al secret of Death Valley."

"Maybe we won't then," suggested Sam, in a low voice.

"Do you mean they won't come back?" asked Nort with a sudden increase
in his heart beats.

"Oh, _some_ of 'em are bound to come back," was the not very cheering
reply. "The deaths ain't wholesale like that. And maybe nothing won't
happen to any of 'em," which was sufficiently clear and hopeful if not
very grammatical. "But, even if they all come back, which is more than
likely," went on the most recent foreman of Dot and Dash, "that ain't
saying they'll find out the secret."

"No, I suppose not," agreed Nort. "Well, we'll hope for the best."

They resumed their labors of getting the group of ranch buildings in
shipshape against the return of Bud and the others. Sam had agreed to
stay for a while to aid in the check-over and as soon as possible, as
Nort knew, Mr. Merkel intended to add to his cattle already on the
ranch, and hire more men to look after them.

"I wish we'd found out that old geezer's name and more about him before
we let him vamoose," said Snake as he worked away with Nort.

"Yes," agreed the boy, "but so much was happening, and he was so queer,
that I forgot about it."

"Guess we all did. Well, we can pick him up again when we need him--if
we ever do," chuckled Snake. "I mean if the doctor says this here
Elixer is any good."

"If there isn't any harm in it that's the most I expect," came from
Nort. "As for finding the old man----"

"He's an eel, I tell you!" broke in Sam. "I've seen him more then
once, riding along, that is some time ago, 'fore I was knocked out.
But when I tried to come up to him he'd vanish. And to look at it you
wouldn't think that cayuse of his was any quicker'n a snail!"

"He must have some hiding place," suggested Snake.

"Maybe," admitted Sam. "But I don't like that _hombre_ and you hear
what I'm tellin' you!"

Dinner was served, and eaten with hearty appetites in spite of what had
happened and what might take place later. Then more work was done
about the place, and as the afternoon waned Nort began to get rather
anxious for the return of those who had gone on the round-up.

It was not a round-up in the real sense of the word--but merely a
riding around of the place to size it up--to ascertain the number of
head of cattle on the ranch, to find out the location of water holes,
the best pasture, look to the condition of the fences and such matters
as that.

"And I wish