"Maybe not," agreed Sammy, whose beliefs died hard. "If they are, they've got kind hearts, anyway."
"Now," said the leader, coming up to where the lads were sitting and dropping down beside them in friendly fashion, "tell us where you live and what has brought you out on the prairie to-night."
"We're stopping at Bar-Z ranch," said George.
"We came from the East and we're spending our vacation here," volunteered Frank.
"We went out for a ride to-day and our horses were scared by the thunder and lightning and ran away from us," added Sammy.
"And we've been wandering around trying to find our way home ever since," explained Bob.
"Well now, that's too bad," said the leader, while the rest of his party, who were listening eagerly, murmured their sympathy. "I'll get word to your folks right away so that they won't be worried about you. You can stay with us to-night and we'll see that you get home safe in the morning."
"But say!" he continued, as a thought struck him, "why was it that you were hiding out there when we caught sight of you? I'd have thought you'd have made a bee line to the fire the minute you saw it."
The boys looked at each other rather confusedly.
"Come," laughed the man with some curiosity, "tell us why you didn't make a break for the fire right away."