could take over a few at a time, and
let the rest go ahead eatin' grass here till I was ready for 'em. The
longer I could keep that up, the better I'd like it. Same as we been
doin' at the home ranch, y' see. We didn't go t' work and haze in the
hull bunch and keep 'em up, eatin' their heads off, waitin' till we got
ready for 'em. No, sir, we go out and bring in half a dozen, or a dozen
at most and cut out what we want. We bust them, and git more.

"I figger, Mr. Selmer, that these geezers down here have been doin' that
very same way. They had the kid baited with that flyin' machine, so he
wouldn't have no eyes for anything else. And he was _here_, so you
wouldn't be worryin' none about the stock. And they've been helpin'
theirselves at their own convenience--like Mary V would put it. I dunno,
but that's the way I figger it. And I don't guess, Mr. Selmer, you'll see
none of yore hawses again, unless mebby it's the last ones they took. And
I don't guess there's very much chance of gittin' them back, either,
because we don't know whereabouts they took 'em to. Way I look at it,
you're doin' about the only thing that can be did--cleanin' out this
range and drivin' the hawses all up on the north range. That kinda leaves
the jam pot empty when they come lickin' their lips for more of the
same."

"Well, I guess you're right, Bill. And how do you figure young Jewel not
being here? His saddle is out there in the shed, and all his horses are
here."

"Him?" Bill laughed a little. "Me, I don't aim to do no figgerin' about
Skyrider. He's got his flyin' machine workin', though, accordin' to Mary
V. I guess Skyrider has mebby flew the country. He'd likely think it was
about time--way he gummed things up around here."

Sudden permitted himself a snort, probably in agreement with Bill's
statement that things were "gummed up" at Sinkhole. He went to the door
and stood looking out, his face sour as one may expect a face to be when
thoughts of loss are behind it.

"Where's Mary V?" he turned abruptly to ask of Bill.

"Mary V? Why, I guess she went home. Said something about takin' a
picture of some darn thing; she never come on with the boys to camp,
anyhow."

"She didn't go foolin' off with Tex, did she?"

"Tex? No, Tex rode after stock. Had some trouble with his hawse. I heard
him tellin' the boys. Said his hawse run away with him. Come in all
lathered up."

Sudden turned back, went to the telephone, changed his mind. No use