But she confessed to Nan that she intended to shut her eyes tight
when the poor little colts were to be burned, and stuff her fingers
into her ears, too. However, she and the other girls were very
eager to attend the round-up; and a messenger from Dan, the
sub-foreman, had come in to headquarters with the announcement that
the herdsmen from the combined ranches were driving down the
biggest bunch of horses in a decade.

"You and your party, Rhoda, can start away in the morning, bright
and early," said her father at dinner that night. "I've sent away a
grub wagon and Ah Foon's right bower to cook for you. I know you'd
cause a famine if you depended on the regular chuck wagon of Dan's
outfit. There isn't but one sleeping tent; Walter will have to
rough it."

"That will not bother me, Mr. Hammond," declared the boy. "I've
camped out more than once."

"'Twon't be much of a punishment to sleep out-of-doors this
weather," said the old ranchman. "All that may bother you is a
tornado. We have 'em occasionally at this season."

"And what do you do when there is a tornado, Mr. Hammond?" asked
Bess, interested.

"Only one thing to do--hold tight and keep your hair on," chuckled
Mr. Hammond. "If you really do get in the path of one, lie down and
cling to the grass-roots till it blows over."