"I might spill all the beans," he thought, "if I do anything more tonight."
It was a long time before sleep came to him but finally he dropped off and the sun was shining in at the window when he awoke. He lost no time in hunting up Jeb and telling him what he had seen in the night.
"Well, well, is it possible that old Los has gone wrong? It looks like it for a fact. But you certainly did pull off a slick stunt and I'll bet he's guessing now what it was all about."
"But don't you think it's serious?" Bob asked anxiously.
"Serious! You bet your life it's serious. If Los Varney belongs to that gang, and I reckon I've got to own up that the chances are that he does, after what you saw last night, there's no telling what may happen."
"What are you going to do about it?"
Jeb scratched his head. "What would you do?" he asked.
"I'd have him arrested."
"That might be a good plan but I was thinking that perhaps it would be better to give him a little more rope and see if he won't hang himself. If he ain't suspicious any now he'll go right ahead and, now that we know that he's up to something, maybe we can catch him at it or find out what his gang's planning to do."
"I guess that would be better," Bob agreed thoughtfully.
"Then suppose you and Jack turn detective and keep an eye on him. But you'll have to be mighty careful and not give yourselves away. There's one thing in your favor," he added after a moment's pause. "Los isn't what you'd call quick witted, that is, he didn't used to be, and I kind of wonder that Hains would pick him for a job of this kind."
"Perhaps he thought you wouldn't suspect him because you used to know him," Bob suggested.
"I reckon that's it and, frankly, I didn't, not till you told me what you saw last night."
Just then Charlie rang the bell for breakfast and, with a parting word to be careful, Jeb led the way into the house.
Bob had not seen Jack before breakfast as he had gotten up some time before and had gone for a ride with Sue. But they returned before the meal was over and Bob came in for a good bit of joshing for being such a sleepy head.
"Your shift has been on duty two hours already," Sue told him.
"Then why isn't Jack on the job?" he retorted.
"Because I ordered him to ride with me," Sue told him.
"Then I reckon he's excused," Bob smiled.
Here Jeb broke in and told them what had happened during the night and what their plans were.
"I knew it," Sue declared as soon as he had finished. "I felt it in my bones that he was a bad one the minute I laid eyes on him."
"Your bones must be pretty sensitive," her father laughed.
"Well, you'll have to admit that they're usually right," she retorted.
"As if I'd dare to do anything else."
"You better hadn't."
Los Varney had been assigned to neither of the shifts but had been given work about the corral and, soon after breakfast was over, Bob wandered out that way. His idea was to talk with him and try and find out if he was in any way suspicious because of what had happened the night before. He found him mending the fence on the farther side.
"How come you ain't riding herd?" Los greeted him.
"Oh, Jeb seemed to think they didn't need us any more."
"I reckon he's right. Probably Hains has cleared out afore this. He don't often hang out long in one place. That's what makes him so hard ter catch."
"Did you ever see him?" Bob asked.
"Once, 'bout two year ago. He's a big brute of a man."
"So I've heard."
"He shore is an' I'd hate ter meet him on a dark night, that is if he had anything agin me. They say, though, that he treats his friends right."
"But that's not much in his favor."
"I 'spose not, but I've known some what didn't."
For a moment there was a pause while Los was fitting a board, then he looked up and asked:
"Do yer ever walk in yer sleep?"
Bob was prepared for the question and showed just the right amount or surprise.
"Why, no, not that I know of. Why?"
"Oh, nothin'. I jest thought mebby yer did. I had a brother once and he uster walk in his sleep most every night."
"But what made you think I had the habit?" Bob asked innocently.
"I didn't think so, I only thought mebby you had," he replied a bit impatiently.
"Oh, I see."
After a little more talk about things in general Bob took his departure well satisfied that the man had no suspicion that he was playing a part the previous night.
"I guess Jeb was right about him being slow witted," he thought as he walked slowly back to the house.
He found Sue, together with Jack and Royce on the porch and lost no time in telling them of his talk with Los. He did not hesitate to speak in Royce's presence as the boy had proved himself in the fight and he had every confidence that he was sincere in his reformation.
"It's funny that I can't place the man," Royce said when he had finished, "because, of course, there can be little doubt but that he's a member of the gang."
Jeb had left for town shortly after breakfast and returned late in the afternoon. That he was in a perturbed state of mind was easily seen.
"I don't know what we're coming to," he said as he came up on the porch.
"Smatter, Pop?" Sue, who was lying in a hammock reading a story aloud to the boys, asked.
"Fellow by the name of Harris lost over two hundred head last night. He lives over the other side of the town and has one of the richest and best ranches in the State. I tell you things are hot in town, and the way folks are razzing Skeets is a caution. He'll simply have to do something mighty quick or resign his job. The ranchers won't stand for it much longer. Sometimes I wonder if he isn't in cahoots with Hains in some way."
"Do you mean it, Dad?"
"Oh, I don't know whether I do or not. I always thought he was honest till lately but I don't see how a man can be sheriff and get away with as little stuff as he does."
Bob and Jack had a long conference together earlier in the afternoon and half decided on a plan, but Jeb's account of the robbery the night before so far away from the ranch had put a different light on things.
"The most of the gang must have been over there last night," Bob said as they met out in the big barn shortly before supper time.
"Then they probably left someone behind to signal Los," Jack suggested.
"Guess there's no doubt about that."
"Well, what'll we do now?"
"Watch him after it gets dark."
"Right."
"Do you think they're after the cattle or is it Royce they want?" Jack asked a few minutes later.
"Both, I imagine. Jeb was telling me the other day that the man Hains is a man who never forgets a real or a fancied wrong and that it's his boast that no man ever crossed him and didn't pay up for it."
"Lovely disposition, I'll say."
As soon as supper was over the boys went out by the shack and pitched horse shoes with those of the hands that were on the day shift. Los Varney was there, but took no part in the game declaring that he was too tired, and soon after eight he reckoned he'd turn in.
"Hitting the hay early, ain't yer, Los?" one of the men asked.
"Yep, yer see I been fixin' fence all day an' I ain't used ter the job. Good night."
