Cockney rode round the horse Dakota was leading.
"I didn't know he was out. But first you'd better answer my questions. Where did the cattle stampede from, and how did they happen to be away off there?"
"What difference does that make? But if you want to know"—Dakota was plainly sparring for time—"it was a bit of the Lost Dog Coulee bunch. They ran a long way before we got 'em stopped. Just a small bunch. What's more serious is Pink Eye out there."
"Who's saddle's this?" Cockney was leaning over Pink Eye's back.
Dakota laughed in a nasty way. "Thought maybe you'd know. It's an English saddle. Ever see it before?"
"By gad! That's curious! It's a racing saddle of the lightest kind."
"I found the cinch unbuckled," said Dakota. "We were a bit too quick for the fellow that had him. But we couldn't find him." He cursed..
Cockney rode up to Stamford's window.
"You there, Stamford? Did you lock Pink Eye in the corral last night?"
"Certain of it. Both the Professor and I tried the padlock afterwards."