Jimmy was laughing softly to himself as they sat there, waiting the turn of events.
“What strikes you as so funny, Jimmy?” asked Ned.
“Well,” replied the other scout, “I was only thinkin’ how little we can see further than our noses. Now, only a bit ago some of us began to complain that the excitement was all in the past. But say, look what we’ve run up against before we’ve been in this country of the cattle rustlers a single day. Can you beat it?”
And Ned, as he looked back at the strange events marking the last twenty-four hours, was compelled to admit that Jimmy was right; for they had certainly never met with a more thrilling series of happenings than those which had come their way. And it also seemed as though the end was not yet; for there still remained to be carried out his business affair in connection with the man who was wanted so badly by the Secret Service people at Washington.
As they sat there and exchanged remarks, the noise grew in volume, and presently from three quarters at once moving objects began to loom up, that soon developed into the expected droves. From which it would seem that success had accompanied the Double Cross punchers in every round-up, and that the herds were all safe.
CHAPTER XVI.
AFTER THE RUSTLERS’ RAID.
As the other herds came in the excitement grew intense. Cattle were lowing, men shouting and horses whinnying at such a rate that the two boys changing their mind, had to make their way out to the corral to see the last of the great drive by moonlight.
By degrees things quieted down, though there would be more or less uneasiness manifested among the impounded cattle throughout the night.
The punchers were a noisy lot. Dozens of questions flowed in upon Chunky, Dutch and the other two who managed to bring in the prize herd. This was after the news was circulated that the rustlers had been in the act of making off with the cattle in Washout Coulie at the time the Double Cross boys arrived on the scene.
There was much bitter lamentation heard among the unlucky ones, because they had been cheated out of all the fun. They could have a drive at any time, but a genuine encounter with the bold rustlers was something worth while.