"Gee! there's no telling what an up-to-date cowboy will do these days," remarked Andy. "Playing baseball, going into the movies and into vaudeville, and I don't know what else!"

"I guess he finds more money in the doing of those things than he does in the herding of cows," answered his twin.

The game between the patched-up first nine and the scrub nine resulted in a tie, 7 to 7. Jack and his cousins watched the game and had to admit that Brassy Bangs and Paul Halliday did quite well—in fact, much better than had been expected.

After that the practice was continued, Gif, as head of the athletic association, trying out one player after another. Then came the final selection of the regular club to represent Colby Hall, and Brassy Bangs was given the position of third baseman while Paul Halliday went to center field.

"I think I ought to be allowed to pitch," grumbled Brassy. "I'm sure I can send 'em in just as good as any of those other fellows."

"You pitch a pretty swift ball, I admit," returned Gif. "But your delivery is rather erratic. You put them over the catcher's head several times. If you did that when the bases were full, it would mean just so many runs coming in." And after that Brassy said no more about pitching.

The first game to be played was on the grounds of Longley Academy. The cadets journeyed to the place in carriages and automobiles and on bicycles, and were joined by quite a number of the girls from Clearwater Hall.

"Do you suppose Tommy Flanders will pitch?" questioned Randy.

"No. They tell me that last game we had over here was too much for Flanders and he has given up the nine entirely. I think they'll put in that new left-hander that they tried at the end of that game," answered Jack. And in this surmise he was correct.

When the first man came to the bat it was easy to be seen that both nines were on their mettle. It was a Colby Hall player who had the stick, and the left-handed twirler for Longley Academy struck him out in one-two-three order.

"Hurrah! That's the way to do it!" yelled one of the Longley students. "Now make it three straight!"

"Gee! that was Nevins, one of our best batters," whispered Randy to his cousin Mary.

"Never mind that, Colby Hall!" shouted Jack. "You've got to encourage 'em a little bit!" and at this there was a smile.

The next man to the bat got a hit and on a wild pitch managed to reach third. But that was all that could be done, and Colby Hall retired without scoring.

During their half of the inning Longley Academy managed to make two runs, and this was increased by two more at the end of the fourth inning. In the meantime the best Colby Hall could do was to get two hits and bring in one run.

"Hurrah! Four to one in favor of Longley!" shouted one of the students from that academy.

"You've got to tighten up, boys!" called out Fred to the members of his school team. "Tighten up and show 'em what you can do!"

The fifth inning passed without a run, and so did the sixth. Then in the seventh Colby Hall managed to pass the home plate twice while Longley Academy scored once. This made the score, Longley Academy 5, Colby Hall 3.

"Oh, Jack, it looks as if Colby Hall might be beaten!" said Ruth anxiously.

"I think they might have a better fellow than Brassy Bangs on third," put in Fred. "He could have put out that last runner with ease. That run wasn't deserved at all." And a number of others who heard this remark agreed with the young captain of Company C.

In the eighth inning Colby Hall made one more run. Then Longley Academy came once more to the bat, and with two men on first and second and two out, the batsman knocked a high fly to center field.

"Scoop it in, Halliday!"

"It's a dead easy fly!"

"They won't get any runs this inning!"

So the shouts from the Colby Hall boys went on.

In the meanwhile Paul Halliday stepped back a few paces and got directly under the descending sphere. Down it came, striking his finger tips and bouncing over his head.

"He's muffed it! He's muffed it!" yelled several of the Longley Academy contingent gleefully. "Run, boys, run!"

And how the runners did streak from base to base! And before the ball could be recovered by the bewildered Halliday the three runs had been scored.



CHAPTER XVI

SPOUTER IS CORNERED

"Hurrah for Longley!"

"That's the way to do it! That makes the score eight to four!"

"My, what a muff that was! That center fielder is a regular butter-fingers!"

"Soak it to 'em good and plenty, Longley! Only two men out!"

Thus the hubbub on the part of the students of Longley Academy continued while the cadets of Colby Hall had little to say. There were one or two cries to take Halliday out of the field, but these were quickly hushed.

"Anybody might muff a ball," declared Jack. "It's too bad, but probably it couldn't be helped."

The very next player to the bat knocked a liner between first and second and got to second on a fumble by the first baseman. Then the next player, after having two strikes called on him, sent a low one down to center field.

"Go for it, Halliday! Get it!" yelled the cadets eagerly.

Halliday ran for the ball, but was only able to get it on the first bounce. Then, as he saw the batsman rounding first for second, he threw the ball wildly.

"Run, Newcomb, run!"

"There goes the ball for the grandstand! Hurry up, Markle, and make it a homer!"

The ball had sailed over the head of the runner and landed at least ten feet away from the home plate. The catcher made a dive for it while the pitcher came to the plate to stop the runners. But it was too late, and before the sphere could be sent in both runs had been scored.

"Zip! Boom! Two more runs for Longley!"

"That's the way to do it, boys! Let's snow 'em under!"

"Take Halliday out!" was the angry cry of fully a dozen cadets. "Take him out! He has no business on the team!"

And thereupon amid shouts of derision Paul Halliday was compelled to quit the field and one of the substitutes went to take his place.

"It wasn't my fault! I stepped in a hole," growled Halliday when he came to the bench. He made a show of limping badly. "I almost sprained my ankle."

"Well, your two errors have been very costly," answered Gif coldly.

After that the pitcher for Colby Hall tightened up, and the next man up was put out on strikes and the side retired.

With the score 10 to 4 against them, Colby Hall did what it could to redeem itself during the last inning. They made one run, followed by two outs and two hits which brought a man on first and another on third. Then Brassy Bangs came to the bat.

"Now, Brassy, here's your chance!"

"Knock it over the back lots!"

Brassy set his teeth and swung the bat with a do-or-dare expression. Then the first ball pitched came in an outcurve which he swung at in vain.

"Take your time!" called out Gif.

The next was an incurve, but Brassy swung at it and missed again.

"Strike two!"

"Hit it, Brassy! Hit it!"

"Knock the cover off!"

"Take your time! Wait until you get just what you want!"

And thereupon Brassy Bangs did wait—until he had three strikes called upon him and was declared out.

"That ends the game!"

"And the score is ten to five in favor of Longley Academy!"

"Hurrah! That's the time we showed Colby Hall what we can do!"

The Longley Academy boys went wild in their enthusiasm and danced around the field like so many Indians. And they had good cause to be elated, for they remembered only too well the drubbing they had gotten at the hands of Colby Hall the season before when Jack and Fred had made such records for themselves.

The Colby Hall cadets could say nothing against the record made by the Longley nine. They had put up a stiff fight from the start and deserved their laurels.

"Our defeat was largely due to Halliday and Bangs," declared Spouter. "Between them they let in at least five runs."

"That's exactly the truth," answered Dan Soppinger. "If I were Gif I'd read the riot act to those two players."

"Oh, I don't think I'd be too hard on them," came from Jack. "Anybody might have muffed that ball down in center field, and any of us might have struck out as Brassy did."

"But both of them made several other errors," put in Walt Baxter.

On the way back to Colby Hall the students were free in their comments on the game, and there were many uncomplimentary things said about Brassy and Halliday. Those two players tried to excuse themselves as best they could; but a baseball player who has not made good seldom gets any sympathy.

"I'll give you both another chance in the game with Hixley High," said Gif at last, in talking the matter over with the two players. "But if you make a single error it will cost you your positions."

The game with Hixley High came off on the following Saturday and was won by the narrow score of 7 to 6. In the second inning Halliday made another wild throw from center to second, and Brassy Bangs made a bad fumble in the fourth inning, and as a consequence both were retired and substitutes put in their places.

"It was certainly a narrow squeak," declared Fred, when the game was over and the boys were preparing to celebrate that evening. "I believe if Gif had kept Brassy and Halliday on the team we would have lost."

"Well, we may lose some other games even so," said Jack. And he was right. Out of a total of seven games played with the other schools of that vicinity that season Colby Hall won but four.

"Well, we can't win every year," declared Randy. "And we're half a game to the good anyway, and that's something."

"It's certainly better than being half a game behind," answered his twin.

While these matters were going on Colonel Colby and Captain Dale had been doing everything possible with the aid of the local police, and also a private detective who had been called in, to solve the mystery concerning the robbery at the school. But all efforts seemed to be in vain. Not a trace of the person or persons who had committed the crime could be found. It was a great mystery.

"I think I'll have to settle with all of the boys and with Professor Duke," said Colonel Colby to his head assistant. "And there I suppose the matter will have to be dropped."

