"That so?" asked Johnny. "Been takin' life easy an' lettin' 'em go?"
"Shore; that northwest section is so rough an' full of brush that it's near impossible to get 'em out. There must be an awful lot of unmarked animals over there. We're goin' to have our hands full with 'em."
"Aimin' to tackle it this fall?" asked Johnny, carelessly.
"Mebby; mebby not. McCullough will save us from goin' up th' trail this year, so we might run a special combin' up out there."
"I'm runnin' one right here!" exclaimed Dailey, banging his fist on the table. "I'll run a brand on you fellers that'll smart so you can't sleep. Come on, let's get a-goin'. Hot iron! Hot iron! Ropers up!"
"I'll just take a bite out of you," said Fraser. "Anybody else hungry?"
"I just ain't never had enough to eat," chuckled Fanning, dragging up a chair, "not since I was a growin' kid--an' I ain't nowise shore that I had enough then."
"Which I says is frank, comin' from th' keeper of a hotel," laughed Gurley. "I've often felt th' same way when I ate in town. Turn it loose. I'm on."
"Let me see," pondered Dailey, "we deals five cards, don't we?"
"We do; but only one at a time," replied Fanning patiently. "Don't turn no trump."
"It's sorta comin' back to me," smiled Dailey, spreading out the cards to be cut to see who dealt "It's sorta comin' back," he repeated.
"Then I'm sayin' it's due to be laig weary, for it's goin' to have a long journey," remarked Dave. He looked up. "Cuss it! Here's th' Doc! Hello, stranger! Shore, this is Gunsight. Hey, Dailey! he's got a whole satchel full; ring him into th' game."
"Bet he's got a wad of wool soaked with that there chloryfoam. Somebody ride herd on him," laughed Fraser, but he was tense. It was the first time anyone had seen the Doc and Johnny together since the kidnapping had been explained, and anything was possible.
"I'm not collecting buttons," retorted the Doc, smiling. "Hello, boys! Hello, Dave! Say, Fraser, I wish you would tell Big Tom not to send in the wagon for me; I've changed my mind. I got a hurt leg, and it won't be right for nearly a week. Set out a round on me, Dave; I'll drink mine and hurry along. I just rode up to get word to Tom. Dave, you should use something milder when you load this whiskey--ever try nitric?"