chunk stringlengths 7 45.5k | source stringlengths 15 221 |
|---|---|
""And all we need," commented Biff, studying the mirrored sunset in the
placid water, "is for a bore to come roaring down the lake. This water
buggy would really wind up in a happy daze. "Even that imaginary menace was ended when they reached their
destination, a houseboat named _Pride of the Deodars_. This was a stout... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
These gave an idea of what Chonsi would be like if ever they found the
place.The immediate objective was Leh, and it proved interesting when they
landed there.Though a town of only a few thousand inhabitants, its
bazaars showed a mingling of many races including tribes in outlandish
costumes, for this was the trade cen... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
"It looked simple indeed when they reached the day's goal, a small patch
of grazing ground where dried grass spread to the foot of rocky slopes. There were stone huts for the members of the party and similar shelters
for the yaks.The reason stones had been used in the construction was
because there were plenty of them ... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
Behind
them came Li and Chuba, for those two boys had stayed back to wait for
Charles Keene, who was bringing up the rear.Biff's uncle had taken on
that duty to "keep the parade moving" as he styled it, which meant that
he had been encouraging straggling porters in his own cheery, breezy
way.Li and Chuba were past the ... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
"That is right," stated Chandra, who had caught the meaning of the
speech. "Tikse says they have to go along because they can't go back, as
there is no bridge across the gorge. "That night, the porters pitched their tents much closer together when
they camped. There was another light snow, and in the morning Hurdu
foun... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
Uncle
Charlie and Barma Shah were coming up the slope armed with rifles and
followed by half a dozen Changpa tribesmen, all with bows and arrows.All the other boys were coming, too, apparently shouting as loudly as
they could, but the wind was against them, which was why Biff hadn't
heard them. They were gesturing, tho... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
"It is a chasm a mile deep," explained Barma Shah, "but only half that
distance across. Nobody has ever gone there, because it is supposed to
be impassable." He traced a dotted line on the longompa's chart. "It
must lead to the Lost City of Chonsi.No wonder no one has ever found
it! We'll start for there tomorrow." The... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
Charles Keene, Barma Shah, Hurdu, and all the rest were waiting
on a great, wide lookout platform, viewing a stupendously breathtaking
scene.There, set in a tremendous niche across the mile-deep gorge, was the
Lost City of Chonsi. There were small stone huts in the foreground. These, if seen from straight above, would ... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
To Charles Keene, he said cordially, "I know you must be Biff's
uncle. "Then, turning to the other man, he added, "And you are Barma
Shah--"
Mr. Brewster was coming forward in quick interruption to confront the
bland man with the broad face and the wide ears.Biff, accustomed to his
father's calm, was surprised to hear... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
""Well, your honor," Muscles resumed, suddenly impressed by the youthful
Lama's robe, "I did some more talking to Tikse and his friends.I told
them that there weren't any such things as Yetis, and that having been
mistaken for one, I was somebody who should know. So they turned right
around and came along with me. "The... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
--Silently corrected palpable typos; left non-standard spellings and
dialect unchanged.--In the text versions, delimited italics text in _underscores_ (the
HTML version reproduces the font form of the printed book.) | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Ambush in India |
In the morning, he was standing at the post office door the moment it
opened.It was with great relief that he saw his letters and packages go
into the mailbag that would be trucked over the pitons to Fort-de-France
at noon, then flown on to Curaçao on the night flight.In his relief and great elation over his discovery,... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
The last hasty farewells were said, and ten minutes later the
plane speeding Biff southward became a mere speck in the sky to his
mother and father and the twins.The plane zooming Biff to another adventure landed at the Miami airport
in the late afternoon.Coming in over the city of fabulous hotels,
America’s playground... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
If Derek wouldn’t talk about the reason for his
flying across the Atlantic to visit a speck of an island in the
Caribbean, then Biff felt it wise to say as little about his own visit
as possible.There wasn’t much Biff could tell, anyway. He wouldn’t know why his
Uncle Charlie wanted him until he saw him. Biff did tell ... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
Even so, Biff felt certain that should he try to
leap from the car, he would be forcibly detained. “He is not well.His explorations at the bottom of the sea have
exhausted him.”
