THE MEN CAME UP AND SURROUNDED THEM.
"Why, it's only a bunch of kids," said one of them. "And wet through to the skin."
"What on earth are you youngsters doing out on the prairie on a night like this?" asked another.
"Poor little bedraggled chaps," said a third in a deep, kindly voice. "Come right over here to the fire and let us dry you out."
Although these men might have been steeped in crime, there was nothing to indicate that they had anything but the kindliest feeling toward boys, and the forlorn wanderers followed them without much misgiving to the warm and cheery fire.
Here they were immediately surrounded and plied with questions. But the man who seemed to be the leader insisted that before the boys answered any questions they should be thoroughly warmed and fed.
This suited the boys to a dot. They were given seats near the fire and supplied with all the bacon and eggs they could eat and all the milk they could drink. Under this treatment their spirits revived. What a contrast between now and an hour ago when they were wandering over the cold, wet prairie!
"I don't believe they're outlaws," whispered Bob to Sammy.