Teddy stared intently up the steep trail. Then he gave a yell.
“Our broncs! Flash and Star and General, or I’m a Lottie Blue-bird! Who’s ridin’ ’em? Let’s go get ’em!�
A quarter of a mile above them, three men on three horses turned and looked down the trail. For a moment they stood, watching Roy and Teddy dashing toward them. Then, without a word, they wheeled and disappeared around a bend.
CHAPTER VII
RATTLERS
Mr. Manley and the others did not hear Teddy’s yell. They were a good distance away and this, with the creaking of saddles, the beating of the horses’ feet on the hard ground of the trail, and the talk of what had just happened in Rimor’s Place, made it practically impossible for them to hear the boy’s cry. Hence they continued up the other trail, confident that Roy and Teddy were riding behind them.
As the two boys dashed up the left fork, Teddy found himself wishing, with a certain bitterness, that he had not given that yell. Flash was just ahead. If Teddy had contained himself, it might have been possible for him and Roy to have taken by surprise whoever was riding the horses. Then he would have gotten Flash back. But now there was only one thing to do—that was to ride! Ride after the rustlers with all the skill and energy the two boys possessed.
There was no time for talk. Both boys bent low in their saddles and with expert hands guided the ponies up the treacherous, winding trail. The only sounds were the breathing of the broncos and the monotonous drubbing of their feet on the ground. Now and then a pony would toss his head, and flecks of foam would fly backward. Desperately the boys urged the horses on. General, Flash, and Star were just ahead! They must catch them!
Roy groaned aloud when he thought of the sting of the quirt across Star’s flank and the raking of the spurs as the rider above roweled the pony in an effort to escape. Roy could almost see Star trembling in surprised fright at this cruelty, his eyes misted with reproachful agony. It would be the first time in his life he had ever been beaten. Yet he would know it was not Roy on his back. He would know it was a stranger who was sending those stabs of pain through his body.
Roy clenched his teeth in a fury of determination. Up, up—to the right of that rock there—now to the left—the path turned here—up—up—harder—faster!
For a short space in front of them the trail lay open. Teddy shouted something unintelligible, and Roy whipped his head around. Teddy was motioning furiously, and, as Roy followed his brother’s gesture, he saw General and his rider, who were in the rear of the other two rustlers, leap off the trail and through the brush.