Instantly every revolver was whipped forth and a terrible fight ensued,
every man taking part in the general melee. The girls, trembling with
fear as shots and curses rang out profusely, clung to each other
helplessly, but failed to note that the guns were aimed skyward.
"Hey, boys--what the deuce do you-all mean?" shouted a fine-looking man
coming upon the scene unannounced.
The crowd of men looked sheepish and hurriedly explained the joke,
looking over in the direction of the two strangers. As their welcome
was considered a huge joke the men laughed loudly. Mr. Brewster (for it
was the rancher) frowned when he saw the pale girls almost fainting
from fear. Then he turned to the ringleader in the plot:
"Say, Bill! Was that pesky train from Denver on time--or too soon, for
a change?" asked Mr. Brewster, consulting his watch.
"It war ten minits too airly, 'cause Hank Janssen, th' ingineer, 's got
a christenin' down to his home to-night," explained Bill.
"Then those two girls are my company," groaned the rancher, causing a
scramble at his words. The cow-punchers whipped off their hats to
salute and the miners shuffled behind the daring cow-boys, the better
to hide their faces from the "Boss."
Mr. Brewster hurried over to reassure the girls that the whole fight
had been staged to entertain them. He explained the cause of his not
being on hand to meet them, and waving his hand for the cow-boys, he
called:
"Get busy, boys! Shake those trunks into the wagon.
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