Connie Carl at Rainbow Ranch Read online

  CHAPTER VI

  Kidnaping Catapult

  Connie felt a trifle stunned by the conversation which she hadoverheard.

  "I'd never have believed it if I hadn't heard with my own ears," shethought. "Pop Bradshaw, who has stood for everything honest and squarein this community! For five hundred dollars he means to keep Catapultout of the rodeo, substituting a steer which Blakeman will be sure tothrow in the bulldogging event!"

  The girl mounted Silvertail and started slowly Back toward the ranch.She rode along in deep thought for a time.

  "I'll not let Blakeman get by with it!" she exclaimed. "It's a cheap,contemptible trick!"

  Connie was smiling by the time she reached the ranch. She knew exactlywhat to do. Calling Lefty and Alkali she asked them casually if betswere running heavy on the bulldogging event.

  "Sure, Blakeman's goin' to lose his shirt," Lefty grinned. "He's beencoverin' everything in sight."

  "He hasn't a chance against Catapult," added Alkali with satisfaction.

  "That's just the point I was about to bring up," said Connie quietly."Supposing another steer should be substituted for Catapult?"

  "There's no chance of that," declared Lefty. "Pop Bradshaw entered oldCatapult two weeks ago."

  "Well, I've just learned something which will interest you. Pop plans tosubstitute another steer for Catapult--one which resembles him inappearance, I judge."

  Connie then repeated every word of the conversation she had heard in therestaurant.

  "Why, the dirty crook!" exclaimed Lefty. "No wonder Blakeman was sowillin' to cover all bets. He thought he'd clean up pretty!"

  "We got to do something about this!" muttered Alkali. "Let's protest tothe committee."

  "An' spoil all the fun?" said Lefty. "No, I got a better idea! We'llkidnap old Catapult tonight and sneak him into the rodeo barns! Then Popcan't squawk without givin' himself and the whole scheme away."

  "That idea ain't nothin' to whoop 'em up about," complained Alkali."That mountain medder is in plain sight of Pop's house. It's surroundedby hills and there's just one way out. That's down the trail past Pop'sbuildings."

  "We can do it real quiet-like so he won't ketch us," insisted Lefty.

  "Don't you reckon Catapult's tracks on the trail will show?" Alkaliasked jeeringly.

  "Trust Papa," replied Lefty with a mysterious grin.

  The two cowboys separated, after pledging Connie to secrecy regardingtheir proposed adventure. Lefty immediately rode to Red Gulch to hold aconfidential consultation with Jack Crawford who was in charge of thebarns at the rodeo.

  In an hour Forest Blakeman returned to the ranch without explainingwhere he had been. But all that day he was aware of curious stares whichfollowed him. He could feel that something was in the air. Now and thencoming unexpectedly upon a group of cowboys he would hear his name beingmentioned. In anger he vented his spite upon Jim Barrows.

  The day passed slowly. Connie went to her room early but she did not goto bed. Instead she read until nearly midnight. Then she snapped out herlight and sat by the window.

  In a short time she saw Lefty and Alkali emerge from the bunkhousecarrying several gunnysacks. At their shrill whistle, she quickly joinedthem.

  Alkali led Silvertail and two broncos down to the main road where theyall mounted.

  "What are you planning to do with the gunnysacks?" Connie askedcuriously as they rode toward the Bradshaw Ranch.

  "I'm aimin' to tie 'em on Catapult's hooves so he won't leave notracks," explained Lefty.

  "Ain't that the dizziest idear any sane guy ever had?" demanded Alkali."How we goin' to get gunnysacks on Catapult? Maybe you think he'll justhold up his feet nice an' purty like he was in a shoe shop!"

  "Now see here," Lefty said sharply. "Are you with me or ain't you?"

  "Oh, I'm with you all right," drawled Alkali, "but my doubts sure arepercolatin'."

  All was still about the Bradshaw Ranch as the three rode quietly intothe mountain meadow. No lights were burning in the house.

  Connie and the two cowboys tied their horses to a clump of cottonwoodtrees. Lefty removed the gunnysacks from his saddle and Alkali threw acoil of rope over his shoulder.

  "It may not be easy to find Catapult," Connie whispered. "This is a bigmeadow."

  "Yeah," Alkali added, "he's apt to be roostin' in any one of thesethousand acres."

  "I figure Catapult will be parked by the lake for the night after thisblisterin' hot day," said Lefty. "That old uncanned baloney has moresense than his owner."

  After a brisk walk the three approached the lake. From that point theymoved cautiously, crawling forward until they reached the bank. Leftypulled aside a clump of overhanging tree branches and looked out overthe moonlit water. A dark blot appeared at the opposite end of the lakeand Lefty's excited fancy envisioned it as a life-sized steer.

  "It's Catapult, Alkali, sure as you're a cow nurse!" he muttered. "He'sstandin' in up to his belly, a-swishin' flies with his tail."

  The three conspirators crept slowly around the little lake to the rearof the place where Catapult's presence was suspected.

  "It's him!" exclaimed Lefty. "Get your rope ready, Alkali, and if younail him, tie the other end to this here tree. Then I'll wade out andshoo him in."

  The rope swished through the air and landed fairly around the bigsteer's head. Lefty waded out toward the frightened animal, circlingaround him and splashing water with his cupped hands. Connie watchedanxiously because she was afraid that Catapult might turn upon thecowboy and gore him with his sharp horns. But instead. Catapult boltedheadlong for shore.

  "Keep him circlin' 'round the tree," Lefty called to Alkali as hefollowed the steer ashore.

  The two cowboys drove Catapult around and around the tree until his headbanged into it. Then they roped his front and hind legs together.Catapult fell to the ground and rolled over on his side.

  "Now come on with them gunnysacks," Lefty said exaultantly.

  Alkali chuckled as he helped his friend bind the pads on the steer'sfeet.

  "Guess we better bring up our hosses before we untie this here bovine,"he chuckled. "He'd make us feel like a tail to a kite a hoofin' it."

  Alkali disappeared into the darkness and soon returned, riding his ownhorse and leading the other two.

  "Pass me that rope, Lefty," he directed. "Then you can untie him."

  The frightened steer arose to his feet with a snort. He eyed histormentors for a moment and then bolted. Alkali's horse braced andCatapult was brought up sharply.

  "He'll soon wear out them gunnysacks at this rate," Lefty lamented."We've got to quiet him down."

  "Get a rope on him too if you can," Alkali advised. "Move up ahead. I'llstay behind. Then when he makes a pass at you, I'll hold him, and whenhe lays back you yank him right along with you."

  Lefty's rope swished through the air and settled neatly over Catapult'sthick neck. Then riding ahead, with Alkali's rope leading to the rear,the two cowboys began their task of leading Catapult from the meadow.

  Connie found it hard to control her laughter. The steer presented such aludicrous spectacle even in the uncertain moonlight, thumbing along thetrail shod in gunnysacks. At times he would stop as if trying to fathomthe strange method of torment. Then Lefty's rope would become taut andpull him along. Again he would take a lunge forward in a brave effort toescape but Alkali's rope would stiffen and bring him up short.

  They emerged from the mountain meadow and turned to the main road.Connie breathed a sigh of relief.

  And just at that moment Catapult stopped and whiffed the night air. Thenhe gave voice to the loudest and longest bellow in his system.

  "If Pop hears that we're sunk," groaned Lefty.

  A light flickered in the ranch house.

  "He heard it all right," muttered Alkali.

  "Now what are we going to do?" asked Connie nervously. "You always havesuch brilliant ideas. Lefty! Think of something quick!"r />