Books: The Motor Boys on the Pacific
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Clarence Young >> The Motor Boys on the Pacific
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The professor grabbed Bob, who was nearest him, and swung the boy
around, so as to get the nest of rattlesnakes between them and the
steers. Ned and Jerry followed. The snakes, now all aroused, were
rattling away like half a hundred electric batteries working at once.
Would the professor's ruse succeed? Would the steers be afraid to come
over the deadly reptiles, to trample down the little group, which the
animals probably took for some new species of enemy? These were
questions which the boys waited anxiously to have answered. Nor did
they have to wait long.
The foremost of the steers came within a few feet of the rattlers.
Then something seemed to stiffen the cattle. They tried to stop short,
but the press of the beasts behind them would not permit of this. For
a few seconds it looked as if the impetus of the cattle in the rear
would shove the others on, in spite of their desire to stop.
But now more of the foremost steers became aware of the den of snakes.
Their instinct, their sense of smell, and, above all, hearing the
rattling, told them the terrible danger that was in their path. More
of the animals braced their forelegs to bring themselves to a stop,
and all bellowed in terror. Then, almost as though an order had been
given by some one in command, the ranks of steers parted, right at the
point where the snakes were reared ready to strike.
To right and left the cattle passed, increasing their speed as they
became aware of the danger they were escaping. The boys and the
professor stood on the little eminence of land, as if they were on an
island in a sea of cattle. The angry snakes hissed and rattled, but
did not glide away, or what had proved a source of safety for the
travelers, might have been instrumental in their death.
Right past them rushed the cattle, raising a dust that was choking.
The four were enveloped in a yellow haze, as they stood huddled
together. Then, the last of the steers galloped past, with a band of
excited cowboys in the rear, vainly endeavoring to understand the
cause of the stampede, and halt it. As they rode on like the wind,
they waved their hands to the boys and Mr. Snodgrass.
"Well, I guess we can move on now," said Jerry, as the last of the
steers and cowboys was lost in a cloud of dust that accompanied them.
"I've seen all the beef I want to for a long time."
"That's the first time I ever knew rattlesnakes were good for
anything," remarked Ned, as he backed away, with his eyes on the den
of reptiles, as if afraid they would spring at him.
"They are more feared by animals than any other snake in this country,
I believe," said the professor. "Luck was certainly with us to-day."
The professor successfully resisted a desire to capture some of the
snakes for specimens, and soon, with the three boys, he was on his way
back to the stalled train, though he did not make very fast progress
for he was continually stopping to gather in some strange insect.
It was long past dinner-time when the travelers got back, but they
found they were not the only ones in this predicament, for a number of
the passengers had beguiled the tediousness of the wait by going off
across the prairie.
"Let's get the porter to get us some sandwiches, and then we'll watch
'em get the train back on the track," suggested Jerry.
CHAPTER X
AT THE SEABURYS'
THE wrecking crew had arrived shortly before the boys and the
professor got back, and there was a big crowd of passengers and train
men around the laborers.
"Never mind eating," called Ned. "Come on, watch 'em. We can get a
bite afterward."
"Not for mine," sung out Bob, as he made a dive for the dining car.
"I'll be with you pretty soon."
"There he goes again," remarked Ned with a sigh. "I couldn't eat when
there's any excitement going on. I want to see how they get the cars
on the track."
"So do I." said Jerry.
They pressed on to where, by means of powerful hydraulic jacks, men
were busy raising up the engine, which, because of its weight, had
sunk quite deeply into the ground. The jacks were small, but one man
worked the handle, which pumped water from one part of it to another,
and elevated a piston, that, in turn was forced up with terrible
pressure, thus raising one end of the ponderous locomotive.
When the wheels were clear of the earth other men slipped under them
some peculiar shaped pieces of iron, so arranged that when the
locomotive was pulled or pushed ahead by another engine, the wheels
would slip upon the rails.
In turn each of the wheels of the engine and tender were so fixed.
