"Wish you'd 'a' come along to show us how to do it an hour
ago."
"I would, only--"
"Quit chinning an' get busy," remarked Red, climbing down. "The chute's
full; an' it's all yourn."
Billy caught the iron, gave it a preliminary flourish, and started to
work with a speed that would not endure for long. He branded five out of
the eight and jeered at his companion for being so slow.
"Have yore fun now, Billy," Pete replied with placid good nature.
"Before we're through with this job you'll be lucky if you can do two of
the string, if you keep up that pace."
"He'll be missing every other one," growled his heater with overflowing
malice. "That iron ain't cold, you Chinaman!"
"Too cold for me--don't miss none," chuckled Billy sweetly. "Fill the
chute! Fill the chute! Don't keep us waiting!" he cried to the guiders,
hopping around with feigned eagerness and impatience.
Hopalong Cassidy rode up and stopped as Red returned to take the place
of one of the iron heaters. "How they coming, Red?" he inquired.
"Fast. You can sic that inspector on 'em the first thing to-morrow
morning, if he gets here on time. Bet he's off som'ers getting full of
redeye. Who're going with you on this drive?"
"The inspector is all right--he's here now an' is going to spend the
night with us so as to be on hand the first thing to-morrow," replied
Hopalong, grinning at the hard-working pair on the platform.
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