CHAPTER XVIII
ON THE TRACK
"Now you look more as though you belonged in Fairfax," declared one of the loungers as Bob joined them.
"All except the clothes and hat," grunted Higgins. "Say, you won't have any trouble getting a job if you go just as you are. Any rancher would hire you to scare coyotes away from the home ranch."
This sally at his expense sent a hot flush to Bob's cheeks, but, remembering the agent's advice to give back better than he received, he retorted:
"If there were any such jobs around, I should think they'd pay you double wages!"
"Now will you try to get fresh with a tenderfoot?" asked one of the others when their laughter at Bob's sharp rejoinder had subsided.
"I ain't trying to get fresh," returned Higgins. "I'm just feeling the boy out. The sooner he gets used to Fairfax ways, the better."
But Bob's retort evidently inspired in him a greater respect for the boy and he refrained from making any more comments on his personal appearance.
After the interchange of a few general remarks, Bob said:
"I should be very grateful if some of you gentlemen would tell me of a ranch where I can apply for a job. I'd rather like to get one without Mr. Thomas' assistance."
In this request Higgins saw his chance. About ten miles from the settlement there lived a ranchman who was a man of mystery. Though his grazing ground was good and well-watered, and his pay prompt, he had such a temper that few cowboys would stay with him longer than a month or less, and to him Higgins decided to send Bob.
With this purpose, while the others were evidently trying to think of a suitable place for the boy, he said:
"There's only one I can think of and that's John Ford."
"Ford?" repeated Bob, his memory instantly recalling what the strange man with the scar had said about Sam and John Ford. "Where does he live?"
"Ten miles due west."
"Now, Higgins, you know better than to send this boy out there. Remember what Hal said about playing tricks on him."
Evidently this reminder had an effect upon the schemer, for he answered apologetically:
"Well, he asked about a place and I told him. You know as well as I do that John Ford always wants help."
"Sure we know it. But it ain't no fit place for such a boy."
Something suggested to Bob, however, that he should go to this ranchman, and accordingly he said:
"You needn't think I am so tender. Just because other men can't get along with Mr. Ford is no sign I can't. What is the nearest way to get there?"
"So long as you've got to walk, go straight down the track till you see a building with a red roof, on the left hand side," directed Higgins.
And before the others could protest, Bob uttered a hasty "thank you," and set off along the track at a dog trot.
"You'll get yours, Higgins, when Hal gets back," asserted the man who protested against Bob's being sent to Ford's.
"And you didn't even warn him about the dog," chided another.
At this reminder of the savage wolfhound that John Ford kept to guard his cabin, the idlers grew serious and exchanged uneasy glances.
"Oh, well! Ford'll probably see the boy so long as he comes from the direction of the railroad. Yellow Tom told me he sits by the hour looking toward the track—and he'll call off the brute."
"Providing the beast don't chew the boy up before John sees him," interposed another.
"Now, Tracy, don't always be looking for trouble," growled Higgins. "Life out West ain't no kindergarten. We had to take our knocks. Let the kid get his. Just because his father is rich ain't no reason why we should carry pillows around for him to fall on."
This crude viewpoint, if not satisfying to the consciences of Higgins' companions at least afforded relief, and they fell to wondering what Bob would say to them on his return—for return they expected he would.
In the meantime, the object of their thoughts was hurrying as rapidly as he could over the rough roadbed.
The crisp, bracing air seemed a stimulant to his lungs which had never breathed any but the contaminated air of New York, and he gloried in the fact that he was at last in a land where success did not depend on influence and riches, but where a man "made good" or failed, according to whether he was made of the right stuff or not.
For a time, his mind dwelt upon the insinuations Higgins and the others had made against Ranchman Ford, but the same power that had urged him to seek a job of this man whispered to him that he had nothing to fear. Dismissing all forebodings, therefore, Bob began to wonder if there could be any connection between Ford, the man with the scar and his father. The subject suggested so many possibilities and was, altogether, so vague, that, healthy-minded boy as he was, he decided not to ponder over it longer.
"There's no use building air castles," he told himself. "If Mr. Ford hires me and knows anything about father, I'll find it out in due time. There's one good thing, if I do land the job, Red Top will be ten miles nearer—and I can get away without exciting so much comment as from Fairfax."
From time to time as Bob trudged along, he scanned the plains on both sides of the track.
Thanks to the milestones placed at the side of the roadbed he was able to keep count of the miles he walked. Just after he had passed the eighth stone from Fairfax, Bob was electrified to see a herd of cattle in the distance. Pausing, he gazed at them interestedly, noticing that they were moving steadily instead of grazing. What this meant, he was at a loss to understand until of a sudden he saw three men on horseback emerge from the herd and, with arms waving, ride like mad to the head of the line and gradually change the direction of the cattle away from the track.
No need was there to tell him the riders were cowboys, and Bob thrilled with excitement as he watched their wonderful riding. But he did not wait till they were out of sight. Instead, he quickened his pace, murmuring:
"The sooner I get to Mr. Ford's, the sooner I'll be a cowboy."
The walk on the track was tiresome, however, unaccustomed to such rough traveling as he was, and it was with a sigh of relief that he finally caught sight of a group of buildings, one of which had a red-top roof.
"That must be the place," he exclaimed and, quickly leaving the track, started across the prairie. But Bob found that walking on the ties was easy compared to forcing his way through waist-high grass and stubborn sage-brush.