mebby you could find Nelson's missin' eleven hundred on Trask, if you looked real hard. I like a man that goes through with his play.'
'I'm not lookin' for no eleven hundred at all!' snapped McCullough. 'An' I ain't shore that they've earned th' reward, burnin' that buildin' like they did! They let these fellers get away, first!'
'I just handed you th' money I found on Sandy Woods,' said Hopalong. 'That's like givin' it to you to pay us with. Heck! You act like you hated to make good Twitchell's bargain. Well, of course, you don't have to take this bunch, nor th' money, neither; but I'm sayin' they don't go separate. Suits us, Mac—we'll keep th' whole show— money an' all, if you say so.'
'Fine chance you got!' retorted the trail-boss, bridling. 'They're here—an' I'm takin' 'em,
'There ain't nobody takin' nothin',' rejoined Hopalong calmly, 'until th' bargain's finished. Don't rile Johnny, off there in th' brush; he's plumb touchy.' His drawling voice changed swiftly. 'Come on—a bargain's a bargain. Five thousand,
'Mac!' said Quayle's accusing voice.
The trail-boss looked at the money in his hand and slowly counted out the reward amount, careful not to include any of the registered bills. 'Here,' he said, handing them to Hopalong. 'You give us a hand gettin' 'em to th' ranch?'
'If three of us could catch 'em, an' bring 'em here,' said Hopalong, coldly, 'I reckon you got enough help to take 'em th' rest of th' way—if you steer clear of town.'
'Don't worry, Mac,' said Idaho, cheerfully. '
The trail-boss growled in his throat and began, with Lukins, Waffles, and Quayle, to get the prisoners on the horses. This soon was accomplished and he headed them south, Lukins on the other side, Quayle and Waffles and Idaho bringing up the rear.
'Better come to town for a celebration,' called the proprietor, disappointment in his voice. 'Ye can leave at dawn.'
Johnny shook his head. 'There's a celebration waitin' at th' ranch,' he shouted, and turned to find his two companions mounted and his black horse waiting impatiently for him. Mounting, he wheeled to face northward, but checked the horse and turned to look back in answer to a faint hail from Idaho, and grinned at the insulting gesture of the distant puncher.
He replied in kind, chuckled, and dashed forward to overtake his moving friends.
'Home!' he exulted. 'Home—an'
