“We shall be ready by the time you get your mules and packs ready,” answered Hippy. “This outfit moves without fuss, but it occasionally makes quite a racket in doing so. Get busy, boys!”
Jim-Sam turned away, still side by side, each carrying himself with a dignity that made the Overlanders laugh. While the provisions and other equipment were being purchased by the women of the party, Tom and Hippy unloaded the ponies, and Stacy, uttering many grunts and groans, piled their equipment on the ground near the stock car. The ponies were then secured to the tie-rail in front of the general store, where they were looked over and felt of by every man in the village, including several cowboys from neighboring ranches.
During the unloading, Hippy and Tom had noticed a cowboy sitting on a mustang some little distance from them, observing the Overland operations with keen interest.
“Who is that fellow?” asked Hippy of a bystander.
The native shook his head, and the horseman, seeing that he had attracted attention to himself, jerked his pony about and trotted away.
“I don’t like the looks of that chap,” declared Tom.
“I reckon he’s all right. Most cowpunchers look tougher than they really are, though it is quite possible that we may meet up with some real rough-necks. I have heard that they are not difficult to find in the Coso range,” replied Hippy.
“Oh, there come our heavenly twins,” cried Emma, who had returned from the store with an armful of packages.
Jim and Sam had just appeared dragging a pair of unwilling mules, behind which, saddled and bridled, trailed two long-haired mustangs. The two men were alternately arguing and berating each other and threatening the mules.
“What kind of an outfit is this?” wondered Emma, her merry eyes regarding the scene.