“Why do you think so?” asked his master.

“Because I know the right trail is between the pool and the bottoms.”

Again the men lapsed into silence, which Mr. Snider broke by inquiring: 

“What was it that young Alden mentioned about men crossing the dirt?”

“That’s so.  I’d forgotten it again,” and quickly Mr. Wilder narrated the incident to his foreman.

“Probably that was Megget,” asserted Pete.  “But that doesn’t help us much.  We don’t know where that trail breaks on the plains.  Besides, while we practically know the headquarters are near the old mine, we don’t know they are driving the cattle there.  They may be heading straight for Don Vasquez’s ranch.

“The plan that I kind of made up was to follow the trail from the bottoms till we were sure which way the raiders were headed.  If it’s for the mine, we can ride back along the plains and try out my three trails.”

“But why not follow the cattle?” interrupted Mr. Wilder.

“Because I’d rather head them off than creep up on them.  The raiders will be expecting us from behind.  By riding on the prairie we can cover ten miles to their one, which will give us time to try out the three trails, and, when we find the right one, we can get in ahead and block the trail.”

CHAPTER XIV

ANOTHER DISCOVERY

For several minutes the ranch owners discussed the suggestion and finally decided to act on it unless circumstances should make a change advisable.

Having settled the matter, they rode to the fire and aroused the sleeping cowboys, being joined a few minutes later by Bill, Sandy and the others.  Soon the men of the Half-Moon were saddling their ponies.

“Queer we don’t meet Ned anywhere,” Bill exclaimed.  “I see from the bags he’s been here, Pete.”

“He got here all right, but he didn’t like to go back very well.  Had a bad case of nerves, so he took down the white awning.”

“It’s just as well,” returned Mr. Wilder.  Then, finding that the men were impatient to be on the move, he gave the command to start and they rode toward the Long Creek bottoms.

When Tom and Larry awoke it was bright daylight.

“Why it’s nine o’clock,” exclaimed Larry in amazement as he looked at his watch.

Hastily the brothers dressed and then went to see if Horace was in his room or had played some joke on them in letting them sleep.  To their relief, they found him in bed.

“Hey, you, get up!” cried Tom.  “You’re a fine one to be in charge of the Half-Moon Ranch.  If you stay in bed much longer, it will be dark.”

Deeply chagrined to think he had overslept, Horace leaped to the floor, and soon the three boys were ready for breakfast.

At the sound of their voices Mrs. Wilder had ordered Hop Joy to bring in their food, and as the lads entered the dining-room she was awaiting them.