“Yes, I remember, Allan.”
“Well,” said Allan, “Hank and Pierre didn’t happen on the scene until this morning, and by then the ground was somewhat firm again. Is that plain enough?”
“I should say it was, and thank you for the explanation,” Giraffe answered. “It beats all what you fellers can get out of this thing. Why, that alone is about as interesting a fact as anybody could think up.”
“Then Bumpus had, say twelve hours the start?” suggested Step Hen.
“Right here, yes,” replied Allan. “But you must remember that he was meaning to settle down for the night about this time. And when he went on this morning, perhaps they’d be only a couple of hours behind.”
“Whew! things seem to be getting mighty interesting,” remarked Giraffe.
“I should say they were,” Step Hen asserted.
“Don’t I wish Davy and Smithy and Bob White were here.” the long scout went on.
“Huh! there’s four of us as it is, and all carryin’ good guns too. We ought to be enough of a crowd to hold up that pair of cowards,” declared Step Hen, who did not seem to have a very high opinion of Hank and his mate.
“We did it once, all right,” remarked Giraffe, with a grin, “and we c’n do it again, or my name is Dennis.”