Presently inside the ranch-house the crowd set to work, and taking a portion of the fragrant balsam boughs from each bed made up two for the travelers. This being accomplished, they promptly lay down and before long were sound asleep, heedless alike to the beauty of the night or the sound of rifle shots which for some time sounded faintly from afar.
CHAPTER VI
IN THE SADDLE
Next morning after breakfast the entire crowd was on the roof.
Tom Clifton, with Bob Somers’ field-glass pressed to his eyes, at last uttered an exclamation which attracted general attention.
“See anythin’?” demanded Cranny.
“Yes. Hooray, fellows! There come the Rangers!” he answered.
“Maybe it’s only a bunch o’ cattle rustlers!” chirped Cranny. “Quick, Tom; let me have a squint.”
Though the sun had risen some distance above the horizon, streamers of grayish mist still hung low over the landscape, completely blotting from view the hills beyond the Rio. But by the aid of the powerful binoculars which penetrated this fast dissolving curtain, Cranny saw the specks assume the definite form of horsemen.
“Correct, Tom, old chap,” he affirmed. “Hustle! We don’t want to keep ’em waitin’.”
“I scarcely think you will,” said the lecturer with a smile.