[Illustration: "But ain't yuh meanin' tuh pay me anything fo' shootin' up my pets thisaway?" Harkness demanded.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ BOY SCOUTS ON THE OPEN PLAINS OR THE ROUND-UP NOT ORDERED By G. HARVEY RALPHSON Author of BOY SCOUTS IN THE CANAL ZONE BOY SCOUTS IN THE NORTHWEST BOY SCOUTS IN A MOTOR BOAT BOY SCOUTS IN A SUBMARINE [Illustration] Chicago M. A. DONOHUE & COMPANY ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright 1914 by M. A. Donohue & Co. CHICAGO ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Contents I. OVER THE EDGE II. LUCKY JIMMY III. THE HELPING HAND IV. PICKING UP POINTS V. AROUND THE CAMP FIRE VI. THE WOLF PACK VII. EVERYBODY BUSY VIII. AN UNWELCOME GUEST IX. THE HOMING PIGEON X. AT DOUBLE CROSS RANCH XI. THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS XII. NIPPING A MUTINY XIII. AT WASHOUT COULIE XIV. STAMPEDING THE PRIZE BUNCH XV. JIMMY'S UNWILLING RIDE XVI. AFTER THE RUSTLERS' RAID XVII. THE SHREWD OLD FOX XVIII. MORE TROUBLE AHEAD XIX. AT BAY IN THE CANYON XX. SMOKED OUT XXI. IN THE HANDS OF THE RUSTLERS XXII. COMING OF THE REAL BOSS--CONCLUSION ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Boy Scouts on the Open Plains CHAPTER I. OVER THE EDGE. "'Tis meself that calls this pretty tough mountain climbin', and me athinkin' all the while the road to Uncle Job's cattle ranch would take us along the bully open plain all the way!" "Hold your horses, Jimmy; we've got to about the end of this hill climbing. After we cross this divide it's going to be the kind of travel you mention, all on the level. One more town to pass through, and then we strike out for the ranch. Any minute now we ought to glimpse the low country through this canyon that we've been following over the ridge."