Then word was given the engineer of the relief train to back down and
haul the derailed locomotive back on to the track.
"All ready?" called the foreman of the wrecking crew.
"All ready," replied the engineer.
Jerry and Ned, in common with scores of others, were straining forward
to watch every detail of the task. They wanted to see whether the
locomotive would take to the rails, or slip off the inclined irons,
and again settle down upon the ground.
"Let her go, Bill," called the foreman to the engineer of the wrecking
crew.
There was a warning whistle, a straining of heavy chains, creakings
and groanings from the derailed engine as if it objected to being
pulled and hauled about, then the ponderous driving wheels began to
turn slowly.
"Stand clear, everybody!" cried the foreman.
At that moment Bob came running up, using the back of his hand as a
napkin for his lips.
"There she goes!" was the loud cry.
As the crowd looked, they saw the derailed and helpless engine give a
sort of shudder and shake, mount the inclined pieces of iron, and then
slide upon the rails, settling down where it belonged.
"Hurrah!" cried the passengers, in recognition of a hard task well
accomplished.
"Well, I'm glad that's over," announced the foreman. "Now boys,
hustle, and we'll get the cars on, and the line will be clear."
It did not take long to get the cars on the rails, as they were
lighter. The damaged engine was switched off to one side, some rails,
which had been displaced when the train bumped off, were spiked down,
and the wreck was a thing of the past.
"All aboard!" called the conductor. "All aboard! Step lively now!"
The relief engine was not a fast one, being built more for power than
speed, and the train had to proceed along rather slowly. But the boys
did not mind this, as they had plenty to talk about, and they were
interested in the country through which they were traveling.
They arrived at Los Angeles somewhat behind their schedule, and did
not leave there as soon as they expected to, as Professor Snodgrass
wanted to call on a scientific friend, to learn something about the
best place to hunt for horned toads.
"It's all right, boys," he announced, when he returned to the Los
Angeles hotel, where the three chums had put up. "My friend says the
vicinity of San Felicity, where you are going to call on the Seaburys,
is a grand place for horned toads. Come, we will start at once."
They found, however, that they would have to wait until the next day
for a train. They started early the following morning, traveling
through a stretch of country where it seemed as if it was always
summer. Back home there had already been evidences of fall, before
they left, but here there seemed to be no hint of approaching winter.
"Oh, isn't this fine!" exclaimed Ned, breathing in the sweetly-scented
air, as he stuck his head from the car window. "It's like reading
about some fairy story!"
"It's better than reading it," said Jerry. "It's the real thing."
They arrived at San Felicity, shortly before noon. It was a very hot
day, though the morning had been cool, and the boys began to
appreciate the fact that they had come to a southern climate. There
seemed to be no one at the little railroad station, at which they were
the only passengers to leave the train. The train baggage man piled
their trunks and valises in a heap on the platform, the engine gave a
farewell toot, and the travelers were thus left alone, in what
appeared a deserted locality.
"There doesn't seem to be much doing," observed Jerry. "Let's see now,
Nellie wrote that we were to take a stage to get to their house, but I
don't see any stage. Wonder where the station agent is?"
"Hark!" said the professor, raising his hand for silence. "What noise
is that? It sounds as if it might be a horned toad grunting. They make
a noise just like that."
"I would say it sounded more like some one snoring," ventured Ned.
"It is!" exclaimed Bob. "Here's the station agent asleep in the ticket
office," and he looked in an open window, on the shady side of the
platform. From the interior came the sounds which indicated a person
in deep slumber.
"Bless my soul!" exclaimed the professor. "I took him for a horned
toad! I hope he didn't hear me."
"No danger," remarked Jerry. "He's sound asleep. Even the train didn't
wake him up."
The four gazed in on the slumbering agent. Perhaps there was some
mysterious influence in the four pairs of eyes, for the man suddenly
awakened with a start, stared for a moment at the travelers gazing in
on him, and then sat up.
