quicker, and in the flash of an eye had the muzzle of his
six-shooter under the nose of the night foreman, who shrank from it.

"I mean thet yer a crook, an' I'll give yer jest three minutes ter rope
yer hoss an' git."

Flatbush turned and hurried to the remuda, caught and saddled his horse,
and rode out of camp.

"I've had my eye on that maverick fer quite some time," said Bud,
turning to the boys after he had watched Flatbush fade into the
distance. "I've suspected him o' turnin' off our cattle every night. I
haven't caught him at it, or thar wouldn't've been no necessity o'
chasin' him out. He'd've gone feet foremost."

"What do you think of it, Bud?" asked Ted, handing the little mirror
over to the golden-haired puncher.

Bud took it in his hand, and looked at it a long time.

"It shore is Stella's," he said. "I reckernize it by this leetle dent on
ther side o' it."

He was holding it in the palm of his hand, looking down at it intently.

"Hello, what's this?" Bud held the mirror against the sleeve of his blue
shirt.

"Pipin' pelicans," he muttered, "if thar ain't some kind o' a pitcher on
it."

Ted went to his side and looked at the mirror.

"I believe you're right," he said. "Let me look at it."

"What do you make of it?" asked Bud.

All the boys crowded around, watching Ted eagerly.

"This is evidently intended for the picture of a stone wall," said Ted,
"and that wavy line behind it is meant for mountains."

"What's that?" asked Bud, pointing to the picture.

"I guess it is meant for a hole in the stone wall," said Ted.

"Wow!" said Bud. "That's as easy as livin' on a farm. Don't yer see? It
is a message from the Hole in the Wall."

"By Jove, you're right. The Hole in the Wall in the Wichita Mountains."

"What is that right below it?"

"It looks like a star. It is a star."

"It is Stella's signature," said Ben. "Stella is the Latin for star.
Don't you see, she has sent this message out from the Hole in the Wall,
where she is a prisoner? It's as plain as day to me."

"You're right," shouted Ted. "Into your saddles, boys; we're off to the
Hole in the Wall at once."

CHAPTER XXXV.

"HOLE IN THE WALL."

"Kit, you will stay and take care of the herd," said Ted, just before
the boys galloped off.

"All right, but I'd mighty well like to go with you," said Kit, who,
although he was eager to be in the fight that he knew would come off if
Ted found that Shan Rhue had anything to