They turned in rather early, probably because the Rangers did, and were up with the sun.
Immediately after breakfast George Parry set up his camera and took several motion-pictures of the Rangers performing various duties. He also filmed a detail of mounted men, and the Ramblers and Cranny exhibiting some fancy tricks on horseback, “stunts” which had been taught to them by the Wyoming cowboys, Cranny explained.
When the last picture had been taken and the detail in charge of Carl Alvin was starting off, Parry called after them:
“I’ll label one of these, ‘Departure of the Texas Rangers and the Rambler Club in search of cattle rustlers.’”
“I only hope we run across ’em,” yelled Cranny in reply. “If we do, then some of us will see a moving picture in real life.”
That day the scouting party made a journey which embraced many miles of territory. They met several cowboys and saw herds of cattle. That, however, was the extent of their experiences. So far as could be learned the bandits were keeping quiet; though none of the men, with whom they talked, thought it would be for long.
On the succeeding days the boys again accompanied the scouts, and these long, fatiguing rides over all sorts of country, with the sun’s hot rays beating down upon them, gave every one a good insight into the hardships and discomforts which the policemen of the plains were often obliged to face.
This sort of life was making a remarkable change in the appearance of Don Stratton. His face had now become fully as bronzed as that of any Rambler, and a new strength and vigor seemed to have been imparted to his frame.
On two occasions when night came upon them the party camped under the star-studded heavens; and both times lay awake for over an hour, listening to Dave Brandon as he talked entertainingly about the wonders of the stars and constellations so many millions of miles away.
Returning to camp early one evening they found two things to interest them. One was the arrival of Sergeant Robson Howell to take command of the detachment; the other an announcement by Professor Kent that he and George Parry intended to leave on the following morning for Mexico.