"Good day, seņors!" he exclaimed, and they saw that he was a Mexican.
"Do you wish tickets? If you do, I regret to inform you that the only
train for the day has gone. There will be none until to-morrow," and
he prepared to go to sleep again.
"Here!" cried Jerry. "We don't want any, tickets! We want to find the
way to Mr. Nathan Seabury's house, and to learn if there's a stage
which goes there."
"There is, seņor," replied the agent, yawning, "but I doubt if the
driver is here. He seldom comes to meet the train, as there are very
few travelers. Will it not do to go to Seņor Seabury's to-morrow, or
next day, or the day after?"
"Hardly," replied Jerry, who, as did the other boys, began to
appreciate the Mexican habit of saying "mananna" which means
"to-morrow," for the Mexicans have a lazy habit of putting off until
to-morrow whatever they have to do to-day. "We want to go to-day,
right away, at once, now!"
"Ah, the seņors are Americanos-- always in a hurry," answered the
agent, but in no unfriendly manner. "Very well, I will see if Hop Sing
has his stage here."
"Hop Sing?" questioned Ned.
"Yes, seņor, he is a Chinaman. You will find him a very slow and
careful driver."
"Slow? I guess everything's slow down here," said Ned in a low voice.
The agent came leisurely from his office, walked to the end of the
platform, and, pointing toward a low shed, remarked:
"That is where the stage is kept. I will call, and see if Hop Sing is
there."
Then he called, but in such a low tone, as if he was afraid he might
strain his voice, that it did not seem as if he could be heard ten
feet away. Jerry stood it as long as he could and then said:
"I guess Hop Sing must be taking his noon nap. I'll go over and wake
him up."
"Ah, the seņor is in a hurry," and the Mexican agent smiled as though
that was a strange thing. "If he would wait an hour, or perhaps two,
Hop Sing might awaken. Besides, to-morrow--"
"Not for ours," said Ned. "We've got to go to-day."
The agent shrugged his shoulders, and went back into his little office
to resume his nap. Jerry walked over to the shed.
"Hey! Hop Sing!" he called, as he approached. "Where's the stage?"
"Want stage? Take lide? All lite! Me come! Chop-chop! Give number one,
top-slide lide!" exclaimed a voice, and a small Chinaman jumped down
from the stage seat, where, under the shade of the shed he had been
sleeping, and began to untie the halters of the mules that were
attached to the ram-shackle old vehicle.
"Be lite out!" Hop Sing went on. "Me glive you click lide. Me go fast!
You see! Chop-chop!"
"All right, if the old shebang doesn't fall apart on the way," said
Jerry with a laugh, as he saw the stage which the Celestial backed out
of the shed. Certainly it looked as if it could not go many miles.
"Come on!" called Jerry to Ned, Bob and the professor, who had
remained on the platform. "I guess it's safe. The mules don't look as
if they would run away."
They piled into the aged vehicle, and Hop Sing, with a quickness that
was in surprising contrast to the indolence of the Mexican agent, put
their trunks and valises on top.
"Now we glow click, you sabe?" he said, smiling from ear to ear. "Me
know Mlister Seablury. Him number one man, top-slide," which was Hop
Sing's way of saying that anything was the very best possible.
The boys soon found that while Hop Sing might be a slow and careful
driver, it was due more to the characters of the mules, than to
anything else. The Chinese yelled at them in a queer mixture of his
own language, Mexican and American. He belabored them with a whip, and
yanked on the reins, but the animals only ambled slowly along the
sunny road, as if they had a certain time schedule, and were
determined to stick to it.
"Can't they go any faster?" asked Ned.
"Flaster?" asked Hop, innocently. "They Mlexican mules. No go flast.
Me go flast, mules not," and he began jumping up and down in his seat,
as if that would help matters any. He redoubled his yells and shouts,
and made the whip crack like a pistol, but the mules only wagged their
ears and crawled along.
