“When did you change them—change the open sights?”
“I did it when you were after water last night.”
“Shake, pard!” cried Hippy, extending an impulsive hand. “We are quits now, aren’t we?”
“Yes, we are dear friends. We’re more than that—we love each other most to death,” declared Stacy fervently.
“Oh, fiddlesticks!” exclaimed Emma Dean. “You make me weary.”
“But, Stacy, the next time you wish to get even with a fellow, please do not tamper with his weapons, especially in a country like this,” warned Lieutenant Wingate. “It is a dangerous thing to do. Suppose I had met up with a cinnamon bear at close range, for instance—what do you think would have happened?”
“I reckon there would have been a sprinting match between you and the cinnamon,” observed Stacy in a tone that brought a shout of laughter from the Overland girls.
“You are partly right,” agreed Hippy laughingly, “but don’t do anything like that again, will you?”
Stacy promised that he would not, but the probabilities are that he forgot the promise within five minutes after he had made it, for at that instant Woo Smith uttered a sudden exclamation that drew the instant attention of the Overland Riders.
“Me savvy buck! Me savvy buck in lelet,” chuckled the Chinaman excitedly.