Copyright, 1885, by Beadle & Adams, Entered at Post Office, New York, N.Y., as second class matter. Nov. 26, 1899.

 

: Sa M. J. IVERS & CO, Publishers ’
No. 47, Published (James Suilivan, Proprtetor,) % Price 5 Cents. Vol, N

Every Week. 379 Pearl Street, New York. $2.50 a Year,

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

smatter. Nov. 26, 1899,

 

; M. J. IVERS & CO., Publishers. oo
Published (James Sullivan, Proprietor,) : Price * Cents. Vol lV
Every Week. 379 Pearl Street, New York. $2.50 a Year. . .

THE COLORADO BOYSS or, ure ov an ioico PLANTATION.

BY JOSEPH E, BADGER, JR.

 

THER TUSKER REARED, MAKING A VICIOUS STROKE AT THE COLORADO BOY WHO HAD DARED THD
DANGEROUS FEAT OF! LASSOING A WILD BOAR,

 
2 The Coiorado Boys.

 

‘The Colorado Boys;

Life on an Indigo Plantation.

BY JOS. E. BADGER, IR.,
AUTHOR OF ‘“‘THE PRAIRIE RANCH,” ‘‘ ROUND
THE CAMP-FIRE,” ETC., ETC., ETC.

CHAPTER 1,
A BRUSH WITH THE PIGS.

Hreux noon of a day in June, in the year of
our Lord 187—.

Not a breath of air stirring, not a cloud to be
seen in the sky above, nor the hor.zon round
about, while the sun poured down its scorching
rays as only the sun of India and like regions
can shine, the intense beat arising from the
sandy earth in spite of the grass and stunted
shrubbery, waving, shimmering, causing all ob-
jects near the surface to seem afflicted with an
ague chill,

A little cavalcade is pressing straight across
this dreary waste, the eyes of horses as well as
riders being fixed upon the wide-spreading top
of a tree beyond—a bhur or pippul-tree: the
sacred fig of the Hindoos.

A touch of the spurs, a brisk scramble on the

art of the little, thick-necked, coarse-looking

abul ponies, then the grateful sha@s was
reached, and rein was drawn.

“Hope you don’t have a~yery extensi se sup-
ply of this sort of weather, cousin Percy,” ejac-
ulated one of the party, dashing the great drops
of sweat from his brow with a dexterous flirt of
the fingers,

“A fair oe for this time of year, I’m
afraid you'll find it, Burt; it will be better after
the monsoon, But I’m really glad to think that
we are better than you seem inclined to be-
lieve—that in one respect at least we can suc-
cessfully rival your beloved America—”

“Tn what?” was the blunt interruption.

“In hot weather,” laughed Percy.

“You
were complaining of the heat, weren’t you?”
“Not a bit of it!” manfully cried Burt,
shrugging his shoulders and pulling the collar
of his light jacket closer around his throat.
“Just thinking that we should have brought

along our buifalo-overcoats. Smells a little like
snow—be frost in the morning, I reckon.”

Percy laughed lightly as he dismounted and
gave his pony to the care of the tall, Mongolian-
featured Nepaulese who accompanied the trio
of youngsters.

“Tt must b3 a queer country, that America
of yours. Never mind: some day I will see it
in your company, if not with your eyes. Until
then, let us bs content with what we have. It’s
not so bad, here. Plenty of sport, for those
who like it—”

‘“‘And such as it is!” grumbled the young
American, _

‘““Wait until you have tried it, cousin, then
sneer if you can. You shall have arun after

the pigs as soon as you are fairly rested from |
your journey, or if that is not quite up to your |

mark, we can sbow you a tiger or two—*

‘Cats and pigs—well, we mustn’t be too hard

 

on you poor fellows out in heathen-land: you
mean well, no doubt,”

“Let up, Burt: it’s too hot to listen to your
eternal grumbling,” languidly interposed the
third of the youths, who had maintained silence
until now. ‘‘Percy will think we are the
heathen, if you rattle on much longer in that
vein.

‘“‘He'll soon get over it,” said Percy, good-
naturedly. ‘‘I know just how he feels. Though
I-was but littl more than a baby when we
came here, I was quite as bad. Nothing was
equal to what we left behind us in old England—
nor am I entirely cured, yet. But come—Kola-
hala is ready for us, and I, for one, am quite
ready for him.”

While they were talking, the Nepauless shik-
aree was busied in spreading a substantial
lunch, to which the three lads now did ample
justice. For a time they were all too fully oc-
cupied for much talking, but after a while
Lancelot, the elder-of the brothers Applebee,
broke thé silence:

“You spoke about pig-sticking: is there any
fun in it?”

‘Lots of fun and still more danger. There’s
no child’s-play about it, when you come face to
face with a charging old tusker. But you shall
see for yourself, as soon as the crop is \taken
care of. Father has promised me a bunt or
two, and with bim in command, we can be sure
of plenty of sport and excitement. He has the
reputation of being the surest spear along the
frontier.. I'll try and get him to take us out for
the old fighting gray tusker—”

“The what?’

“That's the name they have given to an old
boar of these parts. To my own knowledge,,
there have been at least a dozen parties made up
for the especial purpose of bagging him, but
without success—”

“ Can’t they find him?”

“Find him? Yes, too easily for more than
one poor devil,” was the sober reply. ‘‘Oneman
killed, two others crippled, not counting a round
score of horses which have went down forever
before his charge.”

“Td back one of our old razor-backs against
— fighting gray and all his tribe,” sniffed

urt.

“Say that after you have met the old fellow
—if you ever do. But come—saddle up, Kola-
hala; there’s a long ride ahead of us, ard 1 want
the young gentlemen to have time for a look at
their new home before it grows dark,”

* Your home, maybe—not mine,” quickly put
in the incorrigible Burt. ‘‘There’s only one
home for me on this globe—back in the States,
in good old Colorado!”

“That is as you elect, of course,” said Percy,
gravely. ‘* The choice is left with you, by the
terms of your father’s will, but I hope you will
think better of India after you have had achance
to see how we live and fare here. Be sure we
will all do our best to win you over.”

‘‘If anybody could, you’re the one, old fel-
low,” and there was an unusual softness in the
sturdy lad’s tongs as he reached over and pressed
the band of bis cousin. ‘ But it won’t work.
My heart is over the big water. I wouldn’t give
my herd of cattle forall the indigo in the word

A

 
The Colorado Boys.

 

xouldn’t give one acre of old Colorado for all
¥ dia, pigs, cats and all thrown in to make good
tfheasure!”

“Let it drop for now,” said soberer Lance.
“\7e are here under orders too imperative for
id}. discussion, The horses are ready: let us be
tr:.veling.” :

Mounting their rested ponies, the three-young-
stars set off, closely followed by Kolahala, at
whose heels trotted the half-dozen dogs which
bud borne them company from the factory.

Burt Applebee had the talking almost wholly
te ugimself, Percy wisely suffering him to railon
ancontradicted, only dropping in a dexterous
word now and then in defense of his adopted
Soontry as a favorable opening presented it-
self.

For some moments the dogs had shown signs
of unéasiness, making short breaks from the
trail, only checked by the low but stern com-
mands of the Nepaulese, whose oblong eyes be-
gan to glisten more brightly than ever, while
his heavy countenance lightened and the sus-

‘cion of a smile curled that corner of hismouth

urthest from the brothers,

Watching his chance, he dropped a few words
into the ear of his young master. Percy cast a
swift glance toward his unsuspicious cousins.
He dearly loved a good-natured joke, and in
addition was an Sent devotee of the chase.
True, they were not as well equipped for such
sport as they might be, but Burt was sadly in
need of a lesson.

The dogs decided the question for the young
indigo-planter. They were still nearer game
than even Kolahala had surmised, and now,
with wild yelps, the little pack broke away into
the scrub, from the midst of which came a con-
fused uproar that would have rivaled pandemo-
nium itself,

The brothers drew rein hastily, their hands,
with true hunters’ instinct, seeking the weapons
which rested upon their thighs, but thena short,
contemptuous laugh broke from the lips of Burt
Applebee as several small pigs broke from the
cover, dashing away with shrill squeakings and

an, grunts,
hee those the mighty pigs you’ve been tell-
ghty pig
ghting tuskers?

ing about? Those the famous
Down our way, a man would be arrested for
slander if he talked of sticking such little ts
with anything worse than a soft boiled roasting-
ear!

A wild chorus of yelping, snarling, grunting,
a fierce whoof, then over the top of the scru
came the writhing shape of a dog, literally dis-
emboweled. A stifled yelp was all: the hound
was dead ere its carcass touched the ground.

The next instant a huge old boar rushed_out
of the scrub almost into the midst of the riders,
stopping for an instant to eye them, as though
counting the cost of a mad charge. Its fishy
eyes shining redly, its massive jaws champing
until the white froth dropped in gouts from its
yellowed tushes, its long black hair standing
erect, its tail lashing its horny flanks; in one
word, the very personification of malignant
fury. But only for a moment, Then it wheeled
and lumbered away, whoofing loudly.

** That’s a fair sample of our Pi ,” said Percy,
with a short laugh. ‘One o the tamer sort,

 

too. Lucky for us that it was not an old gray,
or we would some of us have lost the number of
our mess. If we only had a pear or two along,
I'd show you some sport.”

“Come on, Lance!” shouted Burt, thrusting
his revolver back and grasping the lasso which
hung at his saddle bow. “Let us show them
the way we do things at home!”

Percy uttered a warning cry, but if heard it
was wholly unheeded. Already Burt was crash-
ing his way through the scrub, while Lance,
also on fire at the prospect of sport, was close
at his heels,

Kolahala.showed his white teeth in a grin
that was almost savage.

“Let them go, young master!” he muttered.
“They will be wiser before long, unless their
arnis are as long and as strong as their tov gues.”

“« After them, son of a dog!” sternly cried the
young planter. ‘‘If barm befalls them, neitber
you nor I will dare show our faces before -the
master!”

Burt was in his glory now. He thought not
of danger. He had hunted wild hogs in the
States, and felt sure that India could furnish
none more dangerous than the gaunt “ razor-
backs” of the southern’ cane-brakes. His pony
was all fire and energy, entering fully into the
spirit of the chase. The pigs were not far
ahead, with the hounds worrying them fiercely
and retarding their flight.

“Rope, not lead, this time, Lance!” shouted
Burt, as his brother came swiftly on. ‘ Let’s
show Percy that some things can be done as
well as others. We'll rope a couple and take
them to the factory for pets—burrab!”

Though so clumsy-looking, the Cabul ponies
were swift of foot when fairly aroused, as now,
and in a very few minutes they carried the

“brothers within reach of the scattered hogs.

Burt kept his eye on the huge old boar which
had come into fairest view at the start, while
Lance, not dreaming of serious danger, looked
out for another on which to display his skill
and prowess,

One more touch of the spurs, and Burt felt
that his time had come. The lasso had swung
swiftly around his head, then shot out in snake-
like coils, settling fairly over the head of the
boar. A powerful wrench checked the pony,
and a ae pluck followed which fairly over-
ie the hog and made the pony stagger on
its feet.

An exultant laugh broke from the lips of the
reckless lad, but this was cut short as the ho;
scrambled to its feet, and before the bewildere
pony could be made to understand what was
required of it, the black tusker was madly
charging.

The pony was well trained to pig-hunting,
and only for the foreign element which entered
into the sport on this cecasion, doubtless all
would have gone well, for as the grisly brute
charged, champing its long, curved tushes
viciously, the pony leaped lightly aside, then
plunged forward in flight, as it had been taught
to do under like circumstances,

Unfortunately an. intervening thorn-bush
obliged it to turn to the right in its leap, and
though the mad rush of the pig was eluded, the
lasso was brought dround its fore-legs. One

 
4 The Colorado Boys.

 

end was securely noosed to the saddle-horn,
while the other was as firmly fastened around
the neck’of the boar, so the result may easily
be surmised.

The pony stumbled and fell headlong, casting
its rider far over its head and into the midst of
a thorn-bush, where he stuck for a moment—
long evovgh for the tusker to regain its feet
and come charging at him with an angry
whoof.

Plucky as he was proud, Burt scrambled to
his feet, with no thought of flight, frightful as
the old tusker would have seemed to one less
excited. After all his boasting, to make such a
ridiculcus display as this!

Swift as thought the lad whipped forth his
revolver, and fired once, twice, in swift succes-
sion as the monster was almost uponhim. Even
in that critical moment he could see the red
blood spurt from between the eves of the hog,
could see that the shock of the bullet staggered
it for an instant, and turned its head a trifle to
one side, just as the second shot was fired. And
he saw more—saw that his last shot had cut the
lasso from around the brawny throat of the
boar, as cleanly as though a knife had been
used ! .

The only other result of the bullets was to
change the hoarse whoofing into angry squeals,
and then the boar was upon him.

There was no chance for flight now. In that
tangled scrub he would have been quickly over-
taken and ripped open by those gleaming tushes,
In such critical emergencies the brain works
quickly, and Burt saw that there was but one
chance left open for him.

Gathering all his energies, as the boar lower-
ed his head to give the deadly thrust, Burt
jeaped high into the air, hoping to clear the
brute and then regain the saddle before the hog
could turn and charge again.

But, just as he did so, the tusker reared, making
a viciousstroke atth daring Colorado Boy, who
had dared the dangerous feat of lassoing a wild
boar, the clashing tusks struck the sole of one
boot with such force that the solid leather was

ierced, the tremendous shock whirling the

ad end over end, a dozen yards away, where
he fell upon bis head and shoulders with a crash
and a jar thas almost deprived him of his senses.

All this transpired with almost the rapidity
of thought, and though Percy and Koiahala
used both spur and lash, they were yet a score
of yards away when the catastrophe occurred,

They saw the adventurous lad overthrown,

and believed that he had been killed or at least. |
fatally injured. They saw the maddened boar |

turn and charge anew with furious grunts, its
clashing tushes threatening the fallen youngster,

With a rin:ing cry Kolahala cut in ahead of
his young masters, snatching a curious weapon

from his saddle-bow and whirling it above his |
| Lance, riding back and dismounting to assure

head as he charged. :

It was the lohath of the Nepaulese, at oncea
weapon, an ornament and a badge. In shape
not unlike an auctioneer’s hammer, it differed
from‘ that in being studded with numerous
small, blunt spikes of brass and steel. Attached
to the handle was acuriously-plaited cord, by
which it hung to the saddle-bow, or was slung

to the “wrist, The cord was ornamented with ,

 

fancy knots and tassels of silk and leather. The
head was carved and stained with dyes of bril-
liant hue. It is the badge of the mahout, with
which he pounds his ungainly charge into a run,
Tt is the war-club of the hill-tribes, and it is
frequently used, as now, to discomfif an enemy
beyond arm’s length.

Flashing like a meteor, the lohath shot through
the air, striking the grisly monster fairly upon
the side of the head and knocking it over as
though struck by a thunderboit, .

But the brute had a tough skull, and with an
angry squeal it regained its feet just as Burt,
confused and bewildered, was arising.

Percy Applebee charged home, but the pony
he rode flinched at, the critical moment, and his
bullet only scored the gaunt flank of the pig,
still further enraging without in the least disa-
bling the mad creature.

Lancs Applebee had heard the wild yell which
his brother gave as his lasso encircled the throat
of. the pig, and turned in his saddle to view the
triumph of the reckless lad. He saw the catas-
trophe which swiftly followed, and thinking only
of rescuing his brother, he wheeled and charged
at full speed to the spot.

None too soon was his coming, either.

With lowered head the boar, recovering from
the shock of the lohath, was charging upon the
half-stunned lad, its ugly tushes ready for the
ripping thrust. So fierce was its rage, and so
great its vitality, that Lance knew by instinct
that even a death-shot could not save his be-
loved brother.

Without touching a weapon he dashed up,
bent low over in the saddle, Comanche fashion,
and grasped the fiérce brute by the leg, throw-
ing all his strength into the effort, and fairly
tossing the monster over on its back. He made
another grasp, as he rode past, at the collar of
his brother, but without success, as his pony
leaped swiftly aside with a terrified snortas the
hog squealed in baffled fury.

Before the boar could regain its feet Burt,
fairly boiling over with rage and chagrin,
dashed forward, caught one fore-leg and thrust
his ten-inch bowie- knife to the very hilt into the
heart of the ugly brute!

CHAPTER II.
THE FIGHTING GRAY-TUSKER,

Tne stroke was as sure as it had been swift,
and with its heart fairly cloven in twain, the
black tuskey clashed its curved teeth once, then
lay quivering in death, while Burt ieaped
swiftly aside, as though anticipating siill an-
other charge from the tough beast,

“Good!” ejaculated Kolahala, his oblique
eyes glittering with that ardor which a true
hunter feels on witnessing a gallant or dexterous
exploit by a fellow-sportsman,

** Got your pork all right, boy Burt,” laughed

himself that his brother had received no ma-
terial injury in that confused scramble. ‘* Next
question is, what are you g ing to do with it?”

Burt brushed the dust and sand from his
eyes, mingled with the blood which trickled
from several scratches received when tossed into
the thorn-bush, and his ruling passion came out
strouger than ever as he noticed the smile

 
The Colorado Boys.

which played around the handsome lips of his
eousin.

“Tf we were going to camp out for another
meal, I’d tote it along for supper. It’s small
enough to be young and tender, and we could
draw lots to see which one bad itfor a mouth-
ful to top off with. One of your sucking pigs,
ain’t it?” and Burt turned toward Percy, his
scratched face full of simplicity.

Kolahala was on the ground, measuring the
grisly beast at the shoulder, and as he heard
this speech, he looked at the lad in utter amaze-
ment. He seemed almost frightened at the
boy, and as Burt noted this, he could car:y the
daree no further, breaking into a short laugh
that quickly enlightened the Nepaulese, <A re-
ciprocal grin spread over the Tartar-like face
of the shikaree, who was a bit of a wag after
his own sober fashion, and from that moment
Burt had a friend who would not hesitate to
wade through fire and water, to serve him
should ever the occasion arise.

“Old enough to have been weaned, and cut
its eye teeth, at any rate,” laughed Percy, but
adding, with an instant change of voice and
countenance, as he noticed bis cousin limp in
walking: ‘ Youare hurt; surely the pig didn’t
rip you?”

Burt doubled up one leg and looked quizzical-
ly down at his heavy hunting-boot. The thick

leather had been pierced through and through,
though the sole was more than half an inch in
thickness, then twisted and torn loose from the

upper!

“Reckon I must have stepped on a thorn
when I got off my horse, over yonder, ’Pears
to me I felt something.”

Kolahala burst into an oily chuckle; then
glided any in haste: after the Cabul pony
which had been brought up short in its flight
by the end of the lasso catching on the thorn
thicket.

Percy was too thankful for the really mar-
velous escape ofshis cousin to press his advan-
tage, just then, and when fully satisfied that
Burt had suffered nothing more serious than a
few scratches and bruises, which a day or two
would set torights, he led the way back to the
trail which they had so hastily abandoned when
the ‘‘sounder” of pigs was set afoot.

‘Well, cousin Burt,” he said, lightly as they
rode along, “ you have just been given a speci-
men of our sport. How do you like it, and

_ what is your opinion of our pigs now ?”

“Sport enough while it lasted, but as for the
pigs—well, I mustn’t forget that this is India,
not America, Over there, a fellow wouldn’t
dare let such little, harmless creatures out of
their pen alone for fear an acorn might drop on
its head and knock its brains out.” A

Despite his good nature, Percy was just a lit-
tle stung by this constant disparagement of his
adopted country, and there was a trace of sharp-
ness in his tones as he spoke:

Youcan tell big yarns, cousin Burt, but you
come from a big country, and I suppose that ac-
counts for it, Now out here, we would call that
pig a big one—rather over the average, since it
“was a good thirty-four incher. In the old days,
they say that pigs were a great deal larger, as
ea as more plenty and savage; but you can’t

 

always depend on what you hear. Some fel:
lows seem to take delight in stretching the truth
—not meaning any fling at you, Burt!”

‘Of course not—why should you?” and the
big blue eyes grew larger as the lad looked in-
nocently into the face of his cousin.

Again Kolahala snorted aloud, then bent low
in-his saddle to lash one of the dogs which was
lazily trotting along, wholly innocent of

Perey saw that bis skot had missed it
ed mark, and took up the thread of his di
where he broke off:

‘You'll hear plenty of talk about forty-inch
tuskers, when you get among old pig-stickers,
but, young as 1 am, I have had a good bit of ex-
perience, thanks to father, and I never yet saw
but one of that size, and be is stiJl afoot in the
jungle. That is the old fighting gray tusker, as
he is called.”

‘ ‘Forty inches long, do you mean?” asked
urt.

“No, but measured at the shoulder, as they
stand.”

**Some of our pigs would crowd that mighty
close when first littered.”

‘Drop your nonsense, Burt. I want to hear
something more about these pigs,” interposed
Lance in a tone which he seldom used, but which
never failed to silence his gasconading brother,
“You say, cousin, that this hog was an average
specimen. _Do you mean in size alone, or are
they all as ugly to handle?”

