"But _how_ did it happen?" she insisted. "Yes, yes; how did it happen—I mean it happened like this, ma’am," he floundered. "You see, I—that is, _we—we_ had some trouble, ma’am." "So I surmised," she pleasantly replied. "I presume it was a fire, was it not?" Bill squirmed at the sarcasm and hesitated, but he was saved by Jimmy, who turned the corner of the wagon and swung into the breach with promptness and assurance. "We fired a Greaser yesterday," he explained. "An’ last night th’ Greaser slipped back an’ fired us. He got away, this time, ma’am; but we ’re shore comin’ back for him, all right." "But is n’t he far away by this time?" she asked in surprise. "Greasers, ma’am, is funny animals. I could tell you lots of funny things about ’em, if I had time. This particular coyote is nervy an’ graspin’. I reckon he was a heap disappointed when he found we got out alive, an’ I reckon he ’s in these hills waitin’ for us to go to Logan for supplies. When we do he ’ll round up th’ cows an’ run ’em off. Savvy? I means, understand?" he hurriedly explained. "But why don’t you hunt him now?" Jimmy shook his head hopelessly. "You just don’t understand Greasers, ma’am," he asserted, and looked around. "Does she?" he demanded. There was a chorus of negatives, and he continued. "You see, he’s plannin’ to steal our cows." "That’s what he ’s doin’," cheerfully assented Bill. "I believe you said that before," smiled Mollie. "Ha, ha!" laughed Bill. "He shore did!" "Yes, I did!" snapped Jimmy, glaring at him. "Then, for goodness’ sake, are you going away and let him do it?" demanded Mollie. Jimmy grinned easily, and drawled effectively. "We ’re aimin’ to stop him, ma’am. You see," he half whispered, whereat Bill leaned forward eagerly to learn the facts. "He won’t show hisself an’ we can’t track him in th’ hills without gettin’ picked off at long range. It would be us that ’d have to do th’ movin’, an’ that ain’t healthy in rough country. So we starts to Logan, but circles back an’ gets him when he ’s plumb wrapped up in them cows he ’s honin’ for." "That’s it," asserted Bill, promptly and proudly. Jimmy was the smoothest liar he had ever listened to. "An’ th’ plan is all Jimmy’s, too," he enthused, truthfully. "Doubtless it is quite brilliant," she responded, "but I certainly wish _I_ were that ’Greaser’!" "Sis!" exploded George, "I’m surprised!" "Very well; you may remain so, if you wish. But will someone tell me this: How can these gentlemen take us to Logan if they are going only part way and then returning after that dense, but lucky, ’Greaser’?" "I should ’a’ told you, ma’am," replied Jimmy, "that th’ Logan-Sharpsville trail is about half way. We ’ll put you on it an’ turn back."