He went back deeply thankful that no harm had befallen the aeroplane before it made its maiden trip in those Arizona hot airs; and yet puzzled to account for the fire.
“Do you really think it was an accident, Frank?” asked Andy, when they found themselves once more alone in their little room.
“Ask me something easy, won’t you?” replied the other, as he prepared to crawl into bed again. “I wish I did know the truth, because I don’t like this thing of suspecting any fellow, when he may be as innocent as you and me. But honest now, I can’t bring myself to believe that it was an accident.”
“Well, there may be something in that story about the Mexican they call Rustler Carlos,” Andy went on to say. “Buckskin was telling me some things about his doings around this region some years back. He cut a pretty wide swathe, they say; and in his many ‘drives’ carried off hundreds of fat cattle across the border into Mexico, where it wasn’t safe for Americans to go, because they sort of hate Gringoes down there, you know.”
“Yes, I understand,” Frank added, “and just as Uncle Jethro said, he was the first to really break up this fine and profitable rustler business of the cattle thieves. This Carlos must hate him with all the fury his breed can show. And if he ever did have nerve enough to run up this way again, I guess he’d be glad to try and do the Double X Ranch people a rough turn, if he saw the chance. But perhaps we’ll know more about this thing some time later.”
“Yes,” Andy went on to say, a little vindictively, for he had been much worked up over the threatened destruction of the planes and woodwork of the aeroplane; “and if this Rustler Carlos should happen around again, I reckon it’ll be hardly worth mentioning what they won’t do to him. I never saw fellows madder than these boys seem to be right now. And Frank, I kind of think they’ve taken a great liking to you, on so short an acquaintance.”
“Better say yourself, Andy,” retorted the other immediately; “because everybody nearly does, that meets you. Now roll over, and quit thinking about the thing. It’s all right, and no damage done, so go to sleep like a good fellow. You won’t get a single word out of me, I warn you.”
And Andy knowing that his cousin meant it did proceed to chase all thoughts of the recent excitement from his mind, so that he might settle down again into a sound sleep, for it seemed that midnight had no more than passed, so that a long period still remained before the coming of dawn awoke them.
There was no further alarm.
Doubtless that cordon of slumbering cowboys lying around the new shed formed so close a protection, that even a wandering rattlesnake could hardly have passed the line without being challenged.