“Twilight was darkening into night before we three weary riders said good-by to each other and parted—they to go back to their lookout, and I to ride down here to keep the tryst with you fair ladies.”
As Mr. Gilroy concluded his tale, the scouts cried: “Oh, Gilly! That isn’t all! Where did you find Tally and the burros?”
“Ah! But that’s another yarn which must be told by the hero himself. Now Tally, it is your turn to brag of all you did,” chuckled Mr. Gilroy, leaning back in the chair to hear Tally speak.
At the same time the Guide leaned back in his chair also, and sighing heavily, remarked with satisfaction: “Ah, dat goot job done clean!” Then he pushed his polished plate away from before him and wiped his mouth carefully on the napkin.
The scouts laughed, but Julie added: “Tell us your story.”
“Solly, Mees Jule, but me go fix burros for sleep now,” and with that the Indian slipped away and could not be urged back.
CHAPTER NINE
TALLY AND THE RUSTLERS
“That was some fine work our Guide accomplished with those two horse-thieves,” remarked Mr. Gilroy, enjoying the inquisitive urging of the girls to make him tell the tale.
“Yes, sir! I won my bet with both those Forest Rangers—or at least I would have won it had we only laid wagers on the result of this work of Tally’s,” he added, smiling at the scouts.