eels galloped off.

On the trip to the ranch the cowboys crowded around the boys, and plied
them with innumerable questions, which they answered to the best of their
ability. On their arrival they were turned over to motherly Mrs. Melton,
who insisted on redressing their wounds, and then, after they had made
a hearty meal, packed them off to bed.

"Gee, boys!" exclaimed the foreman, before the cowboys dispersed to their
alloted tasks, "those lads are sure _there_ when it comes to deliverin'
the goods, ain't they? An' to think that once in a moment of besotted
ignorance I referred to them as 'tender-feet.' Why, it don't seem possible
them boys can be Easterners at all. It seems like they jest _must_ 'a'
been born west o' the Rockies."

As this was the highest eulogium any of them could think of, they
acquiesced in their foreman's words and dispersed to work.

CHAPTER XI

Within an Ace

Work about the ranch went steadily on, and there were few interruptions
to the daily course of events. But one day a small black cloud appeared
on the western horizon, and grew larger with amazing rapidity. Soon it
had so increased in size that it obscured the sun, and a gloomy twilight
settled over the earth.

Bert and Dick and Tom were in the neighborhood of the branding pen,
watching the men throw the cattle and brand them with Mr. Melton's
mark. At first they did not notice the gathering storm, but as the sun
grew dimmer and dimmer they looked up, as did many of the cowboys, and
saw the ominous-looking cloud. The cattlemen gave it but one glance, and
then quit their tasks and began to securely rope and tie the animals
inside the corral and make everything trim and shipshape.

The boys were somewhat surprised to see such precautions being taken
against what they thought was merely going to be a thunder shower, but
they had gained experience enough to know that when anything was done on
the ranch there was generally some good reason back of it, and they had
also learned not to ask direct questions.

They wished to know the cause of the evident anxiety on the part of the
ranchmen, however, so Bert set about getting the information in the
manner they had learned by experience was best.

"Looks as though there were going to be something doing pretty soon,
doesn't there?" he remarked to "Chip," one of the most experienced
members of the working force.

"Somethin' doin'?" exclaimed Chip. "Waal, I reckon they will be somet