oints while two of them ran in through
the gate. The first thing they saw was the dog, and his tail was still
wagging as he curiously followed, nose to the ground, a huge horned toad.
He looked up at the sudden disturbance and backed off suspiciously,
looking for a way to escape.

"---- ----!" chorused the fooled punchers, who discovered that deductions
don't always deduct, and then they returned to the bunk-house to "slick
up." When finally satisfied about their appearance they made their way
to the grove and the sight which greeted their eyes as they entered it
almost made them drop in their tracks.

Humble and Bill sat cross-legged on a blanket, which was surrounded with
guns. The jug, tobacco and cigars were flanked by pies and a cake, while
each of the conspirators held a lighted cigar in one hand while they took
turns at the jug. A huge piece of pie rested in a plate at Humble's side,
while Bill's knee held a piece of cake.

"Hands up!" shouted Humble, grabbing a gun. "Don't you dare to raid the
gallery! You stay right where you are!"

Bill's blacksnake whip leaped from point to point experimentally, picking
up twigs and leaves with disturbing accuracy.

The invaders halted just beyond the range of the whip and consulted
uneasily, not noticing that the driver had shortened his weapon by twice
the length of its handle. Finally Jim and Docile ran back toward the
corral while their friends waited impatiently for their return, grinning
at the enemy with an I-told-you-so air.

Bill suddenly leaned forward, the whip slid down into his hand to the end
of the handle and cracked viciously. Joe Haines, who had grown a little
careless, leaped into the air and yelled, grabbing at his leg.

"Keep your distance, you!" warned the driver, trying to look ferocious.
"Twenty feet is the dead-line, children."

Jim and Docile returned apace and brought with them half a dozen lariats,
which ranged in length from thirty to forty feet.

"Hey, you!" cried Humble in alarm. "That ain't fair!"

Grim silence was the only reply as the invaders each took his rope and
surrounded the two. Then, suddenly, the air was full of darting ropes
and in less time than it takes to tell of it the pair were hopelessly
and helplessly trussed. Silent ran in and hurled the whip away and then
squatted before the prisoners, throwing their cigars after the whip as
he took up the pie and cake, which he tantalizingly munched before their
eyes.

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