Calvin broke the silence. "I don't let this chance slip, boys. I'm powerful keen, myself."
"So'm I," echoed several others.
The sheriff coughed. "Well—really—I'm agreeable, but I'm afeerd it'll be a powerful sight o' trouble, miss."
"Oh no, let us attend to that," cried Jennie. "We shall expect you in fifteen minutes," and taking Elsie by the arm, she started across the road.
As the cowboys followed the graceful retreating figures of the girls, Lawson and Curtis looked at each other with eyes of amazement; Lawson acknowledged a mighty impulse to laugh. "How unmilitary," he muttered.
"But how effective," replied Curtis, his lips twitching.
The cowboys muttered among themselves. "Say, is this a dream?"
"Who said pork-and-beans?"
"Does my necktie kiver my collar-button?" asked a third.
"Come, boys!" called Curtis, cheerily. "While the sheriff and I have a little set-to, you water your ponies and dust off, and be ready for cold potatoes. You're a little late for a square meal, but I think we can ease your pangs."