better opinion of you. I suppose I'll have to let bygones be bygones, but
just the same you deserve nothing less than ptomaine poisoning as
punishment."

At this Tom and Dick gave utterance to a howl of execration that made
their horses jump, and two tightly rolled sombreros came flying toward
Bert's head. But he ducked just in time, and then had a good laugh as Tom
and Dick were forced to dismount and secure their misused headgear.

Soon his two friends were back in the saddle, however, and then they set
off at a steady trot, discussing in a more serious vein the probability
of such an uprising as Mr. Melton feared.

"I don't want it to happen," summed up Bert at last, "but if it's got to
happen anyway, I hope it does while we're out here. I feel like a small
boy going to a fire. As long as the house has to burn anyway, he wants to
be Johnny-on-the-spot."

In this manner the time passed quickly, and before eleven o'clock they
were nearing the town. A few minutes later they were riding through its
streets, alertly on the lookout for any signs of impending trouble. All
seemed much the same as usual, though, except that about the telegraph
and newspaper offices there seemed to be unwonted bustle and excitement.
Here and there knots of men had congregated also, who appeared to be
discussing some important matter.

The three boys rode until they reached the post office, and then,
dismounting and hitching their horses, went inside. The post office also
served as a telegraph station, and there were various news bulletins
posted about the room.