Have you ever thought about what fiction is? Probably, such a question may seem surprising: and so everything is clear. Every person throughout his life has to repeatedly create the works he needs for specific purposes - statements, autobiographies, dictations - using not gypsum or clay, not musical notes, not paints, but just a word. At the same time, almost every person will be very surprised if he is told that he thereby created a work of fiction, which is very different from visual art, music and sculpture making. However, everyone understands that a student's essay or dictation is fundamentally different from novels, short stories, news that are created by professional writers. In the works of professionals there is the most important difference - excogitation. But, oddly enough, in a school literature course, you don’t realize the full power of fiction. So using our website in your free time discover fiction for yourself. Cowmen and Rustlers: A Story of the Wyoming Cattle Ranges by Edward Sylvester Ellis (the little red hen read aloud .txt) 📖
- Author: Edward Sylvester Ellis
Book online «Cowmen and Rustlers: A Story of the Wyoming Cattle Ranges by Edward Sylvester Ellis (the little red hen read aloud .txt) 📖». Author Edward Sylvester Ellis
Hawkridge bowed and passed out. He waved the spotless linen in front of his face as he walked toward the horseman, and both smiled when they recognized each other.
"Well, Duke, what is it?" asked the footman, as though he were asking an ordinary question of a friend.
"I reckon you can guess. Since the two companies came together Ira Inman is at the head of the army. Some of the boys are wild to begin shooting, and they'll do it pretty soon. Before that, Inman decided to offer you folks a chance to give in. That's my business."
"You simply demand our surrender, as I understand it?"
"You've guessed it the first time," replied Vesey, with a nod of his head.
"What terms do you offer?"
"You'll be treated as prisoners of war; but," added the rustler, "it is hardly right to say that. It's Inman's idea to hold you as hostages for the right treatment of any of our boys that may fall into the hands of the stockmen."
"That is quite different. Let me ask, Duke, whether this treatment is guaranteed to all of our folks?"
"I wish I could say it was, Dick, but I can't; Inman makes two exceptions—Capt. Asbury and Mont Sterry. That Sterry showed himself so much of a man and was so square toward me when I was caught that I would do anything I could for him. I appealed to Inman to let up on him, but he won't; some of the boys are so mad they will shoot him on sight."
"And Capt. Asbury?"
Vesey's face became hard.
"He ought to be hanged because of the way he acted last night."
"But what is proposed to do with him and Sterry?"
"Give them a fair trial."
Hawkridge shook his head with a meaning smile.
"It won't work, Duke; there isn't a man in our company who would consent to anything of the kind. There could be but one issue to such a trial, and it would be nothing less than the betrayal of our leader or a comrade by us."
"Inman declares he will burn down the house if you refuse his terms."
"Let him try it as soon as he pleases; you can tell him for Capt. Asbury that his terms are rejected."
CHAPTER XXVI. — THE UNDERGROUND MISSIVE.
Dick Hawkridge, standing on the ground, looked up in the bronzed face of Duke Vesey, sitting in the saddle.
At every window on the lower floor were faces watching the two men that had thus met under a flag of truce. From the ridge on the right, and the undulating ground to the left, peered the rustlers, intensely interested in the actions of the couple, whose words were spoken in tones too low to reach the ears of any on either side. No actors ever had a more attentive audience than they.
When Hawkridge announced to Vesey that his proffer was rejected (for it was useless to report first to Capt. Asbury, as he had been told to do), the horseman said:
"Dick, you would have been a cur to accept such terms, though I would do anything to even matters with that Asbury; but I want to get a message to Mont Sterry."
"You can trust me to carry it."
"It is for him alone; I have it in writing. Well, good-by."
He leaned over from the saddle and extended his hand. As Hawkridge took it he felt something in his palm.
"I understand," he said; "it shall be delivered."
No one watching the couple, as nearly all were doing, suspected this little by-play. They saluted, and Vesey spurred his pony to a gallop, passing up the ridge and joining his friends to report, while Hawkridge was admitted through the door, which was immediately closed and secured behind him.
To the captain and the others who crowded around he quickly told what had passed.
"Your order was to let you know the terms before giving an answer," he added, addressing the leader, "but you see it wasn't necessary."
A buzz of commendation left no doubt of the wisdom of his course.
"But what about his threat to burn the building?" asked Sterry, addressing no one in particular.
"He will do it, or at least will try it," replied Hawkridge, "for he doesn't intend any one shall have time to interfere, as may be the case if he delays too long."
"To set fire to the house," remarked the captain, who had given much thought to the question, "they must first reach it, and that manoeuvre will prove a costly one to them. I suspect that some other firing will take place about that time—eh, boys?"
The response revealed the feelings of the men, who were chafing under their restraint.
"But, surely," continued Sterry, "they do not mean to burn the building while Mrs. Whitney and her daughter are within?"
"As was said some time ago," replied Hawkridge, "that makes little difference, since it is not to be supposed that even we will stay inside during the conflagration. The firing is meant to drive us out, and it will do it."
"But there must be considerable shooting, and the ladies will be in danger."
"I think Inman will order us to send them out, so as to prevent harm to them."
"If they were Sioux or Crows they might launch burning arrows and fire-balls; but they can't do that, and will have to run some risk in getting the flames under way."
"There are signs of a storm, and if the night proves dark it will be much in their favor and against us."
"Suppose they fire the stables," suggested one of the men.
"They are too far off to place us in danger, unless a strong wind should blow directly this way."
"Well, boys," said Capt. Asbury, hopefully, "the thing isn't through yet. I think Inman will give us another message before opening the ball, so you may rest easy until he makes his next move."
Meanwhile Hawkridge had managed to deliver the little twist of paper, placed in his hand by Vesey. Inasmuch as the matter had been managed with so much care, he deemed it right that no one should see the transfer to his friend.
Sterry was surprised and glanced down at the object,
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