our things out!"
cried Chet.

"I deny as how it's your house, youngster. It belongs to me, as does the
whole ranch property. There be your traps, an' the quicker you git them
off this ground the better it will suit me."

"We won't move a thing until we put them back into that house," retorted
Chet hot-headedly. "This is no way to gain possession, and you know it."

"Halt where you are!" Captain Grady raised his gun and pointed it at
Chet, who was in advance. "You'll not come near this gate, mind that!"

"I'm going in, and you won't stop me," retorted Chet.

"Don't be rash, Chet," whispered Paul, riding up and plucking his
younger brother by the sleeve.

"You try and cross this gateway and I'll fire on you, sure as fate,"
went on the captain.

Urged by Paul, Chet brought Rush to a stand. The boys were about thirty
feet from where Captain Grady stood on guard.

"Now, the best thing you fellers can do," said the captain, sharply, "is
to ride over to Dottery's ranch, an' git a wagon an' tote these traps
away. If they are left more 'n a week I'll pitch them into the river,
mind you. If you ain't satisfied at the way matters have turned, you can
go to law, just as you advised me to do," and again the man smiled
sarcastically.

"We certainly will go to law," replied Paul. "Are you alone here?"

"That's not for you to ask."

"I presume you hung around here and saw my brother go off first and then
waited for us to go away."

"I ain't standing here as a target for questions," growled Captain
Grady.

"You are a sneak and worse, Captain Grady!" burst out Chet. "If there is
any law in Idaho you shall have your full dose of it, mark my word!"

"Hi! you young bantam, don't talk to me in that fashion," roared the man
in a rage. "Come, I've told you what is best to do. Now clear out. I
shall keep watch, an' if you attempt to play any trick in the dark on me
you'll find yourself running up against a charge of buckshot."

That Captain Grady was in dead earnest was very evident. He scowled
viciously and walked a step forward.

Yet the boys were not daunted. They held their ground, and Paul even
took a slight move forward on Lilly's back.

"Supposing we go to Dottery's ranch," said the youth. "If we tell our
story, don't you imagine Dottery will turn in and help us bounce you out
of here?"

"No, you'll get no help at Dottery's."

"He is our friend, and he will not stand up for your doings, even if you
do own the ran