"Just stand where you are, both of you!" said Giraffe, in a low but threatening voice. "I've got a bead on you, Si Kedge, and if you want to see how well I can shoot this big-bore gun, just take two more steps forward. b.u.mpus, got that other coward covered, have you?"

"You're right, I have!" sang out the fat scout, trying to appear as bold as if the whole thing might be only a little comedy that he was enjoying immensely; when, to tell the honest truth, b.u.mpus could feel his fat knees striking each other just like he had seen the telegraph operator pound the key of his instrument; but if his gun wabbled, the fact was hardly apparent to the man he was trying to keep covered.

It was certainly a fine tableau, that would often come back to the memories of those two lads in future days. But while they seemed to be holding the fort, so to speak, Giraffe knew only too well that they were up against two desperate characters, and that if they slipped just one cog, it might have a different ending than the one they wished to see.

What to do with the two men, now that they had thrown down the gage of battle, and virtually made them prisoner, was a puzzle that Giraffe had to solve. But his success thus far gave him courage to go at the new difficulty with resolution. And b.u.mpus, content to bask in the glory of his chum's more aggressive nature, gave promise of proving himself a good scout, obedient to the one in authority over him and capable of doing his little part in the game.

CHAPTER XXIII.

CAPTURING THE GAME POACHERS.

"Don't yuh shoot, younker!" called out Si Kedge, when, on advancing just one more step, he found himself confronted by the rifle held by Giraffe, who had his cheek laid down on the stock, as though he were taking aim.

"I won't, if you do just what I tell you!" said the scout, growing bolder when he saw that a sudden spasm of alarm had taken possession of the poacher, as he realized the conditions confronting him.

"Wat yuh want us tuh do?" asked Si.

"Throw up your hands, in the first place, and be quick about it!"

commanded the scout, thinking that was the proper thing to demand; because, in every account he had ever read of such events, the one who held the gun always gave that order.

Si Kedge did as he was told, but only after a vast amount of hard language.

"You too!" b.u.mpus managed to call out; for since his comrade had shown the way, he did not find it quite so difficult to follow.

"Ther up, doan't yuh see, ez far ez I kin git 'em!" complained Ed Harkness; and then seeing the fat boy elevating his gun, he made out to duck, under the evident impression that b.u.mpus might be tempted to pull trigger, and fill him full of bird shot. "Keep thet gun daown thar, kid; I don't like ther way yuh handles ther same. Yuh got us fur keeps; an'

we ain't squealin', is we, Si?"

Giraffe thought fast. If they allowed these two men to go free, the chances were they would hang around, and try to give them all the trouble they could during the night that was now well upon them. And the idea of letting them remain there by the fire without being put under bonds, never occurred to the boy. He knew neither of them could be trusted further than they could be seen; that was stamped on their ugly faces, and the shifty look in their evil eyes.

There was really only one thing to do, and that was to make them prisoners. Once that had been accomplished, at least they might pa.s.s a peaceful night; and then in the morning, if the humor seized them, it would be just as easy to let the men go as to keep them.

But how on earth were they to tie the two men up? It looked like a hard proposition, and Giraffe had to cudgel his brains with considerable gus...o...b..fore he was able to produce any result. But it dawned upon him finally that if the men were compelled to lie flat on their faces on the ground, and place their hands behind them, b.u.mpus might straddle each in turn, and fasten their wrists, while he, Giraffe threatened with the guns.

"Listen to me," he said, with the air of a commander giving his final orders on the field of battle; "Both of you have got to lie down on your faces, and put your hands behind your back; do you understand?"

"Be yuh agoin' tuh tie us up?" asked Si, his face as black as a thundercloud.

"Just that, and nothing more," replied Giraffe, resolutely. "You think that because we're only two boys that we'll stand for a heap; but that's where you're away off your base. Get busy now, and down on your marrowbones, both of you!"

"Air yuh agoin' tuh let us go free in the mornin'?" asked Ed Harkness, already on his knees, for he wished to placate that uneasy fat boy, who kept raising his gun again and again, as though anxious to press the trigger just a little harder all the time.

"If you don't give us any trouble, we might; because so far as we're concerned we're not up here to help the game warden arrest you fellows.

Lie down now, or else we'll have to help you!"

This was a ferocious threat for Giraffe to make; and doubtless he would have been exceedingly loth to put it into operation; but then the case was a desperate one, and required a remedy of like nature.

