It was now noon and the boys sat down to a quiet meal, with trout as the main dish, and how they did enjoy it!
“Gosh, boys,” exclaimed Jo, “but it does seem nice to sit down to a meal without the bullets buzzing around.”
“We will get so that we won’t mind bullets any more than mosquitoes,” said Tom.
“Listen to him!” grinned Jim. “Won’t he surprise the natives when we get back to Homeville with his stories of flying bullets, war, and border ruffians.”
“Why not?” retorted Tom sullenly. “What’s the use of going through all this business if you can’t tell about it?”
“Sure thing,” said Jim.
“When are we going home?” asked Jo fervently.
Jim hesitated a minute, and then he brought his clenched fist down on his knee.
“We will go home, boys,” he declared, “before we start on our trip around the world.”