"Well, it has been easier to round up Megget and his gang than I
ever imagined it could be, thanks to you, Lawrence," exclaimed Mr.
Wilder as they left the mine to join the others.
"It was no fun at all," protested Horace, and his opinion voiced
the sentiments of the cowboys. "Can't we wake them up or do
something to let them know they've been captured?"
"You'd have some trouble in rousing them, son," replied his father.
"They've been drinking too heavily."
"That's what," agreed the former raider. "You could ride over them
and they would not budge."
"It's the only time I ever knew the drinking of too much liquor to
do good," chuckled Mr. Wilder. "That is, good to us. I don't
suppose our prisoners will share our opinion, though, when they
awake."
When the raiders had been bound the owner of the Three Stars had
sent his men to bring down all the ponies, that the animals might
be relieved of their saddles and enjoy the tender grass in the
valley. And no sooner had Blackhawk reached the open than he gave
an ear-splitting whinny which was answered by several of the
raiders' horses.
At the racket two or three of the thieves awoke and tried to get up.
For a moment the men blinked at the sight of the cowboys. Then,
their senses returning, they discovered they were tied hand and
foot, and in a trice they were yelling like a band of Indians.
Pages:
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164