The road gradually became more level and less dangerous, and for a time Doris felt relieved. But just as they came within sight of the ranch, she was frightened by the sound of eight pistol shots, fired one right after the other. Several of the girls put their fingers in their ears, and all looked questioningly at their drivers. “That’s to announce your arrival,” Bob explained; “and to send you greetings. There was a shot for each of you.” “I’m afraid I’d just as soon not be welcomed so boisterously,” sighed Doris. “It certainly did startle me.” “You’ll soon get used to it,” replied the young man. “They’re only blanks, and they fire them off all the time.” The girls now had a good view of the ranch, with the one big cabin in the center, as Bob had described, and the smaller ones a short distance away in somewhat of a semicircle. Beyond were the fields, in which they could catch glimpses of the horses, and of a few cows. “Isn’t it great!” exclaimed Ethel, rapturously. “Yes; and it sort of reminds me of the training camp last year,” said Marjorie. Lily looked a little dubious. “Doris,” she whispered, “do you suppose they have bath-rooms, and hot water?” Bob, who had overheard the question, laughingly answered it. “You have all the modern conveniences,” he said. “You’ll find as nice showers as in any hotel in Denver!” The girls got out of the machine and followed their guides to the main cabin. Mr. and Mrs. Hilton, the rancher and his wife, were waiting for them. “Bob and Art found you all right, did they?” asked Mrs. Hilton, cordially. Her smile was so frank and her manner so engaging that the girls felt immediately at home. “Yes, indeed; everything was fine!” replied Ethel. The Hiltons showed them the buildings, assigning to them their two cabins. Each contained four cots--quarters for four girls. “And now I’ll leave you to get settled,” said Mrs. Hilton. “Supper is at six o’clock, but if you are ready early, come over to the cabin and meet the other people.” When she had withdrawn, the scouts began to discuss how they should divide. Since it did not seem to make any particular difference to any of them, they finally decided to draw lots. Marjorie, Lily, Daisy and Alice were to be together in one cabin; Ethel, Mae, Florence and Doris in the other. Accustomed to doing things quickly after their long training at boarding school, they soon had their suit-cases unpacked, and their things in order. Lily, as usual, was the slowest in dressing, and long before she had finished, the others had all gathered in her cabin. “I certainly am anxious to see the dudes, as Bob called them,” said Ethel, seating herself on one end of a cot. “Do you suppose they are men and girls both?” “I don’t know,” replied Marjorie. “Bob didn’t say, did he?” “No, he just said there were twelve of them,” put in Alice. “Girls,” interrupted Daisy, who had not been listening to the conversation, “how often do you think there are mails here?”