“We leave um pony here,” exclaimed Nig, after taking a careful survey of the plains that he might get his bearings.
“But why? The catacombs must be all of five miles away,” protested Hawks.
“Sure. But Louie, him can see man on pony heap more easy than man in grass on foot.”
“That’s true enough. Yet he won’t be looking for us, seeing that he jumped our horses on us,” returned the owner of the Star and Moon ranch.
“Louie no take chances. Um know cowmen not only ones on trail.”
“See here, Hen. I say we let Nig have his way,” exclaimed Bowser. “He sure knows his business—and we haven’t made a howling success of our part.”
This proposal met the ready response of the cowboys and without more ado, they quickly dismounted, hobbled their ponies and resumed the trail to the Midnight Raider’s lair on foot.
Bending low, they advanced cautiously till they were within some two hundred yards of the base of the catacombs.
“My back’s lame stooping over,” snarled the owner of the Star and Moon. “I think this business of crouching is all rot, anyhow. I’m going to stand up.”
But bitterly did the ranchman regret his decision and heartily did his fellows curse him.