zona supported him,
cursing the flies that fell into his friend's pannikin of tea, and
hooking them out with the point of his hash-besmeared knife as he sat
on his log beside him. Joe, too, had come down specially to share the
meal, but he, being a member of the household, was very small fry at
the bunkhouse.

And Tresler delighted in the kindness thus showered on him. The
freedom from the sick-room did him good; the air was good to breathe,
the plain, wholesome food was good; but most of all those bronzed,
tough faces around him seemed to put new life and vigor into his
enfeebled frame. He realized that it was high time that he was at work
again.

And there was lots for him to hear. Every man among them had something
to add to the general hash of events, and in their usual way proceeded
to ladle it out without regard for audience, contradicting,
interrupting, cursing, until the unfortunate man who was the butt of
their remarks found himself almost overpowered by the babel.

At length Arizona drew them up with one of his sudden "yanks."

"Say," he cried, his eyes glaring fiercely and embracing the whole
party with a great, comprehensive roll, "you fellers is like a crowd
o' coyotes around a bone. I 'lows Tresler ain't an a'mighty deal
better'n a bone about now, but his lugs ain't deef. Y're jest a
gorl-darned lot o' oneddicated hoboes."

Which attack had the effect of reducing the pandemonium, but in no way
suppressing the ardent spirits of the party. It acted as a challenge,
which Jacob Smith promptly took up.

"Say, boys," he cried, "we're goin' to git eddication from Arizona!"

His remark was followed by a derisive roar of laughter at Arizona's
expense. But the moment it had subsided the derided one shot out his
retort.

"Guess ther's things and critturs down our country we don't never
figger to eddicate--them's hogs."

"Fer the reason which they knows more'n you," returned Jacob, in no
way worried by the personality.

The boys considered the point achieved by Jacob, and another laugh at
Arizona's expense went up. He had stumped the cowpuncher, who now
entered the fight with wonderfully good-natured zest.

"Say," he observed, "I ain't had a heap to do wi' your folks, Jacob,
but I'm guessin' ef you're talkin' Gospel, things don't run in your
fam'ly."

"Call him a hog right out, Arizona," put in Raw, lazily.

"I ain't callin' Jacob no hog; et 'ud be a nasty trick--on the hog,"
observed the ready-tongu