Later on he took up the various claims and paid each one of them in cash.

"I am very thankful to you for this, Colonel Colby," declared Snopper Duke, when he received his money. "It will come in quite handy, I assure you. And yet I am much distressed over that watch which once belonged to my grandfather."

"Well, I hope it is brought to light some day, Professor," answered the master of the Hall. "And if it is then you can pay me back for it," and he smiled faintly.

In those days a number of the cadets noticed that Snopper Duke seemed to be much preoccupied. He paid hardly any attention to what his pupils were doing and was so absent-minded that often he answered the simplest questions in the most ridiculous manner.

"He's certainly got something on his mind," was Fred's comment. "I must say I'd like to know what it can be."

"Maybe we'll never know," answered Jack. "But because of what Colonel Colby said I'm certainly going to be careful how I treat him. He may have more of a load on his mind and heart than any of us imagine."

It now lacked but ten days to the end of the term, and the boys were busy finishing up with the examinations in the various classes and also in writing the final essays to be handed in. All had worked hard to make a showing.

"Just think! Only ten days more!" exclaimed Andy, throwing a grammar across his room at Randy. "Doesn't it make you feel fine?"

"It sure does!" answered his twin, catching the book and sending it back so quickly that his brother was hit in the stomach. "And that puts me in mind, Andy. Why not get at Spouter and make him tell us what he's got in mind about our vacation this summer?"

"Let's do it! Come on! We'll get Fred and Jack and Gif and go and pound it out of him."

All alive with their scheme, the twins burst in upon the other Rovers while they were busy writing their essays and broached the subject. The others agreed, and Fred ran off to get Gif. Then the whole crowd rounded up Spouter, and grabbing him by the arms fairly forced him along the corridor and into the Rover boys' sitting room.

"Now, Spouter, you've got to tell us!" declared Randy. "No more secrets!"

"Oh, gee! Is that it?" was Spouter's reply. "I thought you wanted to borrow a nickel from me, or something like that," and he smiled feebly.

"Come on now, Spouter! Give it to us straight," demanded Fred.

"No more sawing and fiddling," put in Andy. "We want straight goods. Where are we going this summer?"

"You're going with me," answered Spouter, with a grin.

"So you've told us about three thousand times. But where are we going?"

"You're going home first."

"Pound him, fellows, pound him! Throw him down and pound him good!" and thereupon the whole crowd pounced upon the luckless schemer.

"Hold on! Hold on! Let me up!" spluttered Spouter. "Let me up, and I'll tell you everything!"

"Honest?" demanded Andy. "If you fool us this time we'll drag you to the bathroom and duck you."

"Cross my heart!" panted Spouter. "Now let me up!"

The others allowed him to arise and then forced him into an easy chair in the corner and all stood over him menacingly.

"You are going to spend your vacation at a new place which was purchased by my dad only a few months ago," answered Spouter.

"And what place is that?" came in a chorus from his chums.

"Big Horn Ranch."



CHAPTER XVII

GOOD-BYE TO SCHOOL

"What do you know about that!"

"Big Horn Ranch! That sounds interesting!"

"What sort of a place is it, Spouter?"

"I suppose you must have thousands of heads of cattle?"

"How about horses, Spouter? We'll have enough mounts, sha'n't we?"

"Any good hunting or fishing?"

"Stop! Stop! What are you trying to do?" spluttered Spouter. "Trying to drown me in a flood of questions? Why don't you ask one thing at a time?"

"Well, where is the ranch and how are we going to get to it?" questioned Jack.

"And how big is it?" put in Fred.

And then came another flood of questions until poor Spouter placed his hands to his ears in dismay.

"I can't answer everything at once," he said finally. "So you'd better let me tell what I know in my own way. Big Horn Ranch is located out in Montana, and it comprises a thousand acres or more—how large I don't exactly know. To get there you journey by rail to a little jumping-off place called Four Rocks, and then you have to ride or drive to the ranch, which is four or five miles away. The nearest town of any size is Arrow Junction, which is quite a distance off."

"How is it your dad bought a place like that?" broke in Gif. "I didn't know he was interested in ranches."

"Oh, he has always liked outdoor life—you all know that. And this ranch came to him in rather an unexpected way. There were two brothers who were interested in a speculation in which my dad was interested, too. My dad advanced a lot of money to these brothers, and as they couldn't pay up in cash they asked him if he wouldn't take the ranch off their hands by allowing them an additional thirty thousand dollars. So he made a trip out there in company with another man who knew all about ranches and then he concluded to buy, and did so. So now we own Big Horn Ranch, and the family expects to spend a large part of each summer there."

"And your father said we could all go out there with you?" questioned Randy.

"Yes. He told me to invite you four Rovers and also Gif. And that isn't all," went on Spouter. "He's invited all your folks out there, too. He's going to make a great big house-party of it!"

"Our folks!" exclaimed Fred. "What do you mean? They can't all go. Uncle Dick is just back from Texas, and somebody has got to look after the offices in New York."

"It has been arranged that your father and mother are to go along first, Fred, and later on Randy and Andy's father and mother are to come out. Then, when they go back to New York, it's possible that Jack's folks will come West before the season is over. Gif's folks have not decided on what they can do, but will let us know in a week or two."

"And what about the girls?" questioned Fred quickly.

"Of course, they are to go along, too. Martha will go with Mary and her folks, and May will, of course, be with my mother, and she is going to try to get Ruth to go with her."

"But Ruth said she was going somewhere else," remarked Jack, and his face showed disappointment.

"I know that, Jack. But I think May can get the Stevensons to allow her to go. Anyway, all the girls are going to try."

After that the Rovers and Gif asked many other questions concerning Big Horn Ranch and Spouter told them all he could.

"Of course, I know only what dad has written and what was said about the ranch before we purchased it. I suppose I'll learn a lot more as soon as I go home, and then I'll let you know about it."

"Gee! we ought to have the best time ever," exclaimed Andy gleefully, as he caught Spouter by the shoulders and commenced to dance him around the room.

"It was certainly well worth waiting for, Spouter," came from Jack.

"I don't see how you managed to keep it a secret," put in Randy. "I'd have been bustin' to tell it every minute."

"Well, I had a job of it, believe me, with you fellows dinging at me all the time," was Spouter's answer.

"When do you suppose we can start?" questioned Fred.

"That, of course, will depend a good deal on you and your folks," answered Spouter. "My folks are already out there, getting the ranch in readiness for visitors. I suppose you'll want to go home over the Fourth of July, but maybe you'll be able to start West right after that."

"I don't know what could hold us back."

"Is the ranch house big enough to accommodate such a large crowd?" questioned Jack. "There are a lot of us, remember."

"I think so. You see the ranch is really a combination of two ranches, the buildings of one ranch were located near the eastern boundary while the buildings of the other ranch were set equally close to the western boundary, and as a result the two sets of buildings are not very far apart. Father and mother didn't know exactly what they were going to do. They said they would either divide the party between the two ranch houses or otherwise send all the hired help to one of the houses and keep our whole party at the other."

"It would be nice if we could stick together," said Randy.

"Oh, it won't make much difference, because, as I understand it, it's only a short walk from one set of buildings to the other."

After this revelation from Spouter it was difficult for the Rover boys and Gif to settle down once more to their essay writing and their examinations. However, all did their best, and when the school term came to an end each had made a creditable showing.

"I'll be proud to take this card home and show it," said Fred, as he examined the pasteboard which had been handed to him.

Out of a possible 100 per cent. he had received 94 per cent. Jack had passed with 92 per cent., Randy with 89 per cent., and Andy with 88 per cent. This last figure was the one also reached by Gif. Spouter, who was naturally a very studious person, had passed with the highest mark of the class—96 per cent.

"Well, eighty-eight per cent. isn't as good as it might be, but it's a good deal better than lots of the fellows made," remarked Andy. "And it's a long way from the failure mark—below seventy."

Of course the boys had already talked over the telephone to the girls, and then it leaked out that all of those at Clearwater Hall knew about Big Horn Ranch and that Ruth was almost certain that she could go with the Rover girls and May.

"If we all go together we had better charter a private car," remarked Jack.

"Say, that would be something worth while!" put in Fred, with satisfaction. "Let's put it up to our folks!"

Two days before the boys were to leave for home, Randy saw a messenger boy deliver a telegram to Snopper Duke. The professor read the brief communication and then Randy saw him stagger up against a chair in the hallway as if about to fall. He rushed forward and caught the professor by the arm.