"Night, Los," they all sang out as he entered the shack.
"He's certainly popular with the men," Bob told Jack a little later as they were walking back toward the house.
"Seems so, and it may seem strange to you, but somehow I can't help having a kind of sneaking liking for him myself. I'm ashamed of it, but it's so."
"Same here," Bob acknowledged. "He's a likeable fellow all right but we mustn't let that influence us. The man's crooked and he's got to pay if we can make him."
"Of course," Jack agreed.
On the porch they found Jeb and Sue. Royce had retired feeling a bit tired, Sue told them.
"We're going to watch Los tonight," Bob announced.
"Nothing doing," Jeb said promptly.
"Oh, we'll be careful and it's the only way we can think of," Jack argued.
Jeb held out for some time but finally they obtained a hesitating consent on the condition that they would be careful and take no chances.
"Remember I'm responsible to Mr. Leeds for you and if anything happens I'll get the blame," he cautioned them.
"We'll see that it doesn't," Bob assured him.
It was nearly dark by this time and, as the sky was clouded over, it gave promise of a dark night. Cowboys, as a rule go to bed early and, shortly after nine o'clock the light in the shack went out. They waited another hour and then decided it was time to go.
"You let me know if anything happens," was Jeb's parting order.
To the right of the shack and only a few feet away was a small shed with an open front where small tools were kept. From it the door of the shack was visible and the boys had decided to make it their headquarters for the night, there being little likelihood of their being seen by one coming from the shack.
"Now there's no need of both of us keeping awake," Bob said after they had arranged a couple of barrels in front of them leaving sufficient space between them for a lookout. "You lie down on those gunny sacks and I'll stand the first watch until twelve o'clock."
"You'll call me then?"
"Sure."
"That a promise, remember."
"Surest thing you know."
Jack threw himself down and in less than five minutes his regular breathing told his brother that he was in the land of Nod. It was very quiet and, save for the occasional whinnie of one of the horses in the corral, hardly a sound came to his ears. Slowly the minutes passed and it seemed to the waiting boy that two hours must surely have gone when his watch told him that he had been there but a little more than an hour. He was having a hard time to keep awake long before twelve o'clock came. But he persisted and at last the hands of his watch pointed to the hour.
"All quiet along the Potomac?" Jack asked as he awoke at his brother's touch.
"All quiet," Bob told him.
"All right, now you get to sleep."
"We'll only stay till three o'clock," Bob proposed. "If he doesn't do anything by that time there's not much chance that he'll make a move before tomorrow night."
"Then I'll call you at three," Jack whispered.
"Make it half after two and we'll take the last half hour together."
"All right. Half after two it is."
It was not fifteen minutes later that Jack heard a slight creaking sound. Instantly he was on the alert his eye glued to the space between the two barrels. Someone was cautiously opening the door of the shack and, an instant later he saw a form step out. Although it was so dark that he could hardly see the man he had no doubt, but that it was Los. Who else would be creeping out at that time of the night? For what seemed to the boy a long time the man stood on the steps as though listening. Then, evidently satisfied that he had gotten out without disturbing any of the men, he stole softly away through the darkness toward the corral.
Jack laid his hand on his brother's shoulder.
"He's come out," he whispered.
"Where is he?"
"Gone toward the corral."
"Then we must follow him, but don't make a sound."
At the door of the shed the two boys listened a moment but heard nothing.
"You wait here and let me see if I can get a line on him," Jack whispered.
"Better let me go."
"No, I spoke first. I'll get up close to the corral fence and if you hear me give the call of the whip-poor-will you come a-running."
"All right, but you be careful."
Jack stole away and in an instant the darkness had swallowed him up. Ten minutes passed and then the notes of the whip-poor-will floated to him from the direction of the corral.
"That's Jack," he whispered to himself as he set out.
He had covered only about half the distance to the corral when he saw a form coming toward him and in a moment Jack joined him.
"He's taken one of the horses and gone off toward the hills," he told him.
"What'll we do? Go tell Jeb?"
"And let him get away?"
"Think we'd better follow him then?"
"Sure. Come on."
"But we told Jeb we'd be careful."
"Well, we will, but we've simply got to know what he's up to. Of course he's gone to meet someone."
"Unless he's gone for good."
"But I don't believe that."
"Well, neither do I."
They had been moving rapidly toward the corral while talking and by this time had reached the big gate. Opening it a trifle they stepped inside and Bob called softly to Satan. A soft whinnie answered him and a moment later a soft nose was rubbing his shoulder. It took Jack a bit longer to pick out his horse, but it was not much more than ten minutes after the man had started before they too were off.
"I'm not sure but we're doing a fool thing after all," Bob said as they started.
"How come?" Jack asked.
"Well, what chance have we of finding him in this darkness?"
"Perhaps not much but it's a chance."
They did not dare to gallop the horses for fear the man would hear them so they held them in to a fast trot which, on the soft ground, made hardly a sound. They had been riding in this way for the better part of an hour when Jack, who was slightly in the lead, saw a spot of light flash up far ahead.
"Did you see that?" he asked turning around in the saddle.
"Yes," Bob replied.
"What's your guess?"
"Someone lighting his pipe."
"Mine too. I believe he's reached the rendezvous and is waiting. What do you say?"
"Wouldn't wander."
"How far away should you say he is?"
"It's pretty hard to judge, but I'd set it at 300 yards."
"You hold the horses and I'll creep up and see if I can get a line on what's doing," Jack suggested.
Bob objected at first but finally, after Jack had positively refused to let him go, gave a reluctant consent cautioning him not to try to get too close.
There was neither tree nor shrub on the prairie to give him concealment but he knew that a man could see but a few feet in that darkness and he thought he could get near enough to overhear a conversation if there was one being carried on. He stopped every few feet to listen and it was not long before he heard a voice.
"Seems ter me he ought ter be gettin' here prutty soon."
It was Los's voice and it was evident that the man was talking to himself. Jack could tell that he was not many feet distant although he could not see him and he decided to wait where he was and not risk trying to get closer. So he stretched himself at full length on the ground and waited. He could hear the other's horse as he moved about feeding on the short grass and, every now and then, the man muttered a few words of impatience.
