It looked as if they wanted to avoid the young man, but he prevented that.
"Howdy, boys! I'm Jack Belllounds," he said, rather loftily.

But his manner was nonchalant.

He did not offer to shake hands.
Jim mumbled something, and Lem said, "Hod do." "That's an ornery--looking bronc," went on Belllounds, and he reached with careless hand for the mustang.

Whang jerked so hard that he pulled Jim half over.
"Wal, he ain't a bronc, but I reckon he's all the rest." drawled Jim.
Both cowboys seemed slow, careless.

They were neither indifferent nor responsive.