The Project Gutenberg EBook of Comrades of the Saddle, by Frank V. Webster

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Title: Comrades of the Saddle The Young Rough Riders of the Plains

Author: Frank V. Webster

Release Date: April 3, 2004 [EBook #11890]

Language: English

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK COMRADES OF THE SADDLE ***

Produced by Al Haines

COMRADES OF THE SADDLE

Or

The Young Rough Riders of the Plains

BY

FRANK V. WEBSTER

AUTHOR OF "ONLY A FARM BOY," "THE YOUNG TREASURE HUNTER," "THE BOYS OF BELLWOOD SCHOOL," "TOM THE TELEPHONE BOY," ETC.

ILLUSTRATED

NEW YORK
CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY

BOOKS FOR BOYS

By FRANK V. WEBSTER

ONLY A FARM BOY
  Or Dan Hardy's Rise in Life

TOM THE TELEPHONE BOY
  Or The Mystery of a Message

THE BOY FROM THE RANCH
  Or Roy Bradner's City Experiences

THE YOUNG TREASURE HUNTER
  Or Fred Stanley's Trip to Alaska

BOB THE CASTAWAY
  Or The Wreck of the Eagle

THE YOUNG FIREMEN OF LAKEVILLE
  Or Herbert Dare's Pluck

THE NEWSBOY PARTNERS
  Or Who Was Dick Box?

THE BOY PILOT OF THE LAKES
  Or Nat Morton's Perils

TWO BOY GOLD MINERS
  Or Lost in the Mountains

JACK THE RUNAWAY
  Or On the Road with a Circus

THE BOYS OP BELLWOOD SCHOOL
  Or Frank Jordan's Triumph

COMRADES OF THE SADDLE
  Or The Young Rough Riders of the Plains

Copyright, 1910, by
CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY

COMRADES OF THE SADDLE

Printed in U. S. A

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I AN EXCITING ESCAPE II MR. ALDEN BRINGS NEWS III WORD FROM THE WEST IV GUS MEGGET V THE HALF-MOON RANCH VI IN THE SADDLE VII A RACE IN THE MOONLIGHT VIII HORACE IN DANGER IX THE MESSAGE FROM CROSS-EYED PETE X THE RETURN TO THE RANCH XI PREPARATIONS FOB PURSUIT XII WHAT NAILS LEARNED XIII OUT ON THE PLAINS XIV ANOTHER DISCOVERY XV THE CONTESTED TRAIL XVI WHAT JEFFREYS KNEW XVII LOST! XVIII A MYSTERIOUS CALL XIX A TERRIBLE PLOT XX THE PRAIRIE FIRE XXI A RIDE FOR LIFE XXII LAWRENCE'S PLAN XXIII IN THE MOUNTAINS XXIV CAPTURING THE CATTLE THIEVES XXV HOMEWARD

COMRADES OF THE SADDLE

CHAPTER I

AN EXCITING ESCAPE

Twilight was settling on the land. The forms of trees and houses loomed big and black, their sharp outlines suggesting fanciful forms to the minds of two boys hurrying along the road which like a ribbon wound In and out among the low hills surrounding the town of Bramley, in south-western Ohio.

As the darkness increased lights began to twinkle from the windows of the distant farmhouses.

"We're later than usual, Tom," said the larger of the two boys. "I hope we'll get home before father does."

"Then let's hurry. The last time we kept supper waiting he said we'd have to give up playing ball after school if we couldn't get home before meal time."

"And that means that we won't make the team and will only get a chance to substitute," returned the first speaker.

As though such a misfortune were too great to be borne, the two young ball players broke into a dog trot.

The boys were brothers, Tom and Larry Alden. Larry, the larger, was sixteen and Tom was a year younger. Both were healthy and strong and would have been thought older, so large were they.

The only children of Theodore Alden, a wealthy farmer who lived about three miles from Bramley, unlike many brothers, they were chums. They were prime favorites, and their popularity, together with their natural ability and cool-headedness at critical moments, made them leaders in all sports.

As it grew darker and darker, the brothers quickened their pace. Talking was out of the question, so fast were they going. But as they rounded a turn in the road, which enabled them to see the lights in their home, a quarter of a mile away, Larry gasped:

"There's no light in the dining-room yet. Father hasn't gotten home!"

"Come on then for a final spurt," returned Tom.

Willingly Larry responded, and the boys dashed forward as though they were just starting out instead of ending a two-mile run.

On the right-hand side of the road a fringe of bushes hedged a swamp.

The patter of the boys' feet on the hard clay road was the only sound that broke the stillness.

Their goal, with the bright lights shining from the windows, was only about three hundred yards away when suddenly from the direction of the swamp sounded a sullen snarl.

"Did you hear anything?" asked Larry.

"I thought so."

As though to settle all doubt, the growl rang out again. This time it was nearer and sounded more ominous.

For a moment the boys looked at each other, then, as with one accord, turned their heads and looked in the direction whence the startling noise had come.

Just as they did so there came another howl, and an instant later a big black form, for all the world like a large dog, leaped from the bushes into the road.

"Quick, quick!" cried Larry, seizing his brother's arm and pulling him along, for Tom had slackened his speed, as though fascinated by the sight of the strange animal. "It must be that wolf father read about, the one that got away when the circus train was passing through Husted."

And, Larry was right. The animal was indeed a wolf that had escaped from its cage through the door, the fastener on which had been jarred out of place by the motion of the train, and had leaped to liberty.

The circus people had reported the loss as soon as it had been discovered and it had been duly announced in the papers.

Mr. Alden had read about it, but all had laughed at the thought of a wolf in placid Ohio and dismissed the story as a circus man's joke.

Rejoicing in its freedom, the beast had wandered about till it struck the swamp and now the air brought to its keen nose the scent of the boys passing. Ravenously hungry, the wolf hastened toward the lads.

As it bounded into the road the glare from the lights of the farmhouse momentarily blinded it and it stood blinking.

But only for an instant. Instinctively realizing that it must catch them before they reached the lights, the wolf uttered a savage snarl and bounded forward.

Larry's words to his brother had roused the boy, and together they were racing