"Hoo-ee!"
The boys started up, thinking that perhaps some of the Rangers had
returned. Instead of the Rangers a stranger rode in on a wiry little
pony. He doffed his sombrero gracefully and sat regarding them
smilingly.
"Howdy, pardners," greeted the newcomer. "Got a smack for a hungry man?"
"Certainly, certainly. Come right over, my friend," answered the
professor cordially.
Ned stepped forward politely to take the stranger's horse.
"Never mind, lad. I'll look after the cayuse. He isn't over-fond of
strangers. You're all strangers down here, eh?"
"Yes, yes. We are," admitted the professor. "You are just in time.
We are ready for dinner and there's plenty to go round."
"I'll promise not to eat you out of house and home," laughed the
stranger. Without taking off his broad-brimmed Mexican sombrero he
threw himself down by the piece of canvas on which the dinner had
been laid, helping himself to a slice of bacon which he ate from his
fingers in a most democratic fashion. "My name's Conway. Bill
Conway. What's yours?"
Professor Zepplin introduced himself and the boys, which Conway
acknowledged by polite bows. The man was easy in manner, and his
smiling face led the boys to warm to him at once---all save Tad
Butler, who, without appearing to do so, was observing the visitor
keenly.
The man was slight, almost boyish in figure.
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