Then, after he had been lying there for some thirty minutes the soft sound of hoofs striking the ground reached his eager ears.
"He's coming," he thought.
Nearer and nearer came the hoof beats and soon it was plain that the rider was urging his horse at a fast pace. The sound was coming from the direction of the hills and for a time Jack was afraid that he was in the line and was about to crawl to one side when the rider evidently changed his course a bit to the right and he kept his place. Almost at the same time a flash of light came from Los as a signal to the unknown rider. The man must have seen it at once for he again changed his course and once more the boy was in line. Quickly he crawled to one side and had covered but a few feet when the horse dashed past.
"Pretty close shave that," he thought as he again stretched out at full length.
"Your late, Gramp," he heard Los say a moment later.
"Couldn't help it," was the answer which Jack barely caught.
Then they lowered their voices to such an extent that he was unable to catch a word. So he crept softly, careful to make no sound, until he could see their forms. He was now not more than twenty feet away and he dared not go nearer. But, to his great disappointment, they were talking hardly above a whisper and he could only catch a word now and then, not enough to get the drift of the conversation. He heard Los mention the name of Royce but in what connection he could not tell.
It was maddening to be so near and yet he told himself, he might just as well be a thousand miles away for all he was learning. So intent was he in trying to hear them that he failed to note that a rift in the clouds was rapidly widening and, to his consternation, the full moon suddenly burst through, throwing a flood of light over the prairie. It seemed to the fear-stricken boy almost as light as day. He could see the two men so plainly that he could easily distinguish their features and he saw that Los was talking with a large black bearded man who was well past middle age.
What was he to do? He asked himself the question several times. Should he keep perfectly still where he was and trust to luck that they would not see him or should he try to creep away? Neither plan seemed to promise much hope of escaping detection. Carefully turning his head he saw Bob and the two horses and was amazed that they loomed up so plainly. He fancied that Bob was beckoning to him but was not sure.
"Then yer understand?"
He heard the black bearded man ask the question in a much louder tone than he had been using.
"Sure," Los replied.
"Good. Then I'll beat it. Don't ferget day after ter-morrow."
"I won't."
Both men mounted their horses and Jack tried to flatten himself still farther into the grass. It was a tense moment and to say that he was frightened would hardly begin to express his feelings. He was scared stiff, as he afterward confided to Bob. It seemed impossible that both men would fail to see him and that they would shoot him on sight under the circumstances was, he believed equally certain.
He had decided that his best chance was to lie perfectly still and trust that either they would fail to see him or, in case they did, would take his form for a rock or log. It was a slim hope, but all he had. Did you ever try to lie perfectly still knowing that a single slight movement might be the last you would ever make. If so then you have some idea of Jack's feelings.
All these thoughts passed through the boy's mind in the time that it took the two men to get into their saddles and he was afraid they would hear the beating of his heart so loudly did it seem to thump.
"Well, so long, Los," he heard the older man say.
"So long, Gramp," Los responded.
He knew that the stranger was turning his horse and, in a minute, would be facing directly, or nearly so, toward him. Could he hope to escape detection in that bright moonlight. A silent prayer for protection welled up in his heart as he heard the man speak to his horse. And the answer to the prayer came. Just as suddenly as the rift in the clouds had opened letting out the flood of moonlight, it now closed. It seemed as though a giant hand had drawn a giant curtain over the face of the moon and darkness, seemingly more intense than before, settled on the prairie. Jack's relief was so great that, for an instant, he was incapable of action then, as he heard the heavy breathing of a horse only a few feet away, he quickly sprang to his feet and darted off.
"What's that?" he heard a voice cry out.
"Nothin' but a buzzard," another voice replied.
Jack ran for a hundred yards or more before he stopped to listen. He could hear the rapid beat of hoofs not far off, but he quickly perceived that they were getting farther and farther away. So, with a prayer of thankfulness in his heart, he started on again.
"Bob!" He did not dare speak the word very loudly, but he was sure that if he had kept the right direction, his brother should be close at hand.
But there was no reply and he walked a bit further straining his eyes in an effort to pierce the darkness.
"Bob!" Again there was no answer and he began to fear that he had gotten off the course.
Then, a moment later, he saw a short distance ahead a tiny point of light and hastened toward it and in another moment the brothers were in each other's arms.
"Talk about close calls," Jack whispered.
"You said it," Bob agreed.
"I sure thought I was a gone gosling."
"And you would have been if luck hadn't been with you."
"Or God," Jack added quickly.
"You are right. I believe it was God who pulled those clouds together over the moon at just the right time."
"He saved my life, I really believe," Jack said, and, moved by the same impulse, the two brothers sank on their knees in the grass and no more sincere thanks ever reached the ear of God.
"But what did you find out?" Bob asked as they got to their feet.
"That's the worst of it," Jack replied sadly. "I didn't learn a thing except that it's day after to-morrow."
"What is?"
"That's what I don't know. You see I didn't dare get a foot nearer and they talked almost in whispers and I could only hear a word now and then. I heard the big man say day after to-morrow but I didn't get the connection at all."
"It's too bad, of course, but I'm mighty glad you didn't get any nearer. They'd have seen you sure as fate if you'd been a foot closer and it wasn't worth that, boy, not by a long shot."
"But we know that something's on the cards for the day after tomorrow. I suppose he really meant tomorrow as it was after twelve o'clock."
"Probably."
"But it's not dead sure."
"No, I suppose not."
"I wish we could be sure."
"'If wishes were horses,' you know," Bob quoted.
"Well, I guess we might as well be getting back now," Jack proposed after a moment's pause.
"But we've got to be mighty careful that Los doesn't run into us."
"That's so. If he found out that we're out to-night he'd know something was up."
"Sure he would. Now I reckon we'd better take it easy and let him get in first. He'll probably hit it for home about as fast as he can make it."
"But suppose he should notice that our horses are gone?"
