Oh, he _could_, I reckon," admitted Babe. "But it doesn't seem
reasonable. Guess he wouldn't head back this way if he'd tried to run
off some Diamond X stock. I'd like to know where those fellows slipped
to," he said, musingly.

"Well, they didn't get anything, anyhow," declared Nort.

"Not much, that's a fact, son," drawled Babe, as he eased himself down
off his pony, for he wanted to stretch his legs. "Course I don't know
how many there ought to be in this bunch," and he looked over the small
herd that had now settled quietly for the night. "But they didn't get
away with much. You fellows might as well ride on back, and send out
some of the boys," he added. "Your ma'll be wondering about you, Bud."

"Yes, I reckon she will, 'specially as I have some tenderfeet with me,"
and he laughed good-naturedly.

"Don't go back on our account!" exclaimed Nort. "We can camp out here
all right."

"It'll be pretty dry camping," chuckled Babe, "an' there's no need of
it. Slim will be wanting to know how we made out, and he may get a
report on the rustlers, not knowing that we headed 'em off. So it's
just as well for you lads to go back. You can send out some of the
night men, and I'll follow you as soon as I'm relieved," he added.

This seemed the best plan and back toward the ranch headquarters rode
Bud, Dick and Nort, leaving Babe in charge of the small herd, a task
easy to fulfill now, as the animals were quiet.

The weird howls of the coyotes followed the lads almost to the ranch
houses, and the advent of the three, with the story they told, created
no little excitement. Cattle rustling was not common enough to be a
regular part of the day's work.

"Zing zowie!" exclaimed Slim Degnan as he heard the particulars. "You
fellows landed feet first right into some doin's!" he added, looking at
Nort and Dick.

"We sure did!" exclaimed the city lads, much pleased in spite of being
weary.

A little later, while Bud and his cousins were eating what might be
called a midnight lunch that Mrs. Merkel set out for them in the cozy
living-room of the ranch house, two cowboys rode off to relieve Babe.

"And now it's time for you tenderfeet to turn in," said Mrs. Merkel to
Nort and Dick. "I told your mother I'd look after you as I would Bud,
if she'd let you come out, and, now you're here, I'm going to keep my
word. Turn in, all three of you!"

And, for once in their lives, the boys were glad to go to bed without
argu