“That’s mighty good of you!” Jimmie managed to say.
“Oh, we couldn’t eat a whole bear!” laughed Mendosa.
“I think I could, right this minute,” Jimmie responded, more courageously. “I’ve been out all day in the Louise, and I’m so empty that I’d collapse if it wasn’t for the wind I brought down with me.”
“I see no reason why you shouldn’t eat, then,” Phillips answered. “You can build a fire and have this steak broiling in a very short time.”
“Will you stay and help us eat it?” asked Jimmie.
Phillips glanced toward Mendoza, and the latter nodded.
“We shall be glad to,” answered the outlaw. “But where are the others?” he went on. “I thought there were four of you and two machines.”
“The others have gone out for exercise!” laughed Kit.
Jimmie’s one purpose now was to keep the outlaws in his company until the return of his chums. They were desperate men, and he had no notion of attempting their capture with only Kit to help.
It goes without saying, then, that he was remarkably slow in gathering fuel for the fire, remarkably slow in broiling the steak, and slower still in preparing the coffee. It seemed to him that the outlaws regarded his dilatory movements impatiently.