"He'd probably smell a mouse, but he isn't apt to notice it. He'll just turn his horse in and hit the hay as soon as he can. Anyhow, that's a chance we've got to take. We probably couldn't beat him to it now even if we tried."
"You're right, of course, but I'll be nervous till I know he doesn't know that we know what we know."
"Two bad you couldn't get a few more knows in that last statement," Bob laughed.
They waited a few minutes longer and then mounted the horses and started at a slow trot for the ranch. The first hint of the coming dawn was showing in the eastern sky as they stole swiftly into the house after turning the horses into the corral.
"I'm not sure the game was worth the candle," Jack declared as he tumbled info bed.
"Time will tell," Bob replied sleepily from beneath the covers.
Although it had been after three o'clock when they got to bed the boys were up before seven. In the first place, they were anxious that Jeb should know the little they had learned and then they feared that, should they sleep later than usual, Los might know of it and be suspicious. Jeb was eating breakfast alone as they came from their room.
"Well?" he asked as they took their seats.
"Not particularly," Jack replied.
"Not particularly what?"
"Well."
"Oh, I see, and what's wrong?"
"That's what we don't know," Bob told him. Then he gave him an account of what had happened in the night.
"But you said you'd keep out of danger," Jeb said, turning to Jack after Bob had finished.
"But I didn't know that cloud was going to break open just at that time. You see, there would have been no danger if it hadn't."
"No, I don't see, but we'll let it go at that," Jeb said dryly. "Did you say you heard him say to-morrow?"
"The day after to-morrow," Jack corrected him. "To-day's Wednesday and, as he was speaking last night, I suppose he meant Thursday."
"That's the way we took it, but it was after twelve and I suppose he might have meant Friday," Bob suggested.
"Not a chance," Jeb assured them. "The next day doesn't come out here till it's daylight. He meant Thursday, all right, but just what he meant is an unknown quantity."
Just then the telephone rang and Jeb got up to answer it. The instrument was in the dining-room and they could readily hear what he was saying.
"I'll bet it's the sheriff," Bob whispered.
"Wouldn't wonder," Jack agreed.
"All right," Jeb was saying. "We'll be ready. How many? Why there'll be six or eight of us. I'll have to leave a few of the boys here to look after things, you know. About ten? All right, good-bye."
"That was Skeets," he told them as he resumed his seat. "He's got a posse together and is going to make another of his spectacular hunts for Hains and his gang. Guess he got tired of being razzed. But it won't mean a thing. He won't find 'em."
"But you said you'd go," Jack said.
"Sure I said I'd go. I always do. It wouldn't do not to back him up, you know. He'll come riding up here in about two hours at the head of about twenty men and boys all armed to the muzzle, so to speak, and he'll tell about how he's sure to find 'em this time and what he'll do with 'em once he gets his hands on 'em. I wish I knew Skeets was honest," he added after a short pause.
"Can we go?" Bob asked.
"Why, sure. There's no danger along with Skeets."
"How about me?" Sue had entered the room unobserved in time to catch the drift of the conversation.
"Nothing doing," her father said. "Not," he added, "that there's the least bit of danger, but how'd it look for a girl to be galavantering off with a gang of men and her the only female in the party. No, sir, you're enough of a tom-boy as it is."
She did not press the point, contenting herself with saying that it wouldn't be much fun, anyway.
"You see, she's used to Skeets' raids," Jeb laughed.
"I'll say I am," she agreed.
"Suppose one of you boys run down to the shack and tell the boys to get what sleep they can before ten o'clock. They've been in most two hours and likely some of 'em are in bed now."
"How about Los?" Bob asked as he started up from his chair.
"That's so. What about Los?" Jeb repeated thoughtfully. "What do you think. Better tell him about it?"
"I'd say yes," Bob declared, adding: "If we don't it seems to me he'll suspect that we suspect him."
"Guess you're right. Anyhow I don't see's he can do any harm if he goes along."
When Bob reached the shack he found all the boys off duty in bed except Slim and Grumpy.
"Now, what do yer know 'bout that?" Grumpy growled after Bob had delivered Jeb's message. "After workin' all night, too."
"But think o' the glory," Slim told him.
"Glory nuthin'. Whar's the glory in chasin' all over the country an' never findin' anything?"
"But the sheriff thinks this is going to be an exception," Bob told him.
"Aw, he's allays thinkin' that kind o' stuff," Grumpy snorted as he turned in.
Bob found Los out behind the corral still working on the fence, and he watched him closely as he told him about the coming hunt, but there was no trace of surprise or fear in the man's manner as he listened.
"Did Jeb say he wanted me ter go?" he asked.
"No, not particularly. He just said to tell you together with the rest of the men."
"Well, tell him I'll go 'long," he said after a moment's thought. "I planned ter get this fence done ter day, but that's up ter him. Don't make no difference ter me."
By ten minutes before ten o'clock the boys, including Los, were gathered near the porch, their horses all ready.
"Bet yer two bits he's half an hour late," Grumpy growled to no one in particular.
"Take yer," Stubby shouted.
Stubby won the bet, for it was only fifteen minutes later when a cloud of dust was seen and in another ten minutes the small army swept in through the gate. There were, as Jeb had predicted, about twenty in all and the sheriff was riding at the head. He was a middle-sized man of about forty, his face tanned to the shade of a Mexican and he looked very pompous as he rode up to the porch leaving the rest of the men a few yards away.
"All ready?" he shouted in a deep bass voice.
"All set, Skeets," Jeb assured him waving his hand toward the horses. "What's the dope?"
"Dope's all right an' we're goin' ter get 'em this time. I've put up with all I agoin' ter an' I'm jest goin' ter clean that gang up good an' thorough an' show some of the folks 'round here who's who."
"That's the talk, Skeets. That's the kind of sheriff this county needs," Jeb told him.
By this time they were all in the saddle and lost no time in setting out for the hills. The boys brought up the rear and Sue waved them a good-bye from the porch.
"I reckon Jeb had him sized up about right," Jack said in a low tone to Bob as they rode through the gate.
"You mean the sheriff?"
"Sure."
"He plays the part, all right."
