"He's one of our neighbors, if it's him."
"Well, don't you know? Can't you recognize him?"
Having recovered from his fright, the boy stared at the man who had caused it and then announced:
"Yes, it is Jim."
"It's a pity you couldn't have recognized him before!" snapped Tom as he and his brother lowered their rifles.
CHAPTER XVI
WHAT JEFFREYS KNEW
Jeffreys, as soon as he understood his identity had been established, leaped his pony toward the boys and was soon beside them.
"You are a fine lot to be packing rifles!" he snorted, his anger rising as the danger passed. "You may think it's a good joke to cover anybody you meet on the plains, but some one may turn the joke on you by firing before you get your aim. You aren't what you call 'quick on the trigger.'"
"Which is fortunate for you—in this case," declared Larry, resenting the manner and tone of the stranger.