CHAPTER

I. A Desperate Encounter

II.  The Ranch in the Rockies

III.  “Busting” a Broncho

IV.  A Forest Terror

V. The Grizzly at Bay

VI.  The “Ringer’s” Downfall

VII.  The Wolf Pack

VIII.  With Teeth and Hoofs

IX.  The Indian Outbreak

X. In Fearful Extremity

XI.  Within an Ace

XII.  Quick on the Draw

XIII.  Trailing the Outlaws

XIV.  The Race for Life

BERT WILSON IN THE ROCKIES

CHAPTER I

A Desperate Encounter

A shower of glass from the shattered windowpane fell over the floor and seats, and a bullet embedded itself in the woodwork of an upper berth.  There was a shriek from the women passengers in the crowded Pullman, and the men looked at each other in consternation.  From the platform came the sound of a scuffle, interspersed with oaths.  Then, through the narrow corridor that bordered the smoking-room, hurried two men, pushing the terrified negro porter ahead of them.  Each of the intruders wore a black cloth tied over the lower part of his face, and before the bewildered passengers knew what had happened they found themselves looking along the blue-black barrels of two ugly revolvers.

It was a startling break in an uneventful day.  For several hours the Overland Limited had hummed along over the boundless prairies that stretched away on either side with scarcely a break to the horizon.  They had time to make up, and on these open spaces the engineer had let it out to the limit.  So swiftly and smoothly had it sped along that the “click, click” as it struck each separate rail had merged into one droning “song of the road.”

There had been no rain for a week past, and the dust lay thick on the grass and cactus.  The motion of the train drew it up in clouds that made it impossible to keep the windows raised, and the sun, beating down pitilessly from a brazen sky, added to the general discomfort.  Cooling drinks were at a premium, and the porters were kept busy making trips to the buffet car, from which they returned with tinkling glasses and cooling ices.  Collars wilted and conversation languished.  Women glanced listlessly over the pages of the magazines.  Men drew their traveling caps over their eyes and settled down for a doze.  Here and there a commercial traveler jotted down some item or wondered how far he dared to “pad” his expense account so that it would “get by” the lynx-eyed head of the firm.  In the smoking-room a languid game of cards was being played, in an effort to beguile the tedious monotony of the trip.  Over all there brooded a spirit of somnolence and relaxation.