“’Tain’t no use!” shouted Bumpus, gleefully. “I took every cartridge out, and you bet I ain’t agoin’ to let you shove any more in. Sit down now, or I’ll open fire on you!”
CHAPTER XXVI.
“TENDERFOOT? WELL, HARDLY, AFTER THIS.”
“Wow! bully for Bumpus!” cried out Giraffe.
“Hold ’em tight, old chum; we’re here to see you through, all right!” shouted Step Hen.
Of course there was no use of trying to hide any longer. Thad and Allan knew this, and that the time had come for them to back Bumpus up, the minute they saw him open hostilities in that astonishing way.
All of them were on their feet, now, and hurrying toward the fire. Hank and Pierre, being desperate men, might have even thought it worth while to put up some sort of resistance; but they had their talons drawn when, upon investigating the condition of their guns, they found that, sure enough, these were empty.
While the two men lay there at their ease, never dreaming that the fat scout would have the nerve to do anything but whimper, and shiver at the sound of their harsh orders, Bumpus, laying out this wonderfully clever little surprise, had amused himself by working the mechanism of their guns, and extracting the last cartridge. And it was the heavy rumble of Hank’s deep bass voice that had helped operations along, by deadening the “click” of the cautiously moved mechanical devises belonging to the repeating rifles.
“Drop those guns, you two, and be quick about it!”
Thad gave this order, because he knew that each of the men would be apt to have a belt of extra cartridges buckled about their waists, or slung over their shoulder. And to an experienced hunter, it is only a question of seconds, really, when he can shove a single charge into the firing chamber of his empty gun.
Of course Hank and Pierre hated most dreadfully to obey this order; but there was no use talking; the scouts had the upper hand, and if they knew what was good for them they must do as they were told.