“And so my leasing the bottoms has spoiled this criminal dealing?”

“That’s what.  I heard a greaser down in El Paso last winter boasting you’d sell your ranch inside of two years.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” demanded Mr. Wilder severely.

“Didn’t think it was necessary.  Fatty and I fixed him so he wouldn’t brag any more.”

Deeming it unwise to inquire Into the means taken for silencing the Mexican, the ranchman lapsed into silence for a few minutes and then declared: 

“No cattle thieves can drive me out of business, Nails.  I have the right on my side, and right always triumphs.”

“We boys are with you, Mr. Wilder.  You’ve always played more than fair with us, which is more than we can say of some folks, and we appreciate it.  Cowboys have feelings same as other people, though there seem to be a lot of folks who don’t think so.  And I’m speaking for the other boys of the Half-Moon as well as myself.  We talked it all over before Pete sent me to the ranch.  But when you join ’em at the pool, don’t say anything about what I’ve told you.  Sentiment and hunting cattle thieves don’t mix.”

This expression of the esteem in which his men held him, crude though it was, moved Mr. Wilder deeply, and reaching over, he seized the cowboy’s hand and shook it warmly, an action that delighted Nails greatly.

The statement about Megget gave the ranchman a new train of thought.  He realized for the first time that he was engaged in a cattle war which would only end with his ruin or the capture of the entire band of thieves.  And being a man who could not be frightened, the owner of the Half-Moon Ranch vowed to accomplish the latter alternative.

The hard ride was tiring the ponies, wiry though they were, and the men on their backs were obliged to resort to almost continual use of their spurs.  But at last the buildings of the ranch home came into view, and soon Mr. Wilder and Nails were at the corral.

“Saddle the best of the bunch for me,” ordered the ranchman as he dismounted.  “I’ll go to the house for a bite and then start for the Three Stars.”

“What about me?” inquired the cowboy, disappointment in his voice at the thought of being left behind.

“I want you to ride into Tolopah.  Don’t say anything about the raid.  Just listen round and see if you can learn anything.”  And turning on his heel, Mr. Wilder started for the house.

“Where are the boys?  You didn’t let them stay to hunt, did you?” inquired his wife anxiously as he sat down at the table and ordered Hop Joy to bring him something to eat.

“No.  They’ll be here during the afternoon.  I’m going to get Jim Snider and his outfit.  Nails says they are at home.”  And briefly he told her of the information he had received from his cowboy.

No longer than necessary did the ranchman linger at the table, and when he had finished a hasty meal went out, mounted the pony Nails held waiting and galloped away in the direction of the Three Stars Ranch, which lay to the east.