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Twice did the horse try to ascend to the plain above and fail. Then Rasco urged him forward a third time. This time the beast balked and away went the man of the plains over his head. Fortunately Rasco landed in a tolerably soft spot, otherwise his neck would surely have been broken.
On three sides the walls of the hole were very nearly perpendicular, on the fourth the slant was as previously stated, but here the soil was spongy and treacherous. "Hang me ef I'm a-goin' ter stay here all day," muttered Rasco, after a view of the situation. "Come, boy, it's up thet slope or nuthin'," and he leaped on the horse's back and urged him forward on a run.
I'll remember you, youngster, and some day " He did not finish. "I ain't done with yer yet, Stillwater," said Rasco. "You war goin' ter shoot me. I reckon turn about is fair play, ain't it?" "Would you you shoot me now?" faltered the card sharp. At the bottom of his heart he was a coward. "Why not?" "I wasn't going to do it, Rasco I was only only scaring you."
"I'm not going to have a lazy, good-for-nothing boomer lay it over me " began Tucker, when once more the sight of Pawnee Brown's pistol silenced him. No more was said as the scout, Dick and Rasco rode away down the trail by which they had come. But, once out of sight, Tucker raised his fist and shook it savagely.
Suddenly Jack Rasco uttered a cry. "See, Pawnee, here's whar another of the hosses got away. Hang me if I don't think it war my hoss, too!" "Yes, and here is where the horse dropped into a walk," he answered. "I don't believe he can be far off." Without delay Rasco slid to the ground. "I'll follow him up afoot," he declared. "I'm fresh and can run it putty good.
"It's not yerself thot is as woise as Moses in the wilderness, moind thot!" And her clenched fist shook vigorously to emphasize her words. After that Delaney never strayed from the proper trail again. All of the boomers but Jack Rasco were now on hand, and as hour after hour went by and Rasco did not turn up, Pawnee Brown grew anxious about the welfare of his right-hand man.
It was less than an hour after separating from Dick Arbuckle that Pawnee Brown found his way to Arkansas City. He was accompanied by Jack Rasco and Cal Clemmer, and the great scout's object was not alone to aid Dick in the search for Mortimer Arbuckle, but also to help Cal Clemmer get back some money out of which the cowboy boomer claimed he had been swindled.
If left to themselves these few would not have gotten ready in two days. "It's a move we are afther makin' at last, is it?" burst out Rosy Delaney when Mike brought the news. "Sure, an' Oi'm ready, Moike Delaney, but how are ye to git this wagon out av thet bog hole, Oi dunno." "Oi'll borry a horse," answered Mike. "It's Jack Rasco will lind me the same."
I have you alone and I'm going to end the business right here." "Not yet!" cried a youthful voice behind Stillwater, and crash! down came a heavy stick, hitting the gambler squarely upon the head and sending him with a thud to the earth. As Stillwater went down, Rasco leaped forward and came down upon him. But this movement was useless.
"A pretty niece for any man to have," and he handed back the photograph, after a somewhat close inspection. Two minutes later found Jack Rasco on his way, to encounter adventures of which he had never imagined. "A note for you, Pawnee." It was one of the scouts sent out that morning who spoke as he rode up. Pawnee Brown read the communication with interest.
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