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Transcriber's note:

      Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).

      In Chapter VII the Indian name "Ikuts tarush" is mentioned
      twice. The "u" in both words has a macron above it and is
      represented as [=u].





JACK, THE YOUNG RANCHMAN


  [Illustration: "JACK COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE CALF HAD NOT
  BEEN CHOKED TO DEATH."--_Page 101._]


JACK, THE YOUNG RANCHMAN

Or

A Boy's Adventures in the Rockies

by

GEORGE BIRD GRINNELL

Author of "Pawnee Hero Stories," "Blackfoot Lodge Tales," Etc.







[Illustration]

New York
Frederick A. Stokes Company
Publishers

Copyright, 1899,
By Frederick A. Stokes Company

Nineteenth Printing

Printed in the United States of America




PREFACE.


Far away in the west, close to the backbone of the continent,
lies the sage-brush country where the happenings described in the
following pages took place.

The story is about real things and about real people, many of whom
are alive to-day. The ranch lies in the Rocky Mountains, in a great
basin, walled in by mountains on every hand, and 7,500 feet above the
level of the sea.

The life there was exciting. There was good hunting--antelope and
elk and bears and buffalo; and, far away--yet near enough to be very
real--there were wild Indians.

It is a pleasure to review those days in memory.




CONTENTS


    CHAPTER                                PAGE

         I. Jack Danvers                      1

        II. Prairie Wolves and Antelope      11

       III. The Road to the Ranch            21

        IV. A Grizzly Killed                 30

         V. Roping and Riding                37

        VI. An Ancient Massacre              49

       VII. Hugh Chased by Indians           62

      VIII. Jack's First Antelope            72

        IX. John Monroe, Halfbreed           89

         X. Cows in a Snow-drift             98

        XI. Jack's First Elk                107

       XII. Antelope Kids                   116

      XIII. Jack Kills a Lion               125

       XIV. Wolves and Wolf-hounds          136

        XV. Digging out a Wolf's Den        148

       XVI. Birds and their Nests           157

      XVII. Hunting on the Mountain         167

     XVIII. With the Horse Roundup          180

       XIX. Busting Broncos                 194

        XX. A Trip to Smith's Hole          206

       XXI. Jack's First Camp-fire          214

      XXII. A Load of Blacktail             225

     XXIII. Occupations of a <DW36>        236

      XXIV. A Berrying Party                245

       XXV. An Elk Hunt                     254

      XXVI. Jack Rides a Wild Horse         263

     XXVII. A Mysterious Cave               274

    XXVIII. What the Cave Held              285

      XXIX. Swiftfoot in New York           297




ILLUSTRATIONS


 "JACK COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE CALF HAD NOT
  BEEN CHOKED TO DEATH."                            frontispiece

  "JACK CREPT UP PAST HUGH... AND TOOK A CAREFUL
  AIM."                                                       84

  "THE ANIMAL LAUNCHED ITSELF FROM ITS PERCH FULL
  TOWARDS JACK."                                             130

  "RAISED HIS RIFLE TO HIS SHOULDER AND FIRED."              256




JACK, THE YOUNG RANCHMAN




CHAPTER I

JACK DANVERS


The door-bell rang, and from the library Jack heard the soft tread of
Aunt Hannah, as she walked through the hall to answer it. There was
a murmur of voices, and then Hannah's tones, loud and high pitched:
"Guns! no indeedy, chile, ye can't leave 'em here. Not here, chile.
Take 'em away. No, I don't keer if they is Mr. Sturgis'. Go 'way. I
won't take 'em. Gib 'em to the policeman