“The bandits are probably making for the border into Mexico,” Jim murmured. “The Sheriff and his men will catch ’em.”
Tom laughed. “They haven’t done much catching so far. I’ll bet the bandits get clean away.”
“Then there is nothing to worry about,” Gale said.
“No, nothing to worry about,” agreed Tom.
When Gale had entered the tent she shared with Valerie and Phyllis, she went immediately to sleep and did not know that long after she retired, Tom and Jim talked seriously and long about the possibility of meeting the rustlers before they reached the ranch safely.
Chapter X
RUSTLERS
“Oh, how I love to get up in the morning,” sang Janet between yawns as she stumbled from the tent with Carol close behind her. “Hullo, are we getting company?”
Two cowboys on dust covered, lathered ponies had dashed into the camp circle and pulled their mounts up short beside the campfire. Jim who had been on his knees poking at the ashes to stir the flames to life got up slowly with a wide grin of welcome. Tom joined the four and Virginia, coming from the tent, greeted them also.
“Let’s get an earful,” Carol proposed. “Evidently they are riders from the K Bar O.”
“Then ya didn’ see anythin’ of ’em?” one of the new arrivals was murmuring to Tom.