Part 26 (1/2)
The Professor had no sooner marched Stacy to his tent to wash the mud from himself and get into a clean suit of clothes, than the sheepmen came galloping back to camp. A few of them had been left out near the foothills in case of a surprise.
”Where's that boy who sent us off on this fool chase?” demanded Luke Larue, riding right into the camp.
Chunky poked his head from the tent, holding the flap about him to cover himself.
”What did you tell us the cowmen were after us for?”
”Who, me?”
”Yes, come out here. I want to talk to you.”
”I--I--I can't.”
”You'd better or I'll have to fetch you out. Why can't you?”
demanded the foreman sternly.
”I--I haven't got any clothes on,” stammered the boy.
The foreman slipped from his pony, leaning against a tree with a helpless expression on his face.
Stacy's companions with Mr. Simms and several of the sheepmen rode in at that moment.
”Where's that boy?” demanded the rancher of Larue.
The foreman pointed to the tent. But the lad not yet having finished his toilet, all hands were obliged to stand about waiting for him. They did so with much impatience. Stacy took all the time he needed, apparently not believing that there was any necessity for haste.
At last he sauntered out smiling broadly.
”I think you owe us an explanation, at least,” announced Mr. Simms, a peculiar smile playing about the corners of his lips. He had intended to be stern, but the sight of Chunky's good-natured face disarmed him at once, as it did most people.
”'Bout what?” asked the lad.
”Sending us out to the foothills, telling us the cowmen were attacking us.”
Stacy's eyes opened widely.
”Never said so.”
”What did you say, then?”
”Nothing.”
”I guess we are all dreaming,” laughed the rancher. ”Will you please tell me what did happen then, when you started us away?”
”When I was riding in, you all started up and mounted your ponies. Somebody yelled, 'where are they?' I pointed back to the mountains, and then you rode on,” the lad informed him.
It was an unusually long speech for Chunky to make without many halts and pauses. But he did very well with it.
”That is exactly what you did do. When we got there we found not the slightest trace of the cowmen. Where did you see them?”