As soon as they were away from the house they turned toward the north and the sheriff set a rapid pace. Sue had pointed out to them a narrow cleft in the hills in the direction they were heading and had explained that it was called "the Crotch," and for nearly two hours they kept on, stopping only once to allow the horses a short breathing spell. They reached the entrance to The Crotch shortly after noon and there they halted while those who had brought a lunch ate it and also to allow the horses a short time to graze.
"What makes you think he's up this way, Skeets?" Jeb asked the sheriff as the latter came up where he and the two boys were sitting.
"Well, I'll tell yer. Yer see one of the Halliday boys was in ter town yesterday an' he said that as he was coming through The Crotch he heard a powerful lot of shoutin' an' it sounded 's though thar was a lot of cattle not far off. So I figger that Hains must have his place whar he rebrands up this way somewhere."
He passed on and Jeb laughed. "That's always the way with him. Always has plenty of dope and sometimes a hunch. Funny he didn't say anything about a hunch. But that's all it amounts to. I'll bet a five dollar gold piece against a lead nickel that Hains ain't within twenty miles of here and, the worst of it is, I'm afraid that he knows it. I hate like blazes to think it of Skeets but I can't help it."
"Now, boys," the sheriff was standing on a large rock so that all could see him. "I've got a hunch that Hains' place is somewhere not far from here and that the trail ter it branches off from The Crotch. Now my idea is ter ride along slow like an' examine every bit of the way. He can't drive a big lot of cattle off the main trail an' not leave no marks, that's sartin, and we can't help findin' 'em if we look sharp enough."
"Got a magnifying glass, Skeets?" someone called out.
"What you want a magnifying glass fer?" the sheriff snapped.
"Thought mebby we'd be able ter see them signs better."
A shout of laughter went up and the sheriff grew very red in the face as he got down from the stone and mounted his horse without another word, and soon they were in motion again.
The Crotch was a deep defile between the high hills which in places rose almost perpendicularly. The path itself was several feet wide in places, but now and then narrowed down so that but one rider could pass at a time. Under foot it was uneven and rocky, making fast riding impossible.
"Who'd be fool enough ter try ter drive a bunch of cattle in here?" one man growled.
"It's probably because he's gone where no one would expect him ter go that nobody's been able fer find him," another retorted.
For over an hour they plodded through the passageway, every man keeping a close watch for any sign, however small, which might indicate a lead-off into the hills. But no such passage was found and about two o'clock they suddenly emerged onto a broad plateau which sloped gently down to the Rio Grande some two miles off.
"Guess your hunch had a kink in it, Skeets," someone called out.
The sheriff appeared quite crestfallen, although it seemed to Bob that he rather overdid it.
"Looks kinder like it fer a fact," he acknowledged. "And I was sartin we'd find him this time. But, remember, boys, you all get paid fer a day's work jest the same."
After a short rest for the horses they started home and reached the ranch soon after four o'clock.
"Didn't I tell you it was all a fake?" Jeb asked as soon as the rest of the party had gone on. "He had no more idea of finding Hains than a squirrel has of storing up cheese for winter."
"It looked that way to me," Bob said.
"Why a blind man could see it," Jeb insisted.
"Pretty near," Jack agreed.
"Did you notice Los any to-day?" Jeb asked after a short pause.
"Yes," Bob replied, "and it seemed to me that he was particularly light-hearted."
"Of course he was. He knew we were on a wild goose chase, and that their plans for to-morrow weren't going to be interfered with, at least so far as Skeets was concerned. But I'm some worried about them same plans. I have a hunch they're planning something big and that I'm to be the goat."
"It seems to me," Bob began, "that you've got enough evidence against him to warrant accusing him of being in cahoots with the rustlers."
For several moments Jeb was silent and the boys could see that a struggle was going on in his mind.
"I suppose you're right," he finally said. "But I sure do hate to do it."
Just then the object of their conversation came up to the porch where they were sitting and Jeb decided to take the bull by the horns and have it over with.
"Los," he began before the man had time to speak, "I want to ask you a question and I want a straight answer. Who were you signaling to night before last?"
Bob was watching the man closely and he saw him give a sudden though slight start.
"What yer mean, signaling?" he demanded.
"You know what I mean. Come, out with it."
"I didn't signal no one."
"What's the use of lying, Los? You know me well enough to know that I wouldn't accuse you if I didn't have you dead to rights."
Los turned a look of malignancy toward Bob as much as to say he knew where Jeb had gotten his information.
"I reckon it ain't any use fer me ter say any more," he said sullenly.
"Then you refuse to tell?"
"You heard me."
"Then I don't suppose you'll tell me who it was you met out on the prairie last night."
"Who—" Los began but Jeb stopped him.
"It's no use for you to deny it, man. I know that you're a member of Red Hains' gang and that you've got a plan on for tomorrow."
"Then you know more'n I do," he growled.
As he spoke Bob saw his hand creep back toward his hip pocket and was about to utter a warning when Jeb said:
"Keep your hands away from your pocket and put 'em up."
Bob had one eye on him as he spoke and he afterward declared that he did not see his hand move but before he had finished speaking Los was looking old Betsey in the face.
"I hate to have to do this, Los, but I reckon you've forfeited all claim to my friendship and if you make a single move I'll put a hunk of lead where it'll do the most good."
"But I tell yer yer've got this all wrong, Jeb," Los insisted.
"Sorry, but I don't think so. In the drawer in my desk, Bob, you'll find a pair of handcuffs. Get 'em, will you?"
Bob hastened to obey and, at Jeb's order, snapped them over the wrists of the angry man.
"This here's the worst job yer ever did fer yerself, Jeb."
"May be it is but, in this world we have to do what seems best at the time and, much as it goes against the grain, it sure seems the proper caper just now. Jack, run down to the shack and tell a couple of the boys I want 'em, will you? Get Slats and Slim if you can."
"Boys," Jeb said a few minutes as Slim, Slats and Jack came up, "I have reason to feel sure that this man's a spy and a member of Hains' gang of rustlers."
"You sure, Boss?" Slim looked his incredulity.
"I'm dead certain." And he told them the evidence against him.
