"It's rustlers, by G-d!" cried Hopalong, looking triumphantly at Red.
"An' I found a dead cow—shot—on th' upper end of North Hill," Skinny added.
"H2!" Red shouted. "They're doing it!"
"Yes, likely; it was an H2 cow," Skinny placidly explained.
"Why in h—l can't you tell things in a herd, 'stead of stringin' 'em out like a stiff reata trailing to soften!" Red cried. "Yo're the damndest talker that ever opened a mouth!"
Skinny took the pipe from his mouth and looked at Red.
"I allus get it all out, don't I? What are you kicking about?"
"Yes, you do; like a five thousand herd filtering through a two-foot gate!"
"Mebby th' herd drifted to th' valley," Pete offered.
"Mebby nothing!" Red retorted. "Why, we can't drive 'em down here without 'em acting loco about it."