n and out. But I want to say one thing, kid."

"Yes?"

"There ain't a gamer critter standing on two hoofs than you--bar none.
And that goes."

Tad laughed happily.

"I haven't done anything. I----"

"Haven't done anything?" growled Big-foot, riding close and peering down
into the boy's scarred and grimy face. "Say, don't pass that out to the
bunch. Lumpy'll say you're fishin' for compliments. I don't want to
thump him, but, if he passes out any talk as reflects on what you've
done for this outfit, I'll thrash him proper."

They were now so near to the camp that the Professor and the boys were
able to recognize the horsemen.

They set up a great shout.

"Meet me with a pail of water," yelled Tad. "I'm hot."

Pong heard him and almost immediately emerged from the chuck wagon with
a tin pail full of water.

"Throw it on me, quick," commanded the lad, leaping from his pony.

Pong tipped the pail and was about to dash it over the lad when Big-foot
suddenly freed a foot from the stirrup. He gave the pail a powerful kick
sending it several feet from him, its contents spilling over the ground.

"You idiot! You fool heathen!" roared Big-foot. "The Pinto didn't say he
wanted boiling hot water thrown on him. He said he was hot. If you
wasn't the cook of this outfit, and we'd all starve to death without
you, I'd shoot you plumb full of holes, you blooming idiot of a heathen
Chinee!"

"Allee same," chuckled Pong, showing his gleaming teeth.

"What! You climb into that wagon before I forget you're the cook!" fumed
Big-foot, jumping his pony threateningly toward the Chinaman. Pong
leaped into the protection of his wagon.

"Boys," said the big cowman, "the Pinto has come back with the crazy
steers. He's rounded up the whole bunch and never lost a critter. Look
at him, if you don't believe me. Ain't he a sight?"

Tad smiled proudly as he sipped the water which one of the boys had
brought to him.

"Any man as says he ain't a sight has got a fight on with Big-foot
Sanders. And that goes, too!" announced the cowman, glaring about him.

"Three cheers for Tad Butler, champion cowpuncher!" cried Ned Rector.

"Hooray!" bellowed Big-foot. "Y-e-e-e-o-w!"

"Hip-hip, hooray!" chorused the boys, hurling their sombreros into the
air. Their wild yells and cat calls made the cattle off on the grazing
grounds raise their heads in wonder.

"Allee same likee this," chuckled the grinning Chinaman from the front
end of the chuck