he captain. He had a dread of the law
and would do anything to keep out of court. "Do you think I'll stand
sech talk?"

"You will have to stand it," put in Chet. "I agree with Paul. We won't
budge until the sheriff or a constable puts us out."

For the moment Captain Grady was speechless. His face grew dark with
gathering wrath, and he looked as if he wanted to eat some one up.

"You won't budge, hey?" he roared at last.

"No."

"I'll put ye out!"

"I don't think you will," retorted Paul.

"Not without a big fight," added Chet.

"The boys have a right to stay here until put out," said Noel Urner.
"The property is in dispute, and the only way to settle the matter is by
going to law."

"I didn't ask for your advice," growled the captain, fiercely. "I own
this ranch, an' I'm a-goin' to have it, an' putty quick, too!"

And without another word he turned on his heel, strode out of the house,
sprang on his horse, and rode away at top speed.

"Phew! but isn't he mad!" exclaimed Chet, as the rider disappeared up
the river trail.

"You bet!" returned Paul, dropping into a bit of slang. "But he can stay
mad as long as he pleases; he can't bulldoze us."

"He is not so sure of his rights as he pretends to be," remarked Noel
Urner, who, in the course of his city life, had met many men similar to
Captain Grady. "If he knew all was right he wouldn't bluster so much."

"That's my idea of it, too," rejoined Chet. "I am half inclined to think
he never bought the land--that is, paid for what he supposed was a title
to it--for he couldn't really buy it except it was sold by Uncle
Barnaby."

"Well, by the time he pays another visit your brother will be back most
likely. It is a pity that your uncle should just now be missing."

The afternoon wore away, and anxiously the two boys awaited the coming
of Allen. Several times they went up to the roof of the house and swept
all points of the compass with their field glass.

At last the shades of night began to fall, and with heavy hearts the two
began the round of evening work, feeding the chickens and pigs and
seeing that everything was secure for the night. There were also a
couple of cows to milk and a dozen or more of eggs to gather.

Noel Urner went around with them as before, and he was greatly
interested. When they returned to the house he began to question them
as to the extent of the ranch.

"Oh, it's pretty big," replied Paul. "It runs up and down the river
near