The crowd, eagerly looking on, nodded approval.
"I should call this the dickens of a puzzle," piped Tom.
"Maybe that strange horseman we saw on the cliff had a hand in it," cried Dick, animatedly; "eh, Bob? Let's see if any of the department store on his back is missing."
A quick search revealed everything in its proper place.
"What does it all mean?" demanded Jack, fiercely. "If some one led the critter back, why did he, or they, leave him here? Nobody could have missed seeing that firelight."
"Ask us a hard one," chirruped Tim. "But isn't this the greatest piece o' luck?"
"And how long do you think the bronc's been here?" asked Dick.
"Another poser," answered Tim. "Perhaps he didn't arrive until after old Luna bobbed up to oversee this part o' the earth again. We could chirp all night about it an' not know. Shall we—"
"We shall," said Dave firmly, between yawns. "The crowd owes a vote of thanks to some person, or persons. Every one is overjoyed, eh? But it mustn't prevent us from getting our sleep. Whose turn on guard is it—yours, Sam?"
"I'm afraid it is."