He hitched his left shoulder a trifle and brought his pistol forward. Teddy did the same.
“Shall we wait?” Teddy asked, glancing back and striving to pierce the blackness.
Roy shook his head.
“Let’s not. If he wants us, he knows where to find us. Though the chances are it’s only one of the men from the 8 X 8. Anyway, it’s none of our business. Come along—step on it!”
Teddy started the motor again, and the car proceeded. As the moon lit the landscape with its beams once more, Roy turned and glanced back. But the road curved just here, and he could see no rider. Also, they could no longer hear the hoofbeats, which, if they were approaching, should have become louder.
“That’s something else to worry about,” Teddy said, with a grin. “Funny that we both took it for granted that whoever it was must be on our trail! We seem to be getting sillier every day. At least I do. Like this afternoon, when we had that snake scare.”
“Forget it,” Roy advised. “You were no worse than I was. I heard a noise—and I would have sworn it was a side-winder. So we’re both in the same boat.”
As they neared home, both boys were wondering about the rider they had heard from afar. Neither would admit this, afraid of being accused of nervousness, but, nevertheless, when they came in sight of the corral of the X Bar X, they glanced cautiously about the place before riding in.
Teddy made a complete circle of the ranch yard, looking keenly about. Roy did not remark on this strange behavior. As they neared the entrance to the yard for the second time, Roy stretched and yawned.
“Let’s hit the hay,” he suggested, letting his arms drop to his sides.