Drawing himself to his full height and striving to be as severe as possible, Horace said:
"If any of you men know of any trouble that may come to the Half-Moon herd, it is your duty to tell my father before he goes away."
The words and the seriousness of the boy standing before them sent the men into another roar of laughter.
But Sandy hastened to say:
"There's nothing we know, kid. Skinny was only joking."
Horace was about to reply when Hop Joy poked his head through the door, saying:
"Glub all leady, Ned."
"All right, Hop." And springing from his bunk, Ned went out to harness his horses, accompanied by several of the cowboys.
For an hour or so the chums stayed in the bunkhouse, listening to stories of marvelous feats of broncho-busting and whatever else the men pleased to tell them, only leaving when Nails announced it was time to go to the corral and saddle up.
"Aren't you going with them?" asked Tom.