"So I just cut the rope and picked up the youngster. Here he is, not much worse for wear. But you won't do it again, will you?"
"No—no—I don't guess I will," answered Russ.
"Captain Roy, this is my sister, Mrs. Bunker, and this is Mr. Bunker," said Uncle Fred, introducing them. "This is Captain Robert Roy, my ranch partner about whom I spoke to you," he went on to Mr. and Mrs. Bunker. "He has been away, or you would have met him last night."
"I'm glad you are here to-day, to get my boy out of the trouble he got himself into," said Mr. Bunker, as he shook hands with the former soldier.
"I am glad, too!" exclaimed the captain. "I like children, and I don't want to see them hurt. But, as it happened, Russ wasn't."
"He might have been, only for you," said Mrs. Bunker. "We can't thank you enough. Russ, don't lasso anything more."
"Can't I lasso a fence post, Mother?" Russ asked.
"Well, maybe that, or something that isn't alive. But no more calves."
"All right," said Russ.
His clothes were brushed off, Captain Roy talked a little while with Mr. and Mrs. Bunker, and then went back to his work, and Uncle Fred remarked: