I am sorry you would not agree to
our plan, and see matters in our light. It would have been so much
more comfortable. And when we have explained, as we hope to do soon,
you would appreciate our attitude."

"Well, all I can say now is that we _don't_ appreciate it!" snapped
Nort, "and we'll leave at the first opportunity!"

"Then we'll see that you get no opportunities!" sneered Silas. "Let's
take 'em out, Del!"

As it was evident that the two professors meant what they said, and
that the boys would be roughly handled if they did not submit quietly,
they followed their captors out of the dining tent, in answer to
signals from Silas and the half breed that this was what was wanted.

"Here's going to be your stopping place," said Silas, with another
sneer, as he stopped in front of a small tent. "And let me tell you it
will be best for you to take it easy. You may get into trouble if you
try to leave!"

To this Nort and Dick answered nothing. They were too angry to know
what to say, but that they intended to submit quietly to this indignity
was not in their natures. They cast quick glances about the camp
before entering the tent, the flap of which Del Pinzo pulled back. The
tent contained two cots and some small packing boxes for tables and
chairs.

"All right!" said Nort, as he sized up the situation, and glanced back
at the men who were his own and his brother's guards for the time
being. "You can do your best to keep us here, and we'll do our best to
get away. It'll be a fifty-fifty proposition!"

Nort was startled by an exclamation from Dick. The latter was gazing
at some commotion on the far side of the camp. Looking out from the
opened tent Nort saw being driven, along the bank of a small brook that
ran through the swale, several big steers. They were being hazed along
by Greasers on horses, and as the cattle splashed into the water,
stopping to drink thirstily, the boy ranchers caught sight of the
brands on their flanks.

It was the mark of the Diamond X ranch!

CHAPTER XXI

THE ESCAPE

"Get inside, you fellows, now!" roughly commanded Silas Thorp. "If
you're going to act nasty we can do the same. You can make it easy or
hard for yourselves, just as you choose."

"We'll make it hard for you, before we finish!" threatened Nort.

At the sight of the steers bearing the Diamond X brand, Del Pinzo had
stepped out of the tent, but his place as guard, if such he might be
called, was