"What is the trouble, Professor?" he questioned kindly, for he could see that Snopper Duke was in deep distress.

"I—I—— Don't mind me, Rover," stammered the teacher. "It's a little bad news, that's all. And coming on top of some other bad news I've received lately I can hardly stand it," and with these words Snopper Duke turned and went slowly upstairs to his room. Half an hour later he was closeted with Colonel Colby and then drove away from the Hall; and that was the last the Colby Hall cadets saw of the strange teacher during that term.

"He's certainly got something on his mind," said Randy, in telling the others of the incident. "And I must confess I'm growing really sorry for him."

On the next day came another surprise for the Rovers. All of them were out on the campus when they saw Brassy Bangs leap a side hedge and start toward the school. At the same time they saw a tall man wearing a slouch hat hurrying off in the opposite direction.

"Hello! there is that fellow Brassy had trouble with in town," exclaimed Randy.

"Just look at Brassy!" whispered Fred, after the youth had passed them and gone into the Hall. "Why, he's as pale as a ghost!"

"It certainly is a mystery about Brassy and that strange man," was Jack's comment. "Just as much of a mystery as about Professor Duke's doings."

Soon the boys were busy packing up, getting ready to leave. Then came the usual jolly times just previous to saying good-bye to their fellow-cadets and the teachers. The students were to scatter in all directions and the majority of them expected to have a glorious time during the summer vacation. Phil Franklin was to go back to the oil fields, to visit his father.

At the railroad station the Rovers met Mary and Martha and also some of the other girls, and here many good-byes were said.

"I hope you get a chance to get out to Big Horn Ranch," said Jack to Ruth.

"So do I, Jack. But I haven't received permission to go yet. If I don't get there you must write to me."

"I certainly will, Ruth. And you must write also. But come out if you possibly can."

The home-coming of the Rovers was, as usual, made a gala event. The three mothers had come down to meet their children and there was a happy reunion at the Grand Central Terminal, and then the three families drove off in their automobiles to their homes on Riverside Drive. A little later the fathers of the young folks came in from downtown, and that night there was a grand dinner spread for all in Tom Rover's house.

"Gosh, it's good to be home once more, Mother!" cried Andy, and hugged his parent from one side while his twin hugged her from the other.

"And it's mighty good to think that we can all be together," came from Jack. "It's so different from what it was when the war was going on."

"Oh, please don't speak of the war! I never want to hear of it again!" put in Martha.

"And to think we're all going out to Big Horn Ranch!" burst out Fred. "Isn't that just the grandest ever?"



CHAPTER XVIII

ON THE WAY WEST

"Well, we're off for Big Horn Ranch at last!"

"It certainly is a grand prospect, eh, Jack? We ought to have barrels of fun on the ranch."

"Yes, Randy, it certainly ought to make a dandy vacation."

"I'm fairly itching to get on horseback," put in Andy. "What dandy rides we shall have!"

"Maybe we'll get a chance to break in a broncho," put in Fred, with a grin.

"Don't you dare do such a thing, Fred Rover!" burst out his sister Mary. "Most likely the bronco would break your neck."

"Well, we won't bust any broncos until we get to the ranch," came with a smile from Fred's father, who had followed the young people into the sleeping car at the Grand Central Terminal.

It was the day of their departure for the West, and the young folks were quivering with suppressed excitement. Sam Rover and his wife headed the party, which consisted of the four boys and the two girls.

Fourth of July had been spent rather quietly at home preparing for the trip. Of course, Andy and Randy had had some fun, especially with fireworks in the evening, but otherwise the young folks had been too preoccupied with their arrangements for getting away to pay special attention to the national holiday.

It had been arranged that only the Rovers mentioned above should at first make the trip to the ranch, and Gif and Spouter were to meet them in Chicago, where they would change cars for Montana. Tom Rover and his wife were to come to the ranch two weeks later and bring with them May Powell and Ruth Stevenson. Later still it was barely possible that Dick Rover and his wife would come West.

Jack's idea of chartering a private car had fallen through because not all of the party to meet at Big Horn Ranch were to go at the same time. But those now gathered had seats at one end of the sleeper along with a private compartment for Mrs. Rover and the two girls, so they were all comfortable.

The boys were in the best of spirits; and for a while Sam Rover had his hands full making Andy and Randy behave.

"I hope we strike a lot of lively cowboys, Uncle Sam," broke out Andy.

"Perhaps you'll find some of the cowboys too lively," was the answer.

Jack and Fred, as well as their sisters, were disappointed that May and Ruth had not been able to accompany them, but they were glad to know that the others would follow later to the ranch.

Soon New York was left behind and the train was speeding along the Hudson River on its way to Albany.

"Just think! By this time to-morrow we'll be in Chicago," remarked Martha. "Isn't it wonderful how you can cover such a distance?"

"Do you know, I almost wish we were going out there in an auto," returned Fred. "That would be a trip worth taking."

"Especially if you had to put on all the extra tires along the way, Fred," added Andy, with a grin.

"Oh, well, I guess I could do that, too, if I had to," answered the youngest Rover boy quickly. "But the roads from here to Chicago are pretty good, they tell me, so I don't think we'd have many punctures or blow-outs."

"Such a trip would be dandy, only it might take more time than we'd care to spend on the way right now," remarked Jack. "Personally I want to get out to Big Horn Ranch as soon as possible."

"Exactly my sentiments," came from Randy. "Me for the mountains and plains and a life in the open air!"

"Oh, for a life in the open air, Under the skies so blue and fair!"

sang out Andy gayly.

"Gee, Andy is bursting into poetry!" cried Fred. "What's going to happen next?"

"Maybe he ate something that didn't agree with him," giggled Mary.

"You'd better bottle up that poetry stuff, Andy," remarked Jack. "Remember we're going out to a ranch owned by Songbird Powell, and he was nicknamed Songbird while at Putnam Hall because he was always bursting out into home-made poetry. Maybe we'll get a surplus of it when we get out to the ranch."

Lunch was had in the dining car, and almost before the young folks realized it the train was rolling into Albany. Here an extra car was attached, and then they were off on the long journey through the Mohawk Valley to Buffalo, Cleveland, and the great city by the Lakes.

After the train had passed Utica Andy and Randy, who found it hard to sit still, took a walk through the cars from end to end, thinking they might meet somebody they knew. They were gone so long that Sam Rover became a little worried over them.

"I think I'll hunt them up," he said to his wife. "For all we know they may have gotten into some mischief."

"More than likely they're into something," answered Mrs. Grace Rover. "They're exactly like their father Tom when it comes to stirring things up."

Sam Rover was just leaving his seat when Andy and Randy came back to the car. Their faces showed their excitement.

"What do you think!" exclaimed Randy, as he dropped into a seat. "We met that same fellow who was threatening Brassy Bangs at Haven Point."

"Was Brassy with him?" questioned Jack quickly.

"No. But two other men were with him, and it's a tough crowd, believe me."

"Where are they?" questioned Fred.

"Two cars behind. And from the way the three talked they must have gotten on at Albany. The fellow Brassy had something to do with is tough enough, but the other two men seem to be much worse. By their talk, they are cattle men, and I shouldn't be surprised if they have been cowboys."

"And that isn't all!" added Andy. "They spoke about going to Arrow Junction!"

"Arrow Junction!" repeated Fred. "Why, that's the town that Spouter said was nearest to Big Horn Ranch!"

"What were they going to do at Arrow Junction?" questioned Jack.

"They've got some sort of a deal on for handling horses and cattle. We couldn't make out exactly what it was," answered Randy. "But they certainly are a tough bunch. It looks to me as if they might have been drinking."

"Did you hear them mention Brassy?" asked Fred.

"No. But that fellow who met Brassy at Haven Point, the chap called Bud Haddon, told the others he had struck a real snap in the East. And one of the others answered that he had noticed that Bud was rather flush."

"It's certainly a mystery what that fellow had to do with Brassy," remarked Jack. And then of a sudden his face became a study.

A sudden thought had occurred to him, and it was such a horrible one that he was inclined to force it from his mind. And yet it came bobbing up time and again until Fred, who was sitting beside his cousin, noticed that something was on his mind.

"What are you thinking of, Jack? Ruth?"

"No, Fred. I was thinking of that fellow who met Brassy Bangs in Haven Point."

"You're wondering, I suppose, why Brassy let him have some money."

"Partly that and partly something else, Fred. But it's so horrible I hate to think of it."

"Why, what do you mean, Jack?"