"I guess you'll have to let matters take their course while you're
here," suggested the professor. "You can't change the habits of the
people, or the animals."
They did manage, after strenuous efforts on Hop's part, to get to the
Seabury bungalow. It was in the midst of a beautiful garden, and a
long walk led up to the house, around which was an adobe wall, with a
red gate. Over the gate was a roof, making a pleasant shade, and there
were seats, where one might rest.
In fact some one was resting there as the stage drove up. He was a
colored man, stretched out on his back, sound asleep.
"Well, I wonder if they do anything else in this country but sleep?"
asked Jerry.
"Why-- that's Ponto, Mr. Seabury's negro helper," said Ned. "Hello,
Ponto. All aboard the Wanderer!"
"What's dat? Who done call me?" and the colored man sat up suddenly,
rubbing his eyes. "Who says Wanderer? Why dat boat--"
Then he caught sight of the travelers.
"Why, I 'clar' t' gracious!" he exclaimed. "Ef it ain't dem motor boys
an' Perfesser Snowgrass!"
"How are you, Ponto?" sang out Bob.
"Fine, sah! Dat's what I is! Fine. I 'clar' t' gracious I'se glad t'
see yo'! Git down offen dat stage! It'll fall apart in anoder minute!
Go long outer heah, yo' yellow trash!" and Ponto shook his fist at Hop
Sing. "Wha' fo' yo' stan' 'round heah, listen' t' what yo' betters
sayin'."
"I guess I'd better pay him," said Jerry, and settled with the
Celestial, who drove slowly off.
"Now come right in!" exclaimed Ponto. "I were-- I were jest thinkin'
out dar on dat bench-- yais, sah, I were thinkin', an' fust thing I
knowed I was 'sleep. It's a turrible sleepy country, dat's what 'tis,
fer a fact. I'se gittin' in turrible lazy habits sence I come heah.
But come on in. Massa Seabury, he'll be powerful glad t' see yo'.
So'll th' young ladies. Dey was sayin' only las' night, dat it seemed
laik dem boys nevah goin' t' come. But heah yo' be! Yais, sah, I were
jest thinkin' out on dat bench--"
But Panto's rambling talk was suddenly interrupted by a glad cry from
the shrubbery. Then there came a rush of skirts, and the boys saw
three girls running toward them.
"Here they are, dad!" called Nellie. "Here are the boys and Professor
Snodgrass! Oh, we're so glad you came! Welcome to 'The Next Day'!
That's what we've christened our bungalow, in honor of this lazy
country. Come on in," and she ran up to Jerry, holding out her hands.
CHAPTER XI
AFTER HORNED TOADS
OLIVIA and Rose, as had Nellie, warmly welcomed the boys and Professor
Snodgrass, and, Mr. Seabury coming up a moment later, from his usual
stroll about the garden, added his greetings.
"We're very glad to see you," said the gentleman. "Come right in and
make yourselves comfortable. We have more room than we had on the
houseboat Wanderer. I'll have your baggage-- where is that black
rascal, Ponto?-- Ponto!"
"Yais, sah, I'se coming," called a voice, and Ponto who had gone back
to the gate appeared, rubbing his eyes.
"Ponto, take these-- why, you-- you've been asleep again, I do
believe-- Ponto--"
"I-- I done gone an' jest dozed off fo' a minute, Massa Seabury," said
Ponto. "I 'clar' t' goodness, dis am de most sleepiest climate I eber
see. Peers laik I cain't do nuffin, but shet mah eyes an'--"
"Well if you don't do something mighty quick with this baggage I'll
find some way of keeping you awake," spoke Mr. Seabury, but he was
laughing in spite of himself.
"Yais, sah, I'se goin' t' take keer of it immejeet, sah," and the
colored man went off in search of a wheelbarrow, on which to bring the
trunks and valises up to the house from where they had been put off
the stage.