"It's all wrong," Los insisted but they paid no attention to him.
"Now what yer know 'bout that?" Slim turned to Slats who merely shrugged his shoulders. "Guess then the only thing ter do is to swing him," he suggested.
"No, boys, we won't hang him though I've no doubt he richly deserves it. Take him out to the barn and lock him up in one of the box stalls. They're good and strong and, with these bracelets on, I reckon he'll stay put."
"Seems ter me that's goin' ter a lot of trouble when he'll swing later on anyhow. Of course, what yer say goes, Boss. Come on thar, yer mangy coyote."
"Yer'll be sorry fer this the longest day yer live, Jeb," Los threatened as the men led him away.
"I'm sure sorry that a thing of this sort should have happened," Jeb told the boys after Los was out of hearing. "But I do wish I had a line on what was on the cards for tomorrow."
"You don't suppose it's to be an attack on the ranch, do you?" Bob asked, but Jeb shook his head.
The night passed quietly. Bob and Jack were both wakeful and several times between cat naps they stole softly out of the house and watched the distant hills. Jeb too was uneasy and nearly every time they awoke they could hear him moving about in his room. But at last morning came and it was a rather mournful crowd that gathered about the breakfast table.
"Goodness gracious!" Sue broke out when they were about half through eating. "A body'd think this was a funeral. What's the matter with everyone?"
"Guess we're all kind of scared and don't want to say so," Jeb smiled.
"Well, I'm not scared. What is there to be afraid of I'd like to know? Here we've got fourteen able bodied men and they haven't got more'n about half that number at the most. You say the word and I'll go out alone and bring 'em in."
"You got gumption enough to do it all right," Jeb grinned, "but I reckon you'd find that you had bit off more'n you could chew."
"Well, maybe so but I'm off for a ride. Come on, boys, bet I'll get my saddle on first."
It was a glorious morning as they set out a few minutes later at a slow canter across the prairie in the direction of the hills.
"Don't get too far away," Jeb shouted as they left.
"I'll race you to the top of the knoll," Sue challenged as soon as they were fairly away from the house.
It was merely an excuse for a burst of speed as Satan could easily out run the other horses and they were some distance in the rear when Bob drew rein on the top of the rise.
"He sure can run some," Sue declared as she rode up a moment later about fifty feet ahead of Jack.
"You said it," Bob agreed proudly.
For a few minutes they waited to give their mounts a breathing spell then Bob asked:
"Shall we keep on or circle around?"
"Oh, let's keep on," Sue said, "So long as we don't go into the hills we'll be safe enough."
So they rode on and on until the foothills were only a few hundred yards away. Then Bob drew up.
"I reckon this is as far as we'd better go," he said.
"I suppose so," Sue agreed. "We'll let the horses breath a spell and then hit the back trail."
They dismounted and, throwing the reins over the horse's heads allowed them to browse on the thick grass while they strolled about to stretch their limbs.
"Well, I guess it'll be about time for chow by the time we get back," Sue said a half hour later.
She had scarcely spoken the words when Bob uttered an exclamation of dismay.
"Look," he gasped.
Out from the foothills came a half dozen men riding at full gallop directly toward them.
"It's the Hains gang," Jack gasped.
"Let's beat it," Sue cried springing for her horse.
"No use," Bob told her. "They'll be here before we can get started."
She saw that what he said was true for, even then, the men were close at hand, and a moment later they were surrounded.
"What yer doin' out here?" the leader, whom they at once recognized as Hains, demanded.
"Just taking a little ride," Bob told him.
"Be, eh. Well, suppose you take another back the way yer came."
"We were just going to," Bob said as he vaulted into his saddle.
"Wait a minute," Hains demanded. "You got a feller by the name o' Royce at the ranch, ain't yer?"
"What if we have?" Bob asked easily.
"A lot of it. I want him, that's what."
"Then you'd better come and get him."
"I don't have ter. Yer agoin' ter send him ter me."
"What makes you think so?"
"I don't have ter think so, I know it."
"Indeed."
Bob could keep his temper down as well as most boys but he was a bit nettled by the man's assurance and could not help showing it.
"Indeed I'll show yer," Hains snapped. "You two youngsters get out o' here while the gettin's good. The girl stays with us."
"What?"
"Yer heard me. Git."
"But—"
"Thar's no buts about it. When I say git I mean git."
Bob could see that the man meant business and his heart sunk within him. He was no coward but what could he and Jack do against six armed men? And yet, to desert the girl, even under the circumstances, seemed to him impossible.
"What are you going to do with her?" he asked.
"Keep her till Royce comes back ter me."
"Why not keep me instead?" Bob asked eagerly.
"Nuthin' doin'. We're goin' ter keep the girl an' yer can tell her father that when he gives that guy Royce up ter us he kin have his gal back and not afore."
"I won't go," Bob asserted stoutly.
"You might as well, Bob," Sue broke in. "They've got me and you can't help it."
"But, Sue, I can't leave you like this," he protested.
"I reckon as how yer kin an' what's more yer a goin' ter an' pronto too. Git hold of her reins, Jim, an' be off with yer. I'll tend ter these kids," Hains ordered.
The man called Jim rode up beside Sue and, taking hold of her reins, spoke to his horse and at once started back toward the hills followed by the rest with the exception of the leader.
"Haven't you any manhood?" Bob asked scornfully.
"I've got six hunks o' lead in this gun if yer don't do what I say," Hains growled. "An' I'll give yer just one minute ter start goin'."
The man had the gun in his hand and, seeing that resistance would be folly, Bob turned to Jack.
"Come on, Jack."
But before giving the word to Satan he looked the man full in the eyes and said:
"You dare to harm one hair of her head and I'll get you if it's the last thing I ever do."
"Git."
"This is awful, Jack," Bob groaned as soon as they were out of hearing.
"I'll say it's awful and then some," Jack repeated. "But I can't see that it was our fault."
"No time to argue about that now. We must get to the ranch as soon as possible and give the alarm."
