was received by the boys with acclamation, and they immediately
set to making preparations. It was a considerable distance to the town,
and they planned to make an early start, before the intense heat of the
day set in.

They accordingly packed their "war-bags" that same evening, and before
retiring had made every preparation for the morrow's trip.

The next morning they were up with the sun, and after a hasty breakfast
leaped into their saddles and were off. It was a glorious day, and the
exhilarating air made them feel "right up on their toes," as Tom
expressed it. Bert felt called upon to reprove Tom for using this
expression, for, as he gravely pointed out, they were not on their own
toes at all, but on the horses', so to speak.

"Aw, forget it," retorted Tom flippantly; "it's toe bad about you,
anyway."

Having delivered this shot Tom chirruped to his horse, and set off at a
smart gallop, followed by Dick and Bert. The two latter hadn't decided
what they would do to Tom when they caught him, but they were longing for
a canter, anyway, and this gave them a good excuse. But after traveling
in this rapid manner for a short distance they pulled in their steeds,
for it would never do to tire them thus early in the journey. Tom, seeing
that the pursuit had been abandoned, also reined in his horse, and
allowed his companions to gain on him.

"Don't shoot," he called. "I'll promise to be good and never do it
again--not till the next time, that is."

"All right," laughed Bert, "we'll suspend sentence this time, but at the
next offense we won't be so lenient, will we, Dick?"

"Not by a long shot," said Dick; "we'll toe him along at the end of a
lariat if he does, that's all." He grinned feebly as he got off this
atrocious pun, but Bert and Tom refused to be beguiled into smiling.

"I never thought it of you, Dick, honest I didn't," mourned Bert, sadly
shaking his head. "I naturally expect such things from Tom, but I had a
better opinion of you. I suppose I'll have to let bygones be bygones, but
just the same you deserve nothing less than ptomaine poisoning as
punishment."

At this Tom and Dick gave utterance to a howl of execration that made
their horses jump, and two tightly rolled sombreros came flying toward
Bert's head. But he ducked just in time, and then had a good laugh as Tom
and Dick were forced to dismount and secure their misused headgear.

Soon his two friends were back in the saddle, however, and the