“Have you found what you came out here for?” asked Butler.

“Surely I have,” smiled the captain.  “Haven’t you?”

“I haven’t found much of anything unless you mean that a couple of horsemen crossed back there some few hours ago.”

“How’d you know that?” exploded the captain.

“I saw the trail they left.”

“Shake!” cried the captain leaning from his saddle.  “You’re the alfiredest sharp youngster I’ve ever come up with.  Oh, it’s too bad that you have to waste your talents in a city!  Too bad, too bad!  You ought to be out here on the plains and in the mountains where one’s manhood counts for something.”

“Did you come out to pick up that trail, sir?”

“That’s what I came for, my boy.  I reckoned those two fellows who got after us in camp last night would take this trail and head for the lower end of the mountain range.  That’s what they’ve done.  This trail proves that.  Of course they may get sidetracked, but that’s their idea up to this point.  I think we are safe in following our original plans now.”

Captain Billy did not say what those plans were, nor did Tad ask him.  They now turned about and started toward home at a slow jog trot, riding side by side where the trail permitted and in single file where it did not.

On the way back the captain asked Tad many questions about himself, the members of his party and their experiences during their various journeyings into the wilder parts of their native land.

“Ever think of joining the army yourself, Tad?” questioned the Ranger.

“Have I?  I am thinking of it most of the time.  Oh how I wish I were old enough.  I know I could give my country good services now.”

“You bet you could, Kid.  You would make a wonderful scout over there,” declared the captain, nodding.

“Some day, if the war lasts, I shall go,” asserted Tad in a low voice, tense with emotion.

Billy said he had been East to Chicago once, where he had been robbed of everything he had on except his clothes.

“Funny, isn’t it?  I’d like to see a fellow go through me out here in my native pastures.  But back there in the city—–­” Billy shook his head.  The subject was too great for words.

They found the camp quiet and in order.  The three boys and the professor had been sleeping a good part of the afternoon, and without having put out a guard, either.  The captain shook his head, glancing significantly at Tad as he heard this.  In fact the two had to shout to awaken the party.  Then to learn that they had been sleeping all day—–­well, there was nothing to be said.

“Do we move to-night, sir?” asked the professor.

“Can’t tell you.  Not until I hear the reports of my men, and the messenger or scout whom I looked for to meet us here at noon.  Seen. anything of that rattler around these diggings, Professor?”

“No, we haven’t seen any rattler.”