"You bet it was," said Dick. "If I'd been insuring that fellow's life I'd
have wanted a premium of ninety-nine per cent."
"He earns his money," remarked Bert. "A man hasn't any chance to
'soldier' on a job like that."
Another cowboy took the place of the first one, and the scene was
repeated, in each case with variations that kept the interest of the boys
at fever heat. The time slipped by so rapidly that they were genuinely
astonished when the blowing of a horn announced that it was time for
dinner.
Sandy approached them as they were turning away reluctantly.
"I'd shore like to have you young fellers take dinner with us at the
bunkhouse, if you care to," he said. "I'd like to have the boys get
acquainted with yer. Maybe we won't have all the trimmin's that you'd get
at the boss's table, but I guess we can manage to fill yer up."
"That's a pretty big contract, Sandy," laughed Bert; "but we'll be only
too glad to come. Just let me speak to Mrs. Melton, so that she won't
wait for us and we'll be with you in a jiffy."
Mrs. Melton smilingly acquiesced, and Melton himself, who knew how much
of the boys' enjoyment of their visit would depend upon friendly
relations with the men about the ranch, gave his hearty approval.
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