One more bit of information, Biff thought. Now he knew that Derek’s
father was searching for something on the ocean bed. What? Sunken
treasur... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
Aloud, he said, “And how can you be sure?”
“I go now to make certain. I will look around most carefully.If I do
not see Keene, then it will be safe for us to take you to your father. Specks, here, will stay with you to protect you.”
Biff wasn’t fooled. He knew that Specks was being left behind to keep
him from escapi... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
The clerk told
me Dietz’s room number.I took the room next to it.”
“You know Dietz, then?” Biff cut in, glancing sidewise to make sure
Specks could not overhear them. “Do I? He’s a bad one. Getting more and more desperate, too.There’s a
pot of gold that he’s afraid we’re going to get to first.”
“Pot of gold?”
“Well,... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
Why had Biff suggested the switch?Was it only a practical joke, or was
there some deeper reason for Biff’s suggestion? What had really started Derek’s doubts had taken place at the airport.When Biff and the two men had passed in the airport, Charles Keene had
restrained Derek from calling out to Biff. Derek made up his... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
CHAPTER VII
Gay Curaçao
Biff scanned the lobby of the hotel carefully as he emerged from the
elevator. No sign of Derek, no sign of Dietz.They had left only minutes
before Biff reached the lobby. The stairway Uncle Charlie would be coming down, Biff noticed, led into
the lobby just to th... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
“This pearl was to be given the French consul along with the claim.In
the event Brom Zook didn’t appear within the time limit, the person
appearing for him could establish his right by presenting a black pearl
that was the perfect match for the one I left with the consulate.”
“And that person would be Derek?” Biff ask... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
“I will when it becomes four o’clock,” Dietz said.“It would not be
proper for me to file my claim when there is still time for my friend
Brom Zook to appear to ask for his.”
The referee looked down at the paper in front of him. He picked it up. “Oh, yes. Brom Zook.I have it here.” He glanced at the clock. Five minutes... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
“And how wrong
I’d be!”
“Exactly.So, believing Derek must have escaped, wouldn’t Dietz feel it
no longer necessary to take any precautions in returning to his
hide-out?”
“I get you, Biff. Following him ought to be a cinch now.”
“What are we waiting for then?Let’s get in your car and wait for Dietz
and Specks to come... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
The only other furniture in
the room was a straight chair.Biff could see through a narrow opening
into the second of the two rooms which made up the small stone house. The entrance to this house-prison must be in the other room, Biff
figured. Derek arose and came quietly to the window. “Biff!You found me!” Derek sounde... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
As he sat on the warm sand, wondering if he should start the long walk
back to Willemstad, he heard shouts and angry voices coming from the
main house.A knife of light cut into the darkness as the door opened. Out at a run
came Dietz, Specks, and Crunch. “Get the car, Specks,” Dietz’s order rang out. “Crunch and I will... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
“Well, Biff, I still don’t like the idea
at all. But it surely would give us the time we need. We’ve got to get
the working permit.And I’ve got to fuel my seaplane.”
“You’re weakening, aren’t you, Uncle Charlie?”
“I guess I am, Biff. I’ll come back for you in a couple of days. Dietz
will free you once I convince him ... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
The giant Crunch was behind
him.“Now, young man, you’ll find out just what a fool you were not to stay
away from here once you had made your escape,” Dietz declared. The tide was running against Biff. There was a look of triumph on
Dietz’s evil face.“I came here with a fair proposition for you,” Biff said. “Fair? Never... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
“Do you like Dietz, Crunch?Do you like working for him?”
Crunch frowned. He looked like a big, bad boy forced to do something he
didn’t want to do. “I’d say you don’t,” Biff went on.“I can’t believe a man like you would
work for a bad man like Dietz if you didn’t have to.”
“Have to,” Crunch said. His hand flew to his... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
I went to awaken him for the noon meal.His room was empty.”
“And that is all you can tell me?”
“As much as I regret it, that is all I know. There have been rumors—”
“What? What are they?” Derek wanted any information that might be a clue
to his father’s whereabouts.“It was reported, shortly after your father left us... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
But after a few moments,
Biff’s threat seemed to sink in. Crunch released some of his pressure,
but still held Charlie Keene firmly.“If you don’t let him go, I’ll make the magic that takes me out of this
house,” Biff threatened. Crunch was listening now. “I’ll disappear, Crunch. Watch.”
