“Cattle thieves!” ejaculated Hinkee Dee. “Cattle—huh!” and he seemed too surprised for further observation.
“That’s what we’re hunting for,” went on Ned. “And we’d have had you, only you were too quick for us. But——”
“Say, who do you think you are?” demanded Hinkee Dee in contemptuous tones.
“I believe they really do take us for cattle thieves!” exclaimed another of the cowboys.
There was some laughter, and Hinkee Dee remarked:
“Well, then it’s an even guess, for that’s what I think they are. Who are you?” he shot out suddenly.
It dawned on Ned and his chums that they had, perhaps, made a mistake.
“Tell ’em who we are, and what we’re after,” suggested Bob, in a low voice. “They might shoot without giving us a chance.”
Thereupon Ned explained, saying that he was the son of one of the owners of the ranch, that they had come out to try to capture the cattle rustlers but had lost their way.
“You’re not so very much lost,” said Hinkee Dee, drawlingly. “You’re on part of Square Z ranch now and we’re part of the outfit.”