Give me a
whack between the shoulders, won't you, Frank? Perhaps I've been
asleep, and dreamed all this."
"Oh, rats! Take a look at the bear, and that'll show you what's what.
There, he's disappeared behind that clump of mesquite yonder," and
Frank turned to look at his saddle mate with an expression of
bewilderment on his face, as though he might be trying to clutch some
idea that kept eluding him.
"Suppose you help me cut these awful claws off, Frank. You see I don't
know the first thing about how it's done; and I think your idea about
keeping 'em for trophies is just immense."
"Well, for that matter," replied Frank, "I don't know as I ever did a
job like that, myself; but I've watched old Hank do it, so I reckon
we'll get along."
For a few minutes they worked away in silence. Then Bob looked up to
remark:
"He said it was prospectors he was taking those supplies to, didn't he;
and that he'd been doing the same a long while?"
"That was about the size of it, Bob," returned his chum, thoughtfully.
"Well," Bob went on, "between you and me, Frank, I'd rather believe
little Lopez was in touch with the rustlers. I mentioned that word
just on purpose to see if he would turn red, or give himself away."
"And did he?" asked the other, quickly.
"Well," replied Bob, "not so you could notice; but then he seemed such
a smart chap, like as not he knew how to hide his feelings. He looked
frightened when we talked of wanting him to stay with us.
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