The Texan, in obedience to his training, cast a look after the vanishing herd and sighed. "It'll be a big job to round them up, but I guess we'll have to leave 'em alone for a time. Wal, you know we went into camp a few miles to the north, to wait for you and the captain that was to jine us in the morning. We were looking after things, when I remembered that I had left my package of tobacco at the house. Things were so quiet, and I was so afeared that you and the captain would forgit to bring it with you, that I concluded to ride over after it myself. I never dreamed of any of the varmints being there, and was going along at a swinging gait, when I heard the sound of a gun and I fetched up my horse to learn what it meant. I didn't see an Injin, but while I was looking somebody made a rush from the front of the house for the bush." "It was myself," interrupted Avon excitedly, "and the captain fired to save me and did it." "I reckon that was Ballyhoo Gleeson that let loose that partic'lar shot," said the cowboy with a chuckle; "I didn't know who it was running, but thought it was one of the varmints. Just afore that I was sure that I seed one of 'em and I let fly, shootin' on gineral principles as you might say. I might have investigated things, but the Comanches were too numerous for comfort, and I wheeled about and made off." "So it was you who fired the shot that really cleared the way for me," said the astonished youth; "I supposed, all the time, that it was my uncle. Where have you been since?" "I started for camp to tell the boys, and was on my way when I met these confounded cattle. I didn't want them to get too fur off, as none of the fellows 'peared to be after them. I was trying to round them up, when this little affair took place." "But, Ballyhoo, why didn't you let the cattle go and make all haste after help." "Who wants help?" "The folks in the house; do you suppose I would have ventured out as I did, if they were not in instant need of it?" Evidently the Texan found it hard to understand the extremity of Captain Shirril and his family. "There are three of 'em there and each has a gun; I don't see why you need worry, 'cause the varmints can't get at 'em and they'll clear out in the morning." "That might be, but uncle says they will set fire to the cabin, unless they are driven off." "I didn't think of _that_," replied Gleeson, who still could not feel the alarm of his young friend; "the cabin has been purty well dried up by the drought of the last few months. I thought the varmints were after the cattle, and," he added, again peering through the gloom after the herd, which had run so far that they were not only out of sight but beyond hearing, "they stand a show of making a good haul. But," he continued more savagely, "they will find a little trouble in getting off with them. There's too many for us to lose without a big fight."