“I was half ashamed of myself, in fact a good deal more than half,” said he, “when I found how kindly they treated us. They took pity on me and gave us a good breakfast, which we sadly needed, and they could n't have been more sympathetic if we'd been of their own kith and kin.”
“And to think I flattered that woman into believing she looked like the wife of the governor of Arkansas, whom I've never seen, and don't know how she looks. Well, anyway, she had a good, pleasant face, and if the governor's wife has as kind a heart His Excellency may be proud of her.”
“We 'll get even with them and make a return for their kindness one of these days,” said Harry; “and perhaps we 'll do it very soon. But it will never do to let them know how they were imposed upon, as it would be a reflection on their discernment.”
Nothing of consequence happened to the youths until late in the afternoon, when they were suddenly confronted by ten or twelve rough-looking fellows, armed with shotguns and squirrel-rifles, after the usual style of the scouting parties they had already seen. But if there was any difference between this party and its predecessors, it was in favor of the earlier ones, as the crowd they were now facing seemed to be decidedly a worse lot. With their weapons aimed at the heads of the youths they ordered them down from their horses, threatening to shoot them if they did n't get down at once.
“Now I'll do the crazy, idiotic trick,” whispered Jack.
Harry got down from his horse, but Jack sat still and stared vacantly and with open mouth at the rangers.
“Get off that horse!” said one of the men, “and be quick about it.”
“Don't mind him!” exclaimed Harry; “he's my crazy brother, and I'm taking him home. He don't know what he's doing.”
This seemed to amuse the strangers, and they drew down their weapons and waited to see what the lunatic would do next.
Jack continued to hold his mouth open and look as foolish as possible. He stared at the strangers for two or three minutes, shifting his gaze from one to another. Finally, pointing to one of the men, he said: