Tell you what, father, that's
a long ride up here from the cave. Frank started early this morning,
but he cannot arrive for another day. Suppose I go back and pick up
him and Roy Stone, and leave Tom to bring in the horses?"
Reluctant though he was to let his son depart so soon after regaining
him, Mr. Temple was persuaded, and Bob set off. Far down in Old
Mexico, back trailing over the route they had followed in entering the
country, he saw three horsemen leading a fourth animal, and on
approaching close, saw they were his friends.
Landing near them, Bob called an explanation of his mission. Roy Stone
demurred at the proposal.
"Much obliged for the offer," he said, "but I'll ride along with Tom
Bodine, if it's all the same to you. I'm in no hurry to get anywhere,
and you fellows will be having your own reunion at your ranch. Take
your chum with you, but leave Tom and me. We'll be in with the horses
sooner or later. Each of us will have a spare mount now, and it'll be
an easy trip. Anyhow, I never did like those airplanes."
"Same here," said Tom Bodine, staring with awe at the machine. "You
couldn't get me in that thing on a bet."
Frank, accordingly, relinquished the reins of his horse to Tom Bodine,
and with "good-byes" to his friends clambered into the airplane with
Bob.
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