"I picked up your gun, Jimmy," remarked Ned, the first thing, "and here it is fastened to my saddle." "Glory be, but that's good news," declared the other, exultantly; "d'ye know I've been feelin' mighty sorry about that same gun, for fear I'd lost it; and you know what I think of the shootin'-stick. It was either drop everything, and get me arms tight around the neck of that blasted broncho, or else find myself standin' on me head. Gee whiz! but it was a mad race the little villain gave me before he fetched up here at the ranch house." "I'm sorry you didn't have some of the fun of driving the herd home," remarked the scout master; "but glad it was no worse than a runaway. When I saw the white in the eyes of that pretty calico pony I knew he had a nasty temper. I suppose you'll want another horse after this?" "What, me?" ejaculated Jimmy, bristling up instantly; "is that the opinion you've got of your old chum, Ned Nestor? Did you ever know me to give anything up first pop? Well, I'll break that spotted little fiend in, or else he'll break my coco for me. And say, he's goin' to pay up for the run he took this night. I'll keep him goin' till he's ready to drop, and will eat out of me hand. That's Jimmy McGraw's way of doin' things. The McGraws never say die as long as there's anything to eat in the house." "Well, let's get back to the house, after I've turned my pony loose in the corral where they keep the saddle band. None of the others shown up yet?" Ned continued. "Not yet, though I think one of the herds must be close by now, for I caught a whoop or two a while back, and it didn't come from your quarter either," Jimmy replied, walking beside his chum, who had jumped to the ground, glad of the chance to stretch his cramped legs after such a tedious ride, to which he was not accustomed. "You must have made record time getting here, then, Jimmy?" the scout master observed, and if he smiled at picturing the sight of his companion hanging desperately to the neck of the frantic runaway, Jimmy was not aware of the fact. "'Tis meself that beat the score that time," he remarked, proudly. "When I look back, all I seem to remember is a rush, me arms fast around the neck of the flying steed, and then him entering the corral like a whirlwind. It was whist, bang, and there I was miles away from the fight with me heart near broke because I'd been cheated out of the best part of the game." When Ned remembered the arduous drive that followed, with his voice husky from shouting, and how his arms ached from waving his hat, and managing his lively mount, he secretly thought Jimmy had been a lucky chap, though he did not say so. "And you couldn't find a mount to come back on, I suppose?" he asked.