Yes, he--didn't!" laughed Dick, as he climbed back into the saddle.

There was enough excitement at Diamond X ranch to please even excitable
Nort. As the other cowboys had said, one of Mr. Merkel's men from a
distant ranch--Square M, to be exact--had ridden in to report that
during the early morning hours several head of choice steers, that were
being gotten ready for a rising market, had been driven off by
rustlers. Leaving his companions in charge of the remaining cattle,
Tar Blake--who got his name from his very black whiskers--had ridden to
headquarters to give the alarm.

"Well, we'll see if we can trail these scoundrels!" declared Mr.
Merkel, as Bud and his cousins rode up.

"Can't we go, dad?" asked Bud, as eagerly as Nort would have spoken.
"Maybe it's the bunch from the queer professors' camp. Let us trail
along!"

"Nope!" was the short answer from Mr. Merkel. "I've got other plans
for you," he added quickly, and in a tone that took the sting out of
his refusal. "You'll have plenty of excitement," he went on, "so don't
look so down in the mouth, son. Get something to eat, and then pack
your outfit for a few days. You've got to ride herd, while I pull in
as many men as I can spare to trail these rustlers."

"What herd, dad?" asked Bud. "Over by Square M?" and he named the
ranch where the thieving had taken place that morning.

"No, I want you to help haze that bunch from Triangle B over to the
railroad yard. They've been showing signs of uneasiness, and I don't
want 'em to bolt when they're on the last stretch. You'll find 'em
over by the bend. Ride there, and tell Charlie Smith and Hen Wagner to
come in. You'll relieve them. Dirk Blanchard will be with you, and so
will Chot Ramsey, and you three ought to be able to bed 'em down
to-night. Drive 'em along easy. Dirk knows how to do it, and there's
plenty of water along the way. Don't hurry 'em; if you do they'll work
off all their fat, and beef is too high now to waste it by running it
off the hoof. Mosey along now!" and the ranchman turned from Bud to
give other orders.

Nort and Dick, with one accord, started forward, but their cousin
anticipated their appeal.

"Can't Nort and Dick come with me, dad?" asked Bud.

"Sure thing--if they want to," answered Mr. Merkel.

"As if we wouldn't want to!" murmured Nort. "Oh, boy!"

"Say! It'll be great--riding herd!" exclaimed Dick.

Several hours later found the boy ranchers within sight o