“That’s so.  Maybe Sandy or some of his boys know the trail to the Lost Lode,” agreed Horace.  And to the Chinaman’s surprise they left him in peace.

The men from the Three Stars were lying in the bunks and sprawling on the benches, getting what rest they could in anticipation of many long hours in the saddle, laughing and talking the while.

At the entrance of the trio the chatter ceased and the cowboys stared at the two Eastern boys with undisguised interest.

“Boys, these are the famous cowboy tamers, Larry and Tom Alden,” said Horace, bowing in feigned deference and indicating his friends with a wave of his hand.

“Don’t be afraid, though.  We won’t try our hands on you unless you get gay with us,” declared Larry seriously.

“Thankee, thankee kindly, on behalf of me and my men,” bowed Sandy gravely, and then they all burst into a roar of laughter.

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.  Skinny was only joking.”

Horace was about to reply when Hop Joy poked his head through the door, saying: 

“Glub all leady, Ned.”

“All right, Hop.”  And springing from his bunk, Ned went out to harness his horses, accompanied by several of the cowboys.

For an hour or so the chums stayed in the bunkhouse, listening to stories of marvelous feats of broncho-busting and whatever else the men pleased to tell them, only leaving when Nails announced it was time to go to the corral and saddle up.