grizzly while the beast was charging him.
"It may be all right," he said to Mr. Mabie, "and it's a good thing toget rid of these savage animals in any old way, but I hope I don't takepart in another affair like this. He had no chance, poor old chap."
The old rancher looked admiringly at the boy.
"Those sentiments do you proud, lad, and I appreciate them, too; butbusiness, in my line, must go ahead of sentiment, and this old Charliewas doing me a bad turn. My herds will rest easier now that he is gone,"he said feelingly.
Leaving Billy and Reddy to secure the hide of the second grizzly, theothers returned to camp. Restless Jerry tried the fishing again, and asbefore, success came his way.
"I'd give something to have my little _Red Rover_ here, in that swiftwater," sighed Bluff, as he and Frank sat on the edge of the bluff,listening to the rush of the river while it sped on its way to the lowercountry.
"Well, a canoe might be fine for shooting downstream, but I don'tbelieve you'd find it as safe in the rapids as those hide boats. Therocks can't smash in their sides, like cedar or canvas craft. Better todo as the natives do, I find, whenever I go anywhere. They know byexperience what's best," returned Frank wisely.
"Look there! A cowboy coming like the wind up the river, waving his hatover his head! Say! d'ye suppose anything's gone wrong at the ranch, andwe'll have to cut our hunt short?" exclaimed Bluff anxiously.
"Oh, I guess not. You see, those fellows are built that way. They nevercan do anything without excitement. See! He's holding up something thatlooks like a mail pouch," said Frank composedly.
"Why, of course that's it! I heard Mr. Mabie say he expected mailto-day, and, for one, I'll be mighty glad to hear from the folks,"sighed Bluff.
"What? Not getting homesick already, I hope?" smiled his chum.
"Certainly not, only a fellow naturally likes to hear from his mom anddad when he's away so far," declared Bluff stoutly.
"Yes, and also from some other fellow's sister, in the bargain. Nellienever finds time to write to me when I'm away, leaving all that to theold folks; but I notice that you always manage to get a letter in herhandwriting."
"Well, I made her solemnly promise to write every other day, you see,"explained Bluff, while he suddenly became red in the face, hurrying offto get his mail.
There were letters for all the boys. Jerry was called in from hisentrancing sport to receive his share, and Frank noticed that he, too,had a sweet-looking missive in a schoolgirl hand. Of course, it must befrom Mame Crosby, for Jerry and she were great friends.
"Here's something enclosed in my letter, and directed to Mr. FrankLangdon. Does anybody know a fellow by that name?" asked Will, holdingup a delicate envelope that seemed to exhale a fragrance all its own.
"And sealed, too! What a breach of etiquette!" jeered Jerry.
"Now, _will_ you be good?" observed Bluff, glad of a chance to returnthe favor.
"That's all right. Possibly Violet wants to make some inquiriesconcerning her twin brother, how he behaves, and if he has developed anyrash spirit calculated to get him into trouble. I remember telling herthat if she felt anxious just to drop me a line, and I'd answer."
Frank unblushingly took the envelope from the extended fingers of Will.
"Open it!" commanded Bluff.
"You'll have to excuse me, fellows. That wouldn't be hardly fair to mycorrespondent, you know. She expects me to keep her secrets." And Frankcoolly sauntered off as he spoke.
Nor did he ever take them into his confidence with regard to what thecontents of that scented missive might be. Even Will was not told.However, like most brothers, it can be said that he did not seem overlyanxious to learn. He had, perhaps, secrets of his own.
Once again they were seated around the campfire. Supper had been, asusual, a great success, and while the older members of the party smoked,our boys amused themselves in various ways.
Will was, of course, busy with his photographic outfit. His fielddark-room was a success, and he developed his films, and did all otherthings necessary, with little or no trouble. Indeed, he had an apparatuswhereby he could carry on this operation successfully even in thedaytime; but he usually worked at night, because there was nothing elsegoing on then.
The others had fallen into a conversation connected with their homelife. Reddy hovered near, listening, and Frank wondered why that wistfullook had come into the eyes of the young cowboy. Possibly he had a homesomewhere--perhaps memories of a mother or father had crowded into hismind while the boys were talking of the sacred ties that bound them toCenterville.
Frank had always believed there must be something of a history attachedto Reddy's past. He had even hoped that some time the other might takesuch a liking to him as to speak of his own folks. His manner gave Frankthe impression that the dashing cowboy might have had a new longingspring up in his breast since their coming to the ranch,
a desire toonce again visit the scenes of his boyhood.
So, as they talked, referring to many of the events of the past, nameswere often mentioned, and as a thought came to him, Frank happened tosay:
"I wonder how Hank Brady is getting on with father's new car?"
He saw the cowboy start and turn white.
"Who's Hank Brady?" he asked, his voice trembling.
"A fellow we met under strange circumstances. Hank was on the road tothe bad, but he got his eyes open just in time. Now he's our chauffeur,and we think he's going to make good," replied Frank, watching the otherwith sudden interest.
"Huh! Did you ever hear anything about his family?" asked Reddy, tryingto act in a natural manner, but hardly succeeding very well.
"Yes. He's got a father and mother who were mighty anxious about him."
"And there's that good-for-nothing brother Ted he told you to keep youreye out for up here!" broke in Bluff.
"Yes; how about that, Frank? Have you ever asked about him?" exclaimedJerry.
"No; but perhaps I'd better begin now. How about it, Reddy?" questionedFrank.
"You needn't go any further, for I can tell you all about that scalawag.If you had asked Mr. Mabie, he'd have told you my name was Ted Brady,"was the astonishing reply.
