"But it won't," interrupted Phil. "I reckon some days will be dull enough." The girls were awaiting their return, and they listened with keen attention to what the boys had to tell. "You must bathe your ankle with liniment," cried Belle. "I'll get some for you," and soon she presented Roger with the stuff. He did as directed, and soon the swollen member felt far more comfortable. During the evening the senator's son took it easy on the wide veranda and in the sitting-room. "I wish I had seen the race!" cried Jessie, smiling at Dave. "Some day you'll have to have another and let us girls look on." "What's the matter with you girls having a race?" queried Dave. "That would be dead loads of fun--for us boys." "Belle would be sure to win--she can ride like the wind," answered Laura. As soon as it grew dark that evening the girls and boys went indoors, and played and sang. Belle showed her skill on the piano, and Dave and Phil tried the mechanical arrangement of the instrument, with perforated music rolls. Almost before they realized it, it was time to go to bed. The next morning Roger still limped a little, and it was agreed to take it easy. All wanted to write letters, and the entire day was spent in doing little else. "How will the letters be posted?" asked Dave. "Todd will take them over to the railroad station to-morrow," answered Mrs. Endicott. Shortly after dinner the next day, the cowboy announced that he was ready to take the mail to the station. Phil and Roger had wandered off to the barns, to look at some calves. "If you don't mind, I'll go with you to the station," said Dave to the cowboy. "The ride would just suit me." "Glad to have you along," answered Sid Todd. He had taken a strong fancy to the boys and to Dave in particular. They were soon on their way, Todd carrying the mail in a bag slung over his horse's neck. Man and boy were in the best of spirits, and both made rapid time over the dusty roads. "Maybe you'll meet a friend of yours at the station when the train comes in," said Todd. "A friend? Who?" asked Dave. "That Merwell boy. Yates heard he was coming to-day. One of the cowboys from Merwell's ranch said so." "I don't know that I care to meet him," answered Dave. "He is no friend of mine." "That boy ought to have his hide tanned good and proper," growled the cowboy. "He's been a sore spot here for years." "Have you had trouble with him?" "Yes, and so has everybody else on this ranch, and on his own ranch, too, for the matter of that. Not that he did anything very bad," continued Todd. "But it's jest his mean, measly ways. He don't know how to treat a hand civilly." "Isn't his father the same way?" "Sometimes, but not always. The old man knows that the boys won't stand for too much of that thing." "Who is at their ranch besides Mr. Merwell?" "Oh, the regular hands, that's all." "No young folks?" "No." "I should think it would be lonely for Link."