“Bear Swamp, eh?” mused Gimp. “That’s where some of the good stock was, too.”
“Yes, the old man had a nice bunch fattening there for a special order. He’s ravin’ now.”
For the moment Bob and Ned were more interested in how Munson had been shot than in the news of the cattle being driven off. The same thought was in both their minds. Was the cattle buyer shot while protecting the Square Z herd, or while participating in the theft? This last fitted in with the suspicions in the minds of the two boys. They wanted to ask a question but did not know just how, when Gimp saved them the trouble.
“Where was Munson hit?” he asked. “In the back?” he added as a significant after query.
The Parson laughed.
“It wouldn’t have surprised me if he had been on the run away from the enemy when he got nipped,” he said, “but I’ll have to be just and say it was in the leg, and head on at that.”
“What was he doing?” Gimp next demanded.
“He tried to plug some of the rustlers but they got him first, it seems,” answered the Parson.
“Huh! It seems?” inquired Gimp. “Doesn’t anybody know?”