“He was a fair sample of the blacks, for you
must know that we have at least two distinct
varieties here, the black and the gray. Asa
rule, the blacks are the tallest and the fen
but they are also more clumsy than the grays.
They don’t make near as*good a fight, though
they are ugly enough waen cornered, as you saw
to-day. They grow to an enormous size, where
they are not much disturbed, and father basa
bead of one that measured a trifle over four fect
at the shoulders, just after he gave ii the spear,
and you car hear tell of others still lerger. They
have a~shorter, rounder head than the grays, _
and not such long tushes. They are always
pure black in color, the two varieties seldom or
never crossing, and soit is an easy wetter to tell
what sort of work is ahead of one when the pig
breaks cover, whether it is the heavy, sluggish
black. fellow, or the smaller but twice-as-ugly
gray tusker.

“The gray is lighter-built than the Ulack, its
head is a third longer, with a low, flat skull,
and tushes both longer and sharper. Even the
old tuskers rarely measure over thirty-inches in
hight as they stand, but they are chei-lightning
boiled down when they once get started, ugly as
sin, always ready for a fight, and never whip-
ped until they have given their last sick,

“The king-pin of them al!, though. is the old
fellow they call ‘The Fighting Gray.’ Nobody
knows how old he is, for he was talked about
when we: first moved here, ana as you know,
that was a dozen years ago. - He has been hunt-
ed times without number, by the best spears
the district can boast,and though ofter wounded,
has always escaped more by despera'e fighting
than good luck. On one occasion, 1 saw him
penned up in a patch of jungle, completely sur-
rounded by a line of elephants and horsemen,

 
3 The Colorado Beys.

 

Time and again the old gray would break cover,
charge the elephants and put them to flight. It
crippled two elephants on that day, for life! ,

“When it was found that he could not be
driven from the: jungle for good, the dry stuff
was set afire. Not until it was all ablaze did he
uncover, but when he did, it was to some pur-
pose. At the first rush, the Fighting Gray
ripped up @ horse, then was on the rider before
he could clear himself from the saddle, or any
one else could interfere to save him. Just one
thrust the ugly brute made; but that was enough.
Struck in the throat, the poor fellow was a
frightful sight. His lower jaw was torn com-

letely out, and the old gray carried it off with
fim for forty rods, dangling on its tusks! And
though .there were not twenty elephants, and
double that number of horsemen in the line, the
old gray gave them all the slip—no one could
tell exactly how.”

‘‘ He is a demon!” muttered Kolahala, casting
a nervous glance about him, as though expect-
ing to behold the grisly monster charging upon
them from out the scrub. ‘‘No man can kill
him! Gaenesa is his protector!”

‘Let me once lay my two eyes on the critter,
end I wager my head that I bring him into
camp!” cried Burt, meaning a!l be said, though
it did sound_like empty boasting.

“Or lose your sole!” laughed Percy, mali-
ciously. ‘Seriously, Burt, I wish you ell luck,
and if you do bag the Fighting Gray, nothing in
Tudia will be too good for you, and if you so
elected, you might have free commons here for
tse rest of your life. And I’m not sure but what
the natives would raise you to the dignity of a
god, by way of reward, for they fear that old
gray more than they do all their legion of de-
mous and evil spirits.”

“Well, I don’t know anything about your
spears, never having tried them, but I think I
could give a good account of the gray rascal, if
you a mé take my Winchester,” averred Lance,
quietly.

* Look, master, look!” cried Kolabala at this
juncture, his voice trembling, his face turning an
ashen gray color, while the outstretched arm
and hand trembled like a leaf in a storm.
* Look! old Lungra!” (cripple).

Not twenty yards away, a little to the left of
the n° ow trail, a gray, grizzly head was pro-
trudea .,om the dense scrub. An ugly light in
the one twinkling eye, a still uglier look about
the long, flat head and muzzle, broadest where
the two curved tushes rose above the upper
jaw, yellow with age, but still sharp enough,
when impelled by that mass of muscles, to pierce
anything short of armor of proof.

“The Fighting Gray! ok out!” shouted
Percy, wheeling his snorting pony and dashing
away, but wrenching upythe beast again when
he saw that neither of the brothers made a move
to follow the example thus set them.

“*Two to one I can knock out that other eye at
the first shot!” cried Lance, whipping forth his
revolver and cocking it, nothing daunted by the
grisly apparition, in which he saw nothing more
than a cross-tempered hog.

“Don’t shoot! Hold your fire!” cried Percy;
but he was too late to arrest the shot.

Spitefully the revolver exploded. and a wild

 

snort came from the gray tusker. Lance ducked *
his head and peered under the puff of smoke, ex-
— to see the hog kicking in its last throes,

ut a vastly different spectacle met his aston-
ished vision.

With a loud, angry ‘‘ whoof!” the Fighting
Gray tusker broke cover and came ch rging
down upon the youth, blood trickling from the
warty excrescence just above its one eye,
whence the bullet had harmlessly glanced. ~

‘‘ Wheel and run for it!” cried Percy. ‘‘ Give
the pony its head! Merciful heavens! he’s got
it now!

Lance had been a few feet in advance, Burt
riding next to him. As the Fighting Gray
charged, his pony, wild with terror, seeming to
know the grisly demon which so suddenly con-
fronted it, wheeled to seek safety in flight, but
came into violent collision with the horse ridden
by Burt, which was also beyond contrcl of its
rider for the moment. Neither pony fell,
though the shock was severe enough to confuse
them both, and that one bestrode by Lance shot
off at a tangent, plunging into the very middle of
a dense thorn-bush , where it stuck fast, caught by
the stirrups and bridle reins.

With wonderful swiftness.the Fighting Gray
tusker charged, striking wickedly as its scarred
snout touched the flank of the plunging pony. A
shrill scream of. mortal agony and fright—then
boy pony and boar all went down in a heap to-
‘gether!

This was what drew that wild exclamation
from the lips of Percy Applebee, for he knew
that little short of a miracle could now save

or Lance from falling a victim to those terri-

le tushes, but he came of good stock, and his
presence of mind did not fail him now in the
time of need.

With whip and spur he urged his terrified
pony on, giving it no chance to flinch befcre he
was close beside the struggling mass, and as
Lance cleared himself from the dying pony,
Percy grasped him by the arm and fairly swun
him clear of the ground as his horse dashe
away, its speed quickened by a fierce grunt
from the maddened h

For a few yards

og. j
era, then, ‘exerting his
strength to the utmost, Percy lifted his cousin to
the withers of the pony, himself slipping back

out of the saddle to make room for him.

“Hang fast!" he cried, excitedly. ‘If the
ugly devil takes a notion to charge us now,
swing yourself into the nearest tree until wecan
draw bim off!”

Luckily, perhaps, this emergency did not arise.
The boar was expending its blind rage upon the
mangled carcass of the luckless Cabul pony,
tearing and grinding it with its enormoustushes,
snorting, grunting and squealing like a veritable
— the hideous personification of devilish

‘ury. ;

Percy wheeled his doubly laden horge when
at a safe distance, and looked back, fearful lest
Burt should also run headlong into danger, but
to his great relief he saw that the pony ridden
by that lad was having its own way for the
time, and showed no intention of being taken ~
any closer to the monster of the bush.

* Don’t let him act foolishly; call him to us,”
hurriedly muttered Percy to ce. ‘He will

 
The Colorado Boys. 7

 

listen to you. My saying anything would only
make him the more headstrong.”

Lance complied, and as the horse ridden by
Kolahala was hastening to rejoin them, making
a wide circuit through the scrub, {he pofly with
which Burt was struggling, took the bit in its
teeth and followed its mate.

* Of all the ugly, obstinate brutes, you’re the
worst!” panted the youth, pale with anger, as
the pony-came to a sudden halt beside the others.

‘Tf you only belonged to me, I’d break you
or break your blessed back in trying! Go to
the Old Boy, and tell him I sent you!”

Leaping from the saddle, Burt turned the
pony loose, but Kolahala caught the rein before
the animal could avail itself of the liberty thus
accorded,

“Come on, Lance!” cried the thoroughly
aroused Jad. ‘* We can’t save your nag, but
we can take its worth out of the hide of that
ugly hog!”

“Hold-him in check or his blood will be upon
our heads!” cried Percy, earnestly.

“Cool and easy, boy Burt!” warned Lance.
“Time enough. The hog is busy with his meat
over yonder, and he don’t look like a runaway.
We don’t want any more blundering.”

“You are not thinking of attacking bim, and
on foot?” ‘

“Why not?” was the cool response. ‘‘I don’t
want to run down your stock, but I must say
that of all clumsy, awkward brutes, they are
the worst J ever saw to shoot from. We can
do better afoot, when we have only our own
flinching to take care of,”

“But that’s the old Fighting Gray I’ve been
telling you about!” persisted Percy, his eyes
staring.

“So I judged, and an ugly critter he is, too,
sure enough! But we'll never have a_better
chance to rid the country of the pest. Besides,
he owes me one for that pony.”

“Cousin,” said Percy, earnestly, ‘‘I ask a
favor of you.”

“Granted; unless it is to let that brute go
free,”

“But that’s exactly what I do want. You
don’t know the demon as well ‘as I do. You
might kill him, but then again he might prove
the victor just us he has against ten times the
odds. You may be killed or injured. Father
bade me be very careful. If aught should
happen to you, while under my guidance, I
could never face him again. I would rather
blow my own brains out!”

’ Lance hesitated, plainly affected by the earn-
est pleading of*his cousin. Burt, less impres-
sionable, said impatiently:

““Comeon! Act now and talk efterward. The
rascal may give us the slip, and then we’ll never
get such another chance. One shot apiece’ll do
the business for him.”

“For my sake—in the name of my dead
uncle!” pleaded Percy, pale, the tears starting
into his eyes as he spoke. ‘‘ It is not so much
that I ask. Something tells me that if you re-

fuse, we will all regret it as long as we liva.”

Let the ugly brute go now, and I pledge my
word of pastor that you shall have another
chance at him, when we are in better trim,” and

 

his hand was placed coaxingly upon the lad’s
arm,

** All right, though it looks cowasx: ly.”

“Put the blame and the sham upon my
shoulders, then,” and Percy smiled :vintly, “TI
can’t account for it, but I firmly |-:lieve that
were we to attack that gray now, somo one of
our number would be kiiled.”

Despite themselves, the brothers were im-
pressed with his earnestness, and though Burt
grumbled a little, he made no serious opposition
da Lance bade him mount his pony and fol-
ow.

Atasign from Percy, Kolahala dismounted
and surrendered his pony to Lance, and the
little party hastened away from the spot, leav-
ing the Fighting Gray tusker still goring the
mangled careass of the Cabul horse.

For a couple of hours the little party rode on,
preceded by the lithe shikaree, who «xperienced
no difficulty in keeping ahead, the Jads convers-
ing together, laying plans for their future sport
and enjoyment, even Burt displaying a degree
of interest beyond what might have been ex-
pected from his former talk. The taste of sport
which had been furnished him that day was al-
ready beginning to bear fruit.

The afternoon sun was still some distance
above the horizon when the lads were informed
that they were almost at their journey’s end,
which fact indeed had been evident from the
cultivated fields which stretched on either hand
for the last mile or two.

“Not more than another quarter, and we are
home!” cried Perey; but before ei:her of the
brothers could speak a shrill chorus of cries and
squeals came to their ears from the mass of
trees and foliage which concealed the factory
from view.

“Don’t you have anything but pigs in this
blessed country?’ asked Burt, as the nature of
the cries became clear.

“Hark!” cried Percy.
the house.
sweet voice.

“There’s trouble at
It’s old Muddy’s pigs; and that’s her
Come on!”

CHAPTER III.
A NATIVE ORGAN- GRINDER,

Nor fully understanding what was in the
wind, but ready and eager to see all there was
to be seen, Burt and Lance put spurs to their
ponies and dashed on close at the heels of th ir
cousin. Into the shrubbery and along a wind-
ing path which quickly brought them to. a con-
sidérable inclosure, formed of bamboo poles set
in the ground, so close together as to touch each
other, and. rising eight feet cr more from the
surface of the earth. From the inside of this
inclosure came that curiously mingled chorus,
and as they rose in their stirrups end peered
over the barrier, the boys beheld a scene quite:
as odd as it was mirtk-provoking.

The bamboo inclosure was nothing more nor
less thau a pig-pen, in which was confined an
old white sow and her promising litte: of young-
ones, barely a month old, Their. condition, so
fat, smooth and sleek, together with the various
conveniences scattered around, showed that
their value as foreigners—for the most ignorant
in hog lore could not well have mistaken them

 

—
-

The Colorado Boys.

 

for natives of India—was fully appreciated by
the one in charge. The bamboo fence had been
devised as a perfect protection against the at-
tacks of jackals and foxes, but the enemy which
was now s0 fully enjoying itself cared little for
such a barrier.

A huge monkey, of the ring-tailed species,
had either scaled the fence or else dropped from
the overhanging branches of the trees which
surrounded the pig-pen, and was now seated
astride of the huge old sow, a fore-paw grasp-
ing each an ear, a broad grin upon its comical
features as it chattered loudly, switching its
long tail from side to side as though it were the
lash of a whip. Squealing frantically, the sow
made blind rushes toward the fence in hopes of
ridding itself of this waking nightmare, but as
often would the monkey change its course by
stout tugging on its ears, varied now and then
by a vigorous slap over the eyes,

At the heels of their mother ran the sucking
pigs, their shrill squeals and grunting adding to
the diabolical chorus. Behind them again wad-
died an immensely fat old woman, brandisbing
a stout broom of jungle-grass, now cursing,
now praying, now pleading, but all the time
panting, gasping, gurgling as though in the last
stages of exhaustion.

* Devil of a monkey, begone!” panted the old
woman, as she stumbled and fell upon her knees,
and then, too wearied to arise for the moment,
remaining thus and beating the earth with ber
teubdcliald wekeer in an excess of fury as she
reviled the mischief-maker, ‘Cease your vile

pee and let my beautiful pigs alone! Oh!

uoeman! Oh! Sugriva! Look down and see
what desolation your evil son is working!
Child of a shaven father! May your tail grow
to be a mile long—may the giants of Lanka
catch you, wrap your tail in rags and pitch,
set it afire, and see it blaze and burn through
all eternity!

“Oh! Shiva! hear my prayer! Blessed Par-
vati, supreme of goddesses and supporter of the
universe, hearken unto thy unworthy child!
Praise be unto thee, oh lotus-eyed deity, re-
splendent as burnished gold! Praise be un.o
thee, oh beloved of Shiva, who createst and
destroyeth! Praise be to thee, oh monument of
pity and mercy, who pervadest the universe

and art the sole substance from which all female

forms, whether mortal or immortal, originate!
Grant thy humble, weeping child thy aid and
save her from this fearful distress!”

Faster ran the grunting sow, more ‘shrilly
squealed the terrified pigs, while the.imp of
mischief chattered more wickedly thanever as
its bony paws twisted the drooping ‘ears of its
unwilling charger.

Of course neither Burt nor Lance could un-
derstand what the fat old woman was saying,
but Percy, as well as his choking mirth would
permit, gave them a running interpretation,
which may not be without its interest to our
4 readers,

er prayers were founded on one of the most
popular of the Shastras, or religious chronicles
of the Hindoos, known as the Ramayana, an
epic m of one hundred thousand lines, de-

the lovely Sita. Sugriva was the king the
monkeys, Huneman the monkey general who
was sent asa spy into the land of the wicked
giants, Lanka (Ceylon,) where Ravana, the
demon-king, had carried Sita, ic hopes of fore-
ing her to marry him.. Huneman was discoy-
ered, taken prisoner, and when brought before
the demon-king, being refused a seat, length-
ened his tail and coiled it up asa sailor coils a
cable, until it formed a seat higher than the
throne of Ravana. Here he was questioned,
and his bold answers so enraged the demon-kin

that ha sentenced Huneman to have bis tai
wrapped in rags and paper, saturated with tar
and oil, then‘ set on fire, which sentence was
duly carried out.

As soon as it began to burn, the giants. liber-
ated their prisoner, to enjoy the novel specta-
cle, when Slomnecans broke through their ranks
and rushed through their fields of grain, over
their walls, houses and granaries, setting all
afire. To save their city from total destruc-
tion, the giants chase Huneman, to extinguish
the fire they had started for a very different
purpose, but he seeks refuge in a mighty tower,
and when it is full of his enemies, wraps his
tail around the building and tears it down,
crushing his foes to earth. He then makes his
escape, dips his tail iato the ‘ocean, and returns*
to Rama,

As the fatold woman ceased her queer prayer,
a yelping was heard at the further side of the
pig pen, and waddling to a little door, she flung
it Open and admitted a number of shaggy ter-
riers, who made at the monkey with savage
snarls and yelps, :

With an indignant chatter, the monkey leaped
from the back of its unwilling charger, but
snatched up one of the pigs as it bounded to the
top of the fence, from thence into the overhang-
ing boughs of a tree, only pausing when the top-
most limbs were reached.

Again burst forth the wild supplications of the
old woman, while the mischievous monkey chat-
tered and grinned his defiance alike of her and
her yelping, barking terriers below.

Choking with laughter though he was, Lance
felt pity for the distress of the old woman, and
moving along until he had a clear view of the
monkey, drew his revolver.

“The old lady will go into a fit if we don’t do
something,” he cried, to his comrades, ‘Stand
ready to catch, when the porker drops,”

A lithe form boundea to his side and a sinewy
hand rested upon his pistcl arm. It was Kola-
hala, who spoke rapidly, in his excitement using
his native tongue. :

‘What does the fellow mean!™ asked Lance, -
looking inquiringly at Percy. ‘Tell him 1
won’t hurt the pig.”

“<3 is the monkey, not the pig,” hastily ve-
plied Percy. ‘Don’t you know that they hold
ali monkeys sacred? That you couid hardly
commit a greater sin than to injure one of
| them? Even Kolahala would feel strongly
; tempted to slip his knife between your ribs,
‘were you to shoot that moukey !”

Lance glanced quickly at the face of the na-
tive, and though the Nepaulese bowed his head

 

scribing the life of the god Rama and his wife. with an air of deprecation, the Jad saw enough

 
The Colorado Boys. 9

 

to feel that Percy had not greatly exaggerated
the truth. There was a threatening light in
those dark, oblique éyes.

“ Just as you say,” and with an air of indiffer-
ence he lowered the hammer of his pistol and
returned it to its seabbard. ‘1 only thought ib
a pity not to-clap a stopper on that ancient fe-
male's jaw before she broke something. She
can’t keep it up much longer without something
giving way!”

“Took at the monk!” cried Burt, with a burst
oflaughter. ‘ Playing the organ, by thunder!”

Until the top of the tall tree was gained, the
monkey carried the pig by the hind legs, but
now settled itself into a comfortable position,
aud as though enjoying the shrill squealings
which the luckless porker kept up, set about
producing more of the music.

Tucking the head of the pig under its left arm,
he grasped hold of its switching tail with the
other py then wrung it round and round,
after the fashion of an organ-grinder, grinning
and chattering like a veritable imp of mischief.

Truly it was a ludicrous sight, and by no
means rendere1 less ridiculous ‘by the ‘rantic
prayers of the old woman, who called upon all
the gods and goddesses of her acquaintance, one
after the other, to rescue her beloved pig.

How long the farce would have lasted, or
what new pranks that diabolical ape would bave
per’ormed next, can only be surmised, had not
the tortured pig made a desperate move on its
own account.

Twisting its head around, it managed to catch
a good mouthful of the monkey’s skin and flesh
in its mouth, and made its teeth fairly meet. -

The chattering was instantly changed to a
shrill cry, as the monkey tore the pig from its
hold, then boxed its ears as savagely and dex-
terously as ever schoolma’am belabored mis-
chievous urchin, The pig seemed fairly wild
with rage, and snapped viciously at the fast-
flying paw, at length giving it a pretty severe
nip, when, with an angry gibber, the monkey
swung it once around his head by the tail, then
hurled it from him, to fall full sixty feet to the
ground, where the life was instantly dashed out
of its carcass. One more sulky chatter, then the
monkey scrambled away through the tree-tops,
and was seen no more,

A-seream of bitter agony broke from the lips
of the old woman as she beheld the hapless fate
of her favorite, and hastening to the spot, she
-sugnt the lifeless shape to her capacious bosom,
rocking to and fro, moaning and wailing as
sil) the pig had been an only child.

The brothers were strongly affected, but Percy
only laughed as he whispered:

‘*Don’t let sympathy take away your appe-
tites, cousins. See how easily she will be con-
soled.”

Dismounting, he quickly gained the side of
the mourner, and with a few words, dropped a
silver coin into her lap.

The effect was little short of marvelous. A
torrent of words broke from the lips of the wo-
man,.and arising sbe kicked the carcass far
from her, all her grief dissipated.

_ Percy laughed lightly as he rejoined his rela-

ives.
‘Tt’s all on the surface with these people. and

 

a little silver salve is acure-all with them. You
will find Muddpenab a fairsample of ber class.”

‘““Muddpenah! What a funny name!” ex-
claimed Burt.

‘‘ Yes—the drinker of honey, it means; that
is, the humming-bird,” said Percy, with a laugh.

