Chapter Sixteen -- The Mystery Beast
With the call of "Gang up, men," J.D. Jones led the remaining outlaws on a gallop to the southern trail out of Sierra Vista. Soon all that was left was a haze of dust from their rapid departure. That and the dead and wounded outlaws that were lying in the street.
Ranger Bud Hagan jumped on his horse and trailed them for three miles - and then gave up. The reason was simple. An untold number of sheep had been herded up this road and then turned to the northwest. It was not an uncommon occurrence, for the sheep had to be moved frequently to keep them from eating the graze down to the roots and killing it.
It was possible that this was planned, but Bud deemed it doubtful. Cowboys did not like sheep, and the obvious background of all the outlaws he had seen was working cattle. Planned or not, the tracks of the sheep obliterated those of J.D. and his men. It would take a lot of riding to find where the crooks had gone.
Back in town he saddled up a fresh mount and Clay joined him.
"The locals said they would look after the town. They're all up in arms now that they know J.D. is the boss of the outlaws."
"I don't blame them. I would be, too," said Bud. "I heard them say they're going to the canyon. I wonder if they mean Lost Canyon? Only one way to find out. Let's ride over there."
The two rode south out of town, but once again they were interrupted. Two riders that Hagan recognized from the Applebee ranch were approaching.
"Hola, Senor Ranger, we have come in search of you. Miss Linda was raging like the tigre to come and see you, so her father said she might come if she brings six men with her. We came by the low route and we have seen the outlaw band. We came to find you while the others watch the place where they are."
"Gracious, Amigo, lead the way."
The four riders traveled hard, and met Linda and the other ranch hands a mile before a deep arroyo. Linda was quick to greet the ranger; then she him gave the news.
"It looks like a secondary hide-out up ahead. There must be a dozen men there."
Now the Arizona Ranger took charge. "Is there a rear way out of there? There is. Well then, you three men ride around and find a good place to cover that way. We'll give you plenty of time to get placed.
The rest of us will push right in on them. One thing, J.D. is in there, and if possible I want to take him alive. He has over twenty years worth of information that would solve a lot of cases if I can get it."
"But will he talk?" queried Linda. "I'll bet he just clams up."
"If I can shove enough facts in his face he might crack. They usually do when it gets to a certain point. One other thing, Linda, could you let down your hair? I worry enough about you without you being mistaken for a man." Hagan reddened as he realized what he had said. "Not that anybody could mistake you at close range, or at long range, for that matter...."
"You'd better quit while you're ahead," she responded. "But I get your point. A man out here won't shoot a woman. Most men, anyway."
"Right. Some of these outlaws might be so bad that they would do even that. So be careful. The other men should be in place, so let's go get
'em."
With their horses running abreast in a line they galloped toward the outlaw's retreat. They were nearly there before the first shots rang out. They rode even faster and when they were well within range their guns opened up like a burst of cannon fire. Two outlaws went down and the rest raced toward the rear of the arroyo. The ranger and his friends pushed after them, driving them to the guns lying in wait at the end.
All of a sudden Linda shouted and pointed. "Look, Bud. That looks like J.D. climbing up the side. I didn't think it was possible."
Sure enough, J.D. was driving the magnificent black up the slope. As they watched he jumped from the saddle and pulled at the reins to help the animal over the top.
Hagan didn't waste time thinking about following a direct route. That black must be just about winded after that climb and would have to be rested soon. The ranger headed back out by the trail with one of the rancher's fresh horses in tow. He cut south when he got out and could soon see a trail of dust ahead.
Within ten minutes Bud knew he was catching up. The black was a lot slower now. It was a shame. That was a grand animal, but Hagan knew that J.D. would run it to the death if it were to his advantage. At that moment the chase shifted from a ranger's duty to a personal duel. A feeling of disgust had come over Hagan upon seeing the treatment of the black.
They were nearing the western entrance of Lost Canyon. The ranger had gained so much ground that he could see the sides of the great horse working like bellows in his effort to gain air. He stumbled as they cleared the edge of the burned strip but managed to continue. After another two hundred yards he stumbled again and J.D. leaped from the saddle. He grasped the messenger bag and ran forward on foot. Hagan was within twenty yards when Jones stopped and turned toward him with his hands raised.
"Drop the case, J.D." The banker complied. "Now ease the right side of your coat open."
"Okay. I haven't got a gun."
The ranger's senses were jumping. This had been too easy. J.D.'s left hand flashed, and he was touching off his 41 Thunderer. The bullet was low and just grazed the inside foreleg of the ranger's horse, and instantly the animal was shaking his hooves at the sky. Hagan had to give it all his attention so he could not shoot back. The banker turned and ran on foot into Lost Canyon.
Hagan got his mount quieted, then left him with the other horse at the top of the canyon. A mounted man makes too good a target for a man on the ground. When he ran in the direction that Jones had gone he caught a glimpse of him running between two clumps of vegetation.
"J.D.! Hold it. You're caught so you might as well give up."
A bullet sailed by as an answer. Hagan still wanted him alive and did not shoot back. He just ran down the slope as fast as he could. Near the bottom another slug hit close by and he snapped off a round just to show that he was a force to be reckoned with. Cover to cover, with an occasional gunshot; this was how they made their way down the canyon. Jones was firing less, and Hagan figured the man was getting low on ammo.
The ranger suddenly realized that J.D. was going to enter the tunnel in the rock. "J.D., don't go into the tunnel. It's a trap." He received no answer. He ran directly for the entrance to cut off the banker but he was too late. Fifty yards before him Jones entered the rock passageway. From a safe distance Hagan followed. He didn't want to bump into his enemy in the darkness of the tunnel.
When he stopped he could hear the footsteps of the banker. "Jones, turn back. The other end has a trap."
"Do you think I'm stupid?" yelled the banker. "Adios, Ranger."
"J.D., HOLD IT." Too late, for a thunderous roar echoed up the passage, the roar of the two barrels of the set gun going off when J.D. kicked the trip wire.
Gingerly Hagan went forward and found the carnage that was left of the banker. He would never learn anything from him now.
The ranger retraced his steps, retrieved his horses and rode back to see what had happened at the arroyo. Linda rode out to meet him and he filled her in on what had happened to J.D.
"That's too bad," she said. "After all that trouble you still don't get the answers."
"No, I guess I won't. Did you get any prisoners?"
"Three of them. They were scared of the banker and now they will tell you everything that they know."
"That's good news. I'm mighty curious as to what their mystery beast is."
"You won't believe it until you see it."
"You've seen it? Tell me."
She shook her head and laughed. "No, this you have to see for yourself."
She led him down the trail and slowed down when they approached a corner. "Ease around here, now, and take a peek."
The ranger went forward and then began to chuckle. Looking back at his with a look of unconcern was a camel!
"A camel. No wonder nobody could identify it. Probably there aren't more that ten people out here that have ever seen a camel. Or even heard of one."
"I wonder where it came from."
"I think I know," said the ranger. "Back along about '57 Jeff Davis had the idea of importing camels to carry mail across the Southwest. In a way it worked, but other animals were scared of them and the drivers got seasick from the rocking gait. The War Between the States was getting near and the project sizzled. A lot of those animals were turned loose to fend for themselves. This must be one of them, or one of their offspring."
What are you going to do with him, Bud?"
"Not many creatures get to be legends in their own time. I'm going to let him go."
From the rim the old prospector watched them and smiled. His beloved beasts. He liked to see them when he could. His name was Hadji Ali, and he had come with that first batch of camels in 1857. He had never missed his old home in Abu Dhabi, but he did miss the animals. Such grand animals. He hoped they would live long after he was gone.
The End
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