"That bird isn't much of a sport," declared Bet, watching the little drama with eager eyes. "It doesn't give the snake a fighting chance. I feel sorry for it."
Kit laughed. "Don't waste your sympathy on rattlesnakes. Take something worthy of your respect."
Kit watched the struggle with little emotion but the other girls turned away not wanting to see the end of the uneven fight.
"Let's go," said Enid, jumping to her feet. "I've seen enough."
An hour later when the girls were entering the little desert town of Saugus, and just as they came to the first adobe houses, they saw a horseback rider coming toward them. As he rode nearer the man waved them a greeting.
"It's Kie Wicks! And he's good-natured," grunted Kit suspiciously. "Wonder what he's doing over here today? Up to some meanness, I know, otherwise he wouldn't be so cordial to us."
"Well his meanness doesn't concern us," answered Bet.
"You can't be sure of that. He's probably bought up some second hand food stuff that he plans to work off on the ranchers during the summer."
"And what's your errand over this way?" inquired Kie Wicks bluntly.
"I came to visit an ice cream parlor and go to a movie," chuckled Joy.