“Shucks!  It won’t take three hours!  I know every tree and stump on this flat.  We’ll be driftin’ home ’long about four to-morrow.”

CHAPTER XVI

THE OPEN HOLSTER

If there ever was a morning calculated to inspire good-will and heartiness in a human being it was that morning.  The dawn came swiftly, battering through a fleece of clouds and painting the Blue Mesa in all the gorgeous and utterly indescribable colors of an Arizona sunrise.  The air was crisp and so clear that it seemed to sparkle, like water.  Andy White whistled as he gathered up the blankets and plodded toward the cabin.  Pete felt like whistling, but for some reason he was silent.  He followed Andy to the cabin and saw that the cowboy Cotton was making coffee.

“All we got is cold grub,” stated Pete, “but we got plenty for everybody.”

“We fetched some coffee and bacon,” said Cotton.  But he did not invite them to eat.

Pete glanced at Andy.  Evidently Cotton had had his instructions or was afraid to make any friendly overtures.  Gary was still lying on the mattress by the window, apparently asleep.

Pete stepped to where his own gun hung and buckled it on.  “Let’s mosey over to the spring and wash,” he suggested to Andy.  “I ain’t no dude, but I kind o’ like to wash before I eat.”

“Here, too,” said Andy.  “Mebby we can locate the horses on the way.”

When they returned to the cabin, Gary and Cotton were eating breakfast.  Pete flung a pair of broken hobbles on the floor.  “Somebody’s cayuse got rid of these,” he stated casually.  He knew that they had been on Gary’s horse, as he had seen Gary hobble him.  Pete turned and strode out.  Andy was unwrapping their lunch.  Presently Gary and Cotton appeared and picked up their ropes.  Andy White, who had seen his own easily caught pony, graciously offered the use of it in hunting the strayed horse, but Gary declined the offer gruffly.

“He’s so doggone mean his face hurts him,” stated Pete, as Gary and Cotton set off together.

“We’ll lose some time if his hoss has lit out for home,” said Andy.

“Gary’s doin’ all he kin to make a job of it,” declared Pete.  “But I don’t wait for him.  Soon’s we finish eatin’ I’m goin’ to locate Blue Smoke and git to work.  We kin run that line without any help from them.  Let ’em walk till they’re tired.”

“And what do you think of a couple of punchers—­punchers, mind you—­that sit down and eat bacon and drink coffee and don’t as much as say ’come in’?”

“I don’t waste time thinkin’ about such, Andy.  You finish up the grub.  I got all I want.”

“Shucks!  This ain’t all.  We ain’t touched the grub in your saddle-pockets yet.  Ma Bailey sure fixed us up right.”

“That’ll do for noon,” said Pete.  “I’ll run your hoss in, when I git Blue Smoke.  Your hoss’ll follow, anyway.”