y late now, and you can't make Roaring River 'til long after
daylight."

"Well, now, men, that's right kind of you to suggest that--but I don't
want to butt in. I can just----"

"You're not butting in at all!" insisted Bud. "We'll be glad to have
you. Got a blanket?"

"Oh, I got a blanket, thanks. Thought I might need it on this Chink
hunt of mine. Well, since you boys don't mind, I'll put up my pony and
flop down here by the fire. Feels good at a time like this.
Good-night, all!"

The remainder of the night was uneventful. The six slept soundly,
tired out as they were, and with the morning they all awoke refreshed
and eager to be on the way. After a meager breakfast they set out for
the water hole the Kid knew of, as they wanted to let their steeds
drink before starting for the Shooting Star, which was the name of
their new ranch. Joe Hawkins went with them.

"What time do you calculate we'll hit the ranch, Kid?" Bud asked.

"Be there in about three hours, Bud. It isn't so far from the water
hole. Why? You anxious to begin sheep herdin'?"

"Not exactly," Bud laughed. "But I do want to see what the place looks
like. Hope we don't have to do much repairing."

"No, the Shooting Star is in pretty fair shape," Joe Hawkins said.
"Your father got a good buy--if you can get hold of it all right."

"What do you mean, get hold of it all right?" asked Bud curiously.

"Well, the feller that's got it now isn't exactly a pleasant customer.
There's something queer about him--we've been watchin' the Shooting
Star for over a month now. I couldn't say for sure that there's
anything wrong--but it looks suspicious. That's the reason I wanted to
have the government official find out who the new owner was going to
be. I'm right glad I met up with you boys. You may be able to help me
out some time."

"And collect that reward," Billee Dobb put in. His mind seemed set on
the two thousand dollars the deputy had spoken of.

"You might," admitted Hawkins. "It's waiting for the person who brings
in the head of the smuggling system."

"Well, we'll do our best," the Kid said, with a side glance at Bud.

"Say, Kid, we're not down here to capture smugglers!" cried Bud.
"We've got to take charge of the Shooting Star. Of course, if we _do_
happen to run across----"

"I knew that would get a rise out of you!" laughed the Kid. "Catch Bud
duckin' any excitement! Why, even Billee here wants to trail the
smugglers--d