You aren't what you
call 'quick on the trigger.'"
"Which is fortunate for you--in this case," declared Larry,
resenting the manner and tone of the stranger.
The sight of the two serious-faced boys, whose eyes showed them to
be keen and alert, brought Jeffreys to his senses.
"I reckon you're right," he exclaimed. "But what's up, Horace? If
you and your friends are out for a little excitement, just take my
tip and turn your attention to jumping a coyote or you may----"
"We are not after excitement," retorted the boy from the Half-Moon
Ranch. "We don't have to go looking for it. We've got all we
want. Some of Megget's gang have raided our herd."
"No? It must have been them I saw over near the hills early this
morning."
"Where were they?" "Which way were they going?" "How many were
there of them?" demanded the lads, each one asking a question.
"It was just after sun-up. I was too far away to recognize the
cattle, but I counted four men. As they only had about fifty head
with 'em, I sort of suspected something was wrong, so I got out of
sight before they could see me. Leastways, if they did, they
didn't make any move to get me."
"Where have you been?"
"I've been up in the hills for a few days prospecting."
"Did you find the mine?" inquired Tom, forgetting the raid and
pursuit in his eagerness to learn about the Lost Lode.
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