Hopalong's Colts peeped over the ears of his horse and he backed into a corner near the bar.
"One, two, three--now, altogether, breathe! Yu acts like yu never saw a real puncher afore.

All th' same," he remarked, nodding at several of the crowd, "I've seen yu afore.

Yu are th' gents with th' hot-foot get-a-way that vamoosed when we got Tamale." Curses were flung at him and only the humorous mood he was in saved trouble.

One, bolder than the rest, spoke up: "The senor will not see any 'hot-foot get-a-way,' as he calls it, now! The senor was not wise to go so far away from his friends!"' Hopalong looked at the speaker and a quizzical grin slowly spread over his face.

"They'll shore feel glad when I tells them yu was askin' for 'em.