They rode on into the narrow, sinister valley, all unaware what they
would discover there.

CHAPTER XII

THE ELIXER CAVE

"Nifty hiding place--this," remarked Dick as the three rode side by
side up "Smugglers' Glen," as they had jokingly named the defile.

"Sure is," agreed Bud.

"A man, or a band of men, if they wanted to, could hole up in here for
the winter, slip out when they liked and raid a ranch, and get back
again without any one being much the wiser," suggested Nort.

"Let's hope that doesn't happen," remarked Bud. "But it's just as well
to know about this place. Some of our cows might wander up in here
and, not finding them on the range, we'd think the rustlers had paid us
a visit."

"That's right," came from Nort.

"Maybe rustlers have used this for a hiding place," was Dick's nest
remark.

"Smugglers' Glen or Rustlers' Glen--it's about the same," commented
Bud. "If those fellows we fought last year, who were running the
Chinks over the Mexican border, had known of this glen they'd have used
it."

"That's the truth for you," agreed Dick. "And, speaking of Chinks,
when are we going to get that Celestial cook we talked of?"

"I expect he'll be back at the ranch when we get there," was Bud's
reply. "Fellow in Los Pompan promised to ship me out a good one."

"I won't be sorry!" chuckled Nort. "I'm tired of cooking and washing
dishes."

The boys and their older companions had taken turns with the not very
agreeable duties of housekeeping on the ranch. Old Billee Dobb was an
experienced cook and Snake often said the old puncher could make beans
taste like roast turkey. But Billee drew the line at washing dishes.
Said he couldn't see any sense in cleaning plates only to muss 'em all
up again. So when it came his turn to cook somebody else had to do the
cleaning.

Talking of various matters, speculating on the mystery at Dot and Dash,
and wondering what had caused the latest deaths, the boys rode on and
on up into the depths of the glen. As they went on, the little valley
seemed to shrink in width until it was barely wide enough for the three
of them to ride abreast. On either side the grim, rocky hills, studded
here and there with trees and bushes, rose high above their heads. Now
and then they came upon a little stream meandering its way down the
defile. Here and there it dropped over a ledge of rocks, making a
pleasant, if miniature, waterfall.

Aside from the clatter of