"I'll have some mounts for you in a jiffy," replied the Western lad. "Come on now."
He slipped from the saddle, and, clapping his horse on the flank, said:
"Stable, old boy. I can't ride you any more now. I'll see you later."
But the beautiful animal turned and began nosing in Billy's pocket.
"He thinks I've got some lumps of sugar," the lad explained with a laugh. "No, not now, Buffalo. I'll bring some out to you. Better come and get him, Matt," he called to the foreman, and, as the latter approached, Billy introduced the genial Irishman to his chums.
"Well, Aunt Kittie, here we are!" cried Billy, a little later, as he led his chums to the residence of the ranch owner. The house was a low one, and all about it were various buildings, where horses were kept, the tools and implements for the ranch work stored, and quarters for the men provided.
"Oh, land sakes!" cried a voice, and a little woman, in an apron that seemed larger than she herself, hurried out on the porch, her face all smiles. "Land sakes, I'd have known you were here, even if you hadn't told me!" she cried, as she kissed Billy. "Oh, I'm so glad you're back," she went on. "It's been so lonesome without you. And these are the Racer boys, I expect," she went on, as she shook hands with them.
"Guessed it the first time, Auntie!" exclaimed Billy. "And now what have you got to eat? We're starved."
"I never saw you when you weren't!" she laughed. "But I guess the meal is ready. I told——"
She was interrupted by the thrusting forth of a head from a window of a small house a little distance from the main building, and a voice exclaimed: