"Very likely not. But we've got as good a right as they have, and better," spoke the ranch boy. "We'll stick it out, and if they try any of their funny business we'll do the same."
"That's right!" exclaimed Frank, with a grim tightening of his lips. "We're with you from the word go."
"Well, as long as that's settled, suppose we see about grub?" suggested Andy, and his companions laughed at his practical idea. But, none the less, they were willing to conform to it, and soon the campfire was going, and the meal being cooked. Then the tent was put up, the horses picketed, and the boys drew lots to decide the order of standing watch. Frank's turn came first.
The night passed, however, without any alarm sounding, though each lad, in turn, was sure he heard suspicious noises, and with ready rifle stared off in the darkness. Nothing more, however, than the movement of some creature of the underbrush resulted.
"Who's going to get breakfast?" demanded Billy, some hours later, when the sun coming up over the prairies made the yellow rocks about them gleam.
"I got supper," came from Andy.
"Well, I got the water," asserted Frank.
"And I made the fire," laughed the ranch boy. "So as long as we all had a hand in that meal I guess we can do the same for breakfast."
Soon the eggs and bacon were sizzling in the frying pan over the fire, and the appetizing odor of coffee filled the air.
"My! but that certainly smells good!" exclaimed Andy.