y detail the
story of the fight, which the boys tried to minimize as much as possible.

"And yer never said a word about it," commented Pete when they had
extracted the last scrap of information.

"Why should we?" retorted Dick. "As you said about the broncho busting,
it was 'all in the day's work.'"

They tore themselves away at last, leaving the cowboys grouped about the
door and looking after them with eyes from which the last vestige of
distrust and reserve had vanished.

"Not a maverick in the bunch," commented Pete.

"Every one of them carries the man brand," added Chip.

"They shore can warm their beans at my fire," concluded Buck.

CHAPTER IV

A Forest Terror

"A dandy day for fishing," remarked Bert as he was dressing a few
mornings later.

"Just right for the speckled beauties to bite," acquiesced Dick as he
looked out of the window and saw the clouds that obscured the sun.

"What do you say to trying it?" suggested Tom, who was an enthusiast on
the subject. "I'd like nothing better than to whip some of these mountain
streams for trout."

"Or troll for pickerel in the lake Mr. Melton was telling us about,"
amended Bert. "He says there are some whopping big fellows up there.
We'll find plenty of bass, too, and they're fighters from way back."

At breakfast the matter was broached and met with the hearty approval of
Mr. Melton.

"I don't think it will rain before night," he said, "and on a hazy day
like this they'll keep you busy pulling them in. How about tackle? Did
you bring any along?"

"Plenty," answered Bert. "Each of us has a rod and reel. The pike and
pickerel will bite at the spoon, and we can get plenty of bait for the
bass right out here in the garden. Let's hurry up, fellows, and get
busy," he continued, pushing his chair away from the table. "Won't you
go along, Mr. Melton."

"Like to," said their host. "Nothing would suit me better than to pull
in some of the sockdolagers you'll find in that lake. But I've got a
date with a horse dealer to-day, who's coming up to look at some of my
bronchos, and I can't get off. Don't catch them all to-day," he laughed,
"and some day soon I'll go with you. Of course, you'll take your guns
along."

"Why, yes, if you think it necessary," replied Bert. "But we'll be pretty
well loaded with tackle and fish if we have any luck."

"Never mind the load," he adjured emphatically. "Never go into the
mountains without your gun. Of course, you