‘“‘Go’way humming-bird! Fan me with a

knitting needle fore I faint!” gasped Burt, star-
ing after the waddling form of the woman, who
was hastening to close the door of the pig-pen
er: any of her pets should escape.
- “Not much resemblance, now, I admit,
though those who knew Old Mud when she was
young, say the name fitted her well enough
then. But look! yonder is father!”

A tall figure, dressed in a light linen suit,
thickly spotted with indigo, came hurrying
across the open space, strong emotion imprinted
on his handsome features, and though neither
of the brothers could remeniber having seen
him before, they instantly recognized their
uncle, their only living relative save Percy.

Promptly their hands were extended, but the
indigo planter was not satisfied with that. One
after the other he took them in his strong arms,
pressing them to bis heaving chest almost with
violence, than held them off a little ways, gaz
ing iuto their eyes and faces as though striving
to recognize there some trace of the dearly
loved brother whom be had lost forever.

Into Burt’s face he looked the longest, until
the lad flushed hotly and drooped his blue eyes.
With a sigh the-planter released him, saying
with a faint smile:

“T couldn’t help it, boys. It was as though
poor Harry stood before me, in the old days
when we were boys together.”

“Burt has father’s face and complexion,”
said Lance.

“And you take after your mother, I re-
memcer her well, though you two were only.
babies when I saw her, for the first and last
time. I promised to return and help Harry
rear you up in the way you should go, but un-
foreseen events prevented me from redeeming
that pledge. Anda now—”

The voice grew husky and the planter ab-
ruptly turned aside as though ashamed of be-
traying the strong emotion which was over-
powering him. But only for a moment, then
he turned again, a smile upon his face, which
in turn swiftly changed to an anxious look as
he noticed the stained and tattered garments of
the brothers.

“Percy,” he said, turning to bis son. ‘ You
did not forget my caution? Yet your cousins
have seen trouble—”

‘All our own fault, uncle,” boldly interposed
Burt. ‘We wouldn’t mind what Percy said,
and as a consequence we supped sorrow—but
we had lots of fun, though!”

“You are not hurt? There is blood on your
clothes—”

“Pig blood, that’s all,” eaid Burt, a little
sheepishly.

“Uncle,” put in Lance, hastily, ‘how much
was that pony worth—the one I rode, I mean?”

“Why do you ask?” answered the planter,
opening bis eyes in surprise.

“Because I want to buy him—”

‘He is yours for the asking, if you fancy him

 
10

The Colorado Buys.

 

so much, but I have others much better for you.
What are you laughing at, Percy?” turning
sharply upon his son.

“Shall I tell, cousin?” smiled the youngster.

Lance hesitated for a moment, but then
knowing that the truth must out sooner or
later, nodded assent, and Percy gave a graphic
description ofthe adventures of that day, put-
ting the whole matter in a far better light than
either of the brethers could have believed pos-
sible.

‘“Not the old Lungra ?” der-anded the colo-
nel, excitedly.

** Indeed it was, the Fighting Gray himself—
ask Kolahala.”

“Old Lungra, sure, niaster,” confirmed the
shikaree.

** And the boys wanted to tackle him on foot,
with their revolvers,” added Percy, with a
roguish glance at bis cousins. ‘‘ It was all I
could do to hold them in check. You never
saw such fire-eaters—”

_ “That will do,” interposed the colonel, see
ing that the youngsters were growing restive.
“Tam very glad that you listened to reason,
even from this hair-brained fellow,’ my lads,

Toe danger must have been great, if he called ;

@ halt, for I cannot always ho'd him in check.”
“*T had your orders, fatber ” blushed the lad.
“And I thank you for carrying them out,”

gravely.

“Tt was only a pig, after all—” began Burt.

“But one of ten thousand, my lad. Old a
spear as Tam, I would run for it like a turkey
before I would tackle old Lungra on foot. You
had a lucky escape. It is a marvel that you are
here alive and unburt.”

_ You haven’t said anything about that
pledge, cousin.”

The colonel turned to his son, inquiringly,
and Perey made known the prcmise he had
given to induce the brothers to refrain from at-
tacking the Fighting Gray tusker.

‘*'You know you said we should have a big
hunt as soon as they case, and the crop was
fairly in,” he added, hesitatingly.

* After the Fighting Gray, uncle,” put in
Burt, eagerly. ‘‘I’m determined to take his
scalp to show when I get back home again—”

“Then you have decided which isto be your
home, beforehand?” gravely said the planter, a
shade falling over his face. ‘‘I had hoped you
would conclude to cast your lot with us. But
let that pass for the present. Time enough
when you have seen how we live and enjoy life
here.”

** And the old gray?) We can take a run
after him?” persisted Burt, not to be shaken off,

“Yes. Percy promised, and his word is ag
sacred to me as my own. If the old Luugra is
to be found, we will take bim.”

‘Good envugh!” ejaculated Burt. ‘‘ And on
my part I promise not to leave India until I
have killed the old gray.”

CHAPTER IV.
THE *‘BLUE DE ILS.”
Who are these youngsters, and why are they

/

In one word, it was duty which caused them to
leave their far-away home yfor this strange
clime, not inclination.

Many years ago, the family of Applebee was
@ numerous one, but as time rolled on, it grew
weaker and dwindled away, until, some twenty

ears before the date of the record which now

ies before the boy reader, only two brothers

remained to uphold the ancient English name,
Henry and Charles. Brothers in heart and love
as in name, they clung together while the clouds
of adversity were darkest, and when Henry,
the most impulsive, suggested that they abandon
their native land for the New World, in hopes
of renewing their broken fortunes, Charles con-
sented as a matter of course.

The cattle ranges of the Far West arrested
their attention, and looking more deeply into
-the matter, the brothers began to believe that
at last they had found the new Dorado.

A range was selected, stock bought, and
; Henry settled down as manager, while his
| brother returned to England to finally wind up
| their affairs there. But bis return was long de-
layed, and when he did come back to the cattle
| ranch, it was on a wedding tour, for he had
married a fair young girl, sole heiréss to an ex-
tensive indigo-planter.

Less than a month later, word came that the
planter was very ill, and longing to see his only
child once more before paying the debt of na-
ture. There could be no delay in answering
such a summons, and once more the brothers
parted.

The indigo-planter died, leaving his property
in such shape that, to protect the interests of
his wife, Charles Applebee felt compelled to
visit the far-away land. Before matters were fin-
ally arranged to his satisfaction, he grew so deep-
ly interested in the business of growing indigo,
that he felt he had at last found the work for
which nature had intended him, He wrote fre-
quently to his brother. gradually paving the way
for the proposition which he was almost resolved ©
to make from the outset, but it was nearly two
years before he once more set foot on American
soil, leaving his wife in England.

There could not have been a more favorable
time for the indigo-planter to broach the subject
so near his heart, for Henry had just- brought
home a bride, and that new and tender tie
would soften the blow of sundering the old one,

After many a long and serious talk, the ques-
tion was finally decided, Henry was to carry
on thé cattle farm, retaining all the capital put
into the business by Charles aswell as himself,
while his brother was to devote his attention to
the indigo plantation. Yearly they were to in-
terchange balance-sheets, and the profits were
to be equally divided, the whole being held, as
it were, in trust for their children.

Of the offspring which were given tbe broth-
ers, only three sons survived the perils of early
childhood: Lancelot and Burtis, sons ef Hevry,
and Percy, son of Charles,

Then ‘the elder brother died, surviving the
loss of his idolized wife less than a year, and
when his will was opened, the orphan boys were

 

 

here, in India, since it is clear enough from
words let drop that one at least of the brothers |
is not passionately in loye with the country?

given an abundance of food for thought. :
For the first time they learned of the peculiar
compact which their father and uncle bed

 
il

The Colorado Boys.

 

gntered into, though they had been aware, in a | levers, Then the water isturned on and the
general way, that their father was interested in | plant left to steep. \This occupies from ten to
the indigo business, | fifteen hours, according to the state of the
In the will, they were told all. They were weather, the temperature of the water and
oidden place the cattle-farm m tne hands of a | other conditions all of which have to be care-
trusty man, whoso name was given, while they | fully studied and considered.
paid a visit.to their uncle, in India. They were} ‘This is the first sign which-we note,” said
to consult with him, were to carefully note the | the colonel, as he paused beside one of the vats.
different details of indigo growing, were to try | ‘‘You see that greenish-yellow tinge to the
and interest themselves in the business, and at| water? As fermentation goes on, that will
the end of a year, were to decideon their future | gradually turn to a deep bive, the water wiil
course in life. | swell up higher, until the gas-pbubbles begin to
if they found they could take a sufficient in- | break. Then—but. ocular demonstration is
terest in the business to make it their occupation | much more convincing than flat talk,” and
tor life, the cattlefarm was to be disposed of, | turning to one of the coolies near by, he uttered

pnd the proceeds invested thus. If not, and! afew sharp words.

their uncle could not bring himself to sell out
end bear them company back to America, the

Tho almost naked fellow scampered away,

| quickly returning with a lighted torch, Taking

boys were to return and carry on the farm as| this, the colonel passed on to one of the

of o'd,

middle vats, where the liquid was bubbling and

At the time when they are introduced to | frothing like a mass of yeast, and lowering the

the reader, Lance and Percy were nearly the
same age: nineteen, while Burt was a year and
a balf younger.

Eager to pjease their uncle, and desirous of
effacing the unfavorable opinion which they
fancied he had formed from their luckless ad-
ventures of that day, the brothers declared that
they preferred taking a look over the place to
resting from their journey.

It was the busiest time of the whole year, as
wellas the most critical, and glad as the colonel
was to see his nephews, he could not stand on
ceremony “with them, as he hurriedly ex-
plained.

“*T, for one, am glad of it,” said Lance, frankly.
“You know why we are here—to see and learn
all we can—and though we are given a year in
which to.get an idea of the businéss, we can’t
start in too early.”

The colonel was plainly pleased with this
avowal, and as he led the way, he briefly but
clearly explained the real purport of what the
lads saw.

It was now the middle of June, and time for
the“ Mahye,” or manufacture of the dye to be-
gin, as a general rule, though at Applebee fac-
tory the first vats had been “loaded” a week
or more b fore,

The'colonel first led the way to a monstrous
reservoir, built of masonry,-and raised high
above the long line of vats. Beside this was a
huge Persian wheel, which may be briefly
described as a revolving drum, carrying an
endless chain of skin buckets, filling themselves
in the stream below, then emptying their con-
tents into the tank or reservoir above,

Beyond stretched a long line of vats in which
the bundles of indigo plants were s'eeped, for
from the leaves alone of the plant is the indigo
manufactured.

The plant, done up in the bundles, not unlike
oats or wheat when they leave the bands of
the binder, are carried from the fields in bullock-
carts, then handed to the “‘ loaders,” who stand
in the vats and. stack the bundles on end until
the circular receptacles are nearly full. Thena
layer of bundles are.spread horizontally, filling
up all inequalities, when all is in readiness for
the pressing, which is done by means of a bam-
boo flooring with cross-beams, and powerful

 

torch until it nearly touched the surface, a loud
report followed as the accumulated gas ignited,
while a brilliant blue flame shot from one ex-
tremity of the line of vats to the other, with the
rapidity and not unlike a streak of lightning,

It was a beautiful as well ascurioussight, and
the two boys uttered little exclamations of
delight, with which it was plain the colonel was
not a little pleased.

“QO: e of the signs for which we watch,” re-
sumed the colonel, ‘is when the water in the
vat looks hollow—that is, when it is lower in
the center than at the edges. By that, with
other signs which you will soon learn to recog-
nize, we know that the plant has steeped .
enough, and that the vat is ripe—ready to be
opened. Th'n the Gunta parree—”

“The grunting what?” ejaculated Burt,
laughing,

“The time-kecper; the man who notes the
exact time when the water is turned on each
vat, who guesses how long it will require for
steeping, and who looks at the vat when this
time has expired. If he pronouncesall in readi-
ness, the pin-men knock, out the pegs—which
you see near the bettom of the vat—when the
iquor runs out and is conducted into the beat-
ing-tank below.” “

“ Exactly—but uncle, in the name of all that’s
frightful, what is the matter down yonder? A
free fight?” exclaimed Burt, as a wild uproar
arose at some little distance from where they
stood, but hidden from view. | :

Yells and shouting, now sbrill and piercing,
then gradually lowering until the sounds came
deep and sepulchral, mingled with grunts and
groans and snorting, the cadence abrupt]
changing again and again, until one cculd hard-
ly be blamed for thinking that all pandem« pium
had been turned loose for a holiday —and were
having it, too! F

“oat? laughed the colonel. ‘Ob, that is
noti.ing but the blue devils at work.”

“The blue devils!” ejaculated Lance. ‘“ Pray’
what are they?”

“ Sounds like a lot of boys turned loose in a
cucumber-patch! Come on—l’m going to see
the fun!” cried Burt, taking to his heels and
runving in the direction of the uproar.

“Yes, we'll go too,” said the smiling colonel,

 
' 42

The Colorado Boys.

 

as Lance looked at him. “Time enough to

fuish the lecture on indigo, when you young: | the I
2 | ciently, it is carefully skimmed, then left to

sters have taken the wire-edge off.”

In a few moments they stood beside the
"beating vat,” viewing one of the most curious
sights connected with the process of manufac-
turing the dye,

In the deep, oblong vat stood a full score of
covlies, all stark naked, ranged in two rows,
facing each other, Each man held a long stick,
on the end of which was fastened a thin but
stout circular plate of wood, slightly hollowed
out,

At the word given by the leader, the men
dipped these disks into the liquid which reached
above their knees, tossing the stuff high above
Yoeir heads, but directed toward the coolie
standing directly opposite. As he performed
the same maneuver, at the same instant, the
twin spouts of dye met in mid-air above their
heads, uniting and falling back into the vat in a
sparkling cascade.

Beginning with a slow, measured stroke, to
which their voices kept time, the exercise grew
faster and faster, until the beaters. were coni-
pletely hidden from view of the spectators by
the tumbling masses of frothing, foaming
liquid.

Tbe beating of the paddles, the splashing of
the liquid, the wild yells with which the weird
wong was liberally interspersed, all combined to
forma noise that was almost deafening.

‘The brdbthers watched ’the strange scene with
‘wide-open eyes, wholly dt a loss to understand
its meaning, but when they attempted to ask
the colonel what it al] meant, they were unable
to catch the sound of their own voices.

Observing this, the colonel drew them aside,
saying:

“Tt is too late now to explain the exact phi-
losophy of what you have seen; time enough
for that when you are a little more at home.
You saw that the, liquor was of a yellowish-
freen Golor at first. 1f you watch, you will see

hat as the beating goes on, it will gradually
turn toa dark, brilliant blue, which is the re-
sult of the oxygenation going on. This beating,
if all goes well, lasts about three hours, on the
average, but sometimes fhe color refuses to
come, and then you would see how a white
yea can turn himself into a blue devil—for
| have more than once stripped to the buff end
taken my place among the beaters, to encour-
age the poor rascals, You may laugh—but it
is part of the trade, and we can’t afford to losé
a Vvatful of the precious stuff,

For a few minutes longer the boys watched
the weird, exciting scene, and as they saw the
color gradually deepening, tho beaters growing
more and more furious in their motions, with
the dye streaming over every inch of their per-
z0ns, they better understood the meaning of the
term “ blue devils.”

Never was a term more appropriately. be-
siowed,

From the beating vat, the colonel led them

|

A hasty synopsis must suffice for the present.
When the liquor has been “beaten” suffi-

settle. This sediment, which is technically
known as mali, is drained by letting the waste
liquor off through a series of graduated holes in
the vat, then the mall is either scooped up in

| jars, or conducted along a trough to the mall-

‘screw tightened.

 

tank, from thence to the straining-room, where
it is passed through successive layers of wire-
gauze and cloths, until perfectly freed frim
dirt, Then it is boiled for several hours °“’
w hich it once more reaches the straining-room.
where it is subjected to a still more careful
process.

The mall settles into the straining-sheet, while
the waste water trickles through and is carried
off by a pipe.

Standing over night on the straining-table,
the mall is next put into presses, These are
square boxes, iron-bound, to enable them to re-
sist the great strain which is put upon them,
with perforated sides, bottom and cover, the
latter arranged so as to fit inside the box.
These are lined with loose cloth, much as the
presses for cheese, and when filled with mall,
the cloth is carefully folded over the top. The
mall is now of the consistency of fresh starch,
The heavy beam, worked by two upright screws,
is let down on the cover of the press, when a
heavy lever is lowered, and the nuts on the
Thus an enormous pressure
is obtained, and every particle of moisture is
squeezed out of the mall, through the cloth and
the holes in the press.

When nothing but pure indigo remains, the
presses are opened, the top and sides removed,
the indigo being carried to the cutting-frame on
the bottom board.

Here, by means of an ingenious contrivance
which would take too much space to describe,
the indigo is cut into square cakes. Each cake
is stamped with its proper number, and the pri-
vate mark of the factory, then conveyed to the
drying-house. The cakes are then known as
mychans, and remain in the drying-house for
two or three months, being turned at short in-
tervals. While drying, a thick mold forms on
the cakes, which is scraped off, mixed with
sweepings and chips, ground over ina band-mill,
and sells as dust.

In October, when the manufacture is over and
the grounds are being again put in sh »pe for an-
other crop, the shipping is done, The cakes are
sorted one by une, the finest being packed in
mango wood boxes, the remainder formed into
two different grades,

All of this the colonel briefly explained to the
interested lads, who began to see that the whole
world of enjoyment was not comprised in the
stock ranges of far-away Colorado; aud then
Percy led them away to the home-dwelling,
where they were ready to take a bath, and
prepare for “‘ tiffin,” after the long and exciting
day.

* Lots of fun, it seems,” said Burt at table,

through the works, showing them many an in- | after the keen edge of his appetite was taken off;
teresting sight, a record of which would form | ‘‘for those who don’t haVe to do the work, I
interesting enough reading, but might bedeemed | mean. But all the same, I haven’t seen anything

out of place in a sketchy racord lila thie

j

to compare with a good big round-up, on a

 
The Colorado Boys.

is

 

tough mustang, where the long-horns are wild
as deer, and you’ve got all creation to spread
yourself in.”

‘« After the work comes fun, with us,” said the
colonel, with a genial smile. . ‘‘ You shall have
your fill of wild riding before the year is out,
never fear, and after big game, too.”

\

CHAPTER Y.
AN UGLY CAPTIVE.

“WELL, boys, what is to be the order of the
day?” asked Percy, bright and early one morn-
ing several days after the arrival of the brothers
at the indigo factory.

‘*Why ask us?” and Burt gave a great yawn
that almost dislocated his jaw. ‘ That’s just
what we've got you for: to save us the trouble
of deciding. We’re company, and it is your
duty to amuse us, or see that we are amused.”

“Very well,” and there was a malicious
twinkle in the bright bive eyes of the young
planter, though his voice was under perfect con-
trol, and his face sober enough for a deacon.
‘Since you leave it all tu me, we will stay at
home and lend the bite devils a helping hand.”

“Not much we won't!” bluntly interrupted
Burt, with a grimace of disgust. ‘‘I was fool
enough to try that on yesterday, and I won’t
get the kinks-out of my muscles for a month to
come, I’m stiff as an old steer after a fifty-mile
stampede from a norther!”

Lance laughed, and Percy could not help join-
ing him, when Burt quickly saw.the point.

“Think you’re awful smart, don’t ye, now?
Knowed you was fooling, all the time! Couldn’t
begin to get either you or Lance into the beat-
ing-vat if the whole crop was spoiling for want
of an extra hand. Ain’t got thesand!”

“Well, we'll always be ready to give you an
engagement as chief of the blue devils, when
we get our Zeraats in working order,” laughed
Lance.

‘‘ What do you say to taking a walk over to
the Mullah village for a change?” suggested
Percy. ‘‘They have given ous word for a big
drag to-day, and it will be something new for
you—if not quite as interesting as beating in-

digo.”

“ How far is the village from here? What is

a Mullah, and make a big drag of what ?” asked
Burt. rather incoherently.
_ “Not more than a couple of miles, and wecan
take our guns. There’ may be a little shooting
by the way. And in this district Mullah means
fisherman. If you like it better, you can call
them icksoak Gonhree, or Beeu, and they
will answer just as promptly.”

‘“‘Nice names to sleep with!” muttered Burt,
with a grimace of contempt. ‘* But then—this
is India, and that accounts for it all.”

‘““Wurther up the country they are called
Nikaree, and down below they answer to the
nameof Baeharee,” continued Percy, placidly,
but pausing, as a look of horror overspread tie
face of his young cousin.

“T won’t open my bead for a month. if you'll
just say ‘to be continued in our next,’ and let it
go at that, It isn’t fair to pelt a poor devil
with such lingo, so soon after breakfast. I feel
as though I’d swallowed qhay-stack already |”

 

After a little more chaif Lance interposed,

‘“*What kind of game will we be likely to
find?”

‘‘Nothing very important. Some mallards or
teal, a snipe, and maybe a paddy-bird or two.
Nothing that we can’t get away with easy
enough with the shot-guns.”

