“Certainly, though in a vast country like this, it’s mighty hard to watch the frontier; an’ there’s many a good hidin’ place along the Rio—all that makes it hard.”
“Maybe the Ramblers will help us,” drawled Chaney with a broad grin.
“If our crowd had the authority, and stayed here long enough we might,” laughed Tom.
A few miles farther on they came to a branch of the river recently crossed, and entered another brake, almost as dense as the other. Half an hour’s travel beyond this brought them in sight of a horse and rider. On catching sight of the advancing party, the man cracked his rawhide quirt and galloped forward.
“That’s Jim Roland,” announced Carl Alvin.
“Another Ranger?” asked Professor Kent.
“Yes, sir, and a good one.”
Jim Roland was of course astonished to see so many boys among the horsemen, a fact which brought forth several humorous observations from Tom. Finally, after having his curiosity partially satisfied, the Ranger led the crowd toward a hut which nestled near the base of a low hill. Almost hidden behind a grove of cottonwoods it seemed to be an ideal situation for the quarters of the Ranger detachment.
CHAPTER VII
SCOUTING
They found the policeman in charge making out a report to the adjutant-general at Austin.