"Well, if you must know, it just happened to cross my mind that that Bud Haddon was hanging around Haven Point and was seen around the school several times just when Colby Hall was robbed."

As the young major uttered these words in a low tone of voice, Fred stared at him in astonishment.

"My gracious, Jack, that's so!" he whispered. "Isn't it queer we didn't think of it before? From what Andy and Randy tell of how that fellow treated Brassy I wouldn't put it past him to be a bad one. But if he had anything to do with the robbery at the school, do you think Brassy had, too?"

"I don't know what to think, Fred. Brassy never struck me as that sort of a fellow. He's loud-mouthed and he's got a big opinion of himself, and all that, but I never put him down as being crooked."

"Neither did I. But you must remember one thing—that fellow was dinging at him for money. He said Brassy must get it or there would be trouble."

"Yes, I'm remembering that, Fred. I must confess it looks pretty bad. But I don't think we had better say anything until we know more about the men."

"Let's pump Andy and Randy all we can."

Fred's suggestion was followed out, and the four Rover boys talked the matter over among themselves. The twins were as much surprised as Fred had been when Jack mentioned what was in his mind.

"Gee, that Bud Haddon may be the guilty one!" burst out Randy. "Why didn't we think of this before? Colonel Colby might have put a detective on his trail."

"Do you think we ought to send him a telegram or anything like that?" asked Andy.

"It wouldn't do much good. What would be better, I think, is for us to watch the man and see if we can find out more about him. If he is going to Arrow Junction we may have a chance of learning more about him out there. Did he expect to stay at the Junction?"

"I think so—or at least in that vicinity. The whole crowd is bound for some ranch out there."

"Then if we learn anything of importance against the fellow we can have the local authorities make an investigation," said Jack.

"Gosh! wouldn't it be queer if that fellow really had robbed Colby Hall and if Brassy was mixed up in it?" remarked Randy.

"It would be terrible if Brassy was guilty," answered Jack. "It would just about ruin him forever."

"Come on, Jack. Suppose you and I walk back and see if we can locate the fellows," suggested Fred. "They don't know us, so they won't be suspicious."

"Well, we might try it," was the young major's reply.

And thereupon he and his cousin walked through the cars to the place where the twins said Bud Haddon and his two companions were seated.



CHAPTER XIX

IN THE SADDLE

The two boys located the three men without any trouble. They were seated near the end of the car where there was a water cooler, and here the two lads stopped to fumble for a minute or two over the paper drinking cups and then to take their time getting a drink.

"Yes, we ought to make a lot of money on that deal, Noxley," they heard Bud Haddon say. "That is, provided we mind what we're doin'."

"Oh, there'll be no trip-up this time," answered the man called Noxley.

"I've been wonderin' how many horses there would be that we could sell," put in the third man of the group.

"I heard we could get at least twenty, Jenks. Of course, I can't tell exactly until I've looked over the ground."

"Well, twenty head of horses and two hundred head of cattle are not to be sneezed at," answered the man called Jenks. "A fine piece of business, I'll say," and he laughed shrewdly.

"How long do you expect to stay at Arrow Junction before you go out to Bimbel's Ranch?" questioned Noxley.

"Not more 'n three or four days. I'm expectin' word from Bimbel as soon as I reach the Junction, and then I'll know just what he wants us to do."

"One thing I want understood," went on Jenks crossly. "This time I get all that's comin' to me—no holdin' back!"

"And I want the same, remember that," put in Noxley sourly.

"You'll get your full share—no fear of that," said Haddon reassuringly. "Only remember, you've got to do your full share of the work, too. No shirkin' at the last minute!"

"Well, we don't want to be takin' too many chances," and Jenks shook his uncombed head dubiously.

"You've got to take chances in this game, Jenks. You can't expect the hens to lay eggs right in your hands," and Haddon chuckled at his little joke.

After that the men talked about a good time they had had in Albany the evening before. They said nothing further of what they expected to do in the West nor did Haddon mention Haven Point or Brassy Bangs.

"We might as well go back," whispered Jack to Fred, after they had remained as long at the water cooler as they dared. The men had glanced at them carelessly, but had evidently given them scant attention.

When the two lads returned to the others they held a consultation, and then laid the whole case before Fred's father. Sam Rover listened with interest, and his face became a study.

"It is just possible that your guess may be correct and this fellow Haddon may be guilty of robbing Colby Hall. But it would be sheer foolishness to accuse the fellow unless you had sufficient evidence against him. This talk about horses and cattle may be a perfectly legitimate affair. However, when we get to the ranch we can look into the matter further and find out what sort of place this Bimbel's ranch is and what the men really intend to do while there. That may give us a better line on this Bud Haddon and the others."

"I'm going to watch that crowd as long as they travel with us," said Jack, and the other lads said they would do the same.

A night was spent on the train, all the boys sleeping soundly, and in the middle of the forenoon they rolled into the great station at Chicago. Here the lads kept their eyes wide open and saw Haddon and his two companions walk away, dresssuit-cases in hand. Nor did they reappear when the Rovers, an hour later, hurried for the train which was to take them further westward. Evidently the three men were going to take some other train to Montana.

"Here they are! We've been waiting for you folks!" came the cry, and Spouter rushed up to the Rovers, followed by Gif.

"Ho for the glorious West!" put in Gif. "Aren't you fellows anxious to get there?" he questioned.

"Anxious doesn't express it!" answered Andy. "Why, all night long I was riding broncos and lassoing wild cattle!" and he grinned.

Sleeping-car accommodations had been reserved for all of the crowd, and they were soon making themselves at home. Then, as the train sped westward, the Rovers told their chums about Bud Haddon.

"That certainly is interesting," said Gif. "Just the same, I can't think that Brassy Bangs is a thief. Why, if you'll remember, he said he had been robbed himself!"

"He might have said that just to throw dust in the eyes of the public," answered Spouter. "To my mind it will certainly be a good thing to keep our eyes open for this fellow Haddon."

The trip to Montana took the best part of three days, and every one in the party enjoyed the journey thoroughly. They often went out to the observation end of the train, there to view the endless panorama of prairies and mountains, forests and streams, as they sped swiftly past. The magnificent view impressed Spouter as much as anybody.

"It's sublime—stupendously sublime," he murmured over and over again. "The thoughts that well up in my bosom at such a sight as this are beyond the power of words to express. When I view these immense plains, these mountain tops fading away in the distance, these wild and weird torrents rushing over the rocks, and these trackless forests with often not a human abode in sight, I cannot but think——"

"That there is room here for every man, woman and child in the city of New York and then some," finished Andy. "Gee, how can they stick in one or two miserable cubby-holes of rooms when we have all this land to draw on!"

"That's what gets me," put in Gif. "But they do it. And I'm told that a whole lot of 'em would rather die huddled together than live out here where neighbors are miles apart."

The through train took them only as far as Arrow Junction. Here they alighted and then boarded a little side line, running through the hills to a dozen small stations, including Four Rocks.

"This isn't so nice," sighed Martha, when all had piled into one of the two little cars which comprised the train. Their baggage had been put in the other car, which was a combination baggage and smoking car. There were but a few other passengers in the car, including one fat woman with two small and exceedingly dirty children. There were also several cowboys, and a Chinaman who looked as if he might be a cook.

"I think dad has a Chink at our ranch," said Spouter. "Anyway, he wrote he thought he'd hire one."

They had telegraphed ahead, so that there might be some one to meet them when they arrived at Four Rocks.

"It's certainly an odd name for a railroad station," remarked Mrs. Rover to her husband.

"Four Rocks sounds substantial enough," he returned, with a smile.

"Is it much of a town?"

"Not likely to be any town at all. Perhaps a little railroad station and possibly one store, which, of course, would also be the post-office."

Sam Rover's idea of Four Rocks proved to be correct. Situated near a ridge of rocks was a small railroad station with a telegraph office and baggage room attached, a water tower, and opposite to the station were two low buildings, one a general store and the other a place where there had once been a saloon and dance hall, but which was now closed up.

"There's my dad now!" cried Spouter excitedly, as he leaped off the train. And the next minute he was running towards an automobile in which sat his parent. "Where is ma?" he demanded.

"She remained at the house to see that everything was in readiness when you got there," answered Songbird Powell, as he shook hands with his son.

Close to the automobile stood a number of horses, all saddled. On one sat a bronzed cowboy, who grinned broadly at the boys and tipped his hat rather awkwardly to Mrs. Rover and the girls.

