Then he stopped another rush from the front, made upon the
supposition that he was thinking only of the second detachment. A
hearty cheer arose from Tom Halloway and his friends, ensconced in
their rocky position, and it was taken up by those on the hill, who
danced and yelled their delight at the battle, to them more humorous
than otherwise.
This recognition of his prowess from men of the caliber of his
audience made him feel good, and he grinned: "Gee, I'll bet Halloway
an' his friends is shore itchin' to get in this," he murmured, firing
at a head that was shown for an instant. "Wonder what Red'll say when
Jimmy tells him-bet he'll plow dust like a cyclone," and Hopalong
laughed, picturing to himself the satiation of Red's anger. "Old red-
headed son-of-a-gun," murmured the cowboy affectionately, "he shore
can fight."
As he squinted over the sights of his rifle his eye caught sight of
a moving body of men as they cantered over the flats about two miles
away. In his eagerness he forgot to shoot and carefully counted them.
"Nine," he grumbled. "Wonder what's th' matter? "Fearing that they
were not his friends. Then a second body numbering eight cantered into
sight and followed the first.
"Whoop! There's th' Red-head!" he shouted, dancing in his joy.
"Now," he shouted at the peach can joyously, "yu wait about thirty
minutes an' yu'll shore reckon Hades has busted loose!"
He grabbed up his Colts, which he kept loaded for repelling rushes,
and recklessly emptied them into the bushes and between the rocks and
trees, searching every likely place for a human target .
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