“Bandits?” questioned the guide, regarding the visitor narrowly.
“Yes. They’ve held me up twice in twenty-four hours, and the last time they took my horse away.”
“It strikes me that you are quite handy with hold-up methods yourself,” observed Hippy Wingate.
“Peanuts? Peanuts?” demanded Stacy eagerly. “Got any with you?”
“It will be my everlasting regret that I have not. You see I ate up most of my samples, then the bandits took the rest of them. This is a rotten country. I had to get food, and when I smelled your smoke I took a chance, not knowing whether or not I was running into another bunch of bandits, and here I am, safe and sound. Luck is with the Man from Seattle, the greatest peanut salesman in the world. I’ll have a cup of coffee, if you please, and anything else that’s lying around loose, then I shall be delighted to take your orders for peanuts to be delivered at your homes, freight paid, and an extra bag gratis for good luck.”
“Why, certainly, you shall have something to eat,” promised Grace. “Girls, help me rustle some grub for our caller. Were you lost?”
“Lost? Why, I’ve never found myself since I came into the forest. How could a man, who never has known where he was at, be lost? Been held up by these mountain ruffians yet?”
The Overlanders shook their heads.
“They are so sudden. Why, they wouldn’t even give me an opportunity to demonstrate—”
“Demonstrate!” cried Emma with sudden interest. “Do you demonstrate, Mr. Hart—”