"This is my foreman, Joe Jackson," said Songbird Powell. "Joe, this is Mr. and Mrs. Rover, and these are the Rover boys and their sisters, and this is my son and another of his chums. I guess you'll get better acquainted a little later on," and he smiled broadly.

"Who's to ride on horseback?" questioned Andy quickly, "We can't all get into that machine."

"You boys can all ride with Joe," answered Spouter's father. "I thought you'd rather do that than anything else. The girls and the others can ride with me."

"How do you know I don't want to ride on horseback, Uncle John?" cried Martha gayly. She often called this intimate chum of her father "uncle."

"No, Martha, you'd better ride with us now," put in Mrs. Rover hastily. "You can do your horseback riding later on."

"Oh, I was only fooling, Aunt Grace," the girl replied.

"I'm just crazy to see Big Horn Ranch, Uncle John," came from Mary.

"Well, I hope you'll like it," returned Songbird Powell. "I want every one of you to have the best times ever while you're here." His eyes glistened. "We ought to have a regular old-fashioned reunion." And then, unable to control himself, he broke out into a bit of his old-time doggerel.

"I'm glad you're here. I hope you'll stay. I'll miss you much When you're away."

"Hurrah, Songbird, that certainly sounds natural!" cried Sam Rover, slapping his old chum on the shoulder. "You'll have to give us more of that later on."

"I haven't spent much time on verses the last few years, Sam," answered Songbird. "I've been too busy attending to business. But maybe I'll get back to it while loafing around the ranch," he added.

"Are any other people coming to the ranch?"

"Yes, one other person. And I think you'll be very much surprised to see him."

"Who is that?"

"Oh, you had better wait until he arrives," returned Songbird Powell, and began to grin as though the thought of what was coming pleased him.

The older persons and the girls waited until all the boys were safely in the saddle, and then Songbird Powell started the automobile.

"I'm leaving them in your care, Joe," he called back to his foreman, as he moved along. "Bring 'em to the ranch in safety."

"Trust me," called out the foreman promptly. "We'll be at the ranch almost as soon as you."

"Well, don't ride the horses to death," shouted back Songbird. And then in a few minutes more the automobile disappeared in the distance.

"The boys will certainly enjoy that horseback riding," said Mary.

"Glad of it," answered Songbird Powell, and as the automobile rolled onward he murmured gaily:

"An elephant sat on a bamboo tree And he was as happy as he could be. 'To travel,' said he, 'is awfully punk Unless you remember to take your trunk!'"

"Oh, what a funny rhyme!" giggled Martha.

"I'll have to write that down in my scrap book," returned her cousin, and at this remark Spouter's father looked real pleased.

"Hurrah for Big Horn Ranch!" shouted Randy, waving his cap. "Come on if you're ready."

"Don't work your horses too hard at the start," cautioned Joe Jackson. "It's a good five miles to the ranch, and part of it is rather tough climbing."

"If it's tough climbing how is the automobile going to get there?" questioned Jack quickly.

"Oh, they'll go around by the river road. But that is eight miles longer. We'll take the hills."

"Then maybe we can get there first after all!" broke in Fred.

"Well, we can try, anyhow," answered the foreman of the ranch. "Do all of you boys know how to ride?"

"Sure we do!"

"Then forward it is!" And away rode the foreman with Jack and Spouter on either side of him and the others following close behind.



CHAPTER XX

AT BIG HORN RANCH

The way lay along a flat stretch of prairie bordering the river, and then up into the hills. The brushwood in the immediate neighborhood was scanty, but in the distance they could see some scrub timber backed up by a stretch of forest. Far to the westward they could see the distant mountains over which the sun was now setting.

"Come on, you fellows, come on! Don't lag behind!" shouted Spouter, and set off at a brisk pace along the well-defined trail leading to the ranch.

Joe Jackson, having seen that all of them could ride well, was quite willing to let them set their own pace.

"Only look and see where you're going!" he shouted. "And remember at the split in the trail to take the one on the right." And then he allowed them to plunge on ahead, but kept his eyes on everything they were doing.



Two miles from the station the boys found they had quite a climb, and here they were forced to slow down. A little later they reached the top of the first hill.

"There off to the eastward you can see a bit of our range," said the ranch foreman, pointing with his finger. "And those cattle yonder are our cattle."

By the time they reached the foot of the first hill the sun was setting beyond the mountains in the west and the long shadows were creeping across the trail and over the forest beyond.

"This must be some dark trail at night," remarked Jack.

"Dark as a tunnel," answered Joe Jackson. "You have to carry a lantern or a flashlight when you try to ride it after dark."

"Ever get held up?" questioned Fred curiously.

"Nary a hold-up, lad," answered the foreman, with a grin. "We leave all that to the movie men."

"Did you ever have a moving picture company out here?" asked Gif.

"Yes, we had one crowd out here last year. They stayed around about six weeks taking some sort of a drama, as they called it. It was funny," added the foreman, with a chuckle. "The leading lady was scared to death of horses, and yet she had to do a little riding. The man who was having the pictures taken wanted her to smile while she was cantering along. But that smile, believe me, wasn't anything to brag about. They ought to have brought along some leading lady who liked horses and knew all about 'em."

"Did they use any of your outfit?"

"Oh, they used a few of our cowboys in a round-up. They wanted me to go into some of the pictures, but I told 'em there was nothing doing—that I was here to manage the ranch and not make moving pictures."

"How many men on the place?" asked Randy.

"We have six at present. But the boss is thinking of getting some more and increasing the herd."

"Did dad get his Chinese cook?" questioned Spouter.

"Yes. He's got a Chink named Hop Lung; a pretty good sort of a chap, too."

They crossed two more hills and then passed through a patch of tall timber. Here there was a rough wagon road, and the foreman explained that it was used for hauling firewood to the ranch house and the bunkhouse.

It was growing dark when the party on horseback approached the ranch. Already lights were streaming from the windows and the automobile stood in front of the wide veranda which ran around two sides of the building.

"They got here ahead of us," announced Jack.

"I thought they would," answered the foreman. "The river road is in pretty good shape just now, so I suppose the boss made fast time in driving over."

"The trail to the ranch was rougher than I expected," put in Andy. "If you tried to run a horse over it he would most likely break a leg and maybe you would break your neck."

"I've known one of our boys to go over to the station inside of twenty minutes," returned the foreman. "But he only did it to catch a train and on a bet. I'd rather take my time and save my horseflesh."

When they reached the ranch Mrs. Powell came out on the veranda to greet her son and his chums. She was a round-faced, motherly woman, and she immediately did all she could to make the young folks feel at home.

"You must be thoroughly tired out from your long trip," said she. "So we will have supper right away, and then if any of you want to go to bed you can do so."

"I can't say that I'm tired," answered Jack. "But I suppose the girls are and maybe Aunt Grace is, too."

The travelers were shown to some rooms and then told where they could wash up if they so desired.

"Supper will be ready in ten minutes," announced Mrs. Powell. "So don't take too much time in primping up," she added, with a smile to the girls. "Remember, you are on a ranch now and you can dress exactly as you please."

"I'm going to slip on a plain gingham right now," declared Martha.

Their hand baggage had been brought along on the running-board of the touring car, and a little later one of the cowboys came in with their trunks, which had been brought over from the station in a wagon. In the meanwhile the crowd sat down to a somewhat elaborate supper which Hop Lung had prepared under Mrs. Powell's supervision.

"He's a very good cook," the lady of the ranch confided to Mrs. Rover. "But he occasionally tries to turn out some very funny concoctions, so that I find it advisable to keep my eyes on him."

"The cowboys are quite excited over the idea of having visitors here all summer," said Songbird Powell during the course of the meal. "And two or three of them are especially excited over the fact that there are going to be so many girls and ladies. You see, the brothers who used to own these combined ranches weren't married, and all they had around the houses were an Indian woman and a real old Dutch woman who was almost entirely deaf.

"Joe Jackson told me that one of the cowboys, a fellow named Hank Minno, was very bashful and had almost been on the point of giving up his job when he heard so many skirts were coming here."

"Oh, dear, I think I'd like to make the acquaintance of Mr. Hank," said Martha mischievously.

"Perhaps if he saw you coming he'd run away," returned Mary.

"Oh, I think he'll get over his bashfulness, and so will some of the others," answered Songbird Powell. "And let me tell you one thing—when I first got here I thought the men were a pretty rough crowd, but the more I get to know them, the more I'm satisfied they're all right at heart."

"Your foreman certainly seems to be a fine fellow," said Jack. "We got well acquainted with him riding over."

