Part 15 (1/2)
”Shall we take him along for you? You have no horse?” asked Tad.
”My nag isn't far from here,” smiled the lieutenant. ”I'll load him on like a sack of meal. He'll get a good shaking up, but it won't hurt Dunk. He's too tough to be bothered by a little thing like that.
We'll land him in the calaboose in El Paso by the day after to-morrow.
Where are you folks going?”
”We planned to do the Guadalupes, then go on down to the Rio Grande,”
answered Professor Zepplin.
Withem reflected.
”I reckon the captain will be wanting to see you. There's a reward out for Dunk. Captain Bill is on the square. He'll 'divvy' with you fairly.”
”We are not looking for any rewards,” spoke up Tad quickly. ”You may tell him that whatever reward is paid, belongs to the Rangers. We are glad to have served you, but remember, we did so to save our own skins.”
Withem extended his hand, grasping Tad's hand within it.
”You're the right sort, young man. I wish we had you with us.”
”In the Rangers?”
”Yes, of course.”
”I am afraid that would not be possible,” smiled the Pony Rider Boy.
”Wholly impossible,” affirmed Professor Zepplin with emphasis.
”I suppose so. However, I want you to see the captain. I'll tell you what to do.” The lieutenant lowered his voice. ”We will be in camp to-morrow night about twenty-five miles to the southwest of here.
Know where Doble's Spring is?”
”No, sir.”
”You can find it. The water gushes out of the rocks pretty high up, falling in a sort of spray. You can't miss the place. You'll hear it if it's after dark when you get there.”
”And, further, you'll probably see a campfire, but sing out before you come in too close. Some of our boys are rather sudden when they're interrupted at night,” grinned the Ranger.
”I should call it violent,” declared Stacy. ”The way you poked that pistol in my face back there was a caution. You nearly scared me out of a week's growth.”
No one paid any attention to Chunky's interruption.
”Will your captain be there?” asked the professor.
”I reckon he will But I can't tell for sure. McKay is a pretty busy man. You don't know where to find him. He may be here to-night.
and to-morrow morning he may be sixty or seventy miles away. You can't tell about Billy McKay.”
”Is there any danger of our having difficulties with any of this fellow's companions?” asked the professor apprehensively.
”I reckon not. At least there won't be after you have come up with our party. We'll see to that.”
”Where are their headquarters---in these mountains?” questioned Tad.