d:

"They're at it again! Rustlers just cut out a bunch at North Station
and they're hazing 'em off!"

"Whew!" whistled Mr. Merkel. "This is getting serious!"

Little time was lost. Instead of stopping for a "bite," the boy
ranchers and their companions hastily swallowed some coffee that "Ma"
Merkel and Nell made ready for them. Some "grub" was hastily packed,
for the expedition might be out all night--very likely would--and then,
saddles, girths and guns having been hastily inspected, the cowboys set
forth.

To the bunch that had been on guard at Spur Creek was added some other
punchers from Diamond X--as many as could be spared. This was not a
large number, for, as Mr. Merkel had said, he had sent some of his men
to drive his shipment of steers to the railroad.

This latest raid, word of which had been telephoned in from a distant
place by a cowboy who had witnessed it, had taken place at what was
called "North Station." This was a sort of auxiliary ranch Mr. Merkel
had started when he secured more range land in the spring. By
pasturing some cattle around there, several miles were saved in
shipping his steers after fattening them up. And, as I have told you,
nothing so soon takes valuable fat off cattle as driving them long
distances to feed, to water or to a shipping point.

The boy ranchers knew little of North Station, having been there but
once, though the trail to it was plain. And as they rode they talked
of what might have taken place there.

"Guess whoever was in charge wasn't keepin' a very good lookout, or
he'd have stopped the rustlers," observed Snake Purdee.

"Oh, you can't tell," said Billee Dobb. "Accidents will happen, and
Del Pinzo is as slick as they come."

They all knew this to be true.

"Well, there's one thing in our favor," remarked Bud, as he urged his
horse up between the steeds of Nort and Dick.

"What's that?" asked the latter.

"We're after the rustlers right quick," went on Bud. "Red Dugan, who
telephoned in, said the gang driving off our cattle was still in sight
as he was talking. So we ought to overtake them by dark."

"Not much fun fighting after dark," observed Dick dubiously.

"That's right," agreed his brother. "You can't tell who you're
shooting at or who's shooting at you. How did Red come to be on the
job so quickly?" he inquired of Bud.

"Well, you know dad has a lot of telephones set up at different places
over his range," the owner's son explai