In a few minutes the three youngsters were
under way, and as they leisurely advanced,
Percy, ia answer to Lance, who was full of
curiosity concerning the marvels—to him—of
this strange_land, gave a few particulars con®
cerning the people whom they were about visit:
ing.

In India particular occupations are restricted
to particular castes, Thus the fishermen area
class distinct from all others. They live ina
village by themselves, generally situated on the
bank of some stream, or else near some largo
tank where fish are abundant. Of course they
cannot d«pend altogether on the proceeds of
their nets, but plant their rice-fields, or raise
indigo and other crops, as the case may be,
rarely doing much with their nets until after
the rainy season has fairly set im, and the rice
plants are all set out.

‘“‘Looks fishy enough, anyway,” was Burt’s
comment as they came in sight of the village,
and he was right.

In every direction were seen coarse nets of
native manufacture, banging from bamboo
poles thrust into the earth, from rude frames of
the same material, from the eaves of the huts,
the adjacent trees—everywhere nets and nets.
Here and there were great heaps of empty mus-
sel-shells, the contents of which had served as
bait, and around which still lingered such:in
ancient and fish-like smell that Burt grasped his
nose most expressively. Perched on the trees
around,~and lazily circling through the air,
were great numbers of vultures and kites, whose
instinct seemed to tell them that a feast was in
course of preparation for them.

The entire village was ina state of intense
bustle and excitement when our young friends
approached it, nor did their appearance lessen
this in the least. The majority if not all of the
villagers had seen the strangers who had come
from such a far-off land, and they were eager to
make a favorable impression.

At the command of the head mullah, a griz-
zled, wary veteran, the march was taken up to
the tank which stood only a short distance . om
the village, where the huge net which was to be
made use of, was already extended and pre-
pared for work.

Selecting a comfortable position in the shade,
where they could command a perfect view of
all that was going on, the cousins seated them-
selves, curiously watching the chief, who was
solemnly going through with some mysterious
motions, keeping time with a low, guttural
chant that was anything but musical.

“Trying to frighten the fisb.so they won’t run
away, or else making them glad to die and
leave a world where such doleful scunds fiad
birth, ain’t he?* muttered Burt.

“ Don’t let the poor devil hear you,” laughed
Percy. ‘All this is for your especial benefit. I
have been at many a haul, but they never bon-
ored me so far—” — :

 
  

 

i4

The Colorado Buoys.

 

“Please the pigs! he’s through at last!” irre-
gerently breathed the lad. ‘If he starts again
I’m almost sure my old gun will explode of its

own accord, and somebody will get well pep- |

pered—sure |”

Luckily there was no occasion for this. The
old mullah was satisfied with what he had
done, and gave the word for the work to begin.

The net, nearly a hundred yards long, was
stretched along the edge of the tank as far as it

ould reach, then grasped by the fishermen in

he boats and swung out over the water ina
huge semiecrcle. Like all other drag-nets, the
lower edge was heavily weighted, while
the top wus buoyed with bamboo poles as
floats, thus making a perpendicular wall in the
water. At each end stout ropes were oeffixed,
one extremity being firmly held by the villagers
remaining on shore, while ihe other was in
charge of the boatmen far out in the middle of
the tank,

Dozens of small dug-outs with men armed
with long, forked and limber poles, were ranged
along the edge of the tank, and at a signal from
the chief mullah, they all began thrashing the
water before them, striking first to the right,
then to the left, keeping time with a wild chant,
gradually drawing nearer the net, which was
at the same time being slowly swung around to
bring the outer end to shore, inclosing as great
@ space as possible.

“That is to frighten the fish into the net,
where their gills will get entangled in the
meshes,” commented Percy. '

Each moment the excitement grew more and
more intense as the net neared the shore, cul-
minating in a wild chorus of yells and screeches
as the ropes were landed and the inclosure com-
pleted.

Those in the boats now surrounded the net
on the water side, yelling and thrashing like
mad, while the net was being dragged ashore
and steadily contracted.

“They’ve got ’em, too!” cried Burt, his ex-
citement rising‘ with that of the fishermen.
“ Look at the fish—”

‘‘ Big ones, too!” contributed Lance, his eyes
glittering as a great boil rose in the center of
the net. ‘‘ Look at that!”

Percy leaped to his feet with a sharp cry of
warning, in the native dialect, but it was not
needed. The mullahs mado the awkward dis-
covery at the same moment, and wild yells of
frightened excitement arose among them as an
ugly snout shot above the troubled waters, and

* then a long tail swept swiftly around, cleaving
the water with a force that sent the spray dash-
ing clear to where the three lads stood.”

‘A mugger—the old man-eater, by all that’s
holy!” be cried, mechanically raising his gun to
his shoulder, but lowering it undiscbharged as he
remembered that it was loaded only with fine

ot.

“ Mug enough—just look at that for an open
countenance!” cried Burt, as the hideous reptile
opened its jaws to their full extent, closing
them with a clashing sound of the mighty teeth.
**T wouldn’tgive much for that haul of fish!”

‘¢ Worse than that—look! I knew it!”

With a mad rush the alligater struck the side

 

of the net furthest from sbore, snapping the
meshes as though they bad been composed of
nothing but cobwebs. Terrified, the men in the
dug-outs attempted to flee, but an accident oc-
curred directly in front of thereptile. Two of
the cranky boats came into collision as the oc-
cupants swung them swiftly around, both up-
set, and cast the trembling wretches into the
water, just as the saurian cleared the net.
Aswift rush, a wild yell of terror, ending
abruptly in a shriek of agony, cut short as the
luckless wretch was dragged beneath the sur-
face, and the alligator disappeared from view,
leaving a bloody tinge to the waters above it.
Horror-stricken, the three lads gazed upon
the tragedy which they were wholly unatle to

avert, while the mullahs, both on land and.

water, fled in hot haste from the spot.

“ Ain’t they going to try and do something
for the poor fellow?” muttered Burt, w little
buskily, as the villagers disappeared from view.
*Tsn’t there something we can do?”

“ Not for him—you can judge for yourself,”
was thereply. ‘No earthly power could help
him now.”

“But they can have revenge—can kill the
thing that did the work, can’t they?”

Percy shrugged his shoulders with a faint
smile.

‘You don’t know them as well as I do, or you
wouldn’t ask such a question. Not one in the
village but knew the mugg-r made his home in
this tank. Hardly a month passes but what
One or more women or children fall victims to
that or some other mah-eater, when coming
here for water. They weep and wail a little.
heap curses on the head of the destrover. call
its ancestors all the hard names they can think
of—then settle down in the same old rut, until
some other one is taken off after the same
fashion.” :

“ And this is India—thank the Lord is isn’t

my homé!” ;

“You say it stays in this hole? That it
makes its home here?” asked Lance, his face
pale and hard set.

“One old man-eater does, and no doubt this
is the same.”

“Then it won’t eat any more men, if there’s
any virtue in powder and lead. I'll watch here
for a month, but what'll I'll kill the ugly devil!”

“Moe gar ae — show these niggers how
we work things back in a white-man’s c x
added Burt. . pone

“You will find it slow and tiresome work,
for the old mugger is about as sly and cunning
as any animal ever gets to be,” said Percy,
quietly. ‘Still, if you like that way better
eee plan Iwas about to propose, we will

i

“ What plan is that?”

“To hook the man-eater and have some sport,
at the same time we avenge the deaths he has
cauved.”

‘‘But can it be done?” asked Lance, doubting-

“T have helped to catch three—none of them
quite as big as this one, though. I€ we work it
right there will be little trouble. We can’t do
anything to-day, for two reasons, The last al-
ligator we hooked broke our hook, and then,

‘

 

 
aS ear seommemmnmcm anton

a

 

The Colorado Boy:. 16

 

|
with this meal to digest, the mugger wouldn’t |
take a bait to-day.”

“It must be fun when a big fellow like that
gets fast!”

“Tt is—fun alive, not unmixed with danger.”

“We'll try it, then,” decided Lance. ‘If that)
fails, we can do the other, for I’ll never rest |
cont nt while that ugly brute lives after what
I’ve seen to-day.”

Leaving the tank, they returned to the vil-
lage, where they found everything quiet and |
orderly, nothing showing that such a frightful
tragedy had so lately transpired. Percy had a
brief conversation with the chief mullah, then
the boys slowly returned home,

 

CHAPTER VI.
fOOKING A MAN-EATER,

Nor a little sobered by the tragedy which had
so unexpectedly cut short the sport they had
anticipated, the three youngsters returned to
the zeraat or home farm, where they wrought
out their plans for the circumvention and de-
struction of the cunning old man-eater,

Under the instructions of the young planter,
the native blacksmith constructed a strong hook,
witb long shank, the eye at the upper end con-
taining a stout ring, to which the rope, serving
as the ‘‘ fish-line,” was to be attacbed.

This line itself was an object of no little care
on Percy’s part, he overhauling it foot by foot,
to make sure that it had not been weakened in
any way since it was last used.

‘You'll have to cut off that bit,” said Burt,
pointing to one end of the rope, where the sev- |
eral strands were untwisted, only being held
together by knots placed at short distances
apart. ‘But it will be plenty long enough
without that.”

“Do you think that would be best?” asked
Percy, with a curious light in his laughing eyes. |

‘Of course! Them loose strands wouldn’t |
hold a sick kitten, let alone a ’gator like that’un.”

** You talk as though you knew all about it.”
¢ ** Why shouldn’t I?” :

* You have alligators in Colorado, then?”

‘Course we have; the back yard’s full of
’em!” was the prompt and unblushing reply.

“Dropping the long-bow, have you really any
alligators to compare with the one we saw at
the tank, in Colorado?”

**Lots an’ gobs of ’em! Water out there is
just alive with the critters—so thick that when-
ever we want a drink we have to use a musketo-
net, for fear of getting choked by some of the
pesky critters slipping down our throats afore
we know it. We call ’em wigglers an’ polly-
wogs out there; but then it’s a mighty big coun-
try, an’ everything’s on a big scale according.”

‘Except truth-stretchers,” put in Lance, while
Percy resigned all hopes of obtaining the in-
formation desired.

Turning to Lance, as the most reasonable, he
explained the meaning of the untwisted end of

 

rope,

fe left in one firm strand, the alligator when
hooked would almost certainly bite the rope in
two, thus freeing itself before it could be dis-
patched, As now arranged, the loose strands

 

would entangle themselves in the great teeth of ©

; tiently.

the mugger, while the frequent knots gave the
rope nearly, if not all of its original strength.
hat afternoon, when the heat of the sun be-
came somewhat tempered, the lads took their
shot-guns and wandered away from the factory
in quest of small game, which was to be found
in abundance at all times of the year in and
around the tanks and small streams with which
that district was plentifully watered.
Though not much shooting was done, thé
brothers found the stroll productive of no little

| interest} from the number of curious and beau-

tiful birds which they now saw for the first time.
Even Percy was surprised, for it was unusual to
find so many different varieties so far from the
hill regions this early in the season.

A bit of a naturalist, thanks to the teaching
of his father, the colonel, Percy was able to
name nearly all of the different birds, and tem-
porarily satisfy the curiosity of the Americans,

They were most deeply interested in the dif-
ferent species of parrots, of which there was a.
great abundance. Prominent among these was
oue which Percy called the putsongee, probably
the most showy and brilliant of all its tribe.

The m-in portion of its body was of a rich

een, the wings were bright crimson, the throat
Jet black, the beak of a bright yellow. It sport
ed a long, feathery topknot of-bright scarlet.
The upper part of its tail wassky-blue, while the
feathers beneath were snowy white.

“Td give a finger for a beauty like that to
take home with me when I go!” muttered Lance,
unable to take his eyes from the brilliant vision.

“You can have it at a much less cost than
that,” langhed the young planter. ‘They are
hard to domesticate, but.it has been done, and
cam be doneagain. I will see that you have a
pair. And you, Burt? Which one do you fancy

| most??

“Tl take a rhinoceros, if it’s all the same to
you. I left off parrots when I shed short
dresses, and J ain’t quaker enough to fancy these
dull colors after our bright birds at home. Talk
about poll-parrots—”

“Cut it short, boy Burt,” said Lance, imp>-
“‘You want to get over that ugly habiv
of yours, or I'll never take you out-walking
without first putting on a tight muzz'e,”

“Tf you think you need one, allright,” yawned
the incorrigible lad. ‘I never found you very
dangerous, though.”

The youngsters strolled leisurely along the
rush-fringed banks of the little stroam, taking ,
an occasional shot at a lank, melancholy-looking
paddy-bird, or a snipe as it rosé and darted
away with cork-screw flight. Now and then a
mallard or teal was jumped, reminding the
brothers of bome sport.

“ There’s a little tank not far away, where we
will be apt to fiid a few mallards,” said Percy,
as the sun was growing low. “If we can crip-
ple and catch a duck it will save a feathered pet
for old Muddpenah, We'll need one to bait the
bugger in the morning,” “

A few minutes’ brisk walking carried them to
the tank, which was one little disturbed by the
natives, from its evil reputation of being h’unt-
ed, aud cautiously stealing up, they beheld quite

| a large flock of ducks near*the center, idly sun-

ning and preening themselves,

 
  

   

16

The Colorado Boys.

 

‘*Go around to the other side and give thema
barre!, Lance,” said Burt. ‘That will send
them out at this opening, and Tl see if I can’t
come the old trick—you understand?”

Lance nodded and stole away, leaving his
brother and cousin together at a point where an

opening in the line of trees rendered it more’

than likely that the ducks, on being fired into
from the opposite side, would leave the tank by
that route in preference to rising clear above the
barrier.

“Let me have the first shot, but be ready to
take them as they pass,” said Burt, laying aside
bis : un and drawing a revolver.

“But you don’t mean to shoot with that?”

“You want a winged duck for bait, you said.
Well, I’m going to get it for you,” was the
quiet response.

Percy suspected some sort of joke or sell, but
there was time for no more talk, as the double-
barrel of Lance rung out, and the survivors of
the flock rose from the water with wild quack-
ings, taking a short eircle, then flying straight
for the opening in the trees, as Burt had fore-
seen.

Swiftly bis pistol was raised, and as the ducks
swept past them, he fired one shot, Percy turn-
ing and making a beautiful double, as the birds
swept on.

Even as he did so, he felt a heavy thump
against his back, and turning, beheld a mallard.
drake fluttering at his feet.

“There’s your live bait,” said Burt, quietly
slipping another cartridge into his pistol and
returning it to his belt.

“One Lance crippled?”

**One'l shot. Look at its right wing. A single
ball did that. You only heard me fire once.’

“A wonderfully lucky shot. if you did in-
deed do it,” muttered Percy, still doubtful.

“Tf you like to call it that, all right. But it’s

asort of luck I can bet on twice out of three.

times when the birds fly right, as they did just
now. Ask Lance,” he added, carelessly, as his
brother came up.

‘*'Yes, it’s Burt’s bird. I’ve done the same
trick, but I’m free to admit that Burt can give
me odds and then beat me at this sort-of snap-
shooting.”

“T wouldn’t believe it, only for the evidence
of my own eyesight,” confessed Percy,

“It’s allin practice. I learnt how in shooting
at musketoes, over in old Colorado. We'd clip
their wings that way of warm evenings when
we hadn’t anything better to do, pick off the
feathers and sbip them by the car-load east, to
sell as wild turkeys. Fact—ask Lance.”

Percy tyrned away in silent scorn to retrieve
his brace of mallards, and when their game was
gathered, the three lads returned to the factory,
putting the wi ged duck in a small coop in
1eadiness for the morrow.

Bright and early they were afoot, and, accom-
panied by the colonel, whom they had acquaint-
ed with their intention, they soon reacbed the
village of the mullahs, where the chief had a
strong force in readiness for them, when it

should be needed.

These were bidden keep back from the tank,
only <he colonel and the three boys eérencing
at first. The

duck was secured upon a

    

float of rushes, so hampered that it could not

dive, though its one sound wing was left at

liberty.
| The hook was passed around its breast, the
shank passing beneath its wing, being tied fast.
Taking advantage of the wind, the duck wes set
efloat, the rope being coiled in the edge of the
water, so that it would pay out of itself, then
the “‘ fishing party” concealed themselves among ©
the rushes, waiting for a bite with what pa-
tience they could summon.

It was not long in coming. The uneasy quack-
ing of the hampered duck aroused the man-
eater, and a little thrill of expectation ran
through the watchers as they caught a glimpse
of an ugly snout making a ripple in the water,
a few yards from the duck.

That unfortunate was equally as keen-eyed,
and renewed its quacking as it struggled to rise
from the water—then came a swift rush, and
the duck, float and. all disappeared below the
surface. :

“ Not yet!” cried the colonel, but little 1 ss
excited than the brothers, who were about to
jerk on the rope. ‘Give him plenty of time to
gorge it.”

Ata motion of his hand, the concealed mul-
lahs arose, came forward and grasped the rope,
ready to walk away with it at the signal. —

“Now!” shouted the colonel, giving a vigor-
ous tug at the rope. ‘‘Now we’ve got him—
hurrah!”

There was not the slightest doubi on that
point, Pricked with the hook, the man-eater
made a desperate rush under the surface, gain-
ing some feet of rope, and tumbling several of
the natives over, but before it could make good
its advantage, the fellows recovered themselves,
and slowly but surely dragged their enormous
captive from the muddy depths. és

bp to the surface rose the monster, its huge
jaws widely extended, then closing with a snap
so vicious that a cold chill runs over the two
brothers lest the rope be severed and their
mighty captive escape them after all their
trouble, But then they breathed more freely
as they saw that Percy’s precaution prevented
this. : :
Dashing here and there, but always keeping
a tight strain on the rope, clashing its mighty

aws, thrashing the water into a foam with its

ail-like tail, roaring, bellowing like a thorough-
ly maddened bull, now jerking the coolies back
a foot or two, but as often losing the advantage
gained, the mugger fought like a very demon;
but all in vain. The hook wastoo firmly seated
in its stomach, the tested rope was too strong
4¢e be broken, the united power of the two-score
arms at the rope too great for it to prevail,
epormous as was its might.

Inch by inch, fighting madly all the way, the
mugger was dragged toward the bank, until its
short legs could touch bottom; then came the
tug-of-war. Not an inch further could the
mullahs drag it, though the rope was manned
almost to the water’s edge, and every muscle
was strained to the uttermost, in obedience to
the excited shouts and yells of the master and
his young allies.

‘It’s no use,” said the colonel, at length, per-
ceiving the utter futility of their tremendous

 

 
 

fhe Colorado Boys. 417

 

efforts. ‘We've got to kill him where he is.
We can’t drag him out without breaking the
rope, and then good-by mugger !”

As he spoke, one of the mullahs left the rope
and runuing to the colonel, spoke eagerly, plead-

ingly.

“What does the nigger want?” asked Burt, of
Percy. ;

“Tt was his brother the mugger killed, yester-
day, and he is begging permission to kill the
mugger in return.”

“It’s right enough,” said Lance, turning to
his uncle. ‘That will be poetical justice. But
how will he set about it? Shoot the critter?
He can have my gun—”

“‘ He'd be far more apt to shoot one of us,”
laughed the planter. ‘These mullahs known
little about fire-arms. - If you are both willing,
he shall do the job, but it must be with his own
weapons.”

The boon which he craved being granted, the
mullah, a short and fat little fellow, darted into
the rushes and quickly returned with a long-
handled boar-spear. Cautiously he advanced
toward the hidéous reptile, then made a swift
lunge as the bare skin behind the fore-arm was
revealed. The weapon sunk deep into the flesh,
but before the mullah could withdraw it, the
mugger uttered a loud, fierce bellow, and
plunged forward with widely distended jaws.

With a yell of horror the little fellow turned
to flee, but his foot slipped in the mud, and he
fall forward upon his hands and knees, just as
that mighty tail swept around.

Struck fairly upon the portion of his body
thus rendered the most prominent, with tre-
mendous force, the mullah uttered a grunting
yell of horror and pain as he was sent end over
tnd, half-way across the tank, falling into the
water with a loud splash, and sinking instantly
from sight.

Swiftly whirling, the mugger made a desper-
ate rush for the tank, plunging in and diving as
though bound to still further avenge the wound
it had received. The natives seemed stupefied
at the catastrophe, and half of them dropped
the rope to take to flight, when the colonel,
with strong words in their own dialect, recalled
them to their senses, and the mugger was quick-
ly snubbed, and once more dragged to the sur-
face, just as the little fat fellow reappeared,
swimming lustily for the further bank, more
scared than hurt.

«Come back and try it over!” shouted Burt,
as well ashe could for laughing. ‘‘ Bet ye two
to one that old mug can kick you clear across
the drink, next flip!”

But the mullah was sutisfied, if he may be
judged by his actions, for no sooner did he
reach land than he fled at top speed, howling at

—every leap he made, until the doleful sounds
died away in the far distance.

The same desperate struggle was gone over
again, before the maddened mugger could be
dragged to shore, and then, as before, he braced
his mighty paws and could not be badged an
ineh further.

“J’m losing too much time, here,” said the
—, at length, ‘Unless you want to finish

im off at once, I will have to leave without
stopping for the end.” ,

 

 

‘Take his right eye, Lance,” said Burt, draw-
ing his revolver. ‘I'll center his left. At the
word—you count.”

