CHAPTER SIXTEEN. 

FRIENDS AND FOES--PLOTS AND COUNTERPLOTS--THE RANCH IN DANGER. 

In a few minutes the sound of heavy feet and gruff voices was heard in the outside passage, and next moment ten men filed into the room and saluted their chief heartily. 

Charlie felt an almost irresistible tendency to open his eyes, but knew that the risk was too great, and contented himself with his ears. These told him pretty eloquently what was going on, for suddenly, the noise of voices and clattering of footsteps ceased, a dead silence ensued, and Charlie knew that the whole band were gazing at him with wide open eyes and, probably, open mouths. Their attention had been directed to the stranger by the chief. The silence was only momentary, however. 

"Now, don't begin to whisper, pards," said Buck Tom, in a slightly sarcastic tone. "When will ye learn that there is nothing so likely to waken a sleeper as whisperin'? Be natural--be natural, and tell me, as softly as ye can in your natural tones, what has brought you back so soon. Come, Jake, you have got the quietest voice. The poor man is pretty well knocked up and needs rest. I brought him here." 

"Has he got much?" the sentence was completed by Jake significantly slapping his pocket. 

"A goodish lot. But come, sit down and out wi' the news. Something must be wrong." 

"Wall, I guess that somethin' _is_ wrong. Everything's wrong, as far as I can see. The Redskins are up, an' the troops are out, an' so it seemed o' no use our goin' to bust up the ranch of Roarin' Bull, seein' that the red devils are likely to be there before us. So we came back here, an' I'm glad you've got suthin' in the pot, for we're about as empty as kettledrums."  QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. What noise was coming from the corridor?
2. Was noise emanated from the corridor?
3. What was the sound coming from the hall?
Q2:
1. How many men went into the room?
2. What was the number of men that entered the room?
3. How many guys filed into the room?
Q3:
1. What did the men do when they went into the room?
2. Once all in the room, what did the men do?
3. What was the men's next  course of action once in the room?
Q4:
1. Who was keen on watching what was happening?
2. Who desired to see what was happening?
3. Who could barely resist opening his eyes?
Q5:
1. Did Charlie open his eyes?
2. Did Charlie fail to resist opening his eyes?
3. Did Charlie take a peek at what was happening?
Q6:
1. Why didn't Charlie peak?
2. Why didn't Charlie open his eyes?
3. What kept Charlie from opening his eyes?
Q7:
1. What did Charlie do instead of opening his eyes?
2. What did Charlie elect to do instead of peeking?
3. Instead of taking a look at what was going on, what did Charlie do?
Q8:
1. Could Charlie tell what was going on from listening?
2. Was it clear to Charlie what was going on from listening?
3. Was Charlie able to figure out what was going on just by listening?
Q9:
1. What did Charlie feel certain was happening?
2. What was it obvious to Charlie that was happening?
3. What was Charlie confident was going on?
Q10:
1. Who acted in a sarcastic manner?
2. Whose behavior was sarcastic?
3. Who was being ironic?
Q11:
1. What did Buck Tom warn the men against?
2. What did Buck Tom warn the men not to do?
3. What did Buck Tom advise the guys not to do?
Q12:
1. Why shouldn't the men whisper, according to Buck Tom?
2. Why did Buck Tom say that the men should not whisper?
3. In the eyes of Buck Tom, why wasn't it good to whisper?
Q13:
1. Who was the most soft spoken of the group?
2. Which man was the softest speaker?
3. Who in the group had the quietest voice?
Q14:
1. What did the group want to do to Charlie?
2. What did the group plan to do with Charlie?
3. What was the group's plan vis a vis Charlie?
Q15:
1. Who probably got to the ranch before the group?
2. Who most likely arrived at the ranch prior to the group?
3. Who probably beat the group in getting to the ranch?
Q16:
1. What was the ranch called?
2. Give the name of the ranch.
3. What did the group call the ranch?
Q17:
1. Did the men want to each when they return?
2. Were the men hungry upon their arrival?
3. Did the guys want something to eat when they got back?
Q18:
1. What phrase did the group use to express their hunger?
2. How did the group express that they were hungry?
3. What was the phrase the men used to convey that they were hungry?
Q19:
1. Which group is described as up?
2. Who is said to be up?
3. Who's up, while the troops are out?
Q20:
1. Which group has gone out?
2. What group is gone?
3. Who's gone while the Redskins are up?
