Get that,
Nick?"
"Oh! now, what's the use botherin'? Chances are three to one they
ain't agoin' to be any sech upsets as that yet awhile," the cowboy said.
"Only three to one!" burst out Peg. "All right, you can stick it out
if you want, and I'll pay you all I agreed; but just you understand,
Nick Jennings, when to-morrow comes, I want you to get me down on the
prairie, where I can make a blue streak for the X-bar-X ranch house."
"But ye sed as how ye was detarmined to find out what made them roarin'
n'ises, up here on old Thunder Mountain!" protested the guide, although
he evidently expressed himself in this way only to further arouse the
obstinate boy.
"I've changed my plans, that's all," Peg announced. "Any fellow can do
that. It's always the privilege of a gentleman to alter his mind. I'd
like to crow over Frank Haywood and that greenhorn chum of his mighty
well; but I ain't going to run the chance of being carried down in a
landslip just for that. Huh! I guess not! What I said, stands, Nick.
And I hope the old slide comes while those two chaps are on the
mountain; yes, and gives them a dandy free ride, to boot!"
"Oh! jest as ye say, Peg! I'm willin' to do anythin' to please ye.
But p'raps we ain't goin' to git off so easy arter all," remarked Nick,
suggestively.
"Now, what do you mean by hinting in that way? And I've noticed you
twisting your neck to look up at the sky more'n a few times.
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