Sharp and clear rung out the numerals, atid
at the word three, two shots sounded as one,
and with a last, terrible struggle, the mugger
was dead.

 

CHAPTER VII.
THE FIRST SPEAR.

The last vat had been ‘‘ loaded,” steeped end
drained. For’ the last time that season the
“blue devils” had gone through with their
seemingly insane performance in bringing the
desired ‘color,” and, though there yet remained
much to do before the crop could be called safe,
and the process of “ mahye” completed, Colonel
Applebes yielded to the wishes of the three
youngsters, who were fairly spoiling for a
skurry after the pigs.

This he was more ready to do from the fact
that for more than a week past there had been no
‘“ khubber ”—news or information—brought in
concerning the old Fighting Gray tusker. He
fully intended to keep the promise given the
boys, but he wanted them to have some little
experience with the spears before he led them
after that ugly customer. :

Percy suspected as much, but he and his father
only smiled quietly as Burt rattled on about the
mighty deedshe meant to place to his credit
that day, and declined accepting any of the ex-
trayagant wagers which the impulsive lad was
eager to lay that he would take the scalp of the
old Lwngra ere the sun set that day.

‘“‘ We have to find him first, and that may not
be so easy,” laughed the colonel, swinging him-
self into the saddle. ‘‘The old tusker seems to
be a good deal easier found when one is not
looking for him.”

‘“‘Oh, we'll turn him toes up-before we take
the back trail, never fear. I feel it in my ~
bones. I wouldn’t take fifty dollars for my
chance,” said Burt, confidently.

At the heels of the party followed a motley
collection of dogs, terriers being in the prepon-
derance, all under the supervision of a couple
of long-limbed, wiry mehters or dog-keepers,
who also led in leash each a brace of lank grey-
hounds, while bringing up the rear came half a
dozen active syces or grooms.

“Dogs enough, anyway,” observed Burt, ey-
ing the pack critically. ‘‘ We’d ought to make
a pretty big bag with all them.”

**Do ycu make use of dogs when hunting pigs
in Colorado?” asked Percy, with a quiet smile
on the side of his face furthest from the young
Munchausen.

“ Sometimes—when we feel too lazy todo the
work for ourselves. Not these sort, though.
Bird dogs to find and point the pigs, and a bull-
dog or two to go in and flush them, while we
~~ ready to take ’em on the wing. Lotso’

‘um!

‘i+ must be!” ejaculated Percy, sober as a
deacon. ‘We haven’t got that far along yet,
but maybe we'll improve, now you are here to
snow us the style.” ,

The party had not ridden far b.fore the con-
fused yelpings of the terriers announced that
game of some sort was afoot, and the brothers

 
  

18

 

The Coloiado Buys.

 

vegan to handle their unaccustomed weapons a |

little nervously, if the truth must be told, ex- |

pecting that s ‘‘sounder” of pigs would break
cover the next instant,

“This way!” cried the colonel, riding to a
little knoll and drawing rein. ‘“ Game for the
pack, if not forus. An old jackal, I judge, from
the racket. Yes—yonder he goes!”

From their elevated position the lads could |
see a wolf-like creature stealing away from the |

atch of jungle where the excited terriers were

eeping up a most unearthly racket.
“You don’t mean to hunt that truck for
game, do you?” and Burt’s no% went up halfa
dozen degrees in supreme scorn. ‘A measly
coyote like that?”
‘It will take the wire-edge. off the pack,” said
the colonel, quietly. ‘Yet I’ve had manya
good gallop after the old fellows, when there
wasn’t time to beat up better game.”
This was true enough, but the pack had been
brought along to take off more wire-edges, than
their own, and had the two brothers been old
hands at pig-sticking, the dogs would have been
left at home, as a matter of course. The colone!
knowing that the main fault to be found with
his nephews was rashness, boped to cool their
ardor ina certain degree before the pigs were
found,
Almost immediately the terriers broke away
after the old jackal, yelping and snarling like
little demons. At first the animal ran surlily
enough, but then, as the chorus deepened and
came nearer, he put his long legs to good use,
and Colonel Applebee motioned for the mchter
to turn leose one couple of the greyhounds.
It was a beautiful sight to see those creatures,
so recently slouching alovg with tucked-up
flanks and down hanging heads, the very pic-
ture of melancholy starvation, now stretched
out in full run, their slender legs plying so
swiftly that the keenest eye could not separate
them, or distinguish more than a confused blur
below the glancing bodies,
The jackal was rapidly overhauled, and one
of the hounds‘made a pass at it, knocking it
over, almost into the jaws of its- mate, whose
nip was so sharp that the confused and be-
wildered animal turned and ran howling
straight back toward the pack of terriers, into
the midst of which it found itself before fairly
realizing what had happened.
Their portion of the work done, the grey-.
hounds quietly wheeled and trotted back to
_ their keeper, while the terriers piled upon the
jackal in a confused, snarling, yelping, biting,
tearing mess. The jackal fought desperately,
leaving his marks on more than one of the

ck, but it was all in vain, and five minutes
ater the mass dissolved, and the jackal lay on
the sand, dead and almost dismembered.

Brief as was the skurry, it caused the blood
of the youngsters to leap more rapidly in their
veins, and a few minutes later, when a big
dog fox broke cover, they were ready enough
to svamper away at'the heels of the colonel,
little suspecting what a cunning game the vete-
ran was playing on them,

The run was a hot one while it lasted, but the
edds were heavily against the fugitive. It

| with the dull gray rice-stubble.

 

broke cover on a wide, level plain, covered

On every side,
though far distant, may be seen the encircling
forest. Near the center, and from which the
fox was jumped, stands a small hill, covered
over with tall grass, mingled with thorn-bushes
and wild rose yuugle. A more perfect field for
avchase could nov well be found, and with many
a whoop and halloo, away thunder the lads and
the planter, clese behind the gaJlant pack, the
fox in the lead, after him the greyhounds with
the plucky but slower terriers already tailing.

Straight on for half a mile, then the leading

reyhound made its effort and tumbled the

‘ox over, but before the rest could fasten upon

it, away went reynard on a fresh course, run-

ning faster than ever, for he knows that it is do

or die. If hecan reach the dense cover beyond,

where the ‘‘ gaze-hounds” can no longer keep

Be in sight,he may save his brush—but it isnot
a.

Once more he is knocked over—once more he
regains his feet and eludes those gleaming,
clashing teeth—once more he is running for
dear life on a new course—but unluckily for bis
chances, the terriers are thrown before him by
this last change, and ere he realizes the dread
truth, they are all around and upon bim.

Up gallops the colonel, beating off the ter-
riers, and the brush is won.

*““Not so bad,” said Burt, complacently, for
was he not second only to the planter? ‘ But
all the same, foxes and coyotes ain’t hogs, and
I’m hungry for a good square bite at that old
Fighting Gray!”

“ We'll be apt to strike some over yonder,”
and the fplomel nodded toward the dis‘ant jun-
gle. ‘‘I wish to speak a serious word with you,
boys, before we tackle the pigs. If I have any
fault to find with you at all, to-day; it will be
because you are too venturesome. It is danger-
ous sport, and you are new hands at the busi-
ness. Until after you get the knack of hand-
ling the spears, I must ask you to keep with
either Percy or me, ‘You give the pledge?”

There could be. but one answer, and that was
given freely. :

‘*But when we jump the Fighting Gray, re-
member I’m to have the first whack at him,”
added Burt, anxiously.

“Tf we find bim to-day, you shall take firet
spear,” was the smiling response, for the
planter felt confident that’ the old gray tusker
was miles and miles away, else some of the
scouts whom he had out for a week past, would
have brought in word of his whereabouts.

The ardor of the lads was not long disap-
pointed, for the jungle had hardly been reached,
when the terriers ran into a ‘“‘sounder” of

pigs.

ft had been the intention of the colonel to
send back the dogs, assoon as they could steal
away without too plainly telling the brothers
why they had been brought along, but it was
now too late, and as the pigs—a full score,
large and small, of the pure black breed—broke
cover, he shouted to Percy to stick by Lance,
and set bim a good example, rightly surmising
that he would have more influence there than
over the rattle-brained Burt.

‘*Cool and easy, lad!” he shouted in warnin
as, with a wild cheer, Burt charged in, “ Pi

 

 

 

 
    

   
   
 
  
 
   
   
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  

 

 

   

 

 

~_

The Colorado Boys.

   

19

 

‘your game, keep to the left, and strike low be-
hind the fore-shoulder!”

How much of all this advice Burt heard and
understood, can only be surmised, for he had
singled out a huge old boar, the patriarch of
the ‘‘sounder,” and plunging the spurs rowel
deep, dashed away through the jungle at break-
neck speed. °

Not a little anxiously Colonel Applebees fol-
lowed him, in readiness to lend a helping hand
should the occasion arise, but Burt showed that
he had not been an inattentive pupil when the
art of pig-sticking had been discussed in all its
bearings.

Really a superb, if rather reckless rider, he
soon drew in upon the snorting pig, and as the
well-trained hunter which he bestrode carried
him with a rush close alongside the hog, he
shortened his right arm, bent low in the saddle
and delivered his spear.

A ringing cheer burst from the lips of the

lanter as he witnessed the deed, and though

urt flushed hotly, with a keen sense of failure
as the stout spear was torn from his hands
when he attempted to recover it, that cheer
was one of proud commendation, instead of the
derision he at first fancied.

“‘Nobly done, my boy!” and the planter rode
up and —— his hand so warmly that Burt
felt the tingle clear to his shoulder. ‘‘ As neat
a spear as I ever saw delivered!”

till doubting, Burt stole a glance back, to
behold the huge black carcass stretched out on
its side, the spear-point. protruding nearly its
whole length at the throat. So true and stout-
ly had his stroke been delivered that the hog
never uttered a sound after feeling the steel,
aud Burt began to realize that he had donea
great thing—but not a sign of this would he
suffer to be seen.

“Y-a-s, not so bad,” he drawled, with an in-
nocent yawn. ‘* You see, uncle, we have a few
Pigs over home—”

he planter turned abruptly away, to con-
ceal the silent laugh which the innocent brag-
gadocio brought to his face, and regaining the
spear, he handed it to Burt.

“Do you always drop your spear after de-
livering, over home?” he acked, just a little sar-
castically.

 Alwa never use ’em but once, ’cause
white kid gloves cost more than spears, and it
wouldn’t pay to soil-a pair for every pig a fel-
low stuck in a day.” 3

The remainder of the pigs had scattered in
4he dense, thorny jungle, and the colonel de-
cided not to hunt up any more of that gang, es-
pecially as the dogs would be in the way.

While waiting for Percy and Lance to come
up, he gave the dog-keepers a sign to collect
their chargers as best they could, then’ return
with them to the plantation.

Lance had not been as fortunate as Burt, or
rather had shown more caution, since he waited

®on Percy to show him how the spear should-be
rightly delivere‘, This was not from any per-

sonal fear, for a pluckier lad never drew the:
breath of life, but he was one of those who al-
ways liked to be sure he was right, before he
went ahead.

“T don’t like you any the worse for it,” said

 

the colonel, kindly, then laughing: ‘‘ But this
mighty, kid-gloved sportsman has out-done us
all, thus far. Next time, I mean to take first
spear, so be on sk guard, Master Burt.”

Laughing and joking, the little party rode on
for some time, when Burt noticed the absence
of the dogs.

“How'll we find pigs without them?!’ he
asked, in dismay, when informed that they had
been sent back to the factory.

“Rest easy on that score. I thought I would
give you a little vaxiety.in the way of beating,
and sent the coolies on ahead to where I had
some very good khubber about a sounder of
grays—perhaps the harem of the old Lungra,
himself, who knows? We'll find them awaiting
our coming, never fear.”

The colonel was a.true prophet. A score or
more of nearly-naked natiyes met them, and
after a brief talk, the planter sent them ahead
to beat up the pigs.

The ground here was more favorable for rid-
ing than it had been where the black pigs were
put out, though the jungle is anything but a
paradise at the best for any but a genuine
roug-rider. For the most part the ground was
covéted with a heavy growth of grass, now
brown and’sere, with here and there patches of
thorn-bushes and wiid-rose bushes. An occa-
sional ditch, or dry water-course could be seen,
but these, for the most part, were not brbad

- enough to trouble either horse or rider such as

these,

One after another of these patches of dense
jungle were entered by the coolies, yelling,
screaming, beating their old tin pans or cracked
kettles—-anything to make a noise—while the
riders hovered around, restless as though be-
striding saddles of nettles, eagerly watching for
the expected game to break cover,

At last it came —the coolies yelled and
sereeched with redoubled fury, making a din
that the strong lungs of the colonel could hardly
overcome as he shouted aloud the warning:

“Took out! the pigs are afoot! Stick by
Lance, Perey—and you by me, Burt!”

He had time tosay no more, nor the lads time
to make answer, for with loud, angry whoofs,
the ‘‘sounder” of pigs burst from cover, almost
into the very midst of the horsemen ere they
saw them, pausing for a moment in surprise,
then breaking and scattering as though shell
had exploded in their ranks. ’

The shout of the planter rose high above even -
that of the excited lads, for the hunting-blood
of the veteran spear was up, and for the mo-
ment he saw nothing but the fleeing game, had
thoughts for nothing but fleshing the trusty
goo which he had been forced to let lie idle so

ong,

More like deer than clumsy hogs ran the
grays, but there were swift and sure-footed
racers behind them—horses that took almost as
much interest’ in the sport as their riders, and
strained their muscles willingly enough, with-
ont. the additional incentive of spur and lash,

No time now to pick and choose one’s way!
If ditches, banks or pitfalls come in the way,
they must be taken in the stride or not at all.
Through thorn-bush, rose-brier and tangled
thicket—over bush and brae—leaping ditches or

4
20

The Colorado Boys.

 

floundering through hollows—seeing,- feeling,
having thought for naught save the gallant
game which is plowing its speedy course through
all these obstacles, in sullen silence or with in-
dignant whoof, with stiff bristles on end, with
foam-flecked chest and clashing tushes—thus
runs the gray tusker—thus rides the- nerve-
thrilled hunter.

Ahead of ali rides the planter, his eyes im-
movably fixed on the huge gray whose fate he
has decreed, leaving all else to his admirably
trained horse, holding his keen bladed spear in
readiness to deal the finishing blow the moment

he comes within reach—the very model of an |

old-time spear.

Yonder rides Zance and Percy, still close to-
gether, but each with a separate victim singled
out from the rest, and this time L.nce is riding
to win. No second-fiddle will he consent to
play now. Those gleaming tushes must be his
ere ihat mad, break-neck chase comes to an
end, ;

Nearer the colonel rides Burt, a Jittle to the |

rear, for his hcrse is not quite so speedy, but
the ‘“‘sounder” is a large one, and there is no
need for two to seleet the same quarry.

One final burst that strains every muscl and
sinew in its gallant body, then the bay bears its
master alongside the panting boar. Bending
low down, the planter draws back his strong
arm, then thrusts it forward, a wild cry escap-
ing his lips as be feels the keen steel forcing its
way through skin, flesh, bone and sinew. ‘Then
a swift jerk, and as the bloody steel comes out
of the gaping wound, the hog tumbles end over
end, its heart cloven in twain, dead ere the im-
petus of that last leap is lost.

With a proud triumph such as none save the
successful hunter ever knows, the planter drew
rein, removing the covering from ‘Sis head and
wiping bis heated brow as he casts one approv-
ing glance upon bis neat handiwork, then turns

to look after his young charge, whom he bas |

forgotten for the moment in the wild intoxi-
cation of this, his first run of the season.

An encouraging cheer parted his lips as he
saw Burt, now almost beside his quarry, and
already bencing in the saddle to make sure of
his thrust—but at that very instant the pig
abruptly changed its course, and a wondering
exclamation burst from the colonél’s lips as he
saw the lad wheel as swiftly—but in almost the
directly opposite direction,

What could it mean? Hark!

*Whooray!” came to his ears, and he saw
‘Burt swing his spear high above his head, in
wild glee. ‘Take the little pigsif you want
them—1’m for the old Fighting Gray! Whoo-

ae
till plainer than the words spoke that well- |
known shape beyond—gaunt, grim, covered |

with scars from a hundred battles,
at bay for an instant—just long enough for the
colonel to recognize the Fighting Gray tusker—
old Zungra, himself!—then wheeling with a de-
— grunt and plunging into the taj grass be-
ond.
Shouting out a warning, Colonel Applebee
2s a his spurs rowel deep into the flanks of
started er, and dashed away to check

Standing |

|
| the reckless youngster, or aid him in destroying

| the grisly monster.

| But the fates were against him. To gain
ground he took a diagonal course, and came
| upon a deep, wide ditch, hidden from view by
| the. tall, matt@d grass. The horse saw it too
| late, and made a gallant effort, but failed. Its
| breast struck the further bank, and the shock
broke its back,

CHAPTER VIII.
LANCE IN LUCK.

Havine run his first course warily, closely
watching his cousin to make sure that there
were none of the particular points missed, Lance
a resolved to play a more prominent part
when the next opportunity offered. As.good a
rider as the best, baving full confidence in his
own nerve and steadiness of hand, Lance be-
lieved that he could now deliver as straight and
true a spear as any of the party.

Percy saw that the young ranchero meant
business from the s art, and when the sounder
of grays broke and dashed away, he waited un-
til Lance selected his intended victim, and then
himself kept an eye on.a gaunt old sow which
took the same course, keeping bis hot-headed
““waler,” or imported Australian horse, a short
length to the rear, so as to leave his cousin
wholly unhampered.

Lance failed to appreciate this thoughtfulness,
He had eyes and thoughts only for the bris-
tling animal in his front. Already he had
marked the exact spot where he would plant
the keen spear—already the triumphant yell of
victory was welling up in his throat, as he in
fancy saw the grisly monster gnashing its
tushes in futile rage as the biting steel let out
its hot heart’s blood.

Filled with the wild intoxication that is born
of only a moment like this, bis dark eyes aglow,
his cheeks flushed, his lips parted, until the
| firmly-clinched, white teeth are visible, Lance
| pressed his spurs home, and the slender-limbed,
| deer-like, but game and stanch little country-
| bred colt skimmed through the swaying grass
like an antelope, ranging alongside the grunt-
ing, sullen pig, running low and level, asthough
to give its rider every chance to make a success-
ful coup.

Just how it was, Lance could never explain
satisfactorily, even to himself. He could not
have asked for a better chance. The ground
was level, the grass shorter than usual, he saw
the precise spot where he wished to plant his
eee with all these advantages he

ailed,

Instead of sending bis spear through the pig’s
heart, he struck too far forward, making an
ugly wound, but haying his point glance harm-
lessly from the shoulder blade,

Percy uttered a cry of warning ashe saw the
| erring stroke, but it was not aaedas, at least in
the sense which he intended, for Lance was a
true-born rough-rider, ¢

Perfectly trained to the sport, thé little coun-
try-bred leaped swiftly to the left as the spear
failed, well knowing that the pig would charge
savagely to avenge its wound. his it did, witb
an ugly, grunting squeal of mingled rage and

 

 
The Colorado Boys.

in, but all would have gone well had nof Lance

en a novice.

Thinking that his mount was bolting, scared
by its near proximity to the pig, he wrenched
hard upon the curb, almost throwing his horse
upon its haunches. He heard Percy shout out
something, and at the same moment his horse
whirled around, snorting londly,

Tbe boar was upon them, and though Lanco
threw down the point. of his spear, it was too
late. For all he could do, horse or rider, possi-
bly both, would have fallen forfeit to his
natural but unlucky action.

But the country-bred made another side-leap,
just as the pig was throwing up its head, with
the ugly, curved tushes ready for work, and
thus saved itself.

Lance felt a heavy shock, and was almost
torn from the saddle as his horse leaped for-
ward. There was asharp, tingling smart in one
foot, but he was too excited to even cast a

lance down to see what damage had been

one, and despite the lesson just given him, he
reened his horse up, to wheel once more on
the pig.

As he did so, Percy shot past him like a flash,
meeting the boar, which had also wheeled, and
delivering his spear with unerring aim, full in
the chest, burying blade and a full foot of the
handle after it. The weapon was torn from his
hand, but its services were no longer needed.
The boar was killed as suddenly as though a
leaded shell had burst upon its skull.

Percy wheeled his horse and dashed back to
his cousin, white in the face as a ghost as he
leaped to the ground and held out his arms to
assist Lance to dismount.

‘What’s up, now?” asked the astonished lad.
“1 know it was a neat job, after my bungling,
but I didn’t know it was the custom to hug a
fellow every time he stuck a pig.”

“But your foot—you’re hurt—I must ’tend to

”

‘“Who said— Well, I declare!” and Lance
looked half-ruefully, half-quizzically down at
his right foot, where only the upper of his boot
remained, both sole and stirrup having been
torn away by the fierce grip which the pig bad
fastened upon them as the nimble-footed horse
avoided its mad charge.

“Come ‘to think, I did feel a little pinch,”
added Lance, throwing the injured member over
the horse’s neck, and resting his leg on the pom-
mel of his saddle while investigating. ‘I didn’t
know as there was any damage done, though—
and come to look, reckon I was right, too.”

