“Hello, boys!” the old miner answered, somewhat breathlessly. “Gosh! but I’m glad to get away from that crowd. I’d just about given up!”
“We hadn’t!” said Jerry, with a chuckle. “We were counting on rescuing you soon, but you saved us the trouble. Are you all right?”
“Well, I’m as right as a man can be who’s been forced to ride day and night for days, and part of that time gagged and bound on a horse,” Cromley replied. “Say, I don’t care if I never see a saddle again!”
They could appreciate his feelings, mental and physical, as he slumped from the back of his animal and limped stiffly about.
“I’ll have some coffee for you in a few minutes,” called Bob, as he dismounted and began to unpack the campfire stuff of which he had assumed charge. “We might as well lay over here for the night,” he added.
“Yes, I guess so,” assented Tinny, having ascertained by a few observations that it would make a fair camping site.
“I’ll be glad of a good cup of coffee,” murmured Bill Cromley, rubbing his arms and legs to get rid of some of the stiffness.
“Did they treat you pretty mean?” asked Ned.
“As mean as they dared. Oh, but I’m glad to be back with you once more.”