“By-the-way, Sam has come back again.”
“He has!” exclaimed Bob, in a tone of disgust. “What does he want?”
“He wants a job of herding sheep,” answered the superintendent.
“Well, he can’t have it! We don’t want any such men as he is. I thought my father told him never to show his face about here again.”
“So he did, but Sam knows that your father is not here now to drive him away.”
“That doesn’t make any difference. I am here, and my father’s wishes shall be respected. This Sam is a bad fellow,” said Bob, turning to his companions. “He and three other cowboys once rode into Dixon Springs and began shooting right and left at everybody they saw on the streets.”
“What did they do that for?” asked George.
“They did it out of pure bravado—nothing else—for the citizens hadn’t done anything to them.”
“Why didn’t they arrest them?” inquired Arthur.
“Arrest them!” repeated Bob, smiling at Mr. Jacobs, who smiled in return. “They couldn’t, and besides that isn’t the way things are done in this country. The citizens returned the fire, killed two of the cowboys and captured another, whom they hanged to the nearest tree. Sam was the only one who escaped. Of course father discharged him at once, and Sam sent him word that he was waiting for a chance to take vengeance on him. Now he has the impudence to come back here and ask for a job. Kick him off the ranch, Mr. Jacobs.”