"When I was riding in, you all started up and mounted your ponies. Somebody yelled, 'where are they?' I pointed back to the mountains, and then you rode on," the lad informed him.
It was an unusually long speech for Chunky to make without many halts and pauses. But he did very well with it.
"That is exactly what you did do. When we got there we found not the slightest trace of the cowmen. Where did you see them?"
"I didn't see them," persisted the lad.
"Then why did you tell us you did?"
"I didn't."
Mr. Simms thrust his hands in his pockets and strode back and forth several times.
"Say, young man, did you see anything at all, except what your imagination furnished?"
Chunky nodded emphatically.
"What did you see?"