“All right, Hinkee; but keep your big words for the round-up,” was the laughing advice from somewhere out of the darkness.
The boys heard horses galloping toward them. The silence of the night was further broken by the uneasy movement of a large bunch of cattle that could dimly be observed off to the left.
“Take it easy now, whoever you are,” was the advice given by one of the approaching horsemen. “We’ve both got guns that go off mighty easy, and Hinkee Dee back there’s got two more.”
“Isn’t this rotten luck!” exclaimed Ned in disgust. “Just as we were going to get them they get us!”
“They haven’t got us yet,” observed Jerry, significantly in a low voice.
“Are you going to fight?” asked Bob.
“Not with guns, no. But let’s wait and see who they are.”
“Cattle thieves! Who else?” asked Ned, indignantly.
The tramping of the horses ceased. The boys saw two mounted figures confronting them as they stood outside the tent that was attached to the rear of their car. Then a match flared and they blinked in the glare.
“Sufferin’ horned toads!” came the explanation. “[They’re nothin’ but boys, and tenderfeet at that!] Drop them guns, boys. It ain’t healthy to play with men’s tools that way in this country! Drop ’em!” and the command was not one to be lightly disregarded.