"I never saw such a chap," said Mr. Seabury. "Before we came down here
he was as spry as I could wish, but now he does just as the Mexicans
do. He sleeps every chance he gets. But come on in. I know you must be
tired and hungry."
"Bob is," said Jerry. "I heard him say a while ago--"
"No, you didn't hear me say anything," exclaimed Bob quickly, fearful
lest he might be put to shame before the girls. "I'm not a bit
hungry."
"Fibber!" whispered Ned, though not so low but what they all heard,
and the girls burst into laughter.
"Never mind," spoke Olivia. "Come on, Bob. I'll take care of you. The
cook and I are great friends," and the girl and Bob walked on ahead.
"I suppose you came out here to study some new kind of plant or
flowers, didn't you?" asked Mr. Seabury, of the professor.
"Not exactly," replied the scientist, "though I shall examine them
with much interest. What I came down for was to secure some specimens
of horned toads for the museum. I--"
"Horned toads!" exclaimed Nellie, who was walking with Jerry, while
Rose had volunteered to show Ned the beauties of the Mexican garden.
"Horned toads! Ugh! The horrible things. I hope you don't bring them
around where I am, Professor. Horned toads! Why don't you search after
something beautiful, like the wonderful butterfly you found in
Florida?"
"A horned toad is just as beautiful as a butterfly," said Mr.
Snodgrass gravely. "The only difference is, people don't appreciate
the toad. I do, and, some day, I hope to write a history of that
creature. I have my notes ready for the first volume, which will be a
sort of introduction."
"How many volumes do you expect to write?" asked Mr. Seabury,
curiously.
"Twelve," replied the scientist calmly. "Even then I will have to omit
much that is of interest. But I hope, in twelve, large books, to be
able to convey some idea of horned toads, as well as some information
about the other species."
"Twelve volumes! I should hope so!" murmured Mr. Seabury.
By this time the travelers were at the bungalow. It was a
well-arranged affair, quite large, and set in the midst of a beautiful
garden, with rambling paths, and shady bowers, while the whole place
was enclosed by a mud or adobe wall. All around the bungalow was a
wide veranda, and in the center courtyard was a small fountain, with a
jet of water spurting up from the middle of a large shell.
"Isn't this fine!" exclaimed Jerry, and the other boys agreed it was.
"Yes, we like 'The Next Day' very much," said Nellie. "It was my idea
to call it that. From the very moment we arrived, and wanted something
done, about the only answer we could get was 'to-morrow,' 'Mananna' or
'the next day,' so I decided that would be a good name for the
bungalow."
"Indeed it is," declared the professor. "But you have a most
delightful place, and I should like to spend many 'next days' here. I
hope your health is better, Mr. Seabury?"
"Considerably so, sir. I find the air here agrees with my nerves and
rheumatism much better than in Florida. I have hopes of entirely
recovering. But let us go inside, I think luncheon is ready."
It was and, in the cool dining-room, within sound of the tinkling
fountain, they ate a hearty meal, Bob demonstrating in his usual
fashion that he was quite hungry.
The girls took turns in explaining their experiences since coming to
California. The bungalow, which they rented, was on the outskirts of
the village of San Felicity, which was part of what had once been an
old Mexican town. It was located on the shores of a secluded bay, and
the bungalow was about ten minutes' walk from the water.
"Do you think there are any horned toads around here?" asked the
professor, when the meal was finished, and they had gone out on the
veranda.
"I don't know, I'm sure," replied Mr. Seabury. "I'll ask Ponto, he
knows everything there is to be known about this place. Ponto! I say,
Ponto!"
"Yais, sah, I'se comin' sah!" and from somewhere in the depths of the
garden the voice sounded. A moment later the colored man appeared,
trying to hide a broad yawn.
"Ponto, do you know-- well, I declare, if you haven't been asleep
again!"