Biff moved away from the doorwa... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
“Biff, if I didn’t know you so well, I’d say you’d gone a little soft in
the head.” Charlie Keene shook his own head.“Now we’re both locked in.”
Biff was lighting a candle. In the glow of its light, Uncle Charlie
could see a big smile spread over his nephew’s face. “You think so, Uncle Charlie? Watch this!”
Biff went... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
Under one arm she carried a full stalk of bananas.The capital of Martinique was a blaze of color, from the women’s
costumes to the buildings and the flowers growing riotously in every
garden and patio.Beautiful bougainvillea, brilliantly colored from
rich, deep purple and red to pale lavender and violet, spilled over
b... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
“Perfect, Biff.We’ll get a little damp making the next five feet, but I
kind of feel like a swim. How about it?” Uncle Charlie suggested. Biff and Derek stripped off their shirts. Shoes and socks followed. The
boys dived over the side.Charlie Keene was right behind them. All three
frolicked in the warm waters of the Ca... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
Your body has to adjust to the
variations in water pressure. All right, let’s go out and try it in the
water now.”
They climbed in the dory.Uncle Charlie started the outboard, and they
moved offshore about fifty feet. “Sound for depth, Biff.”
Biff dropped a sounding line overboard. He pulled it up, examined the
leads... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
The sound was only a faint rustle.He saw the side of
the tent stretch as if something was crawling underneath it. Biff raised
himself on one elbow, ready to sound the alarm.As he watched, in the faint dawn light, a thick, snake-shaped object
slithered up between his cot and the tent’s side. CHAPTER XX
... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
Dietz scrambled in. Bullets
from the automatic’s third clip were stinging the water around Dietz’s
boat like angry wasps.The frightened pair finally got their engine started, backed off at full
throttle, swung around and headed out to sea. The foghorn continued its angry growling. “Okay, Derek,” Uncle Charlie called. “... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
But, while we’re gone—it will only be a few
days—you can keep an eye on Dietz. You’d still be on our side, but Dietz
wouldn’t know that. He’d think you were still working for him.You’d be
our spy.”
“Crunch a spy?”
From the tone of the Indian’s voice, Biff could tell that Crunch was
pleased. He liked the idea of being... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
Derek shinned up the
rough, fat trunk of one tree and yanked down a bunch. He squirreled back
down the tree and plopped on the ground to inspect his haul.Derek’s
hands were exploring the bunch, trying to select the ripest, fattest
banana when Charlie Keene leaped to his side and struck the Dutch boy’s
arm a sharp blow.... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
They reached Trinité by midmorning. After mooring the boat, they held a conference. “What are your plans now, Derek?” Biff asked.“Well, we could continue searching for the pearl fishery. Or—”
“Or we could go south and look for your father,” Biff completed Derek’s
thought. “What about this?” Uncle Charlie cut in.“Suppo... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
The sharks hadn’t struck yet.It seemed they were inspecting their prey,
waiting before their razor-sharp teeth tore at the boys’ bodies. Biff
swam quickly over to Derek. He grabbed his arm and pointed. The two huge
sharks were motionless, their wicked eyes on the boys. [Illustration: _Coming at him out of the murky dar... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
Several of them tried to fasten
onto Biff’s legs. He kicked out desperately. He thrust down with his
open hands and shot upward.The slower moving band shells were left
behind. Biff reached the surface. He lost no time in scrambling into the
boat. Uncle Charlie already had pulled Derek, bleeding, into the boat. Biff jus... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
Biff steered the cruiser over
the spot where they had located the pearls.“Does this look like the place, sir?” Biff asked. Brom Zook took a sight on an island to the cruiser’s portside. “This is it, all right.And there should be thousands of dollars’ worth
of pearls beneath us.”