Not a little to his relief, Percy saw that the
young fellow was-right, sheng his had been a
remarkably narrow. escape. ad the tusks of
the pig closed an inch higher up, the féot could
hardly have escaped being ruined for life. As
it was, there was a bruise, and the skin was
broken in several places.

“You can count yourself mighty lucky,
Lance, in getting out of that scrape with no
worse,” he said, gravely, while thus occupied.
“My heart isn’t ine out of my throat yet,
where it leaped when I saw you pull up your
horse. Never do that again while pig-sticking,
if vou value your life!”

 

21

® Maybe I didn’t do just right,” was the quiet
reply, ‘‘but I was afraid the beast would give
me the slip.”

“Little fear of that, with a gray—they’re
always more ready to fight thantorun, Clumsy
as they look, they are lithe and active as cats,
when they’re fairly mad.

“There’s only one way to meet the charge of
a pig, and that is with your mount at full speed.
If you miss the first pass, never try to pull up
your horse until you know that the pig is no-
where near, or is running ou without trying to
charge. Nine-tenths of the accidents in the
bunting field are caused by just such actions as
yours, a bit ago.”

Lance received this brief lecture in good part,
for he knew that it was not uttered in a fault-
nding spirit, but seriously. and for his own good,

Considerable time had been lost, and all
sounds of ‘the chase had died away. The horse-
men were gone, nor could anything be seen of
the beaters.

“Just my luck!” muttered Lance, with a
frown of disgust. ‘‘I hadn’t sense enough to
take a chance when [ jad it, and now there’s
no show. No pigs, niggers, nor nothing. Reck-
on | might as well give it up, and call it a day’s
work,”

For, answer, Percy produced a small whistie
from his bosom, and blew a long, shrill blast.

‘* Some of the beaters will bear that, and soon
be with us,” he said, in answer to the inquirin
look which Lance gave him. ‘It is part oi
their duty to keep track of the riders, no mat-
ter how widely they may separate from each
other, and when théy come, it won’t be long
before they set some cunning skulker afoot
again.”

Scarcely had he finished speaking when seyv-
eral of the lithe natives came dashing up, and,
receiving his orders, at once plunged into the
nearest patches of jungle; and the former scene,
though on a much smaller scale, was repeated.

“There’s your chance, Lance!” cried Percy,
as a brief glimpse was caught of a gaunt gray
shape, hesitating just within the edge of the
jungle. ‘Take it, but remember what I said
about keeping on the go. Do that, and no pig
that grunts can get the better of you on that
horse.”

At that moment the pig broke cover, fright-
ened by the insane yells and outlandish noises
made by the beaters, few in number, but mighty
in lung-power. Lance’s horse started forward,
eager for the mad chase, but with a snort of
disgust. The young ranchero drew rein.

“Only a sow! You aon’t hunt them?”

“Not often. We usually leave them for
breeding purposes; but this is an exception.
Down her if you can!”

‘But I want one that'll fight back—”

**And you'll get it there, never you fear,”
hastily responded Percy. ‘*On, or you'll lose
her. Quick!”

Lance obeyed, giving his chafing horse free
rein, but it was with a half-hearted permission
that Percy saw and understood. Ranging along-
sidé, he spoke hurriedly:

“Pm not joking. That old sow" will fight
faster and harder than one-half of the boars you

“

 
The Colorado Boys.

 

meet. Look at those tushes, if you don’t believe
me. Three inches long, and sharp enough to
cut a hair!”

“But you don’t hunt them—”

“Only because we want to keep the breed

lenty,” was the swift reply, “‘ not because there
isany lack of fightin them, If we were sure of
finding angther boar, I'd say with you, let her
run; but this may be your only chance to day
of making a spear, and it won’t do to let Burt
brag too much,

That concluding sentencesettled the question,
for Lance was only a boy, after all, and pos-
sessed all a lad’s dread of ridicule on being
“ crowed over.” .

He quickly saw that there was no more time
to be lost if he hoped for a closer interview with
her grisly majesty on that occasion, for the old
sow was barren, gaunt, all bone and muscle,
with long legs and the will as well as the power
to use them after a fashion that would have
filled the heart of a quarter-horse with envy.
Her long nose split the thick grass as a snow-
vite turns aside the drifts, and her gait was a

ong-stretching run, not trot nor gallop, after
the usual mode of progr:ssion with hér race,

A few minutes of this wild chase set the lad’s
blood on fire, and the little shame which he at
first felt at hunting a member of the female sex
was cast to the winds, After all, victory over

such a racer would be worth boasting of,
“Take your time, and strike with the stride

of your horse!” cried Percy, as he was thrown

out of the race Dy coming upon an abiupt break

in the ground which opened between him and
Lance, forcing him to make a wide detour, or
else rein in aud swing across behind his cousin.

It was both safer and easier to swing to the
right, which he did, but the ditch wasof greater
extent than he imagined, and when he reached
a point where it could be crossed with a leap,
Lance was far ahead, though still within sight,
plying his spurs in bis ardor to overtake the
sow and deliver the stroke that would proclaim
him a “‘pig-sticker,” with all that proud title
implies,

But that day was fated to be one of abrupt
changes and out-of-the-way experiences for the
young ranchero, and now, just as he wassteady-
ing himself in the saddle, lowering the point of
his spear for the stroke, a truly curious circum-
stance occurred,

Finding itself pressed so hard and close, the
old sow plunged into a small but dense patch of
rose-briers and scrubby acacia bushes, which
looked so forbidding that the horse ridden by
Lance sheered to the left to avoid, before that
plucky and straight-ahead rider could divine ita
intention or take any means of preventing it.

An impatient exclamation arose in the lad’s
throat, but before it could pass his lips he was
startled by a wild and confused medley of
sounds coming from the center of the scrub,

A fierce grunt from the sow was mivgled with
ashrilicry that never found birth in porcine
lungs—the briers shook violently for a moment,
then were forcibly rent asunder as the pig and
the creature, which it had so unexpectedly run
into, tumbled out wheré the short grass gave
ad young ranchero a toleyrbly fair view of

em,

 

It needed but the one glance to tell Lance
what new game had been found, and a little
ery of wondering exu!tation burst from bis lips,

That beautifully mottled skin belonged te
game far more rare than gray tuskers, and
though this was the first of the race that Lance
had ever seen outside of a menagerie, he at
once recognized a leopard, and one of the
largest of its kind.

He wrenched his borse’s head around, and

lunged home the persuaders, but the country-
bred only tossed its head, snorted, and fought
to wheel and flee. It would have charged a pig
alone, for that was what it was trained to do,
but charging a leopard was too much to expect.

Neither sow_nor lecpard paid the slightest at-
tention to horse and rider, They were rolling
over and over the ground, snarling, squealing,
biting and tearing like mad, thcugh it was plain
enough that the old sow was only struggling to
free itself from that death-grip, to seek safety
in renewed flight.

Percy was notso far distant but that he heard
the outcry and recognized the voice of the in-
furiated leopard, though the fighting animals
themselves were hidden from his sight by the
clump of jungle. He could see Lance, and
knew from his actions what he was endeavoring
todo. He shouted out a warning, but if Lance
heard, he did not beed. That wild chase had
heated his blood to the boiling pitch, and he
was not one to coolly count the cost when fairly
aroused,

Twice he sought to bring his horse te the
charge, but each time was foiled by the trem:
bling, snorting creature. Then he toro the
cloth puggeree from around his head, and ben¢:
ing forward, dexterously cast it over the oyo
of the country-bred charger, twis:ing it arou7.,
its neck and knotting it firmly.

Completely blinded, the poor creature stoog
trembling like a lea’, fearful to stir of its own
accord. Then, with a wild yell, Lance plied
his spurs until the red blood followed his heols,
and lowering his spear be charged straight a3
the two animals which were still locked in 2
posite grapple, still fighting and struggling furi-
ously.

Ro of horror broke from Percy, who juct
then dashed up, but he was too late to checl,
bis mad-cap cousin, or do aught but stare ia
wondering anxiety at the strange scene.

Lance was resolved that there should be no
mistake in delivering his spear this time, but
the perverse fates seemed to be against him,
for a swift change in the position of the strug-
gling animals occurred exactly as he made his
stroke, and instead of transfixing the leopard,
the blade ofthe spear simply tore a slit in the
loose skin of its flenk, then buried itself deep
between the ribs of the squealing sow.

The blinded horse etumbled over-the animals,
almost falling, but recovering its feoting with
eat-like quickness, stood trembling in every
nerve, afraid to advance while that strange
darkness hampered it.

For one instant Lance believed that his work
was well done, that the spear, which he ha
snatched from its quivering sheath of flesh, ba
slain the leopard, but he was quickly unde-

 
The Colorado Boys.

 

ceived, as the leapard regained its feet, glaring
savagely around with flaming eyes.

Lance was the nearost of the two riders, and
with a yow! not unliko that of an enraged cat,
the leopard leaped straight for the young ran
chero.

There was no time for him to level his spear,
and Lance bent low in the saddle as he sent his
spurs home with such force that the blinded
horse made one leap forward, then stopped
short once more. Just in the nick of time it
came, too.

The leopard missed its leap, one fore paw just
touching the kent form of the lad, its sharp
claws tearing open his jacket and shirt, leaving
a bloody track several inches long, then fell
upon the ground beyond.

Stung with pain, and believing himself far
worse injured than was the case, Lance leaped
trom the saddle and plunged his spear into the
leopard, adding his weight to the stroke, pierc-
ing the furious creature through and through,
the spear-point sinking so deep into the grount
that it held the death-stricken creature fast as
it spur round and round in agony, snarling and
spitting, malignant even in death

All this had taken place with such rapidity
that Percy Applebee hardly realized what his
reckless cousin meditated doing, before all was
over. At the moment when he uttered his cry
ot warning, he struck spurs to his horse and
dashed forward to rescue his cousin or share his
fate, and hardly had that sturdy stroke been
delivered when he grasped Lance by the collar
and dragged him away from the spot.

“Let up!” spluttered Lance, almost choking*
: en past hurting any body—let up,

say

Percy took a backward glance, and saw that
this was no more than -the truth, when he re-
leased his cousin and checked his excited horse,
then dropped, rather than descended from the
saddie, trembling in every limb, pale as a dead

man.
* Didn’t I do it up brown?” cried Lance, with
a laugh of wild exultation, which was cut short

as he saw Percy sink to the ground. ‘‘ You
ain’t hurt—”

‘Scared half to death—that’s all,” was the
rerly, and a faint smile came into his face.

*** Scared—not at the cat?” 3

“At you—for you—by you!” a little more
sharply uttered the young planfer. ‘‘I-want to
find father just as soon as it can bedone! I
want to resign the charge he gave me, before

our streak of luck gives out! Such blunder-
ing risks I never saw before and never want to
see again!”

“ #m’t I allright? Ain’t that cat all right—
yes, and the old sow, too! I knew I stuck some-
thing hard enough to count, and it must have
been her!” said Lance, laughing. ‘‘When I
turned and saw that leopard shooting through
the air, when I could have sworn he was dead,
I began’ to think I had run right into a whole
litier!”

Percy bent over the carcass and closely ex-
amined the cuts. 4

“That explains it!” he exclaimed, straighten-
ingup. ‘I could no‘ understand how it came
that the leopard attacked the pig, when it must

straight away, fairly holding its own wit

 

have heard us, and known what was afoot, but
Isee now. It was lying there, in hiding, no
doubt alarmed by the noise we made, when the
sow run right against it, and cut that gash on
its haunch, either by accident or through pure
ugliness. Then master leopard went in to get
even.”

“ Hither way will satisfy. me! I’ve stuck a
pig and a leopard—something everybody can’t
say!” laughed Lance,

“Tf it was ever done before, which I doubt,”
replied Percy.

CHAPTER IX.
BURT TAKES A TUMBLE.

Burr heard nothing of the warning cry
which Colonel Applebee uttered, saw nothing
of the accident which so closely followed, result-
ing in the planter’s being hurled from the back
of his crippled horse with such force that he lay
without life or motion amid the crushed and
trampled grass.

Ahead of him ran the gaunt form of the old
Lungra, the most noted quadruped in all that
section, if not of entire India, for whose head,
won in fair fight, many an ardent sportsman
would have given a year of life, and counted
the prize cheaply won at that. ~

Fora few moments he rode in silence, touch-
ing his willing charger lightly with the spur,
feeling its mouth with a practiced hand makin
a comparison between the horse and the ol
FPighting-Gray.

Young though he was, Burt had few superiors
in the art of judging a horse, and it did not |
take long to satisfy him that speed of foot alone
could not save the gray tusker that day.

Without a thought of danger to himself, Burt
pressed on, feeling confident that he would that
day cover himself with glory, and go down to

sterity as the man who killed old Lungra, so
ong accounted invulnerable, if not the Old Boy
himself in this historicaldisguise, But that day
ink seemed to come to all in streaks of good and
evil.

For a mile or more the gray tusker —_

the
Arab, fleet as it was, and Burt was beginning to
use his spurs a little impatiently, when the sight
of an old water-course at no great distance
ahead drew a glad ery from his lips, and he took
a slight pull on his horse, for he believed that
this obstacle would cause the Fighting Gray to
either turn at bay, or else sheer abruptly to one
side or the other, when he could take the ‘short
cut” and run into him at once,

Straight on, without deviating a foot to either

side, ran the Fighting Gray tusker, and a sud-
den eloud came over the face of the young
ree as an ugly suspicion flashed across bis
mind.
“‘Confound the pesky critteh? he muttered,
séowling blackly. ‘‘He means to wheel at bay
on the edge of that ditch, so I can only tackle
him in front, and run the risk of a tumble over-
board if I charge at speed: But I'll show hima
trick worth two of that—hello!” i

It wasa glad ery, not unmixed with amf&ze-
ment, drawn forth by the action of the gray
tusker. Straight on it rushed, but instead of
pausing and wheeling when the bank of the dry

 
24

The Colorado Boys. :

 

water.course was reached, the pig rose into the
air like a born hurdler, shooting across the ditch
with an ease and grace such as few would look
for in one of the porcine race,

**Good jump, old fellow!” cried Burt, as he
saw the hog alight safely on the further bank,
and then, without changing its stride, press on
inte the patch of tall grass and jungly scrub
which lay a few yards beyond. ‘‘Good jump,
but I'll back a horse against a hog any day, so
here goes!”

Not a little to his amazement, the Arab showed
unmistakable signs of flinching, trying to sheer
to the left, tossing its head impatiently as bis
strong hand held it to a straight course, The
leap was a good one, as far as the tall and over-
hanging grass. permitted him to judge, but the
gray tusker had cleared it without seeming diffi-
culty, and he knew that the Arab was a good

jumper from the leaps it had taken with bim in |

the saddle that day. So, with a fear lest the
quarry which he bad marked for his own should
escape him after all, since he could see nor hear
anything of it, Burt forced his mornt to take the
~— straight in the tracks of the old Lungra.

ar better for his hopes of cov._ring himself |

with glory that day, if the young ranchero had
yielded to the desire of his well-trained charger,
. and this he quickly realized.

Scarcely had the Arab alighted on the further
side of the water-course, when a savage grunt
startled Burt, and he beheld the Fighting Gray
tusker break cover not a score of yards away;
charging upon him with bristles erect, fishy eyes
gleaming and long tushes champing!

Quick as a flash he recognized the cunning
ruse which the eld Lwngra had played, and
realized that the chances were terribly against
him.

Leaping the ditch, the gray tusker had darted
into the thick covert close at. hand, then wheeled
at bay, ready to take advantage of the moment,
should he be followed, before the Arab could re-
cover itself and resume its stride—a trick which
is frequently played by a pig when close pressed,
snd one which all old spears are on their guard
ugainst,

In forcing his mount to the leap, Burt was
obliged to cross his spear on the saddle before
him, and thus it was when the Fighting Gray
tusker broke cover oir its charge. He had not
time to reverse and lower it before the savage
boar wasupon them. The Arab, taking that
leap so unwillingly, was thrown out of its stride
and could not recover itself in time to avoi
that fierce rush. :

With a cry of almost human terror, it sought
to leap aside. and flee, but it wis too late,. The
Fighting Gray darted beneath its uplifted fore-
legs, and, with a mighty upward sweep of its
formidable tusks, fairly ripped the lickless crea-
ture open, uttering a fiorce grunt of malignant
fury as the bowel fell upon its head in a blind-
ing beap,.-

Burt knew that his horse was disabled, if not |

inned to the

mortally hurt, and fearing to be 1
om the stir-

eaxth as it fell, he freed his feet
rups and leaped from the saddle.

Tn the fall he lost his spear, and fearing to at-
tempt to recover it, lest the old pig be upon him

 

ere he could turn it in defense, he leaped straight
ahead, and was only savéd from plunginggbead-
long intosthe deep ditch by bringing up against
a stunted thorn-bush.

He heard the savage gruntof the old Lunqra,
and believing it was close at his heels, he scram-
bled up the bush as far as it would support his
weight, then hurriedly felt for his revolver.

Luckily for him, the gray tusker had been
blinded for the moment. by the blood and en-
trails which gushed from the frightful wound
in the belly of the poor Arab, else Burt would
never have reached even this poor refuge. As
it was he saw the old Lungra charging, the very
personification of devilish rage and malignancy.

Up against the bush reared the gray demon,
champing its long, curved tusks until the bloody
froth flew all over the young ranchero, who was
forced to cling to his frail perch with both
hands to avoid being shaken off by the —_
shock. And Burt’s heart leaped into his mout
as he felt, rather than heard, the bush cracking
beneath the force brought to bear upon it.

Little wonder, after seeing how swiftly and
frightfully the old, Lungra mangled his horse.
Should the bush give way, before he could re-
gain his feet or strike one blow in defense of his
life, that gray demon would be upon him—one
stroke of those terrible tusks would be sufficient
to end the matter forever, so far as he was con-
cerned.

For a brief space the gray tusker leaned
against the frail bush, trying to reach the young
ranchero, but seeing that this was useless, it
dropped down and backed a few yards.

Burt saw his chance, and lost no time in im-
proving it. He drew a revolver and fired at the
grunting animal, just as it came again with a
savage rush. He could see that his bullet
struck, but the gray demon seemed unhurt, as
it rushed against the bush, champing its massive
jaws on the cracked stem, causing both bark
and splinters to fly in a little shower.

Burt felt the bush giving way beneath him,
and fired one more. hurried shot, but had no
time to note the effect, for just at that instant

‘| the bush broke beneath his weight, the soft

earth.crumbled beneath the feet of the gray
tusker, and both he and it were precipitated
over the bank into the dry water-course,

Burt fell with a heavy shock that knocked the
breath out of his body, and almost deprived him
of hissenses, For thé moment he was unable to
help himself, his limbs seeming paralyzed, his
brain reeling, a bloody mist swimming before
his eyes, and he lay with a vague expectation
of feeling those terrible tusks tear his flesh and
crack his bones with the passage of each instant
—a horrible, night-mare sensation! oe

Even thus he was conscious of a dim wonder
that the attack was delayed so long, and of
wishing that the old Lungra would put an end
to this frightful suspense, «

Only for a brief space did this curious apathy
last, then he récovered the use of his bod
powers, and raising himself upon one elbow, hx
mechanically felt for his revolver, at the same
time glancing hurriedly around for the enemy,

To his horror ke found that his belt was gone!
No doubt the buckle had burst when he fell

 
The Colorado Boys.

25

 

from the bush to where he now found himself.
If so, it must be somewhere near—if the old
Iungra would give him time to find it.

At this thought, the lad started to his feet,
glancing swiftly around him, when his wonder
at being respited thus long vanished as he saw
where he was,

Instead of falling clear tothe bottom of the
deep water-course, he bad landed upon a rock
which stood nearly ten feet above the level of
the surrounding ground. If the boar had also
fallen upon the rock, it must have rolled off be-
fore it could make its footing good, for it was
now nowhere in sight.

Neither were his weapons, but in the first
burst of bis thankfulness, Burt did not give them
a second thought.

Where was the old cripple? Had he run
away, all the fight knocked out_of it by that un-
expected fall? Or was it skulking amidst the
dense bushes and briers with which the bed of
the ditch was carpeted?

“Waiting for me to get down, so hecan make
a charge, the p’izen-old cuss!” muttered Burt,
with a snort of angry disgust, striving to pene-
trate the dense cover with his gaze. ‘‘Con-
found the luck! just as I thought sure I had
him, the old imp of darkness had me—had me
bad, too!” :

Burt Was growing angry, red-hot mad. The
longer he thought the madder he grew. He had
lost a good horse, bad lost the quarry of which
he felt so sure only a.few moments before, and
worse than all, he would be found in his present
ridiculous position when his friends came to
look for him, as no doubt they would ere long.
Instead of covering himself with glory, as he
had fondly fancied, he was overwhelmed with
shame, Instead cf vielding its coveted head,
the Fighting Gray tusker had once more won the
victory. :

“Tf I only had my pistols, or if I knew
whether that infernal imp was skulking in that
cover, I’d give it a try, anyhow! - He couldn’t
do any more than kill me, and I don’t believe
that would hurt much worse than to have to
face Percy and uncle after this—”

Burt was rapidly waxing desperate, and was
on the point of slipping down the rock in search
of bis weapons, when a glad shout from the
bank above him attracted his attention.

