“No one, now, but Nate Dunbar, a cowboy who works for Perry and has an interest in the cattle. Dunbar may know something about Perry which will be a help to us. We’ll ride to Perry’s first, see Nate Dunbar and Hattie, then go on to Phelps’ ranch.” “Parson,” spoke up Nomad, grabbing Jordan’s hand, “ye’ve shore made er hit with me. This hyar’s ther fust time on reecord I ever trotted a heat with a sky pilot, but I’m cottonin’ ter you real strong, an’ I fer one will be tickled ter hev ye go with us.” “Nomad’s sentiments are mine, parson,” seconded Wild Bill. “You go ahead and splice that couple at four o’clock, then blow in at the hotel and we’ll sit in together at the chuck table.” “Thank you for your confidence in me,” said Jordan quietly. “You’ll find that I’m not a figurehead in the enterprise, I think. You are brave men, and pards of one of the bravest and most chivalrous Westerners the border has ever known. It is a pleasure to be engaged in such a venture with you. Adios, for the present.” The slender, boyish figure turned and swiftly vanished. Old Nomad stood staring after him. “Hickok,” said he, slowly turning to the Laramie man, “I’m er Piegan of thet sky pilot ain’t cuttin’ a wider swath in my regyard than I ever thort one could. He seems ther clear quill.” “And so he is, if I know the brand. But I hope our ride to the Brazos won’t turn out a Sunday-school picnic.” “Et won’t be ther parson’s fault ef et does,” chuckled the trapper. “Did ye mark his eye, Pard Hickok? Et’s what they calls a fightin’ eye. Ef necessary, I’ll bet a blue stack thet Jordan kin convart the heathen by an upper cut an’ a right hook ter ther jaw. Oh, I’m plumb gone on him.” “He’ll do,” returned Hickok briefly, but with conviction. “We’ve been in town about three hours, Nick, and we’ve got the cattle barons down on us.” “What do we care? Thet means excitement--somethin’ ter fill in ther time till Buffler gits hyar. Ye was pinin’ fer thet, a spell ago.” “I’m pining for it now, too. Come on, pard, and let’s mosey back into the main street.” “Kerect. Ef any o’ Benner’s ’r Phelps’ punchers makes er dead set at us prior ter supper, us two’ll turn Hackamore inside out.” CHAPTER V. “COME-ALONGS.” The clerk at the Delmonico Hotel, as the shanty hostelry was called, made a mistake while Wild Bill, Nomad and Cayuse were at supper with the sky pilot. A man came in with a small package wrapped in a piece of newspaper. “Charlie,” said the man to the clerk, “tuck this here package away in Lige Benner’s saddlebags.” Charlie was shaking dice over the board counter with a cowboy. The clerk was trying to find out whether he’d give the cowboy a cigar for nothing or make him pay double for it. “All right, neighbor,” said the preoccupied Charlie, turning from the counter with the package in one hand and the dice box in the other.