arry the big trunk indoors, so that he could satisfy his soul
about the one object that had been worrying him ever since leaving
Centerville.

Somehow or other they seemed slow about doing this. The horses had to be
attended to first of all. Then there seemed to be some sort of
excitement in the neighborhood of the corral, for the boys noticed a
mounted cowboy come dashing up and jump from his steed, which was
blowing hard, as if from a rapid dash.

He wondered if this sort of thing was of daily occurrence on the big
ranch, which took in the whole valley for miles, and extended even up
along the sides of the mountains on either hand.

"What ails the fellow, I wonder?" observed Jerry, who, it seems, had
also noticed the rush of the newcomer.

"From the way he bolted into the office where Mr. Mabie went, I imagine
he must have brought important news of some sort," remarked Frank.

"Perhaps our very introduction to the Big M Ranch is going to be in a
whirl of excitement, fellows. I've noticed that somehow we seem to stir
up things wherever we go; not that we mean to have things happen, but
they just pick out such a time to play hob," said Jerry, shaking his
head as if thoroughly convinced.

"Here comes Mr. Mabie, hurrying this way!" declared Bluff, beginning to
forget his other anxiety for the time being in this new mystery.

"And there goes the cowboy back to the horse corral. He's shouting
something, too, and as sure as you live every man is jumping to get a
horse handy between his legs. Look at them slapping saddles on! Why,
they'll be off like the wind! Boys, something is up! I know it!"

Frank and his chums saw several cowboys dash away as though possessed,
shouting, and waving their hats in a reckless manner, as if about to
charge an enemy who had designs on the cattle of the ranch.

"Whatever can it mean?" said Will again.

"For the life of me I can't imagine," returned Frank, sorely puzzled.

"But we'll soon know, fellows, for here comes Mr. Mabie, and he's
swinging his hat as though just as excited as the balance of the crowd.
Whatever it is, he means to tell us!" cried Jerry, his eyes glowing with
the nerve-racking anxiety.

CHAPTER VII

THE GRIZZLY AT BAY

"Boys, do you want to see some fun?" called the ranchman as he came up.

"Always ready for that sort of thing, sir. What's going on?" asked
Frank.

"An old friend of ours, whom we call 'Mountain Charlie,' has broken
bounds at last,