The train passed through the sandy hollow without further mishap; and when they climbed out and pulled on over the next rise they met the buffalo hunters returning. The mules’ saddles were red with meat, and the three riders were well pleased with their hunt.
The sun was low over the trail before, making golden the dust of travel.
“We’ll camp here, boys,” called Charley, cheerfully, “and do what butchering we need on those buffalo carcasses. Swing out, Joel. Whew, man! You must have had to lay on the lash a bit heavy, didn’t you?” For the haunches of the lead team were bloody welted. More than that, the cracker seemed to have taken a piece of hide out the size of a quarter!
“No,” said Joel, briefly. “I didn’t.”
“Well,” continued Charley, “let’s corral where we are. Yank, you—what’s the matter with your eye, man?”
“I fell down,” answered Yank, steadily. And at the laugh which went up he reddened deeply again, and again his hand twitched.
XVII
DAVY “THE BULL WHACKER”
Charley scanned him quizzically for a moment.