"He was well recommended by the former owners of the ranch, Jack. And so far I've had no occasion to find any fault with him. He seems thoroughly trustworthy."

The Powells had given their visitors their choice of what to do concerning rooms. They could either crowd themselves a little and remain in the one ranch house, or otherwise the boys could take rooms in the other house, which was located about two hundred yards away.

"If we went over to the other place we could have things all our own way," whispered Andy to his brother and Fred. "We could come and go to suit ourselves."

"I think you boys had better stay in this house with us," said Mrs. Rover. "Then we can keep an eye on you."

"But there is no sense in all of us being crowded," returned Sam Rover. "And the boys are certainly old enough to take care of themselves. I think we had better let this matter rest until to-morrow, and then we can see how we can arrange it."

"If the boys go over to the other ranch house I'll have Joe Jackson stay there with them," said Songbird. "He'll know how to make them line up if anything goes wrong."

Several days later it was arranged for all the boys to take their belongings and settle down in the other ranch house so far as rooming was concerned. They were to have their meals in the main house. The foreman of the ranch went with them, taking a room in a corner where he could watch what was going on if it became necessary to do so. The boys took three connecting rooms, the twins occupying one, Jack and Fred another, and Spouter and Gif the third.

On the second day at the ranch the boys began to feel quite at home. Accompanied by the men, they had visited many points of interest and had become acquainted with all the cowboys, and also with Hop Lung, the cook.

"Wellee nice boys," remarked the cook, after they had been chatting with him and gone their way. "Wellee nice boys. Me cookee heap good dinner for 'em." And then he dived into his kitchen to start his preparations for the next meal.

The boys found all the cowboys friendly. One of them could do some marvelous stunts with a lasso, and, urged by the foreman, gave an exhibition which interested the lads exceedingly.

"Why, that fellow is as good as anybody on the vaudeville stage," remarked Fred. "I never dreamed so much could be done with a rope. Just see how he whirled it around his body and between his legs and over his head!"

"Yes, and how he lassoed those three running horses all in a bunch," added Fred. "That's what got me."

"He ought to be in a Wild West Show," put in Jack.

"I'll have the boys give you an exhibition of shooting this evening," said the foreman, and he was as good as his word.

Some of the cowboys proved to be remarkable shots both with the rifle and the pistol. But here the boys, especially Fred and Jack, felt at home, and they, too, showed what they could do.

"Rattlesnakes and tarantulas!" exclaimed one of the cowboys, Hank Minno, the fellow who was supposed to be so bashful. "You kids sure kin shoot some. I s'pose you learned it at that there military school you've been goin' to."

"Yes," answered Fred. "Although we sometimes do a little practicing when we're at home. Down in the long cellar of our house."

"Well, it's a good thing to know how to shoot, lad. Sometimes it comes in mighty handy like," answered Hank Minno.



CHAPTER XXI

HOP LUNG AND THE FISH

By the end of the first week all of the boys felt thoroughly at home on Big Horn Ranch. They had visited many points of interest, including the cowboys' bunkhouse and also the big range to the eastward, and they had likewise tramped over a number of the hills and tried their hand at fishing in the river.

"It certainly is one dandy place," remarked Jack to the others one day when they were coming up to the house from the river, each with a fair-sized string of fish to his credit.

"We certainly never had such fishing as this in the East," answered Gif, as he looked at his string admiringly. "Just look at the size of 'em, will you?"

"I wonder what Hop Lung will say when he sees them," remarked Fred.

"I've got a scheme!" cried Andy. "Let's have a little fun," and thereupon he unfolded to the others what he had in mind to do. They readily agreed to his suggestion, and all came up to the ranch house by a roundabout way. Then Spouter called out loudly:

"Hop Lung! Hop Lung! Come out here a minute!"

A moment later the Chinese cook appeared, a long soup ladle in on one hand and a carving knife in the other.

"You callee me?" he queried.

"Yes," answered Spouter. "I want you to come around to the front of the house and tell me what you know about this," and he motioned to the cook to follow him around to the big veranda.

No sooner had their chum and the cook disappeared than the others ran into the kitchen. Here at one side was a home-made kitchen cabinet, the top within a foot of the ceiling.

"See if you can find the big bread-board," said Randy. "I guess that will answer our purpose."

"And here is the fishing line," added his twin. "We can run it from the ceiling over to the window and then outside."

The line was run to the window as mentioned, then fastened to the ceiling back of the cabinet, and then to the back end of the board, which was placed flat on the top of the cabinet. On the board the boys placed the fish, laying them out in a row from front to back. One fish was placed on the pulled-out shelf of the lower part of the cabinet.

"Now then, clear out before Hop Lung catches us," said Andy. And the lads lost no time in disappearing.

In the meanwhile Spouter had taken the Chinese cook to the front of the ranch house and then to an out-of-the-way corner where there was a large spider's web.

"Hello, he's gone now!" exclaimed Spouter, in a tone of disappointment. "Do you see him anywhere, Hop Lung?"

"Hop Lung see what?" demanded the puzzled cook.

"Why, that great big blue and gold spider with white feet!"

"Blue an' gol' spide?" queried Hop Lung. "See black spide."

"Oh, no, I don't mean the black spider. I mean that great big blue and gold spider about that long," and Spouter showed up his two forefingers six inches apart.

"Noee see spide so long dat," answered the Chinese cook, shaking his head doubtfully. "Sploutel maybe see catpillal."

"No, it wasn't a caterpillar. It was a spider. Although I think it might have had wings."

"Um, wings! Spide he all the samee buttelfly," announced Hop Lung. "No see him," and he got down on his hands and knees to peer up into the corner to make certain.

Spouter continued to engage his attention until he heard the boys coming around the corner of the house. Then he turned to them as if in surprise.

"Hello! I thought you fellows were off fishing," he remarked.

"So we were," answered Gif calmly.

"I got a nice little fish, Hop Lung. I laid him in the kitchen for you," remarked Andy.

"You git only one flish?" queried the cook in surprise.

"Well, maybe you can catch more," put in Randy.

"Hop Lung no go flishee. Hop Lung cookee," was the calm reply. And then the cook walked back to the rear of the ranch house.

Watching their chance, the boys stole back, some to the window where was located the string which had been attached to the board on the top of the cabinet, and others to another window from which they might see what would take place. Hop Lung had gone inside and picked up the fish left on the cabinet shelf. He looked it over, wiped off the shelf carefully, and then took up the fish and disappeared into the pantry with it.

"Now then, Andy!" whispered his twin. And thereupon Andy gave the string in his hand two or three little jerks. From the board on the top of the cabinet a fish fell down to the shelf below.

It had hardly fallen in place when Hop Lung came from the pantry. He looked to see how matters were going on the stove, and then turned again to the cabinet.

A queer look came over his face when he saw the fish lying in the same place that the first had occupied. He looked toward the door to find no one there.

"Him funny," he murmured in his Pidgin-English. "Him vellee funny." Then he took up the second fish and walked into the pantry with it.

No sooner had he done this than Andy, doing his best to control his laughter, jiggled the string again. This time, as luck would have it, two fish came down, to light side by side on the cabinet shelf.

Again Hop Lung entered the kitchen and again he looked at what was cooking on the stove. He stirred the mass in one of the pots carefully, and then came back to his cabinet to get some seasoning.

When he saw the two fish lying there his eyes nearly started out of his head. He jabbered something in his native tongue and then looked around wildly, first to one side of the kitchen and then the other. Then he looked toward the door leading to the dining room and then he came to the door leading to the yard.

"Duck!" was all Andy said, and he and the others lost no time in getting out of sight.

Hop Lung looked carefully around the yard and then came slowly back into the kitchen. He walked again to the stove to see that nothing was burning, and finally came back to the cabinet and picked up the two fish gingerly. Meanwhile, the boys tiptoed their way back to their original positions at the windows.

"He'll begin to think the cabinet is haunted," whispered Jack.

"Either that, or else he'll think he's bewitched," answered Gif.

And both were about right, for the poor Chinaman looked all around the cabinet and even behind and under it, and then he looked under the table and the chairs. Finally, still bewildered, he walked into the pantry with the fish, which he carried before him at arm's length, as if afraid it might bite him.

"Better give him a shower now, Andy," whispered his brother, and thereupon Andy gave the string a strong pull which sent all the remaining fish tumbling down on the cabinet and the floor. The noise reached Hop Lung in the pantry, and he came forth on a run.

