“Yes, yes,” said Antoine. “But, Mr. Round-up Dick, it may not be a three-toed horse, it may be a rhinoceros.” The cowboy looked at him for a moment, first with a puzzled air, and then with disgust. “Now I got the drop on the fact that you’re playin’ me along,” he said sourly, rolling another cigarette. “You c’n call it a nine-legged giraffe, if you like. For a minute there I thought you was playin’ with a straight deck.” The Belgian looked puzzled at the phrase, but Perry burst out indignantly: “We are playing with a straight deck, Dick,” he said. “There was a rhinoceros about the size of a big ram, and it had three toes, like all rhinoceroses have, and there were hundreds of them on the plains a million years ago.” The cowboy looked at him shrewdly. “You sound some like a Sioux medicine man after a dose o’ fire-water,” he said, “but I’ve got a trustin’ nature, an’ maybe I’ll play the hand out after all. You’re willin’ to swear that there was a critter o’ that kind?” “Word of honor,” said the boy. “I’m satisfied,” the other replied, “I’m always willin’ to gamble an’ I push in my stack o’ chips. If that critter I saw is what you’re romancin’ about, I’ll lay one over on old Doc Gumshoe so heavy that he won’t ever have the nerve to talk again. I’ll make him look like a paralyzed stingin’ lizard. A rhino a million years old! Gents, let us amble forth!” And, putting one toe in the stirrup, Round-up Dick floated into the saddle, while the broncho began to pirouette on his hind legs. “We’d better follow him while he is in the mood to guide us,” said Antoine hurriedly to the boy. “Here’s your pony, Perry. I’ll tell the station agent to look after your baggage till we get back.” Perry swung into the saddle and loped up beside the cowboy, whose pony was dancing around while Round-up Dick sat quite unconcerned. “You’re sure a rider, Dick,” the lad said admiringly. “I wish I could sit a bucking horse like that!” “This is no buckin’,” the other answered, “it’s jest a little playfulness. No graveyard plug for mine, thanks. Where’s your side-partner?” “Coming right now,” answered Perry, as Antoine came round the end of the depot at a smart pace. Round-up Dick gave a whoop, loosed his reins, and the broncho broke into a full run. The other two horses followed, and Perry, wild with delight, found that the queer-looking pinto that Antoine had brought for him was well able to keep up with the others. If anything, it was a trifle faster than his comrade’s mount, though the cowboy’s mare undoubtedly had the better stride. After a few minutes of the swift pace, the town was out of sight, and Round-up Dick pulled his pony down to a loping gait. “You said a million years?” he queried. “Three million would be nearer the mark,” the lad replied.