lieve you."

"We must watch out for that Mangle, and if we can ever get our hands on
him, make him give up our money and then have him locked up."

"It is not so easy to lock up a man when you are miles and miles away
from a jail."

An hour went by, and the boys thought it time to start on the return.
Rush was called back from a thicket into which he had wandered and both
mounted, for the trail now lead almost entirely down hill.

After the cyclone the sun had come out strong and hot, and halfway back
to the ranch the brothers were glad enough to stop beside the bank of a
tiny mountain stream and obtain a drink and water the horse.

They were about to depart when Rush pricked up his ears and gave a
peculiar whinny.

"Hush! What does that mean?" Paul asked in quick alarm.

"Draw behind the brush and see," replied Chet, cautiously. "Those horse
thieves may be still in the vicinity."

"Oh, they would not remain here," said Paul.

Yet he followed his brother behind the brush. They tried to make Rush
come, too, but for once the animal would not obey.

"Come, Rush, come," whispered Chet. "Why he never acted this way
before."

"The cyclone upset his mind, I reckon," said Paul, with a faint show of
humor. "Make him come."

But the more Chet tried the more obstinate did the animal become.
Finally he broke away altogether and ran off, kicking up his heels
behind him.

"Well, I never!" gasped Chet.

"Quick, after him! I believe he means to run away!" cried Paul.

"Rush run away!" said Chet reproachfully. It hurt him a good deal to
have Paul speak in that fashion of the horse he so loved.

Both boys leaped from the thicket and after Rush, who was now running up
the bank of the stream at top speed. A turn was made and the brothers
burst out into a loud and joyous shout.

There, not fifty feet away, was Lilly, the faithful mare Allen had
fancied was drowned in the Black Rock River. Rush stood beside her,
licking her neck affectionately.

"Allen's horse!" cried Chet.

"And as well as ever almost," added Paul, as he rushed up and began an
examination.

The mare was evidently glad to see both the boys and her mate. She stood
trembling as Chet and Paul examined her.

"A few slight bruises, that is all," said Paul. "Won't Allen be glad
when he hears of it?"

"Indeed he will be. He loves Lilly as if she was his best girl. It's a
good thing for us, too, Paul," he went on. "Now each can have a mount
home."

"R