They were riding side by side while talking but now Bob spoke to Satan and the horse seemed to spurn the ground beneath his feet as he drew away from Jack. Bob never could seem to remember much about that wild ride home. His brain seemed dulled by the calamity and all he was able to think was, "How can I tell her father?"
Jeb was on the porch reading a paper as Bob, his horse covered with lather, dashed in at the gate.
"Sue," he gasped as he threw himself from the saddle.
Jeb sprang to his feet. "What about her?" he shouted.
"They—they've got her."
"Who has?"
"Hains and his gang."
"Give it to me quick," Jeb demanded, and, with hanging head, Bob told him what had happened.
The man did not say a word until he had finished.
"It's bad, mighty bad," he declared as Bob came to the end of his tale.
"I—I," Bob began.
"No, you're not to blame. You did all you could. I know you'd have saved her had it been possible. Did he say how long he'd wait?"
"No, he set no time limit. He only said that when Royce came back to him he'd let Sue go."
"But he'll kill the boy," Jeb groaned.
"Do—do you think so?" Bob stammered.
"I'm afraid so."
"Well, he'll have the chance."
Royce was standing in the doorway as they looked up.
"You mean—?"
"That I'm going to Hains at once, of course."
There was no trace of bravado in his voice as he made the statement, only a fixed determination.
"But—" Jeb began.
"There's no room for buts," Royce declared. "You don't suppose I'd be enough of a skunk to allow your daughter to suffer after what you've done for me. Thank God I've got some manhood left."
Jeb could say nothing more but dropped his head into his hand as Royce turned back into the house to come out again almost immediately hatted and booted.
"I reckon I'll have to take one of the horses," he said as he paused a moment beside the two. Then, as Jeb nodded his head, he went on: "I want to thank you both for what you did for me and if I never see you again, I'll never forget you, never."
He was gone, running toward the corral, before either Jeb or Bob could find words to answer him and, a moment later, they saw him ride out mounted on a roan, the poorest horse on the ranch.
"There goes a brave man to his death," Jeb groaned.
"While there's life there's hope," Bob quoted.
Just outside the gate Royce met Jack.
"Where you goin?" Jack shouted.
"Just for a ride," the other called back. "Goodbye if I don't see you again," and with a wave of his hand he was gone.
"Was he going to give himself up to Hains?" Jack asked a moment later as he joined Bob and Jeb on the porch.
"Yes," Jeb replied sadly.
"But what—?"
"I know, but what could I do?" Jeb groaned.
"You did just right and so did he," Bob declared. "But we must do something and do it quick."
"What can we do?" Jeb asked looking up.
"Get the boys and follow him just as soon as he gets far enough away so he won't see us."
"But he'll get out of sight in the hills long before we can get there," Jack objected.
"Of course we'll have to take the chance of finding him. Remember he doesn't know where Hains' hiding place is."
"Then how does he expect to find him?"
"I don't know. Do you suppose he thought of that?" Bob asked turning to Jeb.
"I doubt if he did. But it's more'n likely that Hains will have a man on the watch for him. In fact I imagine he knows that he's coming before this."
"Then he'd see us if we start before dark," Jack suggested.
"Another chance we'll have to take, but, man, we've got to do something."
"Surest thing you know. I wasn't hinting at not going," Jack assured him.
"I know that," Bob said quickly. "But how soon do you think we'd better start?" he asked turning to Jeb.
"I'd say pretty soon," Jeb replied rising from his chair. "You boys go and tell the others about it and send one of them after the boys who are on shift and tell them to leave two on guard and the rest follow us. I'll get my boots on and be ready by the time you get them rounded up."
The night shift had been inside the shack eating dinner and so had seen nothing of Royce as he left nor had they seen the boys return. Great was the excitement when Bob burst in and told them what had happened.
"The miserable skunks! Just wait till I get my hands on 'em," Grumpy shouted as he jumped up and strapped his gun belt about his waist.
"Thar won't be enough left of that Hains guy ter sling a cat at when I get through with him," Slats declared as he followed suit.
Many other remarks of like character were uttered as they were getting ready but the boys were already on their way back to the house. They found Jeb waiting for them and in a few minutes the boys came with horses.
"Spike's gone fer the others," Slats called out as he rode up.
"Then I reckon we'd better be on our way," Jeb said. "But," he added, "we'll take it easy first along."
"Fer why?" Slats asked indignantly.
"I suspect Hains or one of his men is watching from the hills to see if Royce is coming and we want to give him time to quit before we get over the rise," Jeb explained.
"But s'pose he don't quit?" Slats asked.
"Then he'll see us and, of course that'll make it harder but I don't see as we can help it. If we wait too long we'll likely lose him."
"We'll find him all right," Stubby shouted encouragingly.
"I hope so," Jeb returned soberly.
They started off at an easy lope and hardly a word was spoken until they reached the top of the rise.
"There he is," Bob said pointing toward the distant hills.
They could see Royce about half way between where they were and the hills and they knew that he was making the best time possible with the horse he had.
"If he turns and sees us no knowing what he'll do," Jeb said as they paused a moment at the top of the rise.
"But I don't believe he'll turn," Bob declared. "He's only thinking of getting there and rescuing Sue."
"Then you think we better make a rush for it?"
"I would."
"Then come on, boys, full speed ahead."
And now they let their horses out to the limit and swept across the prairie like an avenging whirlwind. They were about two-thirds of the way from the rise to the hills when Royce reached the timber. They saw him draw rein and, for a moment hesitate as though uncertain just where to go, then he started again and the next minute was lost to view. Twenty minutes later, they were at the point where he disappeared. Far back they could see four horsemen just coming over the rise.
"There comes Spike and the boys," Slats cried.
"But we can't wait for them," Jeb told him.
"Course not, but what's the plan?" Slats asked.
"It's too dry to trail him, I'm afraid so I think we'd better split up and go in by twos. We'll keep within a short distance of each other however, and two shots close together will be the signal to come a-running."
"Righto, let's beat it," Slats agreed.
They had hardly started again when they met the horse Royce had ridden coming out and they decided that it would be better to leave the horses as they believed they could make better time on foot and there would be less danger of discovery. So they tied them to convenient trees and started off on foot after Jeb had explained that the first to catch sight of Royce was to notify the others by giving the hoot of the owl, the signal of the shots to be used only in case of an emergency.
