a deserted bunk house to talk about
a cook? And how about that remark of 'double crossin'?' And what did
they run for? Why?" demanded Dick.

"Oh, all right--all right!" cried Nort, who was now grinning widely.
"Have it your own way, Dick. It was probably a great Mexican plot to
send a million Chinese to this country and form an army to capture
Texas. And after they captured Texas they'd set up a kingdom and the
king would have Snake Purdee sing 'Bury Me Not' for him every morning
before breakfast."

"You can jolly all you like, Nort--just the same, I'm willing to lay
odds that we see some excitement when we reach Roaring River. Let's
go, boys--that bacon will be frozen by the time we get to breakfast."
And Dick led the way toward the dining room.

Although they were cautioned several times by "Ma" Merkel to eat more
slowly, the boys hurried through the meal. Each of them was "rarin' to
go," as Kid expressed it, and lingering over the ordinary occupation of
eating seemed a waste of time. Within an hour the five--Bud Merkel,
Nort and Dick Shannon, Yellin' Kid and Old Billee Dobb--were standing
by their ponies, ready to spring to the saddles and be off.

There was a sudden cloud of dust as the five urged their mounts into a
gallop. With one last yell to those watching, they streaked across the
ground in a typical "cowboy start." Within two minutes they were lost
to view behind a ridge.

Now for a moment let us leave them while we learn something of their
earlier adventures. The three boys, Bud Merkel, and his eastern
cousins Nort and Dick Shannon, were introduced to you in the first book
of this series, called "The Boy Ranchers; or Solving the Mystery at
Diamond X." In that book was related how Nort and Dick Shannon went on
their vacations to the Diamond X ranch, owned by Mr. Merkel, Bud's
father. While there they were confronted with a strange situation,
regarding the searchings of a college scientist, Dr. Hendryx Wright,
who was discovered digging near the Diamond X holdings. At first it
was thought that he was looking for a lost gold mine, but later
developments brought to light the fact that his purpose was to unearth
the bones of a prehistoric monster for his college museum.

The adventures of the boys while on the ranch were also concerned with
Del Pinzo, a villainous half-breed, who nearly succeeded in bringing
the career of all to a sudden close. After successfully overcoming all
their difficul