“Thunderation! but I shall be glad if he is all right,” almost shouted Tom. He nodded to the Mexican, who, apparently noticing the lad for the first time, returned his salute with an air of much astonishment.
In a few words Ranger Alvin related the following tale which was listened to by all with the most rapt attention.
Formerly the Mexican and his sons, the men who were now accompanying him, had been prosperous cattlemen. Under the lawless conditions prevailing in their country a certain band of outlaws had managed to make away with so many of their cattle that eventually the ranchmen were practically ruined.
They knew the men responsible for the depredations and swore they would keep on their trail until justice was meted out to them. Learning by accident that the band had changed their scene of operations to the United States side of the Rio, the father crossed the river in an effort to get on their track. Meanwhile the sons’ investigations in Mexico had led them to a spot on the shores of the stream where the cattle had entered their own country. Then the men at last discovered the pass in the hills which led to the cup-shaped valley. The rest was easy. They had played the same game on the outlaws that the policemen had on them, with the result that the band was driven back across the river into Mexico and handed over to the proper authorities.
Every member of the band was now confined in certain quarters which would effectually prevent him from giving either the ranchmen or the Texas Rangers any further trouble for many years to come.
The Mexican said that he and his sons were on their way to the detachment quarters of the Rangers to report this cheering information to the authorities.
“Well, well, isn’t the Rambler Club always running into the most remarkable things!” cried Tom; “eh, fellows?”
“No truer words ever spoken, Tom,” yawned Dave, “but really I must go back now to see if I can’t get another as uncommonly comfortable nap as the one I was having when this little excitement began!”
Once more in the little frontier town in Texas the crowd met Cranny Beaumont—a new Cranny—one they had never known before. They were amazed and delighted. Yes, actually the Tacoma lad was hard at work; it didn’t really seem possible.