two afterward.

"But there's no use warning you young rascals, I suppose," he grinned.
"You're the kind that looks for trouble as naturally as a bee hunts
for clover. I'll bet at this very minute you're honing to get after a
silver-tip. Own up, now, ain't you?"

The boys laughed and flushed a little self-consciously.

"Hardly that, perhaps," answered Bert. "But if you should happen by any
chance to come across one, I wouldn't mind being along."

"Righto," said Dick emphatically.

"Same here," echoed Tom.

"Hopeless cases," said Mr. Melton quizzically, shaking his head. "I
suppose there's no use arguing with you. I was that way once myself, but
I've learned now to keep out of trouble as much as I can."

"Just as you did down in Mexico," suggested Dick slyly.

The boys roared and Melton looked a little sheepish.

"You scored on me that time," he laughed. "But come along now down to the
bunk house and meet some of the boys. A good many are away riding herd,
but the foreman is here and two or three of the others, and a lot more
will come in when it's time for grub."

"How many men do you need to run the ranch?" asked Dick.