Withem introduced the professor and his charges. There were, besides the Lieutenant, Pete Quash, "Dippy" Orell, Cad Morgan, Bucky Moore, "Polly" Perkins and several others, all of whom were introduced in turn, the Rangers solemn as owls, making low bows, sweeping the ground with their sombreros, causing Stacy to open his eyes in wonderment. Lieutenant Withem made the party feel at home at once.
"Just in time to have chuck with us. You see we have our chuck wagon here. Of course we don't carry it wherever we go. We usually have some central point where we make headquarters. But we have to keep changing these headquarters for reasons you understand."
All hands sat down to the evening meal after the men had washed up, in most instances without removing their hats. This attracted the attention of the fat boy.
"Say, do you fellows sleep in your hats as well as wash and eat in them?" he demanded.
"Do you sleep in your skin?" retorted Dippy.
"Yes, unless it has been all skinned off from me. When I was fighting
Indians up in the Grand Canyon—-"
"Chop it!" commanded a Ranger. "Men have been known to meet their death for less in this country."
"Can't I say what I've got to say?" demanded the fat boy indignantly.
"Are you going to brag about yourself?" demanded Polly.
"I'm telling you, and—-"