"I'll tell him what's going on, but there ain't no use of bringing him down here till we has to," Hopalong replied. "We can handle 'em. But I reckon Johnny had better go up an' tell him."
"Johnny ought to be riding this way purty quick; he's coming from th' hills."
"We'll meet him an' get him off."
They met Johnny and when he had learned of his mission he protested against being sent away from the line when things were getting crowded. "I don't want to miss th' fun!" he exclaimed. "Send Red, or Lanky."
"Red's too handy with th' Winchester; we might need him," Hopalong replied, smiling.
"Then you go, Lanky," Johnny suggested. "I'm better'n you with th' Colt."
"You're better'n nothing!" retorted Lanky. "You do what you're told, an' quick. Nothing will happen while you're gone, anyhow."
"Then why don't you want to go?"
"I don't want th' ride," Lanky replied. "It's too fur."
"Huh!" snorted Johnny. "Too bad about you an' th' ride! Poor old man, scared of sixty miles. I'll toss up with you."