When he saw the quantity of fish that had appeared so miraculously he was nearly dumbfounded. With eyes and mouth wide open and hands up-raised he uttered a sudden yell of fright and dove through the doorway leading to the dining room and the living room beyond.

In the living room Mrs. Rover and Mrs. Powell were sitting doing some sewing. The sudden appearance of the Chinaman caused them to look up in astonishment.

"What is the matter, Hop Lung?" demanded Mrs. Powell, as she sprang to her feet.

"Flishee! Flishee!" screamed the cook. "Kitchen full flishee! Hop Lung no knowee where flishee come! One flishee—two flishee—two flishee more—whole blame kitchen flishee!" spluttered the cook, his eyes rolling from one side to the other.

"Gracious me! is the man crazy?" asked Mrs. Rover, rising. "What does he mean by 'flishee?'"

"Flishee! Flishee!" repeated Hop Lung. "No flishee—all flishee!"

"I can't imagine what he's driving at," remarked Mrs. Powell. "Where is the trouble, Hop Lung? In the kitchen?"

"Les, Miz Plowell. Kitchen all flishee!"

Without ado the lady of the ranch marched into the kitchen, followed by Mrs. Rover. All the ladies could see were the freshly-caught fish resting on the cabinet shelf and the floor.

"I don't see anything the matter here except that some of your fish are on the floor," remarked Mrs. Powell calmly. "You had better pick them up and wash them off."

"Did the boys catch those fish?" asked Mrs. Rover. "They said they were going fishing a couple of hours ago."

"Boys clatchee one flishee," announced Hop Lung. Then a sudden idea entered his head, and he made a quick leap to the yard door. He was just in time to see the boys trying to retreat, all laughing merrily.

"You foolee Hop Lung! You foolee Hop Lung!" he shrieked wildly, and of a sudden came back into the kitchen, scooped up several of the fish, and ran outside again. Wildly he threw one fish after another at the lads.

"Hop Lung, stop that!" commanded Mrs. Powell sternly. "Those fish are too good to throw away!"

"Bloys fool Hop Lung," was the reply. "One flishee—two flishee—four flishee—all whole lot flishee," he continued, trying his best to explain. And then by pantomime he showed how he had found the first of the fish and placed them in the pantry.

"It's nothing more than some of their tricks, Hop Lung," said Mrs. Powell. "They had no right to play such tricks, and I'll call them to account for it. But you had better pick up the fish which you threw outside. They're too good to be thrown away."

"Hop Lung flix bloys, play flishee tlick," answered the Celestial. And then a little later he set about preparing supper.

The boys did not think it wise to return to the house just then, and so wandered off to the stable where the ranch horses were kept.

"It was certainly a rich joke," remarked Fred, with a chuckle.

"I'll bet Hop Lung will have it in for us for that," returned Randy.

And Hop Lung did have it in for them, as they were to learn in the near future.



CHAPTER XXII

A HORSE AND A SNAKE

During the days which followed at Big Horn Ranch the Rover boys and their chums asked Joe Jackson if he knew Bud Haddon and the other men who had been with him.

"Yes, I know Haddon," answered the foreman of the ranch. "He used to work for Bimbel on a ranch on the other side of the river; but I think he left there several months ago."

"Well, if he did, I rather think he's going back," answered Jack. "Can you tell us anything about him?"

"Oh, I imagine he's as good as the average fellow around Bimbel's place," answered Joe Jackson. "You see, none of our crowd have much to do with that outfit. Bimbel is a hard fellow to get along with, and some of the men working for his outfit have rather shady characters." The foreman looked at the boys curiously. "How do you happen to know the fellow?"

The lads had come to like the foreman very much and felt that they could trust him thoroughly, so they told their story in detail, to which Jackson listened with interest.

"Looks to me as if Haddon was trying to blackmail that kid Bangs," was his comment. "That is unless there was something in the talk about that barn being burned with the horses. It's just possible that fellow Bangs had something to do with it and Haddon was making him pay for keeping his mouth shut."

"Do you know anybody by the name of John Calder whose barn burned down?"

"No. That couldn't have been anywhere around here or I certainly would have heard about it. But there's one thing I do know," added the foreman suddenly. "There's a man named Jarley Bangs who owns a ranch on the other side of the river—a small place next to the one run by Bimbel."

"Jarley Bangs!" exclaimed Fred. "Do you suppose it could be Brassy Bangs' father?"

"I don't think so," answered Gif. "I believe Bangs' folks live in Wyoming."

"But this Bangs may be some relative of his," put in Spouter.

The matter was talked over a while longer, but the boys could learn little further from the foreman.

"I'll tell you what I'll do," said Joe Jackson at last. "I'll put it up to some of the cowboys. They may know more about Bimbel and his outfit and about Jarley Bangs than I do. Bangs has a reputation for being a very queer and miserly man, but that's about all I can say of him."

The boys, and even the girls, spent quite a little of their time in the saddle. Both Mary and Martha had learned to ride while at home, using the bridle path in Central Park, so they felt at home when galloping over the plains.

"This outing is going to do Mary a world of good," confided Mrs. Rover to Mrs. Powell. "She has always been so timid."

The river in which the boys went fishing and also bathing was a broad, shallow stream which could be forded in many places with ease. So far, however, the lads had remained on their side of the watercourse. But one day Jack proposed that they go off on horseback and do a little exploring on the other side.

"We might ride past the Bimbel place, and also the one Jarley Bangs owns," said he. "Who knows but what we may catch sight of Bud Haddon and his crowd."

"We don't want to get into any trouble with those fellows," put in Fred quickly.

"Oh, they can't touch us!" exclaimed Andy. "They don't even know us. And we've as much right to use the trails around here as anybody—the land isn't fenced in."

"Yes, but you know what Jackson said," went on Fred. "He said the Bimbel outfit wasn't a very nice one and that Bangs was very miserly and peculiar. That sounds as if both places were good ones to steer clear of."

"Oh, come on! Let's go anyhow," put in Spouter. "I'm anxious to know what sort of neighbors we have. They can't find any fault with us for coming over when they find out that my father owns this ranch."

The boys talked this matter over several times, and the next day obtained permission to take the horses and go off for a day's outing along the river. They were to take their lunch with them, and did not expect to come back until evening.

"I wish we could go along," sighed Martha.

"We'll take you along next time, Martha," answered her brother. "This time I'm afraid the ride will be a little too long for you."

"Never mind, Martha and I will take a little ride of our own," declared Mary. "We can go up to the edge of the woods and pick some wild flowers."

"Let's do it!" answered her cousin quickly. "One of the cowboys tells me there are all sorts of wild flowers up there near one of the springs."

Hop Lung was told to prepare a lunch which the boys might take along with them, and set to work immediately. As he got the things ready the Celestial had a faraway look in his eyes and once or twice he stuck out his tongue suggestively.

"One flishee—two flishee—lot flishee," he murmured to himself. "Hop Lung fixee boys," and he smiled in his own peculiar way.

The day dawned bright and clear, and immediately after breakfast the boys leaped into the saddle and with good-natured shouts swung the sombreros they were wearing, and started off on their ride. Each had equipped himself with a pistol, although they expected to do no shooting, and several carried small saddlebags containing their food and drink, the latter placed in a couple of thermos bottles. They also carried feed for the horses.

"Whoop-la!" shouted Andy gaily. "Come on, fellows! let's put distance between ourselves and the ranch."

"Better take it a little easy at the start, Andy," remonstrated Gif. "Remember we expect to cover quite a few miles, and we don't want to wear out the horses at the start."

"We'll let Spouter set the pace," announced Jack, for he had not forgotten that they were all guests of the lad mentioned.

They had questioned the foreman regarding the lay of the land, and he had drawn up a rough map for them which Jack carried. Inside of half an hour they reached the fording place he had mentioned, and there crossed the stream, coming out on the side of a small hill.

"I wonder if we'll come across any wild animals," remarked Fred, as they pushed along a well-defined trail leading to the top of the hill and through a small patch of scrub timber further westward.

"From what Joe Jackson said, I don't think there's very much left in this immediate vicinity," answered Spouter. "You see, the cowboys have scared most of the animals away. Of course, they occasionally come across a bobcat or a mountain lion, and then we might come across a wolf or a fox or some jackrabbits, or even a bear."

"Well, please don't let 'em come at us in a bunch!" cried Randy, with a grin. "One at a time, please."

"It'll be our luck not to see a thing worth shooting," declared Fred. "I wouldn't give five cents for our chances of bringing down anything."

