‘That,’ said Dell coldly, ‘Yuh earned it, Spike.’
‘Well, for God’s sake!’
The knockout had taken the fight all out of Spike. He looked at Rex gloomily and shook his head.
‘Well, we might as well go back and get the horses,’ said Dave Morgan. ‘It’s all off for to-day.’
Ignoring Rex, they headed back to the ranch-house, with him following. And it was there that Dave Morgan and Spike Cahill staged a swearing contest. Both of their horses were missing.
For several moments the air was blue with profanity. Dell Bowen went through the house, but could find no one.
‘The old man took one and the girl took the other,’ he said.
‘I’ve got a good notion to punch the head off that damn tenderfoot,’ growled Dave Morgan.
‘Go ahead, Davie,’ urged Spike. ‘Hit him for me.’
‘No,’ said Bowen firmly. ‘He has nothin’ to do with it. Hittin’ him won’t correct our mistakes.’