Cowboys love a joke, and the words and manner of the brothers,
together with their clean-cut faces and manly bearing, appealed to
them, winning the way to their good graces as nothing else could.
All reserve thus broken, the men bade the lads sit down.
"I s'pose you'll be going with us?" hazarded Sandy.
"No, father won't let us. He thinks we're only babies. Says he's
afraid we'll be in the way. So we've got to stay home and watch
the herd at the Witches' Pool."
"You may have your hands full at that," declared one of the cowboys.
"Keep quiet," growled Sandy, frowning at the speaker.
But the remark had suggested all sorts of possibilities to the
lads, and, glancing at Tom and Larry, Horace asked:
"What makes you think so?"
Again Sandy cast a look full of meaning at his fellow and the
cowboy answered:
"Oh, nothing in particular. I was just talking."
The boys had noted Sandy's glances, however, and the reply only
whetted their curiosity.
Drawing himself to his full height and striving to be as severe as
possible, Horace said:
"If any of you men know of any trouble that may come to the
Half-Moon herd, it is your duty to tell my father before he goes
away."
The words and the seriousness of the boy standing before them sent
the men into another roar of laughter.
But Sandy hastened to say:
"There's nothing we know, kid.
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