The Boy from the Ranch; Or, Roy Bradner's City ExperiencesWebster, Frank V.
General
The Boy from the Ranch; Or, Roy Bradner's City Experiences
Webster, Frank V.
City and town life -- Juvenile fiction; Mystery and detective stories; Ranch life -- Juvenile fiction; Thieves -- Juvenile fiction
"But the man sure had to work hard to get rich. I s'pose rich men feel
that they can take life easy after they have earned a fortune."
"Indian no like work. Drive cattle too hard. Me quit soon," was all
Low Bull replied.
"Yes, and if you don't quit I think Billy will make you vamoose
anyhow," murmured Roy.
Low Bull rolled another cigarette, and seemed to go to sleep under the
influence of it. Roy had to race off after a couple of straying
steers, and had no further time for talking. When he had brought the
cattle back, a long, shrill cry echoed over the plain. At the sound of
it Low Bull seemed to wake up.
"Billy make camp now," he said. "Soon supper--eat--Low Bull hungry."
It was the signal for making camp, and, finding themselves no longer
urged forward, the steers stopped, and began to crop the rich grass.
The cowboys, of whom there were several, with joyful shouts, came
riding up to the cook wagon, which had been pulled along in the rear,
but which now came to a halt on the broad, rolling plain. "Smoke"
Tardell started a fire from grease-wood, and began to prepare the
evening meal.
"Set out plenty of grub, Smoke," called one of the cowboys, riding
close up to Tardell, and playfully snatching his big sombrero off.
"Here! You let that be, Bruce Arkdell!" exclaimed the cook. "That's
my new hat, an' I don't want it spoiled!"
"Give me an extra plate of beans, or I'll shoot a hole in it!"
threatened the cowboy, drawing hit heavy revolver, and aiming it at the
hat, which he held in one hand.
"All right. You can have three platesful, but don't you spoil my hat!"
cried the cook, as he received back his sombrero. "I never see such
crazy chaps as them boys be when they're headed for the ranch,"
muttered "Smoke," as he set the coffee pot over the fire.
It did not take long to prepare the meal, and the cowboys crowded
around the "grub wagon" as they called it. Low Bull was among them,
his eyes greedy for food.
"Here, Low Bull," exclaimed Billy Carew, "you go out and ride around
them steers awhile. They ain't quieted down yet, and I don't want no
stampede now. Ride around 'em, and make 'em feel easy."
"After supper," said the Indian.
"No, now!" insisted the foreman.
"Low Bull hungry. Like eat."
"Low Bull is going to stay hungry then, until some of the others have
piled in their grub," declared Billy. "I'll send somebody out to take
your place, as soon as they've eaten. Now vamoose!"
"Low Bull like eat."
"Yes, I know. Low Bull like eat, but no like work. That's what's the
matter with Low Bull," exclaimed Billy with a laugh. "Now git."
The Indian knew there was no use disputing this decision, so, with no
very good grace, he started to ride slowly around the cattle, to keep
them from moving off in a body.
"I'll go out and relieve him in a little while," offered Roy. "I'll
soon be through supper."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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