It was Ned"s turn to cook the "dab," a task that never appealed to him.
Chunky at such times was always on hand while Ned was getting the meal, that he might offer suggestions and make uncomplimentary observations.
Rector"s method of making coffee came in for considerable criticism.
He never could be induced to make coffee after the more approved methods. Ned"s way was to put a pint of coffee beans in a two-quart coffee pot and boil for half an hour. He made it the same way on this occasion.
"That stuff would eat a hole through a piece of sheet iron if given half a chance," declared Stacy.
"Don"t worry. It won"t hurt you," retorted Ned. "Your stomach is tough enough to withstand anything."
"I guess it is or I"d have been dead long ago eating your dab," flung back Stacy.
They had to wait quite a time for the coffee, but at last the call to dinner was sounded in the usual way, the long-drawn cry of, "Come and get it!"
They had just sat down when they were startled by a voice calling from somewhere off in the bushes to the northward of them.
"Hoo-ee!"
The boys started up, thinking that perhaps some of the Rangers had returned. Instead of the Rangers a stranger rode in on a wiry little pony. He doffed his sombrero gracefully and sat regarding them smilingly.
"Howdy, pardners," greeted the newcomer. "Got a smack for a hungry man?"
"Certainly, certainly. Come right over, my friend," answered the professor cordially.
Ned stepped forward politely to take the stranger"s horse.
"Never mind, lad. I"ll look after the cayuse. He isn"t over-fond of strangers. You"re all strangers down here, eh?"
"Yes, yes. We are," admitted the professor. "You are just in time.
We are ready for dinner and there"s plenty to go round."
"I"ll promise not to eat you out of house and home," laughed the stranger. Without taking off his broad-brimmed Mexican sombrero he threw himself down by the piece of canvas on which the dinner had been laid, helping himself to a slice of bacon which he ate from his fingers in a most democratic fashion. "My name"s Conway. Bill Conway. What"s yours?"
Professor Zepplin introduced himself and the boys, which Conway acknowledged by polite bows. The man was easy in manner, and his smiling face led the boys to warm to him at once---all save Tad Butler, who, without appearing to do so, was observing the visitor keenly.
The man was slight, almost boyish in figure. His hair was dark, as were his eyes, the latter having a trick of growing suddenly darker than their natural color, seeming to sink further back in his head under some sudden stress of emotion. The brown fingers were slender and nervous in their movements.
"I"ll bet he would be quick on the trigger," was Tad"s mental conclusion.
"Are you from these parts?" asked the professor by way of starting the conversation.
"El Paso, when I"m at home. And you?"
"From the north."
"Down here for your health?"
"Partly. Mostly for an outing."
"Just so. I reckon I"ve heard something about you."
"Maybe it was I whom you heard about," suggested Chunky.
"Can"t say as I have," answered Conway, directing a quick glance at the fat boy.
"You don"t know what you"ve missed," answered Stacy solemnly, helping himself to five slices of bacon.
"You didn"t happen to meet with any of the Rangers this morning, did you?" questioned Professor Zepplin.
It was the professor"s turn to get a sharp look now.
"Rangers? No. Why do you ask?"
"Because we were looking for some of them."
"What for?"
"We wanted to see them about a little matter," hastily interposed Tad Butler.
"What matter?"
There was no stopping the professor.
"Why, we camped with a body of them last night. With Lieutenant Withem, a most affable gentleman. They ran away and left us early this morning. However, I suppose they had good reasons."
"Joe Withem, eh?"
"Yes, that was the man."
"How many Rangers did behave with him?"
"Twelve, wasn"t it, boys?"
"Something like that," replied Tad, observing their visitor narrowly.
"However, Professor, I hardly think we should speak of them. You see they were on some secret mission and---"
"It"s all right, young man. You are safe in confiding in me. In fact, I am going to confide a little secret to you to show you that you have made no mistake."
"We shall preserve your secret, sir," answered the professor with great dignity.
"I thought you would. Lean closer and I"ll tell you," almost whispered the visitor.
CHAPTER XIV
WHEN THE AIR GREW CHILL