The boys were in the best of spirits; and for a while Sam Rover had his hands full making Andy and Randy behave.
“I hope we strike a lot of lively cowboys, Uncle Sam,” broke out Andy.
“Perhaps you’ll find some of the cowboys too lively,” was the answer.
Jack and Fred, as well as their sisters, were disappointed that May and Ruth had not been able to accompany them, but they were glad to know that the others would follow later to the ranch.
Soon New York was left behind and the train was speeding along the Hudson River on its way to Albany.
“Just think! By this time to-morrow we’ll be in Chicago,” remarked Martha. “Isn’t it wonderful how you can cover such a distance?”
“Do you know, I almost wish we were going out there in an auto,” returned Fred. “That would be a trip worth taking.”
“Especially if you had to put on all the extra tires along the way, Fred,” added Andy, with a grin.
“Oh, well, I guess I could do that, too, if I had to,” answered the youngest Rover boy quickly. “But the roads from here to Chicago are pretty good, they tell me, so I don’t think we’d have many punctures or blow-outs.”
“Such a trip would be dandy, only it might take more time than we’d care to spend on the way right now,” remarked Jack. “Personally I want to get out to Big Horn Ranch as soon as possible.”