Royce had entered the forest at a point about half way between the trail which led to the Owl's Head and that which they had taken the day before in company with the sheriff. It was the most rugged appearing portion of the range and, as Bob and Jack pushed their way in, it seemed to be getting ever rougher. There was nothing which even remotely resembled a trail and huge boulders interspersed with dense underbrush made their progress decidedly difficult.
"I say, Bob, this seems kind of foolish to me," Jack panted after they had been separated from the others for some ten minutes.
"How come?" Bob asked.
"Well the whole thing seems fishy to me."
"What do you mean fishy?"
"Well, how did Royce know which way to go?"
"He didn't unless someone of the gang met him," Bob told him.
"You think someone did meet him?"
"I think it's more than likely."
"What makes you think so?"
"Common sense."
"How come?"
"Use your bean, boy, use your bean. Hains would know that he wouldn't know how to find him, wouldn't he?"
"I suppose so."
"Well, I imagine he didn't have much doubt but what he would come, no one would. So isn't it probable that he'd either meet him himself or have someone else do it?"
"Sure Mike. You reason like a lawyer. But, even so, what chance have we to find him or them?"
"Very slight, I'll admit, but, you know, one chance in a million is better than none at all."
"I know that and I reckon you've got the ratio about right, one chance in a million."
They had been pushing forward all the time they were talking, all the while looking eagerly for a sign which would tell them that Royce had come that way. At first the way had been a gradual rise but soon it began to be steeper and by the time they had come to the above point in their conversation it was so nearly perpendicular that they were often obliged to pull themselves up with the aid of the bushes which grew here and there. An hour slipped by from the time they started into the hills and both boys were panting with the exertion.
Suddenly Bob, who was a few feet ahead, stopped and Jack saw that he was closely examining the ground beside a huge rock.
"What you found?" he panted as he reached his side.
"Look and see what you make of it."
Beside the rock was a bed of thick moss and he could see that it was damp although the reason was not apparent as everything was dry all about. At first he saw nothing which explained his brother's action but a more thorough scrutiny disclosed two slight depressions. He got down on his knees the more closely to examine them.
"They are foot prints," he announced a moment later.
"You sure?"
"No doubt of it."
"How old?"
"Not more than a half hour."
"What makes you think so?"
"Because it wouldn't take moss like this much longer than that to obliterate marks like that. You ought to know that."
"I do, but I wanted to see if your opinion was the same as mine."
"And is it?"
"Exactly."
"Then we're on the right trail unless——"
"Unless what?"
"Unless someone of our crowd has come this way ahead of us."
"But they wouldn't be that far ahead."
"Not likely."
"Then I believe we've struck his trail and now to see if we can find another mark to show which way he went from here."
For fully ten minutes they searched before Jack called softly:
"Here it is, Bob."
He was off a short distance above and slightly to the right of the bed of moss and pointed to a freshly snapped twig as his brother joined him.
"You're right," Bob declared after a quick examination. "Now we've got the general direction, but keep your eyes peeled."
They had climbed nearly a quarter of a mile, they judged, before finding another sign and this time it was only a small rock which had evidently slipped and turned over as someone stepped on it. But a slight dampness on the top proved to their trained senses that it had been but recently disturbed.
"We're going right," Bob declared much encouraged.
"You said it," Jack agreed. "That rock must have been turned not much more than fifteen minutes ago."
"Not more than that surely."
"Then we're gaining on him," Jack declared.
"Or them," Bob corrected him. "Don't forget that there's probably two of them if not more."
"Him or them, it's all the same just so we find Sue," Jack declared as they started off again.
If their way had been hard it was all but impassable now. The dead underbrush was so thick that often they had to make a wide detour, but so dry was it that, looking back, they could see that they had left no trail behind them.
"Wonder how far it is to the top here," Jack panted a little later as he pulled himself up a particularly steep place by the branch of a convenient tree.
"Goodness knows," Bob replied a few feet behind him.
"Well, it seems as though we must be most to the top o' the world. If we get much higher we'll have to duck to let the clouds go past."
It had been nearly two hours since they started up the hill and during that time they had neither seen or heard a thing of their friends. From time to time they had seen signs which led them to believe they were still on the right trail and to encourage them to keep on.
"Wonder where the boys are," Bob said as they paused a moment to get their breath.
"Goodness knows. They can't be very near us or we'd heard them. I imagine they kept going straight up while we've been bearing to the right ever since we got on to the trail.
"Then likely they're miles off to our left."
"More than likely."
"But we can't very well get lost. All we've got to do is to go down hill and we're bound to come out somewhere."
"But we're going to keep on till we strike something."
"You bet."
But when another hour had passed and they were still mounting they were about tired out and Jack declared that he'd have to rest. So they threw themselves on the ground where was a thick bed of moss and relaxed their tired limbs.
"One thing's dead sure," Jack declared after they had somewhat recovered their breath.
"What's that?" Bob asked.
"Either we're not gaining on them any more or we're on a cold trail."
"I don't believe your last guess is right. We've seen too many indications for it to be guess work."
"Then all I've got to say is that they're hiking it some."
They rested for half an hour regretting the loss of time but realizing that it was necessary, and then took up the trail again. They had gone but a short distance when, suddenly a piercing shriek ran out through the forest seemingly but a short distance behind them.
"What was that?" Jack gasped stopping in his tracks.
"I'm not sure but I think it must be a mountain lion. I've read that they yell something like that," Bob told him.
"It sounded to me like a woman yelling."
"I know. That's what makes me think it was a lion."
"Well, here's hoping he isn't on our trail."
Then another screech, nearer than the first, almost made the blood curdle in their veins.
"I'm afraid it is though," Bob said slowly.
"What'll we do? They're dangerous, aren't they?"
"I reckon so."
"How about a tree?"
"No good. They live in trees."
Another time the shriek sounded and now they were certain that the lion, if it was a lion, was following them and could not be more than a few yards off.