"And one of them is loading his pistol!" cried Miss Pennington. "Oh, dear!"
"I guess they'll have to load up all around after the shots they fired," laughed Russ. "I wonder what in the world it's all about, anyhow?"
He learned a moment later.
One of the cowboys, evidently the leader, rode his fiery little horse up to the station platform, and taking off his broad-brimmed hat with a flourish and a bow, asked:
"Is this the moving picture outfit?"
"It is," said Mr. Pertell.
"I reckoned that I'd read your brand right," the cowboy went on. "Welcome to Rocky Ranch!"
"But where is it?" asked Alice, and then she blushed at her own boldness, for the glance of the half-score of cowboys was instantly drawn in her direction, and bold admiration shone in their eyes.
"It isn't far from here, Miss," was the answer. "It lies just over that little rise. You can't see it. We've come to take you out there. That's why we brung the wagons, and some of the boys thought they'd like to ride in and see you, seein' as how the round-up is over and we ain't so terrible rushed with work."
"We heard you coming," said Mr. Pertell. "Some of the ladies were a little apprehensive."