“Your foreman certainly seems to be a fine fellow,” said Jack. “We got well acquainted with him riding over.”
“He was well recommended by the former owners of the ranch, Jack. And so far I’ve had no occasion to find any fault with him. He seems thoroughly trustworthy.”
The Powells had given their visitors their choice of what to do concerning rooms. They could either crowd themselves a little and remain in the one ranch house, or otherwise the boys could take rooms in the other house, which was located about two hundred yards away.
“If we went over to the other place we could have things all our own way,” whispered Andy to his brother and Fred. “We could come and go to suit ourselves.”
“I think you boys had better stay in this house with us,” said Mrs. Rover. “Then we can keep an eye on you.”
“But there is no sense in all of us being crowded,” returned Sam Rover. “And the boys are certainly old enough to take care of themselves. I think we had better let this matter rest until to-morrow, and then we can see how we can arrange it.”
“If the boys go over to the other ranch house I’ll have Joe Jackson stay there with them,” said Songbird. “He’ll know how to make them line up if anything goes wrong.”
Several days later it was arranged for all the boys to take their belongings and settle down in the other ranch house so far as rooming was concerned. They were to have their meals in the main house. The foreman of the ranch went with them, taking a room in a corner where he could watch what was going on if it became necessary to do so. The boys took three connecting rooms, the twins occupying one, Jack and Fred another, and Spouter and Gif the third.
On the second day at the ranch the boys began to feel quite at home. Accompanied by the men, they had visited many points of interest and had become acquainted with all the cowboys, and also with Hop Lung, the cook.
“Wellee nice boys,” remarked the cook, after they had been chatting with him and gone their way. “Wellee nice boys. Me cookee heap good dinner for ’em.” And then he dived into his kitchen to start his preparations for the next meal.