ht.

There were horses for all, including Avon Burnet, and, in a very brief
space of time, the men were in the saddle and heading toward the home of
their leader.

It would be hard to find a company of cowboys or plainsmen whose members
are not known by distinctive names, generally based on some personal
peculiarity. Thus young Burnet, as we have stated, was nearly always
addressed as "Baby," because of his youth. Oscar Gleeson, one of the
most skilful and famous cowmen of the Southwest, was addressed as
"Ballyhoo," for the reason that, whenever he indulged in a shout or
loud call, he used that exclamation.

Hauser Files, the associate of Gleeson, once took part in a game of
baseball in San Antonio, during which he received the elusive sphere on
the point of his nose. He withdrew in disgust from the amusement, and
was always known thereafter as Short Stop.

Gleeson and Files were between thirty and forty years of age, but Ward
Burrell, from the lowlands of Arkansas, had rounded his half-century of
existence, acquiring during the journey such a peculiar complexion that
he was known as Old Bronze. Andy Wynwood, from the same State, was
younger. One of his most stirring narratives related to the manner in
which he escaped hydrophobia, after being bitten by a rabid wolf. He
claimed that the only thing that saved him was the use of a madstone.
Whether he was mistaken or not is not for us to say, but there was
certainly no mistake about the origin of the name of Madstone, which
clung to him forever afterward.

Antonio Nunez, the Mexican, was the "Greaser," Zach Collis from New
Mexico, who was also more than fifty years of age, was "Rickety,"
because of a peculiarity in his gait, while George Garland was "Jersey
George," for no other reason than that he was born in the State of New
Jersey.

The remaining member of Captain Shirril's party was Shackaye, a Comanche
Indian, about a year older than Avon Burnet, concerning whom we shall
soon have something to say further.

Captain Shirril was right when he expressed his belief that the arrival
of his friends would be in the nature of one of those wild western
cyclones, which have grown quite familiar of late in the West and
Southwest.

The cowboys swung along at an easy gallop, until near the cabin. They
wanted to arrive without giving the Comanches more notice than was
inevitable; but, when they knew their approach could be concealed no
longer, they drove their spurs int