"I-- I-- er-- I jest was weedin' de garden, Massa Seabury, an' I done
felt so warm dat I jest closed mah eyes, jest fo' a second, not a
minute longer, no sah, not a minute. Guess I knows better dan t' go t'
sleep when yo' got company sah!" and Ponto looked very much hurt at
the accusation.
"Well, Ponto, I suppose you can't help it. Do you happen to know where
there are any horned toads?"
"Horned toads! Good lan', Massa Seabury! No sah! I ain't got none!"
"I didn't suppose you had. Do you know whether there are any around
here?"
"Well, I doan know ef dey has horns or not, but de oder day, when I
were comin' home from goin' t' ole Mexican Pete's shanty after some
red peppers, I seen some horrible kind of thing hoppin' along ober de
sand. I-- I didn't stop t' look an' see ef he had horns, but I s'pects
he had, cause he were kind of diggin' in de sand."
"That's the toad all right!" exclaimed the professor, joyfully. "Where
is the place? Take me out there right away, Ponto."
"Take you out dere, Perfesser?"
"Yes, right away."
"I-- I s'pects I'd better go back an' 'tend t' mah weedin'!" exclaimed
Ponto, looking as pale as a colored man can. look. "Weeds grow
powerful fast in dis climate. Dey'll choke de flowers in about an
hour. I'se got t' 'tend t' 'em immejeet, sah. I ain't got no time t'
go huntin' horned toads. I hopes you'll 'scuse me, sah," and with that
Ponto was gone, walking faster than he had at any time since the
travelers arrived.
"He's afraid," said Rose, with a laugh. "I'm not. Come on, Professor,
I'll show you where Ponto means, and maybe we can find some horned
toads."
"Let's all go," proposed Jerry.
"I will, if you'll promise not to let the horrible things come near
me," said Nellie, and Jerry promised.
Mr. Seabury declared he would rather rest on the veranda than hunt
horned toads, so the three boys and the trio of girls, with the
professor, who armed himself with specimen boxes and a small net, set
off after the curious reptiles.
A short distance from the bungalow there was a sort of sandy stretch,
where little grew in the way of vegetation, and there, Rose explained,
was probably where Ponto had seen the toads. They headed toward it,
the scientist eagerly looking on the ground, for a first sight of the
specimens he had come so far to seek.
CHAPTER XII
A STRANGE MEETING
"I GUESS Ponto must have been asleep when he was walking along here,
and dreamed he saw those toads," commented Ned, after the party had
covered a considerable part of the sandy stretch without getting a
glimpse of the ugly reptiles.
"That's too bad!" exclaimed the professor. "I had hopes of finding one
here."
"Oh!" suddenly screamed Rose. "There's one!"
"Where?" asked the scientist eagerly.
"Right there, by that stone. I saw it jump. Oh, girls, I'm going to
run!"
"And she said she wasn't afraid of them!" cried Nellie.
The professor cautiously approached with his net outstretched. With a
long stick he turned the boulder over, and made a quick movement with
his net, imprisoning something beneath it.
"I've got it!" he cried. "I have the horned toad!"
Holding his captive down beneath the net, he leaned forward on his
knees, to get a better view. Over his face came a look of
disappointment.
"It's only a harmless lizard," he said, "and not one of the web-footed
variety, either. That's too bad. I thought I had my toad."
"I'm glad, Professor," said Rose. "Oh, no," she added quickly, "I'm
sorry for you, but I'm glad it wasn't a horned toad so close to me."
The professor raised the net and the lizard scurried away, probably
very much frightened, and wondering what all the excitement was about.
"Let's go over this way," suggested Ned.
"That looks as if it might be a good place for toads," and he pointed
to where there was a clump of trees.
"Can you tell where horned toads like to stay?" asked Olivia.
"No," replied Ned, in a low voice, "but it's shady over there, and
this sun, beating down on the sand, is very hot. I wanted to get where
it's cool, and, anyhow, there's just as liable to be horned toads
there as anywhere. If he doesn't find a toad he'll find something else
that will make him nearly as happy, so it's all the same."
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