"Ef Luck hits fer the Navvy country after them skunks, I calc'late ole Applehead'll be somers close handy by--" "Hurry up and swear us in," Luck interrupted.

"We've got to get to the ranch and back with an outfit, yet tonight, so we can hit the trail as soon as possible.

No use for you to take the oath, Andy--what you better do is to stay at the ranch with the women folks." "Aleck will be there, and Pete and Tommy and the cook," Andy rebelled instantly.

His hand went up to take the oath with the others.
There on the corner of the street where the shadows lay under a gently whispering box-elder tree, Hank Miller faced the group that stood with right hands uplifted and swore them as he had sworn--with the oath that made deputy sheriffs of them all.

He told them that while he did not believe the thieves had gone to the reservation, and would look for them elsewhere, the idea was worth acting upon--seeing they wanted to do it anyway; and that the sheriff's office stood ready to assist them in any way possible.