He could give a pretty good guess what it all meant, and did not have to wait for Chunky to pass the information along. Some other persons besides themselves had taken a notion to start a round-up that was not ordered, and right then were busily engaged in getting things moving.
Apparently the punchers had not arrived any too soon, for the rustlers were undoubtedly abroad; and had the range riders been delayed another half hour they must have arrived at Washout Coulie to find the feeding grounds bare, and discover that the herd had mysteriously vanished!
CHAPTER XIV.
STAMPEDING THE PRIZE BUNCH.
“Steady, Ally, and don’t try it!” Chunky was saying in a low but tense voice. He seemed to have suspected that the treacherous puncher would be greatly excited over the fact that his friends were at work above, and might take considerable chances in order to let them know the men from the Double Cross had arrived on the scene of action unannounced.
They gathered in a little clump. The other two punchers must have guessed why Chunky was acting in this way toward Sloper, for they eyed the latter suspiciously, and Ned could see that Arizona Tom had his heavy gun in his hand, as though ready to use it promptly should the other try to dash away without authority.
“Seems like we didn’t get here any to soon, hey, Ned?” ventured Jimmy, with one of his hoarse whispers.
“Same old luck keeps after us,” was the reply of the scout master; “as long as that holds good I should worry more for the other fellow than on our account.”
“It’s them pesky rustlers that have hit up a hot pace, and got on the ground ahead o’ us,” Chunky was growling; and then, as though his humor changed, he went on to add: “but say, mebbe we won’t give ’em the surprise o’ their lives.”
“Then you’ll tackle the bunch, even if they number more than we do?” asked Ned, seeking information while they waited for a move on the part if those who were so busily engaged up the coulie.
“Shucks! it wouldn’t stop us if they was three to our one,” Chunky answered, with the freedom from concern that usually marks the true cowman. “If we can surprise the critters the advantage’ll lie with us. And let me say right now that it won’t be safe for any feller to get gay, and give a yip, or let his gun go off by accident, ’cause another is apt to drop into the habit, which is a bad one.”