They'd gone quite a ways when they heard the yell the
painter gave when I slashed him with the axe, and rushed over in the
direction o' the sound. They got there jest in the nick o' time, too, I
reckon. Two minutes more an' I'd 'a' been done fer, sure."
Sandy ceased speaking, and everybody drew a long breath. "Did they kill
the panther?" inquired Bert.
"No, worse luck," replied Sandy; "it was dark, and when they got close
the critter made off before they had a chance at a shot. But, say!" he
exclaimed, "the storm's over an' the sun is out, an' here we are loafin'
in here yet. Vamoose, boys! scatter!" and they all piled out into a fresh
and made-over world. Everything was washed clean by the torrential
rainfall, and, strange to say, comparatively little damage had been done
by the terrific wind. The ranchmen set about repairing whatever had been
destroyed, and the three comrades walked toward the ranchhouse,
discussing Sandy's tale as they went.
CHAPTER XII
Quick on the Draw
Sandy rode up to the house, threw himself from the saddle and went into
that room of the ranch that served as Mr.
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