“Thank Heaven! you are safe!” exclaimed

Colonel Applebee. ‘‘ But where is the old Lun-
gra? And what are you doing there?”

Instantly the lad’s natural coolness—or impu-
dence, if the boy reader thinks that a more ap-
oe term—returned, and reso’ ving to give

is friends as little handle for railiery as might
be, be replied:

“The pesky critter run away and hid some-
where in this ditch, and I’m looking for him.
Don’t make too much racket or you may scare
him away.”

Kolahala pointed across to where the dead
carcass of the Arab lay, just visible above the
tall grass, and that, with the surroundings, ex-
plained matters clearly enough for the shrewd
planter, for he had known that same trick
played more than once on unwary pig-stickers,

“You are not hurt? _ Seriously now.”

* Right as a top—only I owe you for a horse,

 

T’mafraid. That pesky Lungra ain’t got ue
manners at all—”

‘*Never mind the horse; I'd rather lose a
dozen than have you come to harm,” said the
colonel, earnestly, and then be turned and ut-
tered a few words to Kolahala and the few
beaters who had come up to the spot.

Scrambling down the steep bank, they began
beating the thick cover, only to find at length
that the gray tusker bad fled. Kolahala founa
where it had emerged from the water-course,
and sent back word to the planter by one of the
beaters that he would track it up to its lair, and
leaving a watch there to keep an eye upon it,
would report in person,

While they were thus occupied Burt de-
scended from his perch, and after considerable
search found his belt and pistols, then scrambled
up to where the ‘colonel was wuiting for bim.

ere, as they were alone together, Burt desmed
it best to give a pl:in, accurate account of his
peculiar experience, simply adding:

“Don’t make it too rough on a fellow when
you tell the boys, uficle. I know I was a bull-
beaded fool, but I got bad enough scared to pay
me for that. Isn’t my hair turned gray?”

“Tvs well enough to laugh over it now, my
dear boy,” the planter said, seriously, ‘but
don’t forget to thank God that you are still
alive. It was a~frightful peril you ran, and
might easily have enued fatally.”

‘Of course I am thankful and all that, but
wifat a scurvy trick it was for the old sinner to
play on an innocent greenhorn like me! Who'd
’# thought of such a thing?”

‘““{ have seen the same thing'scores of times,
and I only wonder that your horse did nvt re-
fuse to take the leap right where the-pig led the
way, for it has been trained different.”

“Don’t blame the poor fellow, for it was all
my fault. It tried to circle around, but I was
afraid the old hog would give me the slip, and
forced it to take the leap.”

Colonel Applebee sounded his horn, and after
a short time Lance and Percy came up. They
were greatly surprised to find both the colonel
and Burt afoot, but their own experienve bad
been so strange and exciting that Burt got off
oe more easily than he had any reason to ex-

ect.

“The question now arises, what shall we do?”
ae the colonel, when Burt interrupted him

astily:

“ Anything but go back home without the old
Lungra!”

ue planter hesitated for a moment before re-

ying:
x NF Enow you will never rest easy until that
gray demon is killed, and on one condition I
will give you another chance. That is, you
promise me not to run off as you did before,
but stick close to me, and obey all orders un-
questioningly.” :

“I can afford to rest on my laurels,” laughed
Lance ‘so I give you my word unhesitatingly.”

‘The same here,” added Burt, with a queer
grimace, as his fade flushed a little. ‘I begin
to think that our hogs and your pigs are not of
the same breed after all!”

“*Good boy!” laughed Percy. ‘* There’s some
hope for you, after all!”

 
The Colorado Buys.

 

CHAPTER X.
4 QUEER TRANSFORMATION.

So be it then!” eried the planter, casting all
hesitation aside. ‘ We arein the field until old
Langra yields up the ghost, be that one day,
one week or a month.”

“On foot, or shall we double up?” asked Burt.

“Neither. Nobody hunts on foot here, save
the natives, and while horses are so plenty as
they are at the factory, no guests of mine shall
ever lack a good mount.”

‘* But if we keep on—Burt and I—I’m afraid

our stock will run low,” said Lance, with a

alf sheepish laugh.

‘* The lessons you are learning are worth more
than the borses, to me, at least,” was the quick
response, but then the colonel as quickly changed
the subject, as he saw the brothers interchange

glances, as though they divined his secret,

meaning.

‘‘Kolahala will track the old Lungra down,
and bring us reliable khubber when he does
come, be that soon or late.
do nothing but wait, and while waiting, we can

send back to the factory for fresh mounts—well, :
what is it, Burt?’ he added, seeing the eager |

light in the lad’s eyes.

*“*Can’t they bring our Winchesters with
them, too? And the box that-holds our express
bullets?”

“You don’t want to shoot the old Lungra, I
hope?” and the brows of the veteran spear low-
ered a trifle as he gazed keenly into the lad’s
face. ‘“‘That would savor more of the pot-
hunter than the genuine sportsman, and you
would gain very little credit among the pig-
stickers of this district by so doing. No, no,
Burt. If we can’t bring him to bag after the
orthodox fashion, why we’ll even let the old
gray tusker run his course until some more for-
tunate or more skillful sportsman carries the
fatal spear. No murder in ours!”

“T didn’t mean exactly that,” quickly replied
Burt, just a little abashed, ‘‘although I didn’t
know that was against the rules here, for we
knock ’em over in America whenever we get a
chance. But I thonght maybe the rifles would
come in play somehow, and I feel lost without
one. However, maybe we'd better let them
alone, for if I get run up a tree again, rules or
no rules, I’d try to knock the old imp over!”

“You would be justified in shooting to save a
life, of course, but you have your pistols—”

‘* And good as they make them, too, but one
might as well blow = eT through a tin tube
as to waste pistol-ball
I tickled him twice when he was so close that
the flame from the muzzle of my revolver fairly
singed his bristles, and the old rascal really
seemed to like it! I won’t swear that the bullets
flattened out against his hide, but 1 do know
that be minded th m no more than if they had
Deen so many soft-boiled peas!”

Colonel Applebee selected two of the beaters
who were with them, and giving them their in-
structions, sent them off at a rapid trot to the

‘factory for fresh horses for himself and Burt,
with instructions to also fetch tie two-Winches
ter rifles and ammunition.

“So much settled!” cried the planter, with a

Until then, we can |

's on that old sinner. Why, |

 

decided air of relief, though there was a trace
of misgiving in bis tones, as he added: ‘‘ There
are some who would say I am acting very fool-
ishly to persist after the warnings we have re-
ceived, and if worse harm comes of it, I’il never
forgive myself for being persuaded against my
better judgme t.”

“Tell them we bullied you into it,” laughad

Lance.

“They'll. be so busy looking at old Lungra
and wishing that they stood in our shoes, that
they won’t have any time to find fault,” added
Burt, with a confident nod of the head.

The misgivings of the planter were but fleet-
ing ones. He was too thorough a sportsman to
dwell onthe probable cost long after havin
once decided on his course of action, and, to te
the sober truth, not even Burt himself was more
eager for another tilt with the Fighting Gray
tusker than was the veteran spear,

“Well, sufficient unto the day is the evil |
thereof, and we won’t let any maybes take our
appetite away—”

“TI wouldn’t object, for one,” said Burt, with
a wry grimace. “I don’t often get hungry,
but just now I feel as though I could swallow
old Tanta, hide, hoofs and all, without over-

loading my stomach!” :
“ T was just on the point of suggesting eee
‘Sha

while waiting,” laughed the colonel.
we go to the restaurant now?”

“I'd go most anywhere for a square meal—
except back tothe factory. If I’d only thought
to put a bite in my- pocket!” ruefully muttered
the hungry lad.

““We manage better than that, out here in
heathen-land,” smiled the planter. “‘ Now when
we left the factory I had not the slightest idea
where we would be at luncheon time, and con-
sequently could not give the necessary orders,
yet so perfect is my confidence in old Aunt
Muddy, that I now invite you to dine with me,
at my summer-houss or country retreat, on the
shady bank of the tank, ov.r yonder, Do you
accept?”

The brothers looked at the speaker for a mo-
ment, in doubt whether be was in earnest or
only joking, but something in his twinkling eyes
disarmed their suspicions.

‘“ We'll go, of course, but bow did you man-
age it? Did Percy tell them where to come to
meet us?” / _-

‘*No—not a word has been said about the
matter. , I haven’t seen anything of Aunt
Muddy’s messengers, if she has sert any, but
all the same, I give you “this invitation, and
firmly expect that the needed refreshments will
be waiting for us wheti we reach the tank.” ~

“There’s some sell in it, I know,” muttered
Burt, ‘“‘but we might as well pass the time in
that way, as tostay here in the sun+hot enough
to roast a nigger!” :

“But Kolabala?’ interposed Lance, “If he
comes back, and we are gone, won’t that be a
loss of time?”

‘Tl leave sign which he will follow as fast
as his iegs can carry him. Besides, we can do
nothing until the syces come back with our
fresh mounts.”

Colonel®A pplebee hunted around for a broad,
smooth leaf, on which he seratcbed a few fig-

 
The Colprado Boys.

24

 

ures, ending by putting it in a split stick which
he thrust into the ground.

While he was thus occupied, Percy was laugh
ing silently at the eagerness with which Burt
and Lance watched bis actions, and trying to
decipher the hieroglyphics on tbe leaf. Decid-
edly there must be some sort of sell, as Burt
believed.

The colonel took possession,of his son’s horse,
while Lance rode bis own, as bis soleless boot
rendered walking out of the question, leaving
Percy and Burt to trudge along afoot,

They proceeded leisurely, but tke distance
was not great, and in half an hour they came
in sight of the tank. Eagerly Burt looked for
some signs of the promised lunch, but in vain,
and he settled down to the.sad conclusion that
bis suspicion was correct.

Making an abrupt turn as the shore of the
tank was gained, the planter touched bis mount
with the spur, and trotted a.few yards ahead of
\sis companion, then halted, smilingly.

“Gentlemen, my confidence was not mis-
placed. Lunch is served, and awaits your
sleasure ”

A cry of, amazement burst from the lips of
‘he brothers, and they stared as though unwiill-
log to believe the evidence of their own eye-
sight, for there, spread beneath a shady fig-
tree, was an ample repast, neatly arranged upon
a snowy-white cloth, with two sober natives
waiting with folded arms.

“13 it magic?” cried Burt, pretending to shud-
der. ‘*You’re sure the spooks haven’t had a
finger in the pis?”

“Nothing more ethereal than old Aunt Muddy,
and she’s too healthy a ghost to be afraid of,”
laughed the planter. ‘‘ Come—let’s take a wash,
apd then to dinner.”

For some minutes the brothers were t20 busy
for speech, but then, as a couple of bottles of
wiae, still dripping from where the servants
had fished them up from the depths of the tank,
were opened and placed before them, their curi-
osity broke through all barriers.

“Will you explain the mystery?” asked
Lance.

“Ts there one? To me, it looks perfectly
simple. Aunt Muddy took a notion that we
would be hungry before the hunt was over, for
she is a devout believer inthe popular prejudice
that the old Zanjra should be re-christened
Old Boy, so she packed up these things and sent
a couple of fellows to dog us. They came up to
where we were waiting, and I directed them
lere. The result you see.”

“But you said you hadn’t seen nor heard
them!”

“And that was the truth. Old Juggeroo
made a sign that I recognized, and I spoke to
you loud enougk for them to hear and under-
stand, They took the hint, as you see.”

* A practical joker in your old age—uncle, ’m
perfectly scandalized!” exclaimed Lance, in
mock horror.

“And I am perfectly satisfied,” said Burt,
whose gaze was lazily roving over the glassy
surface of the tank before them, ‘‘or I would
be, if only— Say, uncle,” and he raised him-
self tora sitting posture as he spoke, ‘‘are the

z

 

bull-frogs which you raise in this country, like
ours?”

“How like—what do you mean?” asked the
surprised planter, eying the lad keenly, as
though he suspected an attempt at retaliation
for his neat little jest,

‘‘Are they good to eat? They ain’t poison-
ous, are they?” :

‘No; but why do you ask?” :

“T just happened to think that a couple of
mic eiey hind legs would be a capital thing to
top off with. What made me think of it—look
out there, just within the edge of those lily pads
—ain’t he a beauty?” and Burt pointed cut the
oe which had put this queer notion into his

ead,

All saw it, and though there was something
peculiar about the markings, as we!l as they
could note, for a curled-up lily leaf cast the ob-
ject into the shade, one and all took it for
granted that it was'what Burt said, a huge frog,
resting on the surface of the water, taking a
nap. :

“A dollar toa cent that I can plug it at the
first fire,” cried Burt, drawing a revolver and
cocking it.

“Tf you do, I’ll see that you get it,” laughed
Percy.

With a quick motion Burt raised his weapon
and fired.

Had a thunderbolt dropped at their feet from
the clear, cloudless sky, the young ranchero and
his companions could not -have been more ut-
terly dumfounded than they now were.

All were watching the supposed frog closely,
to note the result of the shot, when a fierce,
snarling cry of rage and pain burst upon their
astounded ears, and a lithe form leaped fairly
out of the water, sending .the spray high into
the air, and then, wheeling, tore through the
lily pads and up the opposite bank!

Burts bull-frog was a tig:r |

The wildest excitement prevailed. The na-
tives danced about, screeching and jabbering.
The horses snorted and tugged at their tethers.
The colonel uttered a sounding oath—the first
which mortal ears bad heard pass his lips for
many a year, while the boys stood the perfect
pictures of dumb amazement, seemingly petri-
fied by this really remarkable transformation
of a bull-frog into a tiger.

Old Juggeroo was the first to speak, eagerly

erying:

X Ole bagh he hit, master—hit hard! Me see
blood—he run a little—he lay down—we find
him, sure, master!”

“Will you track him up?’ demanded the
planter, bis blood all afire, his hunter’s instinct
doing stout battle with his fear of endangering
the lives of his young charges, ‘‘ No, let him
go. We haven't lost any tiger—”

*“T have, uncle!” cried Burt, recovering his
speech. “T know I hit him hard—and Lance
stuck the leopard—do let us follow him up, if
only for a little ways!”

*T promised Bart I'd get his game if he hit
it,” said Percy, with a half-laugb, but a whole
wish written upon his eager countenance.
‘You know you said t we might have s
tiger-hunt some time "

 
28

The Colorado Boys.

 

‘But not on foot, and armed only with boar-
spears. Are you all going crazy?” cried the
colonel, but the lads saw that he was yielding,
and redoubled their entreaties.

“On one condition, then,” he said, striving to
mask his own eagerness beneath a guise of re-
luctance. ‘‘ You are to let me lead. You are
not to goa step further than I say, and when I
give the word, you will turn short about and
come back Here. Promise this, and we will
take a little look, anyhow.”

In default of something better, the lads ac-
cepted the conditions, and trusted to the chap-
ter of accidents to reward their expectations,

Old Juggeroo, second only to Kolahala in the
arts of the shikaree, anticipating the yielding
of his master, had already darted away, fol-
lowed by the beaters, and was now on the op-
posite side of the tank, stooping over the ground.
A moment later he raised up, waving a tuft of
grass above his head, and even at that distance
those on the opposite side could see that the
grass was stained with blood.

“‘Tf we were only all mounted, and had those
rifles, ’'d run the risk!” muttered the planter to
himself, rather then the boys, as he swung bhim-
self into the saddle. ‘Jump up, Burt. We
don’t hunt tigers bere on foot, and I prefer
not to lose sight of you while such game is
afoot.” .

“Hadn’t you better let me get on in front,
then?” roguishly laughed the excited lad. ‘‘ That
will be thesurest way of keeping me under your
eye all the time!”

**Too old for that caper, my boy. Double
up with Percy, Lance, and let’s be traveling.”

It was a queer sight which they thus pre-
sented, and at any other time the lads would
have been free enough with their jokes, but
with such royal game afoot, and poorly as they
were equipped for the encounter which might be

recipitated at any moment, little sense of the

ludicrous was displayed.

The beaters, led by old Juggeroo, were some
distance in advance, and Colonel Applebee,
despite the fidgeting of the impatient lad behind
him, would not materially decrease the dis-
tance, knowing from experience what a wounded
tiger is capable of. :

“Wait until the beaters locate him, then we
wil) consider what course is the best to pursue,
If he don’t run away entirely, we will wait for
tLe rifles, and then we can meet him on more
equal terms.”

“Look!” cried Burt, excitedly, as a wild yell
arose from the advance, and old Juggeroo was
seen leaping frantically back toward them.
“They have found him!”

“Steady!” cried the planter, sternly. ‘‘ Hold
your horse well in hand, Percy. If the tiger
charges— Hallo!”

Old Juggeroo, whose flight had ceased as soon

~ as he discovered that he was not followed, had
climbed up a small sapling, peering into the
dense
Then, with a loud shout, he leaped down, ran
ahead and paused beside the body of the tiger,
which had fallen’ dead as it fled, with Burt’s
bullet buried in its brain.

As soon as the facts of the case were fairly
understood, the whites joined the natives, and

grass ahead, but only for a moment. |

| with proud exultation, Burt eyed his noble

| game, so strangely slain.

“ Now crow all you want over your spotted
eat, Lance!” he chuckled, full of boyish glee.

| “Reckon a tiger lays ’way over a leopard—

| don’t it, uncle?”

‘Hither are good enough game, but yeu must
'not forget that Lance killed his leopard in
hand-to-hand fight, while you were a little
more favored by good luck. Best call it even
on both sides.”

‘Shooting at a bull-frog and hitting a tiger!”
laughed Percy. ‘‘ And you such a crack shot—
oh, Burt!”

““There’s the skin, and it’s mine,” was the
only reply Burt vouchsafed to the jesting
remark. ‘But, uncle, what do you suppose
made the critter hide like that?”

“It was rather strange,” replied the planter.
as he bade Juggeroo remove the hide, * but i
have heard of other freaks to the full as remark-
able. Perhaps the tiger was scared by our
coming, perhaps he was in the water cooling
off, and only remained still for fear of attract-
ing attention.”

“Well, it don’t matter much. Y’¥e Killed a
tiger, and there’s the skin to show for it! _That’s
enough for me /”

CHAPTER XI.
THE FIGHTING GRAY: TUSKER AT BAY.

AFTER the skin was removed from the tiger,
it was seen that, entering at one eye, Burt’s
bullet had passed through the brain, shatterin
the bone opposite so badly that the flatten
lead dropped out as they were examining the
skull. Even Burt was surprised at this evi-
dence of the strong shooting qualities of his
favorite revolver, while the planter and his son
could hardly believe the evidence of their eyes,

“That’s nothing,” said Burt, in an off hand
manner. “ When the boys were getting out the
timber for our new corral, they came across a
log they couldn’t maul, do their best. When I
first. saw them, they had been a good hour
whacking at one iron wedge, and had only got
itin an inch or two. I made’em a sien, and
they stood aside, while I opened fire. Believe
it or not, just as you choose, but that wedge
went into that log a foot at a jump, and before
the old pet was through saying her alphabet,
there lay the two halves of t®at log, planed
smooth as the back of your band by the bits of
lead as they flew from the head of the wedge—
fact, or I wouldn’t say so!”

“Burt, did you ever hear tell of the sad fate
which overwhelmed one Ananias?’ solemnly
uttered the planter.

“Struck dead for telling a whopper, wasn’t
he, sir?” and the big blue eyes Igoked innocently
up’ into those accusing black orbs.

‘“Come—it’s time we went back and finished
our lunch,” said the planter, turning abruptly
‘away. ‘‘ Juggeroo will see to theskin. Come,
| Kolahala may be back and waiting for us.”
Nothing more was needed. So far from being
| satiated with the exceptional good fortune
' which had befallen them that day, the young-
| sters were more eager than ever to tackle the
| Fighting Gray tusker and add his grim head to
| their trophies, :

 

 
The Colorado Boys.

29

 

** Don’t be too sure,” said the colonel, gravely,
when they were once more seated in the*shade
beside the tank, for the veteran shikaree had
not yet put in an appearance. ‘Such a streak
of luck can’t lastlong. It will break, and then
look out for snags! Surely you two had ought
to be satisfied, it we are, You have won a tiger
and a leopard—”

“Only side dishes to old Lungra,” quickly
interposed Burt, conveniently forgetting how
recently he had taken the precise converse as
his argument.

)Whatever answer Colonc]l Applebee might
have made to tris speech, was forestalled by the
abrupt apperrance of Koluhala, who glided into
the shade and stood before them, bis arms fold-
ed. as coo] and calm as though be had just risen
from a pleasant siesta.

Swiftly the colonel interrogated kim, but to
the disgust of the brothers, both questions and
avswers were in the native tongue, and conse-
quently wholly unintelligible to them.

“Tt’s all right!” whispered Percy, beneath bis
breath. ‘‘Kolahala bas tracked old Lungra
home, and left a guard while he has hastened
back with the news.”

The planter was too deeply interested with
Kolahala to notice this bit of treachery on the
pait of his son, and when he turned to impart
such portion of the tidings as he saw fit, to his
amazement both Lance and Burt were nodding,
apparently almost asleep.

