"You're Wilbur Loyle," he said, "of course. I heard you were coming. Have you had any experience?"
"Just the Colorado Ranger School, sir," said the boy.
"You were to be here three days ago."
"Yes, Mr. Merritt, but I was delayed, and I put up a couple of days with Ben, here."
"He reckoned he had more right to a rabbit what a bob-cat was feastin' on than the cat had," volunteered Rifle-Eye in explanation. "In the ensooin' disagreement he got a bit scratched, an' so I looked after him. I told him to stay at Ben's, an' I guess he's all right now."
"Being three days late isn't the best start in the world," said the Supervisor sharply, "but if Rifle-Eye knows all about it and is willing to stand for it, I won't say any more. Can you cruise?"
"I've learned, sir, but I haven't done much of it. I think, though, I can do it, all right."
"Very well. We'll break off for dinner now, and you can try this afternoon. Or do you still feel tired, and would you rather wait until to-morrow?"
"Thanks, Mr. Merritt," answered Wilbur, "but I want to start right now."
"Very well," said the Supervisor laconically. Then, turning to the Ranger, he commenced talking with him about the work in hand, and for the moment Wilbur was left aside. The lumberman who had been working on the other side of the Supervisor, however, sauntered up and introduced himself as "McGinnis, me boy, Red McGinnis, they call me, because of the natural beauty of me hair."