As Biff, Derek, and his father were app... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Caribbean Pearls |
Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Dave Morgan and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
[Illustration: _The boys passed booths selling everything from hot soups
to shiny silks_]
A BIFF BREWSTER
MYSTERY ADVENTURE
... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
"What's on the program this nice bright Saturday morning? "Biff's mother
asked, putting large portions of scrambled eggs and bacon before Biff
and his father. Before a reply could be made, Biff's brother and sister, Ted and Monica,
eleven-year-old twins, burst into the room. "Hi, Mom! Hi, Dad! "they shouted together. "... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
Those words had been music to Biff's young ears.A family council had
been held, and it had been agreed that the trip would be a good way for
Biff to spend the remainder of his summer vacation. "About a month after your uncle's visit," Tang continued, "two men,
countrymen of mine, traveling on Burmese passports, arrived... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
This morning, early.Fooling around...."
"I thought, young man, you were old enough to know better than to toss
rocks around carelessly." Biff heaved a sigh of relief. He was going to get out of this easily.Neither he nor his father wanted to tell Mrs. Brewster the real reason
for the hole in the screen. They didn't wa... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
"I'm going to Rangoon," he said, a friendly smile breaking out on his
face. "To a place very near the Chinese border. Are you going to
Rangoon, or Hong Kong? "There was no answer. "Don't you speak English?" Biff asked. "I'm afraid they don't," a voice said behind him. Biff whirled. It was the stewardess. "Can I help yo... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
Suspicion again came to Biff as they left the terminal building and
appeared to be taking a direction away from the airport. "Look, Nam. Just where are we going?The airstrips are back that way." "Those, Sahib Brewster," Nam replied, "are for the commercial airlines
planes. Private planes, such as those used by Explorat... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
I'm a pilot for Explorations
Unlimited. Here, take a look at my papers.I'm here to meet a boy named
Biff Brewster, and I want to know where he is. Right now!" The clerk leaned on the counter. He carefully inspected the list of
names on the paper in front of him. "So sorry. No name like one you say on this list. ""Is th... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
The whole building seemed to spring to life.Something was up. Biff jumped out of bed. First he went to the window. Looking out, he saw
a tremendous animal faintly outlined in the morning mists not more than
thirty feet away.Just as he was about to call out, he saw the floppy
ears and the swaying trunk of the animal rai... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
CHAPTER VII
A "Spirited" Box
The native boy raced across the open compound toward the group of low
buildings where the servants slept.Jack and Biff ran side by side, ten
feet behind the boy. "What is it, Chuba? What is it?" Jack called. But the boy didn't answer
until he reached the door o... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
"Chuba, you show Biff around.I've got to get back and see if Mike's
been able to--"
"I get it, Jack," Biff said. The two boys watched Jack stride back to Headquarters House. "Come, Sahib Biff, I show you many things." Biff didn't reply at once.A plan was beginning to shape up in his head. It would work, too, with the ... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
Big python slide off tree, wrap around man's neck and--urgle
gurgle--" Chuba made a rattling noise in his throat. "No more man." Biff swallowed hard. "And you go over the border in a place where all
the wild animals are?" "Sure," Chuba boasted. "Chuba smell and see animals before they see
Chuba. Is safer to go into Chi... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
These poor kids, he thought, trained to beg from the
day they could walk.Baksheesh, the word for a tip, a present, was used
in many places in the East and Far East. "Baksheesh! Baksheesh!" the boy continued to moan. Jack looked about him. He spotted Chuba's father. "Ti Pao. Come here. Chop! Chop!" Ti Pao came on the ru... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
Chuba stood at the base of the tree. "You give me push up to first limb. Then I can give you my hand to pull you up. Come on. "Biff didn't reply, or move. His eyes were intent on a vine that hung
down from one of the higher limbs. It seemed to sway slightly. But there
was no breeze. "Back, Chuba! Back!" Biff shouted. C... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
Might
be others at clearing. Not guards, but maybe Chinese bandits.They use
this path too, when they fleeing Chinese soldiers." Biff and Chuba moved quickly but cautiously along the trail. Every few
yards, Chuba would stop, straining to catch any unusual sound that might
warn of danger ahead.At every hidden turn in the... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
Biff wrestled the jungle growth, sweat streaming down his face and
body.It must have taken him nearly half an hour to penetrate a distance
of about 75 or 100 feet. Chuba could hear Biff making his way through the brush. At first, he
didn't move. He knew he had to go back to the clearing, but the thought
