Fred Fearnot's New Ranch: and How He and Terry Managed ItShackleford, H. K. (Harvey King)
General
Fred Fearnot's New Ranch: and How He and Terry Managed It
Shackleford, H. K. (Harvey King)
Adventure stories; Ranch life -- Juvenile fiction; Young men -- Juvenile fiction
"Well, you must make it one, anyway. You must lay off the grounds
beautifully, thin out the timber somewhat so flowers will grow and yet
leave enough to form plenty of shade. Then if you build a few cottages,
or maybe a hotel, it would easily become a resort--that is, if I am any
judge of the water. It tastes perfectly delicious to me, and really I
believe that it will finally prove the most valuable part of the ranch."
Then Fred led the way further down the road in a southerly direction,
skirting the timber, and at almost every ten feet quail and prairie
chickens flew up out of their way.
After they had gone about a couple of miles Evelyn suddenly saw
something running through the tall grass as if trying to avoid being
seen.
"Fred." said she, "aren't those wolves out there?"
"Where?" and Fred gazed in the direction in which she was pointing.
He could barely catch a glimpse of their backs through the tall grass.
"I guess they are coyotes," he said. "Let's give them a race," and he
put spurs to his horse and dashed off after them. Evelyn, of course,
followed, for she was quite as good a rider as he.
To his surprise, he gained on them, and he knew that the coyote was
about the swiftest little animal of the kind anywhere, so he supposed
that the tall grass was impeding their progress.
When he urged his horse faster the brutes turned, growled, showed their
fangs and stood at bay.
"Great Scott, Evelyn!" he exclaimed, "they are timber wolves!" and his
horse showed fear of them.
Evelyn reined up her horse right alongside of Fred.
"Why, Fred," said she, "they seem to be defying us, which is a mighty
bold thing for them to do in the open daylight."
"Yes, indeed; but they saw that we were gaining on them. Luckily I have
my revolver in my pocket," and with that he drew the weapon and again
dashed toward the wolves, who seemed to be full of fight. When within
fifteen feet of them he fired and the wounded wolf yelped with pain,
while his mate seemed on the point of charging upon them. He fired the
second time and the bullet crashed through the wolf's head. They both
gave a single yelp, sank down in the grass and did a little kicking. The
first one he had shot at hadn't been hit in a vital spot.
So he stood by snarling and showing his fangs until another shot
stretched him on the ground alongside of his mate.
"Why, Fred," said Evelyn, as she rode up and looked at them after they
were dead, "is it possible that they come up so near the houses on the
ranch?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account