“Well! if ever there were two queer young-
s‘crs, I’m looking at them now!” he exclaimed.
*One moment all fire and impetuosity, the next
~wake up, boys! Here’s Kolahala, with glori-
jus news—”

‘*Yes, sir,” and Burt yawned portentously.
“We heard him, and when we knew he had
treed the old gray, we thought we might as well
take a nap until our horses came.”

Colonel Applebee glanced suspiciously at bis
son, for he was perfectly well aware that neither
of the young Americans understood a dozen
words of Hindoostanee, and perkaps it was for-
tunate for Percy that at that moment the syces
made their appearance with the horses and
rifles.

The youngsters forgot their slerpiness as if by
magic, and were in tue saddle almost before the
aninials came to a halt, all ready for the chase
of the old gray tusker.

The planter was only a trifle less eager, and
ere long they were trotting along at the heels
of old Kolahala, whose wiry form seemed in-
capable of feeling fatigue.

“T think I know the place where Kolahala
tra.k d the old Lungva,” said the colonel, as
they rode along. “Jt Lam right, we will see
trouble before we take his+skuil, unless I miss
my guess. Itis in a sort of marsh, where the
footing is bad for horses, and if we can’t drive
the old fellow ovt, to more favorable ground,
we'll have to werk carefully, or we may get the
worst of the bargain.”

“Pll risk the ground, if he’ll only: stand and
fight, and not run away or play any more of his
ugly tricks,” said Burt.

“Don’t forget that you have promised to be
guided wholly by me,” pointedly observed the

 

rianter. ‘*T? there fs anv chance of success
you shall bave a try at thé old fellow, but if I
decide, otherwise, there must be no mutiny.”

“You have our promise, uncle,” said Lance,
quietly, ‘‘and 1 have yet to hear of an Applebee
who forfeited his word.”

For some time the party rode on in silence,
when all at once Kolahala paused, with a gut-
tu:al exclamation, bis right arm uplifted, his
index finger pointing toa tree top some distance
abead.

‘* A man treed!” cried keen eyed Burt, in ex-
cited tones. ‘‘ One of the beaters—t-y the Lord
Harry! Old Lungra has got in some mure of
his pretty work!”

“TI believe you are right!” exclaimed the
planter, who was making use of his field-glass,
““ Who did you Jeave on watch, Kolahala?”’

**Paulee Singh, master,” was the swift re-
sponse,

‘“*T thought so!” end with a half-laugh the
planter lowered his field-glass, and returned it
to its case. ‘‘That’s him up that tree—but
what he is doing there is more than I can con-
ceive.

“ He’s making signs, I reckon old Lungra in-
vited him up a tree fur the good of Lis lealth,”
laughed Burt,

‘* Well, we'll soon find.out. Kolahala, slip on
ahead and see how matters stand. Make haste
back.”

The veteran shikaree stole away, leaving the
lads to exercise -their ingenuity over the
enigma.

They were not kept long in suspense. Five
minutes later Kolahala returned, bis eyes glit-
tering, his voice full of suppressed excitement
as he made bis report.

“Ole Lungra» there, master! See Paulee
Singh, mebbe, den chase him up tree, He watch
dere by foot, plenty mad, master.”

“ Alone, or is his harem with bim?”’

- “Plenty pig dere, too; but dey run ’wav when
colonel sahib an’ young sahibs come. Not ole
Lungra—he got plenty fight to spare dis time!
He run ’nough dis day!”

A few swift orders from the colonel sent the
beaters scampering away in the lead, while he
and the boys followed more leisurely, looking
to their spears und saddles, for all knew that an
accident when old Lungra@ was at bay, wight
easily prove fatal to man or horse.

The wild yells, hoots, beating of kettles and
other outlandish noises told that the beaters
were at work, and as the pig-stickers gained a
position from whence they could overlook the
spot where the tree which now bore buman
fruit stood, they beheld the pigs, snorting ioud-
ly, breaking away.

‘* Hold!” cried the planter, as the boys see red
on the pojintof dashingahead. ‘‘'Those are only
the rabble. If the Fighting Gray breaks away,
we will bear old Kolabala cal),”

The next moment there came a change in the
sounds—a series of terrified cries arose from
the beaters, and their dark forms could be seen
iw headlong flight—then the gaunt shape of the
Fighting Gray tusker shot into view. ;

The hunters were being hunted!

“Steady!” cried the colonel, his eyes aglow,

 
380

 

“Tf he comes this way, meet him in full charge,
i singly. Burt first, then Lance, as I prom-
d—”

“No such luck!” grunted Burt, as they saw
the grisly monster stop sbort, then slowly re-
treat to bis former station et the base of the
tree to which the terrified Paulee Singh still
clung with the tenacity of a monkey. ‘‘He
won't fight!”

* Figbt enough to satisfy even you, I’m think-
ing,” said the colonel, with coke laugh. “If
he meant otherwise, he would have broken
away with the rest. He has seen us, and he
knows there is mischief inthe wmd. He’ll wait
for us there, never you fear.”

“So much the better!” gayly declared Burt.
“<The ground is open enough for good work—”

“Wait until you try it. That tree grows on
the edge of a marsh, and a horse will sink above
its fetlocks-there.”

The colonel was plainly out of humor, and
the boys wisely said nothing more. At his or-
ders, they all dismounted and looked to the&
saddle-girths, and made sure that everything
about them and their mounts was in proper or-
der.

‘*There’s only one course to follow, as long as
he sticks to the foot of that tree,” said the plan-
ter, when the boys were once more in the
saddle. ‘‘We might easily knock him over
with the rifles, but that = against the grain
with me. If we can’t whip the old fellow in a
fair fight, let him go!

‘“‘We must charge, one after the other, and
do what wecan to give him the spear. If he
dodges, or you miss your stroke, keep straight
on, at full speed, until you hear me call. °
trying to stop short for another trial. If a
horse once misses its stride, or loses headway in
that bog, old Lungra will hold it at it’s mercy.
You understand what I mean?”

The boys nodded. They were too impatient

for words.

“Very well. You, Burt, will take the first
charge, as you have the deepest grudge against
the old fellow, and I gave you my promise.
Strike straight and hard, but for heaven’s sake,
don’t lose your saddle!”

Far more nervous than would flave been the

case had he been going to make the charge him-.

self, Colonel Applebees watched the preparations
of the young ranchero. These were short
enough, consisting only of hanging his rifle to
the branch of a tree, settling himself firmly in
the saddle, gripping his boar-spear tightly, then
using the spurs.

Seemingly quite as eager as the rider for the
charge on the grim enemy, his horse leaped
forward, running level and true, straight at the
old Lungra, who, champing its long, keen
tusks, was eying them viciously.

Burt was within a dozen yardsof the Fighting
Gray tusker before it made a move, but then,
with a savage grunt and a squeal combined, it
vsusbed forward.

Burt felt sure of his success now, and a gell

of exultation rose in his throat, but it was
never uttered. ‘

Just as the spear-point seemed to touch its
throat, the old Lungra made a quick movement
to one side, and the point glanced harmlessly

The Coloradc Bc ys.

Leesan I,

from: the tough skin of its shoulder, not even
drawing the blood. The next instant the gray
tusker Niaped savagely to the right, throwiag
up its frightfully armed head, thinking to dis-
embowel the horse, but it was too well trained
to fall into the trap, and with a mighty leap
was away and out of danger.

“Now, Lance!” shouted the planter. ‘‘ Before
he goes back to the tree—charge home—and
good luck go with you!”

Before the words were fairly out of his
mouth, Lance obeyed, dashing with all the
speed of his good horse, straight at the Fighting
Gray tusker, who was standing broadside on,
just where it had halted after being foiled in its
cunning charge at the horse ridden by the

| young ranchero,
Success now seemed more certain than ever,
and though a more generous-hearted man than
| the planter did not draw the breath of life, he
| caught himself envying the lad his glorious op-

portunity—one for which many an old spear
| would have gladly given a finger!

But the old Lungra had not lived all these
years, fought so many battles, won so many
victories, to be slain so readily now in bis grim
old age. He heard the plunging hoofs, and
wheeled sharply to confront the fresh peril.

Almost too late! “Lance felt his spear strike,
and flung all his power into the effort, bearing
upon the weapon until it was torn from his
grasp by the onward rush of his horse, and es

| be heard a shrill, angry squeal, his heat
throbbed with a fierce, mad glee, for he be-
lieved that the glorious victory was his, fairly
won,

| So thought the eager on-lookers, and ther

| wild, exultant cries rose high on tha air—oniy

to abruptly change their tune, as they suw vay

the fight was not yet over.

By that ae wheeling, the old Lungra nad
received the keen spear in his ham, instead of
between the ribs, all who saw the stroke at
first believed.. The shock knocked him over,
but as he gave vent to that mad squeal, he re-
gained his feet, twisting his head around and
catching the shaft of the spear in his mhouth,
grinding it in two as though it were only a
rush,

‘Your turn, Percy!” muttered the planter.
oe Go 1?

Fond as he was of his son, proud of his skill
as a rider, and of bis nerve and coolness in
critical moments, it cost the veteran no little
to give the word. Only a true sportsman can
realiz3 the full extent of his generosity. No
man in all India more passionately longed to
add the Fighting Gray tusker to bis list of tro-
phies, yet for three times in succession had he
resigned the golden opportunity. Coild hu-
man magnanimity go any further? ;

Favorable as had seemed the opportunity
granted Lance, that which Percy was now
given, was even wore auspicious) The old wn:
gra was still busied with his wound, away from
all obstacles, and with the course clear, it did
not seem possible that the young indigo-piantes
could fail to make a successful coup, Yet the
fates had so decreed it. t

The Fighting Gray tusker was still grindin

 

 

| at the stump of the spear which still veoradaa

 
The Colorado Boys.

a1

 

from its ham, whirling round and round in its |

blind fury, no‘ heeding the horse which came
thundering wn upon it, and Percy was draw-
ing back his arm to acd force to the stroke,
when bis horse, with a sudden access of terror,
leap-d swiftly to the Icft, then dashed on ina
wild, unreasoning panic.

As he saw this unaccountable freak on the
part of a horse accounted perfectly trained to
all such encounters, a cry of indignant wonder
burst from the lips of the planter; but the re-
action came Serr: It was his turn, now, and
with a fierce joy in his heart, showing in his eyes,
his faces bis every «ction, Colonel Applebee
plunzed his spurs rowel deep into tre fl inks of his

fresh charger, and with spear in rest, he charged |
down upon the boar, uttering a wild: yell as |

vaough to attract the attention of the grim old
eripple. ,
And. such was his desire. A braver man

never lived. At that moment he feit as though |

he would gladly give his good right arm for
the pleasure of slaying the Fighting Gray
tusker, but he preferred to meet the enemy-face
to face, to give him every chance for life—
victory thus won would be doubly precious in
his eyes.

That heroic wish was satisfied. The gray
tusker heard and seemed to comprehend the
meaning of that yell, and wheeling, with a
savage squeal, he charged straight at the
planter,

There was no sign of flinching on the part of
horse, rider nor bear. Midway they met—
straight in the throat sunk the spear—up reared
vee gray tusker and lunged out with its terrible
suspes. With a wild cry of agony the poor
norse stuinbled and fell, pinning 1ts rider to the
ground. And the gray tusker, with a spear
protruding from iis threat, the bot life blood
gushing from the wound in a stream, uttered a
squeal even more savage and malignant than
ever, as it rushed upon its helpless victim.

Colonel Applebece was half-stunned, one leg
pinned beneath his struggling horse, and his
death seemed inevitable, for the gray tusker
was fairly. upon him. But he was a man
who would never say die, no matter what the
odds against him, and he caught the spear-
handle as the boar came on, holding the mad
monster at arm’s length, pressing the weapon
still deeper home.

At tuat moment came a sharp report, and
with a gasping, gurgling groan, the Fighting

* Gray tusker feil over, dead!

“T couldn’t help it, uncle!” cried Burt, leap-
ing from his horse beside the fallen planter, and
flircirg away his still smoking rifle. ‘I waited
until {saw he would kill you if I didn’t shoot,
then let her flicker!” :

A sbort groan broke fronmr tke colonel’s lips as
he closed his eyes, and fearing he was seriously
mjured, Burt put a bullet through the brain of
the dying borse, and then the beaters raised the
animal so that the boys could drag the master
Gut from beneath the carcass,

THE

‘‘ Wather—dear father—say that you hear me!
cried Percyy.in an agony of dread. ‘Say that
you are not hurt—”
“Hurt? Yes, the worst kind!” groaned the
lanter. ‘* Toshoot it when it was dying—when
had fairly killed it—”
Kolahala-uttered a few rapid wordsin his own
tongue, which seemed to wo1k a marvelous cure
for the colonel staggered to his feet, with a glad
cry—looked for a moment at the carcass of the
old Lungra, then burst into a hearty fit of laugh-

ter at the open-mouthed amazement of the lads’
| ‘It may be awful funny, making us think you
| were bad hur%, but if so, J can’t see it!” growled:
Burt, bluntly.

“But I was hurt,” said the planter, growing
sober. ‘Hurt the worst kind, to see you shoot
the old fellow, after I had brought it down with
the neatest spear I have delivered for this many
aday! Iknow you meant well, my dear boy,
and I thank you from the bottom of my heart—
not for hitting the pig, but for missing it!”

“But I didn’t miss it!” cried Burt, abruptly
pausing asthe grinning Kolahala beld up the
head of the Fighting Gray tusker, showing the
skull intact, then pointing to a root near by,
which was terribly shattered by the expresg
bullet.

Lance and Percy roared with laughter, as
they saw the chopfallen countenance of tke
young ranchero, but the p!anter took him by the

and and pressed it warmly, saying joyfully:

“Tet them laugh, my boy. You meant well,
and that is more than half the battle. If the
old Lungra hadn’t been dying, you would have
saved my life, for I could have held it off by the
sj car long enough for you to get in a surer
shot.”

Burt made no reply, fer he was wounded in
his tenderest point, and turned away frcm the
grim carcass with a sniff of supreme disgust.

Now that the excitement was dying out, the
planter found that he had not escaped entirely
without injury from that ugly fall. True, the
soft, boggy ground had saved him from serious
hurt, but his leg was badly bruised and
wrenched,

i Once more at the indigo factory, a week
ater.
“ Don’t breathe a word of it where father can
hear you,” Percy Applebee was saying, in a
guarded whisper, to the two ycurg Americans,
“but Theard him talking to old Kolahala, this
morning, when they thought no one could hear
them, and it was about a trip up into the
bills—” f ‘

“ And that means?’ interposed Burt,

“A bout with the tigers, sure /”

“Glory to the ram!’ If he only don’t change
his mind!”

The colenel did not change his mind. The
| trip was to be made, and the three youngsters
were to have a glorious time,
Shall we bear them company, boy reader

 

END,

 
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€xtracts from the New York Evening Sun.

TWO REMARKABLE HEROES.

{In only one sense of the word can it be regarded as a
novel statement when the fact is here recorded that litera-
ture has given many heroes to the world, and perhaps
more than one reader will have to think a moment over
this remark before the subtle delicacy of its genial wit
strikes home.

But it is most essentially a half dime novel statement
that will be news to many when it is added that litera-
ture, if traced from the dimly distant days when Adam
was a mere child down to the present day, would show
but few heroes that in the eyes of boyhood would be
even judged worthy of comparison with the two greatest
Jeroes known to American literature, or, to promptly re-
veal them, Deadwood Dick and Deadwood Dick, Jr.

* * * The modern heroes of fiction for young America,
who are now as countless as the sands of the sea, and of
whom the Deadwood Dicks are much the most important
* * * it is but natural that their * * * should bear
eway the palm of popularity, and suchas * * * be left
far behind in the race.

It can be easily believed, therefore, that the two Dicks
are so firmly engrafted on the tree of popular literature
for boys and young men, that their position is assured
* * and that they stand to-day head and shoulders

above all rivals in the eyes of the public for which the)
have lived, and for which one of them has died,

American boyhood, and that is a tremendous factor in
the land, now knows Deadwood Dick, Jr., a good beai bet
ter than it Knows its catechism, and millions of young
minds absorb the thrilling incidents of his career in hig
everlasting warfare against crime and his never-ending
solving of impenetrable mysteries.

Millions of boys follow his stealthy footsteps as he tracks
his vicious victims to their undoing, and then, when the
victims are thoroughly undone, the millions wait hungrily
for the next volume, which on every Wednesday appears
with the certainty of the Wednesday itself, and a new set
5 See ea thrills go thrilling away from Maine to Call-

ornia,

There are the volumes each so crowded with thrills and
heart-tugs that It were madness to hope to do justice te
them collectively and rank injustice to discriminate be
tween them,

To abandon the idea of giving a few extracts causes In-
finite pain, but if once a start were made in that direc
tion, it would be cruel to The Evening Sun's readers to
stop, and it is therefore better not to relate one single
adventure, Suffice it to say that the stories are clean and
well written.

 

DEADWOOD DICK LIBRARY.

Deadwood Dick, the Prince of the Road
The Double Daggers; or, Deadwood Dick’s Defiance
& The Buffalo Demon; or. The Border Vultures
4 Buffalo Ben, Prince of the Pistol
6 Wild Ivan, the Boy Claude Duval
6 Death-Face, the Detective
7 The Phantom Miner; or, Deadwood Dick's Bonanza
8 Old Avalanche, the Great Annihilator; or, Wild
Edna, the Girl Brigand
§ Bob Woolf, the Border Ruffian
40 Omaha Oll, the Masked Terror; or, Deadwood Dick
in Danger
11 Jim Bludsoe, Jr., the Boy Phenix; or, Through to

Death
2 Reivers Dick’s Eagles; or, The Pards of Flood

ar

18 Buckhorn Bill; or, The Red Rifle Team

14 Gold Rifle, the Sharpshooter

16 Deadwood Dick on Deck: or, Calamity Jane

Corduroy Charlie, the Boy Bravo

7 ee Rob; or, Nugget Ned, the Knight of the
Gulec|

18 Idyl, the Girl Miner; ur, Rosebud Rob on Hand

29 Photograph Phil: or, Rosebud Rob’s Reappearance

20 Watch-Eye, the Shadow

31 Deadwood Dick’s Device; or, The Sign of the Double
Oross

22 Canada Chet, the Counterfeiter Chief

%8 Deadwood Dick in Leadville; or, A Strange Stroke
for Liberty

% Deadwood Dick as Detective

2% Gilt-Kkdge Dick

% Bonanza Bill, the Man-Tracker; or, The Secret Twelve

8 Chip, the Girl Sport

38 Jack Hoyle’s Lead; or, The Road to Fortune

80 Boss Bob, the King of Bootblacks

8 Deadwood Dick’s Double; or, The Ghost of Gorgon's

Guich
#1 Blonde Bill; or, Deadwood Dick’s Home Base
@ Solid Sam, the Boy Road-Agent

 

33 Tony Fox, the Ferret: or, Boss Bob’s Boss Job

34 A Game of Gold; or, Deadwood Dick’s Big Strike

85 Deadwood Dick of Deadwood; or, The Picked Party

86 New York Nell, the Koy-Girl Detective

87 Nobby Nick of Nevada; or, The Scamps of the Sierras

88 Wild Frank, the Buckskin Bravo

89 Deadwood Dick’s Doom; or, Calamity Jane’s Last
Adventure

40 Deadwood Dick’s Dream; or, The Rivals of the Road

41 Deadwood Dick’s Ward; or, The Black Hills Jezebel

42 The Arab Detective; or, Snoozer, the Boy Sharp

43 The Ventriloquist Detective. A Romance of Rogues

44 ba pace Josh Grim; or, The Young Gladiator's

ame

45 The Frontier Detective; or, Sierra Sam’s Scheme

46 The Jimtown Sport; or, Gypsy Jack in Colorado

47 The Miner Sport; or, Sugar-Coated Sam's Claim

48 Dick Drew, the Miner’s Son; or, Apollo Bill, the
Road-Agent

49 Sierra Sam, the Detective

50 Sierra Sam’s Double; or, The Three Female Detect

ives
51 ee pees Sentence; or, Little Luck at Rough
anc
52 The Girl Sport; or, Jumbo Joe’s Disguise
583 Denver Doll’s Device; or, The Detective Queen
54 Denver Doll as Detective
55 Denver Doll’s Partner; or, Big Buckskin the Sport
56 Denver Doll’s Mine; or, Little Bill’s Big Loss
57 Deadwood Dick Trapped
58 Buck Hawk, Detective; or, The Messenger Boy's
Fortune
59 Deadwood Dick’s Disguise; or, Wild Walt, the Sport
60 Dumb Dick's Pard; or, Eliza Jane, the Gold Miner
61 Deadwood Dick’s Mission
62 Spotter Fritz; or, The Store-Detective’s Deco
63 The Detective Road-Agent; or, The Miners of Sassa-
fras City
64 —_ Charlie’s Detective Dash; or, The Cattle.
ings :

 

M. J. [VERS & CO., Pubiishers (James Sullivan, Proprietor),
879 Pearl “treet, NEW YORK.