"I sure did!" Pink drew a long breath of relief. "Yuh needn't think I'm
going t' take chances on being no human colander. I've packed a gun for
Harry Conroy ever since that rough-riding contest uh yourn. Yuh mind the way
I took him under the ear with a rock? He's been makin' war-talk behind m'
back ever since. Did I bring m' gun! Well, I guess yes!" He dimpled
distractingly.

"All the same, it'll suit me not to run up against him," said Rowdy quite
frankly. He knew Pink would understand. Then he lifted his coat
suggestively, to show the weapon concealed beneath, and smiled.

"Different here. Yuh did have sense enough t' be ready--and if yuh see him,
and don't forget he's got a sister with a number two foot, damned if I don't
fix yuh both a-plenty!" He settled his hat more firmly over his curls, and
eyed Rowdy anxiously from under his lashes.

Rowdy caught the action and the look from the tail of his eye, and grinned
at his horse's ears. Pink in warlike mood always made him think of a
four-year-old child playing pirate with the difference that Pink was always
in deadly earnest and would fight like a fiend.

For more reasons than one he hoped they would not meet Harry Conroy. Jessie
was still in ignorance of his real attitude toward her brother, and Rowdy
wanted nothing more than to keep her so. The trouble was that he was quite
certain to forget everything but his grievances, if ever he came face to
face with Harry. Also, Pink would always fight quicker for his friends than
for himself, and he felt very tender toward Pink. So he hoped fervently
that Harry Conroy had already ridden back whence he came, and there would be
no unpleasantness.