“That’s pretty good for you,” said Jim. “Keep on you will be a wit.”
“I am already,” replied Jo modestly.
It seemed kind of natural to hear the boys joking so light-heartedly, and like old times. The battle was over without any dramatic crisis. Things do happen that way sometimes, and the boys were perfectly satisfied to have it end without any grand blow out or blow up. They soon found out that the enemy had indeed retreated, for they went up the gully, that is, Jim and Juarez did, with due caution, and found that Gus Gols and his gang had gone. They discovered the place where their horses had been hitched.
“Good riddance to bad rubbish,” said Jim enthusiastically.
“I wonder if they will attack us again to-night?” questioned Juarez.
“We will be ready for them if they do,” remarked Jim.
“I suppose we will start to-morrow,” said Juarez, as the two walked back across the level meadow towards the hill.
“Yes, if the coast is clear,” remarked Jim. “We can’t afford to lose any more time.”
“They are almost sure to lay for us in the canyon,” remarked Juarez. “We will have to find some other way.”
“One of us will go this afternoon,” said Jim, “and see if we can’t strike a new trail.”