"I hope Chunky hasn't changed his mind about that snake!" Jimmy ventured. "Just because he helped drive the herd, and goes around boasting how he did such great shakes in shooting up the rustler gang, isn't any proof that he's reformed." "Chunky is on to his capers, never you fear, Jimmy," declared Jack, "and ten to one he means to have Sloper watched every minute of the time till dawn. If he tries to slip away, he'll run up against a snag right off. It may be a piece of lead that stops his exit, or the loop of a lariat. You can count on seeing him among us when the call to breakfast comes." "Oh! I wish it was now!" Jimmy was heard to mutter, "all this work seems to have made me as hungry as a wolf; and it's been an _awful_ long time since they flagged me to a meal." "Cheer up, Jimmy," Ned told him, "because I've got some good news for you." "Did the lady tell Chin Chin Charley to give the boys some grub after they came in from the drive, Ned; is that the good news you want to tell me?" Jimmy eagerly demanded, looking anxiously at his chum. "There goes the big gong right now," interrupted Jack, "and the boys are trooping for the grub tent as if they know what to expect after doing night duty. So get a move on, Jimmy; if you don't want to find everything cleared out and only a bare table left." Jimmy was off like a flash. When the other scouts entered the place where meals were served, they discovered him busily at work. "Saved you places alongside me!" he called out; "and say, there's plenty of chow for everybody. That Chink knows his business, and I'm goin' to be great friends with him all the time we're here." "It takes you to make up to the cook, Jimmy," laughed Jack. "That's all right," replied the other, with a broad grin, "sure it's a wise boy that knows which side of his bread is buttered. And Chin Chin Charley is the boss cook, let me tell you right now. I ain't much in that line myself, but then I know a good thing when I run across it. And don't the rest of you get jealous if you see how thick me'n him are expectin' to be; ain't we, Chin Chin?" The slant-eyed Mongolian must have already taken quite a liking for jolly, good-natured Jimmy, for upon being thus appealed to he nodded his head until his pigtail bobbed up and down, smiled affably, and was heard to murmur: "Much good frien's, Jimmy, me; heap like Melicanboy; much eat; come back more many times, alle samee!" Apparently Jimmy was in for a good time while staying at the Double Cross Ranch, and he believed in starting things right by making sure that the food supply would be unlimited.