“But he could have come by train, the short line, you know.”

“We’ll find out in time.  There’s no use arguing, Nails,” said the ranchman.  “Bill, bring up Buster and Blackhawk.  Tom, you will have to take Nails’ pony.  We must get back to the ranch as soon as possible and that other horse is too played out.

“You boys can pack up and follow as fast as you can.  Be at the house by the middle of the afternoon, at the latest.  Mind now, I have enough to think of without worrying about you.”

Nails was helping Bill with the ponies, and almost as soon as Mr. Wilder had finished his instructions the animals were ready.

Vaulting into the saddle, the ranchman again cautioned the boys to be careful, shook out his reins and rode from the basin at a gallop, the cowboy close behind.

With a will the four comrades went to work packing the saddle bags, and less than an hour after the others had left were following them.

The raid, the pursuit, wonder if they would be allowed to go on the man-hunt and speculation as to whether the thieves would be captured formed topics for endless conversation as they rode.

“Do you suppose those men I saw on the cliff are part of the gang?” hazarded Tom.

“They may be.  I never thought of them,” declared Bill.  “I must remember to speak about them to father.  Still, I hardly think they could have had a hand in it.  It is all of thirty miles from where we saw them to the Long Creek bottoms, and no sizeable herd of cattle could be driven through the hills that far in a day.  Twenty miles on the prairies is a stiff hike and half that far would be a good drive in the mountains.”

When they were obliged to ride Indian file over the trail much talking was not attempted, and each boy busied himself with his own thoughts.

Because of his knowledge of the route, Bill led and Larry brought up the rear.  Their advance was slow, however, as they wished to give the pony Tom rode as much chance to rest as possible before they reached the plains.

With eyes and ears alert, they proceeded, and without mishap finally rode out onto the prairie.

[Illustration:  “With eyes and ears alert, they proceeded.”]

“Let’s eat now,” suggested Horace.  “That will give Whitefoot more rest, and by the time we have finished he’ll be as good as new.  He’s a tough one and can stand sixty miles, day in and day out.”

“Which is about half as much as he’ll get this time,” added Bill.  “Still I think Whitefoot’s good for it, especially as he hadn’t been ridden for a week till Nails took him last night.”

The halt was made and the boys ate as heartily as though they had not breakfasted only three hours before.

When they were ready to start again Larry said: 

“So long as Whitefoot is tired and Horace is the lightest, don’t you think he’d better ride him instead of Tom?”