was frightening... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
No sensible answers came.If he went back down the trail toward
the river, he might run into the guards, still prowling, ready to let
loose their deadly spray of bullets at the slightest strange sound or
movement. But what about Biff? Had those shots been directed at him?And
had they reached him? Chuba shuddered at the ... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
The uncle spoke again to Chuba, and the boy nodded and motioned Biff to
follow. The uncle took them into a small room which was to be their
sleeping room.There were only three rooms in the house. Biff looked
about him. The room was bare except for one low bench standing in the
center. They would sleep that night on the... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
How can Chuba ever thank you?" "Skip the thanks, Chuba.You've done plenty for me. And I know you'll do
plenty more. But how come you never learned to swim?" "Not many Chinese boys swim. Not in rivers where I grow up. Crocodiles." "I get it. Too dangerous." Chuba nodded his head. "Look, Chuba.You rest here. I've got to ... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
He saw a goose egg and watched a shopper
haggle with the owner over its price.Later, Chuba told him the egg was
four years old and uncooked. "Most delicious," Chuba said. Biff shuddered. Every store sold dried watermelon seeds. Chuba bought some, gave a
handful to Biff.Biff chewed on them, but found little taste to the... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
"Think we better get out of here then? Find another place and hide?" "Might be good idea, Biff. Hate to leave nice warm fire, though. ""And I'd hate to leave just in case that was a plane from Unhao, looking
for us. Or, as you said, it just could be Uncle Charlie." The boys sat down by the fire. Biff ate his food slowl... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
Some chance," Muscles cut in again. "Why, I can take on that whole
gang single-handed." Muscles towered over the bandits.He was bigger,
and weighed more than any two of the bandits together. "Not so sure, Muscles," Chuba said quietly. "These men fight and kill
bears, tigers. Only use their knives. ""Only guy that worri... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
Uncle Charlie might be
there.He might be the bait being used to bring Biff and his companions
into a trap. It was a risk they would have to take. CHAPTER XVI
Strange Discovery
In the distance, perhaps a hundred miles away, the towering peak of Mt.Minya Konka, reaching 25,000 feet skyward, c... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
In still another section of the bowl, great steel trylons, resembling
oversized high-tension wire supporters, reared skyward. "What do you make of it?" Biff asked Muscles. The burly mechanic scratched his head. "You got me. Could be a lot of
things. It's got to be something mighty important, something really top
secret... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
I go little piece down hill,
see if I can spot Chan Li coming up." Chuba left.Biff remained silent,
not wanting to give Muscles' position away by talking to him any more. In a few minutes Chuba returned. His face told Biff the story. "He's coming. Be here real quick." "Is he alone?" "He by himself." Good, Biff thought.... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
As they neared the door, Biff sensed and felt the presence of someone
behind him. He turned his head.Two Chinese soldiers, each with a
revolver in hand, had closed in behind the three. Before Biff could raise his voice in protest, or question Chan Li, the
Chinese guide spoke. "Welcome to the House of Kwang." He entered... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
A fleeting smile crossed the Ancient One's face. "Quite a reunion," Ping Lu said. "And surely a most happy one. ""It would be, under different circumstances," Charles Keene said. "Those circumstances can be altered to suit you and your nephew, Keene,"
Ping Lu said. He added, "It is but a slight thing I ask you to do." ... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
"Like the ring that came through my window?" "That's right, Biff. Tang's brother did get out. He gave me the ring.I,
in turn, sent it on to Tang in the States. Whenever another escape was
about to take place, the ring was to be sent me to alert me of the fact. A lot safer than putting such information in writing. ""The... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
"I'll be this close to you
all the time.And believe me, I'll get you before anyone gets me. Understand?" "I understand. Chan Li won't try double cross." "Okay. Let's get going then. And on the double." The Ancient One took the slip of paper from Biff.He looked at it
carefully, then nodded his head. He turned to Chuba a... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
His mind was in a turmoil as he lay on the
hard wooden bench, his cupped hands beneath his head serving for a
pillow. Sleep would never come, he told himself.The next thing he knew,
he was being gently shaken. Uncle Charlie was bending over him,
grinning. "Almost midnight, Biff. Better come alive." "Midnight!" Biff sat... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
On
the second day, as they reached a safer distance from Jaraminka, they
continued toward the plateau where Jack Hudson was to pick them up.In
turn, the grandsons went ahead to make certain no one was lying in wait
for them. "Biff, are we anywhere near the spot where you saw all that
