e boys had been on the Shooting
Star. The plan that the deputy had outlined for the capture of the
smugglers called for work, and it had only a fair chance of success.
Nevertheless there seemed no other way to achieve results, and the
advantages of the control of the Shooting Star had to be realized early
in the game.

"I'd like to run across Delton," thought Bud, feeling unconsciously for
his gun. His hand encountered no holster, and he suddenly realized
that he had not bothered to arm himself before starting out.

"Just as well that I don't see Delton," he said to himself a trifle
ruefully. "Wouldn't do me a lot of good to meet him when I haven't a
ghost of a show of bringing him in. Yet I might take a chance on him
if I saw him first." The pony he was riding stepped carefully so as to
avoid prairie dog holes, which would throw him and his rider if he
stepped in one suddenly.

"Might be a good idea to turn around," thought Bud aloud. "Don't want
to leave the work of the ranch to Nort and the Kid and Billee, though
there isn't an awful lot to do yet. When those sheep come in we'll
have our hands full. Oh, well, guess I'll ride a bit farther. See how
much more work this fence needs."

He was riding slowly now, looking carefully about him. The country
appeared vaguely familiar. Certain bushes looked as though he had seen
them before--there was a small tree that he had certainly passed some
time before. The cowboy's sight is so trained by years on the prairie
that even the shape of a bush will be remembered subconsciously. There
is so much land in the west that it is necessary to have some means to
guide oneself about, else a rider could very easily get lost along a
trail that should be familiar.

"Seems to me I've been here before," Bud said. "Let's see now--that
bush. Know I saw that sometime. That little hill there--why--I'll bet
that is--" he spurred his mount to a faster gait and made for a small
knoll that rose in front of him. As he reached it he gave a yell.

"I know now! This is where we got in that fight with the hidden
gunman! And over there ought to be--sure enough! The water hole! I
didn't think we were so near it. I must have come further than I
thought. Well--might as well take a look around. Right here is where
the bird that did all the shooting must have lain. Come here, bronc!"

The boy dismounted and slipped his horse's bridle rein on his wrist.
Then he threw himself dow