Even such a fire-eater as Si Kedge "threw up the sponge," as b.u.mpus put it, and knuckled down to the half grown tyrant. Perhaps he realized that in his half boozy condition he was in no shape to grapple with the dilemma by which he and his companion found themselves faced. What with their hands tied by the fact of their guns having been taken by Cale Martin, they were perfectly helpless. And two firearms held in the hands of a couple of determined boys can be just as dangerous as if grown men had them.

So, still uttering more or less protestations, coupled with hard language, both Si and Ed sprawled out flat on their faces.

"Now, b.u.mpus, it's going to be your job to secure them both, while I cover you with the guns; and if either of them tries any funny business, he'll wish he hadn't right speedy, believe me," said Giraffe, loud enough for the others to hear, for he wished them to wholly understand the situation.

b.u.mpus placed his shotgun close to the feet of his chum. Then he looked blankly around.

"That's easy to say, Giraffe," he remarked in a stage whisper; "I'm willing enough to do it, tell you that; but where in Sam Hill am I agoin' to get the rope? We didn't bring any with us, you know; though I'm resolved never to go off again without a whole clothes line along.

How c'n a feller tie 'em up when he ain't got even a top string with him?"

If b.u.mpus thought to get his chum in a corner with that question, he figured too soon, for the other had discounted it already.

"Here, take this," he said, throwing his red bandana handkerchief on the ground; "and I reckon you've got the mate to it in your pocket. Use one to wrap around the wrists of each feller. And see to it that you tie it in half a dozen of the hardest knots you know how. Understand, b.u.mpus?"

"That's right, and I c'n do it too. You watch me."

As the fat boy spoke he picked up the large bandana handkerchief, and stepped gingerly forward, Giraffe accompanying him part way. Evidently b.u.mpus had recovered somewhat from his fright. Possibly this new boldness sprang from confidence in the ability of his comrade to handle the situation.

At any rate, he threw a leg over the prostrate figure of Ed Harkness, and seizing both his wrists, jerked them together. The man might have raised some protest, or even attempted to show resistance; but once that plump form of b.u.mpus came down on him he had the breath partly pressed out of his body, and must have experienced a sudden weakness.

At any rate, he lay still, while the other wound the crude rope around his wrists, and knotted it good and hard.

"Fine!" declared Giraffe, who had been watching the operation with one eye, all the while he kept the other on Si Kedge; "now take your own handkerchief, and use it on Si. And put in three extra knots, b.u.mpus, because he's that much more a slick one than the other feller. Lie still, now, I warn you, Si; we ain't going to stand for any fooling, I tell you!"

Si also relapsed into silence as soon as b.u.mpus dropped on his back; he was pinned to the ground almost as effectually as though secured there by ropes.

b.u.mpus finished his part of the job, and arose, perspiring, but triumphant.

"She's done, Giraffe, and as good as I know how," he said, exultantly.

"I just warrant you that neither of them game stealers is agoin' to break loose in a hurry now. What's next on the little programme? This is sure turning out to be a warm night for us, Giraffe. Tell me, won't the fellers stare when we walk into camp drivin' these jail birds before us?

Oh! my! Oh! me, I can see Davy and Step Hen give us the royal salute.

And I'll whistle 'Lo, the Conquering Heroes Come,' see if I don't."

"Well, we ain't in camp yet awhile," retorted Giraffe; "and give me a hand to a.s.sist old Si here over to that there tree. We c'n lean him up against the trunk, so he can keep warm, and look around him. Then Ed, he might have a place against this other pine, here. But b.u.mpus, there ain't going to be any sleep much for us this blessed night, with two toughs to watch like these fellers."

b.u.mpus sighed, for he was very tired after a whole day's tramp.

"I suppose not, Giraffe;" he remarked, but stiffening up to add; "you'll find me ready to back you up in anything you start goin'. I'm game for it, I reckon; and if you see me agoin' to sleep in spite of everything, why, Giraffe, just give me a kick or a punch in the ribs. I want to do my duty every time."

"Good for you, b.u.mpus; I ain't goin' to make fun of you any more, because of your size. Even fat fellers c'n come in mighty handy sometimes, especially when you've got a game poacher to hold down."

They managed to get the two men against the trees, and as they still had their legs free this was not so difficult a task. Then the watch began.

Giraffe kept his gun close to his hand. He spoke to his chum occasionally, more to see if b.u.mpus were awake, than because of any desire to engage in conversation.

The two men mumbled for a while, but finally their heads dropped on their chest and they seemed to slumber, though Giraffe was suspicious, and would never slacken in his watchfulness on this account.

He had made up his mind, however, that if b.u.mpus did fall asleep, he would not arouse him, when there was no necessity for more than one guard at a time.