construction?" Uncle Charlie asked.... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
Using his wits, Biff escapes from his captors only
to learn that his uncle is somewhere in the heart of Red China, perhaps
in serious trouble.Horrified at the news, Biff persuades Chuba, a Burmese boy, to lead him
through the jungle swamplands and across the Chinese border.Once in
forbidden enemy territory, Biff uncove... | Adams, Andy - Mystery of the Chinese Ring |
The railroad representatives were shrewd, affable gentlemen, and
presented an array of facts hard to overcome.They were well aware of
the obstacles to be encountered in the arid, western portion of the
state, and magnified every possibility into a stern reality.Unrolling
a large state map upon the table, around which t... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
In regard to horses we were well outfitted.During the summer of ’83,
Don Lovell had driven four herds, two on Indian contract and two of
younger cattle on speculation.Of the latter, one was sold in Dodge for
delivery on the Purgatory River in southern Colorado, while the other
went to Ogalalla, and was disposed of and ... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
The Buford
cattle, being the last by a few weeks, we will both go up there and see
it over with.There are about half a dozen trail foremen anxious for
the two other herds, and while they are good men, I don’t know of any
good reason for not pushing my own boys forward.I have already decided
to give Dave Sponsilier and ... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
Then
my selfishness was weighed in the balance and found to be full weight.I had ridden over a hundred of the best of them, but when any one
appealed to me, even my own dear brother, I was as dumb as an oyster
about a horse.Tolleston, especially, cursed, raved, and importuned me
to help him get a good private mount, bu... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
There were now over a hundred and forty head to be culled back, and
Sponsilier was entitled to ten of them.In order to be sure of our
numbers, we counted the remaining band, and Forrest and I trimmed them
down to two hundred and fifty-four head.As this number was too small
to be handled easily in the open, we decided t... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
Flood
will help Tom first, and then Paul, to receive their cattle.That will
give the Buford herds the first start, and I’ll be waiting for you at
Abilene when you reach there.And above all else, boys, remember that
I’ve strained my credit in this drive, and that the cattle must be A 1,
and that we must deliver them on ... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
The round-up outfit strung the cattle out and counted them,
reporting a few over seven hundred head.This count was merely informal
and for the information of the seller; but in the morning the final one
would be made, in which we could take a hand.After the cut had started in for the ranch, we loitered along, looking
t... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
Beaver had assured Lovell that he and his
neighbors would throw together over four thousand beeves in making up
the herd, and now I was perfectly willing that they should.It would
take two days longer to gather the cattle on the Los Lobos range, and
then there were the outside offerings, which were supposed to number
f... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
We met
the cattle coming up the river a thousand strong.It was late when the
last round-up of the day before had finished, and they had camped for
the night fully five miles from the corrals.It took less than an hour
to cull back and count, excuse the ranch outfit, and start this
contingent for the branding-pens in cha... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
The next morning the camp was not astir as early as usual.On the
cook’s arousing us, in the uncertain light of dawn, the herd was slowly
rising, and from the position of a group of four horsemen, it was
plainly evident that our guest had shaded all competition.Our camp was
in plain view of Los Lobos, and only some five... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
Two days later we came into the main trail at the crossing of the
Colorado River.Before we reached it, several ominous dust-clouds hung
on our right for hours, while beyond the river were others, indicating
the presence of herds.Summer weather had already set in, and during
the middle of the day the glare of heat-waves... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
Lots of these men are new ones at the
business and may lose fortunes. The banks are getting afraid of cattle
paper, and conditions are tightening.With the increased drive this
year, if the summer passes without a slaughter in prices, the Texas
drovers can thank their lucky stars.I’m not half as bright as I might
be, bu... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
Sheltering his
team, and fastening his wagon-sheet securely, he took refuge under it
until the gale had passed.Pressing him into the service the next
morning, and assigning him to the drag end of the herd, I left the
blind to lead the blind in driving the wagon.On reaching the river
about the middle of the forenoon, we... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
There was only half a dozen hard-boiled eggs to the man,
and I don’t remember of any of you being so generous as to share yours
with me.Those few plates of prunes that I ate for dessert wouldn’t
hurt nobody—they’re medicine to some folks.Unroll our bed, pardner,
and I’ll thrash around on it awhile.”
