had ridden back from the ranch
headquarters.

"What you all looking at?" he asked, for the cowboys were gazing
silently at the spot in the stream where the tragedy had just taken
place.

They informed Nort in a few words.

"Well," he remarked, "that's the best protection we could have against
the sheep coming over--quicksands in the creek."

"The only trouble is," said Dick slowly, "that the quicksands are only
in certain places. They can cross safely elsewhere."

"The point is, though," observed Bud, "that they can only guess at
those places. And, not knowing where they are, may make them stay away
altogether."

"I hope so, but I don't believe it," remarked Snake. "You'll see they
won't give up so easily."

Nor did the sheep herders thus forego an attempt to graze their flocks
on the rich pasture claimed by Mr. Merkel. It was too late that day to
attempt anything more. Night settled down, but with an augmented force
of cowboys at the fort the boy ranchers were not apprehensive.

Tours of duty were arranged, so that two or more cowboys would be on
guard all night. However, the hours of darkness passed with no further
activity on the part of the Mexicans.

In the morning, however, the forces from Diamond X ranch observed
strange actions on the part of their enemies.

"What in the world are they up to?" asked Nort, as he and his brother
and cousin looked across the river.

Well might he ask that.

CHAPTER XVII

"WE CROWED TOO SOON!"

Not only the boy ranchers, but their more experienced cowboy companions
were puzzled by the actions of the sheep herders. It was the period
after the morning meal, the smoke of which fires was still rising
toward the sky. The sheep men appeared to have slept in the open, with
nothing more than their blankets for a bed and their saddles for
pillows. But they were accustomed to this, and so were our friends,
though they were glad of the fairly comfortable bunk house, or "fort,"
as they dubbed it.

But all interest was centered in what the Greasers were doing. Some of
them separated themselves from the sheep, which really did not require
much more attention than that given them by some intelligent dogs, and
a bunch of the hated and despised men were approaching the river,
carrying long poles.

"What do you reckon they're going to do?" asked Dick.

"Make a raft, maybe," answered Nort. "Though how they can float a lot
of sheep over on a raft made of a few