-something for the future.

But if he was at all apprehensive it was not manifested by any tremor
of his hands; for not a grain of tobacco was spilled.

CHAPTER VIII

SUSPICIONS

For several moments the situation remained thus; the boy ranchers and
their friends were on one side of Spur Creek, determined to repulse any
attempt on the part of the strange horseman, who was on the opposite
shore, to cross and make a landing. In this case it might be
considered a legal taking possession of disputed land, and open the way
for a band of sheep men to enter. On the other side was the lone
horseman calmly puffing at his cigaret, as if literally taking the
advice of Yellin' Kid.

The three boys, and the older cowboys also, had their guns in readiness
for action, but it was easy to guess that the lone horseman, unless he
was extremely foolhardy, would not attempt to do anything in the face
of such odds.

More than two minutes passed, and if you want to know how long this is
in a tense situation take out your watch and count the seconds.

Then the stranger on the Mexican side of Spur Creek tossed away his
smouldering cigaret stub, took a deep breath and exhaled the smoke.
Next he spoke softly.

"You will have no sheep, _senors_?" he asked.

"Nary a sheep!" declared Billee Dobb, "an' you can tell them that sent
you!"

A half smile--a contemptuous smirk of the lips--seamed for a moment the
bronzed, weather-beaten and wrinkled face of the lone horseman. He
tightened the reins and his steed made ready to gallop off.

"I shall see you again, _senors_. _Adios!_" he cried, and, with a
graceful wave of his hand he wheeled and rode off as fast as he had
approached.

For a few seconds longer there was silence in the ranks of those
holding Fort Spur Creek as it might be called. Then Bud broke out with:

"What do you make of that?"

"Can't make much," admitted Old Billee. "If he came to find out
whether we were ready, he went away satisfied."

"Regular stage and moving picture stuff!" commented Nort.

"I believe the fellow was an actor," laughed Dick. "The way he flipped
his cigaret and waved to us--he must have been in the movies sometime."

"I'll movie him if he comes on this side of Spur Creek!" muttered Snake
Purdee. "Him and his '_adios_'! Nothin' but a Greaser, I'll wager!"

"He had his nerve with him," said Old Billee. "But, boys, we mustn't
let him get ours. He came to spy out and see what he cou