"Link is tired out from his long train ride," remarked Hank Snogger. "He ain't in no fit condition fer a scrap. Wait till he has rested up a week or two--then he'll show thet tenderfoot what's what." And with these words he led Link away to where a couple of horses were tied. He leaped on one and the bully leaped on the other, and in a moment more both were off for the Merwell ranch. "Well, youngster, I reckon you can hold your own," remarked Mr. Hooper. He had led a rough-and-tumble life himself and did not look on a fight as a dreadful matter. "You had him going." "So you did, Dave," added Sid Todd, while several other cowboys nodded in assent. "He forced the fight," answered Dave. "I suppose he'll try it again some day." "Merwell always was scrappy," said one of the cowboys. "Takes after his dad," added another; and then there was a general laugh. Several came up to shake hands with Dave and congratulate him on the outcome of the little bout. Some of the cowboys were not very refined, and to them such a fist-fight seemed a great thing. There were a number of letters for those at Star Ranch, including two for Dave,--from his father and from Ben Basswood. With the epistles in their pockets, Dave and Sid Todd started on the return to the Endicott place. They had to follow, for some distance, the trail taken by Link and Snogger, their road branching off after the bridge over the river was crossed. Considerable time had been lost waiting for the train and because of the set-to with Merwell, and the sun was now going down over the mountains in the west, casting long shadows over the plains. "You'll have a late supper to-night," said Todd, as they moved on at a brisk pace. "And I reckon you'll have an appetite for it. The way you polished off that cub was great!" And he shook his head enthusiastically. "I wish you'd do me a favor, Todd," returned Dave. "Sure thing, son. What do you want?" "Please don't say too much at the ranch about the fight. I don't want to scare my sister and the other girls." "Can't I tell the boys how you polished off young Merwell? Most of 'em will be glad to hear it." "Well, don't say too much, that's all. If they learn that Link is on the watch to do harm, the girls will be almost too afraid to go out." "Do you think that cub would be mean enough to harm the gals?" "He'd be mean enough to scare them half to death." "If he does that--well, I reckon I'll take a hand in lickin' him myself." "We came out here to have a good time, and I want to forget Link Merwell, if possible. But I'll keep my eyes open for him--and I'll tell Phil and Roger to watch out, too," added Dave, soberly. Sid Todd was anxious to know more of Link's doings at Oak Hall, and Dave told how Link had tried to get Gus Plum and himself into trouble. He did not mention the trouble Laura and Jessie had had, for he did not wish to drag the names of the girls into the affair.