ned. "He says it doesn't cost
much to string a line of his own, and it's mighty handy when you want
to send word back to headquarters. It proved so in this case. For Red
was out on a distant part of the range, where there happened to be a
branch telephone in a box on a pole, and he shot in word of the raid."

"Mighty lucky he did," observed Nort.

"Yes, for we're on the trail almost as soon as the rustlers took it,"
said Bud.

And indeed the boy ranchers were on the trail, riding hard; for they
were some miles from where the raid had taken place, and they knew the
rustlers would not spare the cattle they were driving away. For the
thieves cared little about running fat off the stock they had "lifted."
All they desired was to get what animals they could, to be sold to some
other unscrupulous band, or used for food. Little consideration would
be given to the steers.

After keeping to the main trail for some distance, the pursuers struck
off to the right, heading more to the south, for it was in this
direction they might expect to overtake the rustlers.

Old Billee, who was riding ahead with Yellin' Kid, keeping an anxious
lookout for any signs of the rustlers, suddenly raised his hand as a
signal to stop. Those following him, including the boy ranchers,
pulled in their steeds.

"What's the matter?" called Bud. "See something?"

"No, but I feel something," was the somewhat strange answer.

"What do you mean?" asked Yellin' Kid.

"I mean I'm hungry!" and Old Billee chuckled. "If, as they say, an
army fights on its stomach, the same is true about a cowboy. If we're
goin' to do any fightin'--an' I reckon we are--then I got to eat!"

"I'm right glad to hear you disperse them there sentiments!" chuckled
Snake Purdee. "I was goin' t' tighten up my belt another hole or two,
to make my stomach take up less room, but if you're goin' t' eat----"

"Might as well, an' rest the hosses a bit," said Billee. "We'll do all
the better afterward."

Accordingly they halted, the horses were turned out to graze, and a
fire was built over which bacon could be sizzled and coffee made.
These two staples formed the basis of most meals when the cowboys were
on the trail, as they were now.

No time was wasted, but Billee knew how to handle his men, and he did
not insist on an immediate start after the meal. He knew the value of
a little rest after food had been taken. The horses, too, would be
fresher for a wait.

But w