l an' th' snake slides over th'
Divide. Our fighting friend may stop some coyote's appetite before
morning, though, unless he stays where he is."

Just then a gray wolf blundered in sight a few rods ahead of them, and
Hopalong fired instantly. His companion shrunk from him and looked at
him reproachfully.

"Why did you do that!" she demanded.

"Why, because they costs us big money every year," he replied. "There's
a bounty on them because they pull down calves, an' sometimes full grown
cows. I'm shore wonderin' why he got so close--they're usually just out
of range, where they stays."

"Promise me that you will shoot no more while I am with you.

"Why, shore: I didn't think yu'd care," he replied. "Yu are like that
sky-pilot over to Las Cruces--he preached agin killin' things, which is
all right for him, who didn't have no cows."

"Do you go to the missions?" She asked.

He replied that he did, sometimes, but forgot to add that it was usually
for the purpose of hilarity, for he regarded sky-pilots with humorous
toleration.

"Tell me all about yourself--what you do for enjoyment and all about your
work," she requested.

He explained in minute detail the art of punching cows, and told her
more of the West in half an hour than she could have learned from a
year's experience. She showed such keen interest in his words that it
was a pleasure to talk to her, and he monopolized the conversation until
the town intruded its sprawling collection of unpainted shacks and adobe
huts in their field of vision.

CHAPTER XXIV. The Strategy of Mr. Peters

Hopalong and his companion rode into Muddy Wells at noon, and Red
Connors, who leaned with Buck Peters against the side of Tom Lee's
saloon, gasped his astonishment. Buck looked twice to be sure, and then
muttered incredulously: "What th' heck!" Red repeated the phrase and
retreated within the saloon, while Buck stood his ground, having
had much experience with women, inasmuch as he had narrowly escaped
marrying. He thought that he might as well get all the information
possible, and waited for an introduction. It was in vain, however, for
the two rode past without noticing him.

Buck watched them turn the corner and then called for Red to come out,
but that person, fearing an ordeal, made no reply and the foreman went
in after him. The timorous one was corraling bracers at the bar and
nearly swallowed down the wrong channel when Buck placed a heavy hand on
his broa