Several trail stor... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
The owner of the cane-brake
and his wife were a simple couple, and just a shade or two above the
Arcadians.But they had a daughter who could pass muster, and she took
quite a shine to the ‘Texas-Hoss-Man,’ as they called me. I reckon you
understand now why I made that headquarters?—there were other reasons
besides the ... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
Oh,
this shipping is a fine thing—for the railroads.Here I’ve got to rot
all summer with these cattle, just because two of my trains went into
the ditch while no other foreman had over one wrecked.And mind you,
they paid the freight in advance, and now King and Kennedy have brought
suit for damages amounting to double ... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
The mystery was thickening.But having previously declined to borrow
trouble, I brushed this aside as unimportant, though I gave my outfit
instructions to report the herd to every one as belonging to Omaha men,
and on its way to Nebraska to be corn-fed.Fortunately I had ridden
ahead of the herd after crossing the Cimarr... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
But those evening breezes wafted an invitation
to come and drink, and our thirsty herd refused to bed down.To add to
our predicament, a storm thickened in the west. Realizing that we were
confronting the most dangerous night in all my cattle experience, I
ordered every man into the saddle.The remuda and team were taken... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
Around the camp-fires at night, the chicanery of The Western
Supply Company gave place to the best stories at our command.“There
ought to be a law,” said Runt Pickett, in wrathy indignation, “making
it legal to kill some people, same as rattlesnakes.Now, you take a
square gambler and I don’t think anything of losing my... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
A snap of the finger would turn
them, showing their rounded buttocks, and they would rejoin the guard
of honor.If eyes could speak, the invitation was timidly extended,
“Look at me, Mr. Buyer.” We allowed the herd to pass by us, then slowly
circled entirely around them, and finally drove back and forth through
them for... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
Who could refuse
such a reasonable request?The herd had started on for the Saw Log,
while the remuda had wandered down the river about half a mile, and it
took us nearly an hour to give them a thorough inspection.Once by
ourselves, the detective said, with a chuckle: “All I was playing for
was to get as large a cash pa... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
On reaching town, our numbers were augmented by fully twenty more
from the other Lovell outfits, including the three foremen.My old
bunkie, The Rebel, nearly dragged me from my horse, while Forrest and I
forgot past differences over a social glass.And then there was Flood,
my first foreman, under whom I served my appre... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
Our location was an unknown quantity.All agreed that we were fully ten miles north of the Saw Log, and, with
the best reasoning at my command, outside the jurisdiction of Ford
County.The regular trail leading north was some six or eight miles to
the west, and fearful that we had not reached unorganized territory, I
was... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
Keep your eyes to the left of that shale
outcropping, and on a line with that lone tree on the Saw Log.Hold
your horses a minute; I’ve been watching them for half an hour before I
called you; be patient, and they’ll rise like a trout. There! there
comes one on a gray horse. See those two others just behind him.Now,
the... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
The chief one called his men aside, and after a brief
consultation my brother was invited to join them, which he did.I
afterwards learned that Bob went into detail in defining our position
in the premises, and the posse, once they heard the other side of the
question, took an entirely different view of the matter.While... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
It sloped to the northwest, was covered with
old dry grass, and would catch any vagrant breeze except an eastern
one.The wagon was ordered into camp, and the first and second guards
were relieved just long enough to secure their night-horses.Nearly all
of these two watches had been with me during the day, and on the re... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
In any kind of a
rain-storm, they’ll travel farther in a night than a whole outfit can
turn them back in a day.“Our camp was on the Salt Fork of the Cimarron, and late in the fall
when all the beeves had been shipped, the outfit were riding lines and
loose-herding a lot of Texas yearlings, and mixed cattle, natives to
... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
We sighted our cattle but once during the afternoon.On locating the
herd, two of my boys left us to return, hearing the message that the
rest of us might not put in an appearance before morning.All during
the evening, I made it a point to cultivate the acquaintance of several
vaqueros, and learned the names of their ma... | Adams, Andy - The Outlet |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.