Fred had scarcely spoken when the horse Gif was riding shied suddenly to one side, throwing Gif into some low bushes. Then the horse gave a snort and leaped ahead on the trail, not stopping until he had covered a hundred yards or more.

"Hello! what's the trouble?" exclaimed Jack, bringing his own steed to a halt. "Are you hurt, Gif?"

"No. I'm all right. But what startled that horse?" demanded the other lad, as he scrambled to his feet. Then he gave a sudden yell. "It's a snake! Look out!"

All looked in the direction pointed out by Gif, and there saw a black object wriggling away through the brushwood. As quickly as they could Jack and Spouter, who were close by, pulled out their pistols and fired at the snake. They saw the reptile rise up in the air, turning and twisting, and then disappear from sight between the rocks.

"What's up? What are you shooting at?" cried Fred, galloping to the spot.

"A snake. He scared Gif's horse and threw Gif into the bushes."

"Where is he?"

"I guess he got away, although I think we wounded him," answered Jack.

"It's funny how that horse shied," said Spouter. "Maybe he stepped right on the snake."

"That might be," put in Fred. "Maybe the snake was sunning himself and didn't notice our approach until the horse stepped on him. Then he switched around, and that must have started the horse off. I wonder if we can catch him."

"I think so," answered Spouter. "Gosh! I'm glad no one was bit. That snake looked to be of pretty good size."

While Spouter and Jack hurried forward to capture the runaway horse, Gif was assisted to the back of the steed Randy rode.

"I'm glad I didn't go out on my head on the rocks," remarked Gif, as the boys went forward. "I might have broken my neck."

"Yes, you picked out just the right place to fall into," answered Andy.

"I didn't pick it out. I went where I was sent," returned the other lad calmly. "After this I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for more snakes."

"I think we had better all do that," said Fred. "Gee! I'd forgotten all about those pests."

When they reached the runaway horse they found him still somewhat skittish. But he was soon calmed down, and then Gif remounted him, and they set off along the trail as before.

"Well, we didn't exactly meet a wild animal," remarked Randy. "But we met something just as bad."

Presently the boys came to a spot where the river wound around the hill, and beyond this was a broad stretch of plains, apparently many miles in extent. Far to the southward they could see some tall timber.

"The Bimbel ranch must be somewhere in this vicinity," declared Jack.

"Yes, and the Bangs place can't be so very far off," returned Fred.

But distances in the open air are deceiving, and the boys rode along over the plains for the best part of an hour before they reached a spot where the trail branched in several directions. Here they came to a halt, wondering which way to turn next.

"It's too bad they don't put up a few signboards out here," grumbled Randy. "How is a fellow going to know where he's heading?"

"I suppose the natives know these trails just like we know the main streets of New York City," answered Jack. "And that being so, they don't need any signboards."

Jack had consulted the rude map given to him by the ranch foreman, but this did not seem to have upon it the forks of the trail.

"I suppose those cowboys would know at once which was the main trail and which were only side trails," said Gif.

The boys were still uncertain which way to turn when Fred set up a cry of amazement.

"Here comes an auto, boys! What do you know about that?"

"An auto!" several of them repeated. "Where?"

The youngest Rover pointed with his finger, and there, to the astonishment of every one in the party, they beheld a small touring car coming across the plains at a speed of twelve or fifteen miles an hour. It was running in a curiously haphazard fashion.

"What a way to run an automobile!" ejaculated Randy.

"Maybe the driver is getting out of the way of holes," answered Jack. And then he added quickly: "There isn't any driver!"

Completely mystified, the boys stared at the oncoming automobile. For a moment it seemed heading directly for them, but suddenly swerved and started off across the plains in another direction.

"It is empty!" ejaculated Andy. "It's running by itself!"



CHAPTER XXIII

JARLEY BANGS

"What do you know about that!"

"Who ever heard of an automobile running around by itself?"

"It's gotten away from somebody," came from Jack. "Just look at it skating over the ground!"

"Come on! Let's stop the blamed thing!" shouted Andy, and started off on horseback after the runaway car.

"You'll have a sweet job catching that auto," declared his twin. Nevertheless, he followed Andy, and, not knowing what else to do, the others did the same.

The automobile was of a cheap variety, and clattered noisily on its way, with one cylinder occasionally missing fire. It had been running in a snakelike course, but now it seemed to be making something of a circle.

"By jinks! I think it's coming back here!" exclaimed Fred suddenly.

"It isn't running as fast as it was," declared Spouter. "Maybe it's going to stop."

"I'm going to see if I can't get aboard!" cried Jack, with sudden determination, and headed his horse behind the touring car, which was still moving at a fair rate of speed.

Once one of the front wheels went down in a hole, and then the car slued around and started off, heading almost for the boys.

"Look out!"

"Get out of the way there or you'll be run down!"

Wild cries rent the air, and the young horsemen scattered in every direction. But Jack was watching his chance, and as the car slued around once more he managed to leap from his horse and clutch the side of the automobile. Then he leaped into the car and turned off the power, and in a few seconds he brought the automobile to a standstill.

"This is the queerest adventure I ever heard of," declared Gif, when the brief excitement had come to an end. "Who ever heard of meeting a runaway auto like this?"

"I guess we can be thankful that we weren't run down," returned Fred. "You took a big chance, Jack, in jumping on board as you did."

"Oh, it wasn't such a risk," answered his cousin modestly. "I think the auto was getting ready to stop anyhow."

"I wonder where the owner is?" questioned Andy.

"Perhaps the auto struck a stone and threw him out!" exclaimed Spouter suddenly. "He may be lying along the trail somewhere stunned or dead."

"I guess the best thing we can do is to see if we can locate the owner," declared Gif, after a pause.

"Come on, Spouter. You get in the auto with me and we'll run it back in the direction it came from," said Jack. "The other fellows can follow and bring our horses."

"Do you think you can run this car?" questioned Spouter.

"Sure I can! It isn't much different from the cars I'm used to even though it's a cheap one," was the reply.

Spouter dismounted and was soon beside Jack. The power was again turned on and the car moved on with many a little jerk and jangling of metal-ware.

"It's next door to a bit of junk," remarked Jack, as they moved forward along the trail at a rate of about fifteen miles an hour. "I think if a fellow tried to make real speed with it it would fall to pieces."

"Sounds to me as if it needed oiling," ventured Spouter.

"Yes, it needs oiling, and new springs, and a new engine, and a new chassis and a few other things, and then it would be quite a good car," answered Jack, with a grin.

The two lads in the car had covered less than a mile, and the others were coming up behind them, when they saw a man running toward them and waving his arms wildly.

"Hi there! Stop!" called out the man. "Stop, I tell you! If you don't stop I'll have the law on you!"

As soon as he saw the man Jack slowed up and came to a standstill by the side of the fellow. He was a tall, lean man of about fifty, with a strangely wrinkled and sallow face and long, drooping, reddish mustache. He had a pair of greenish-brown eyes that seemed to bore the boys through and through as he gazed rather savagely at them.

"What do you mean by running off with my car?" he demanded, as he shook his fist at the lads.

"Is this your car?" questioned Jack.

"You know well enough it's my car!" blustered the man. "And I demand to know what you mean by running away with it!"

"We didn't run away with it," answered Spouter.

"Yes, you did!"

"We did not!" put in Jack. "We found it back there on the plains running around all by itself."

"What? You expect me to believe such a story as that?" exclaimed the tall man, glaring at them more ferociously than ever. "Running around by itself! How could it be doing that? You took it from where I left it, up by the trees yonder!" and he pointed to a quantity of tall timber some distance away.

By this time the other boys were coming up, bringing with them the two unused horses. The man gazed at them in surprise and also noted the two steeds that were not being used.

"Maybe you're telling the truth and maybe you ain't," went on the man sourly. "I'd like to git at the bottom of this." Thereupon the boys related what had taken place and Spouter mentioned the fact that his father was the owner of Big Horn Ranch.

"Oh, then you're Mr. Powell's son, eh?" cried the man. "Are you the boy who went to Colby Hall with my nephew, Lester Bangs?"

"Is Lester your nephew?" queried Spouter. And as the man nodded shortly, he added: "Then you must be Mr. Jarley Bangs?" and again the man nodded.

"I think you ought to thank our chum here, Jack Rover, for bringing your car back to you, Mr. Bangs," remarked Gif. "If he hadn't jumped from his horse into the car the machine might be racking itself to pieces out on the prairie now. It was doing all sorts of stunts when he jumped aboard and shut off the power."

"I can't understand this nohow," grumbled Jarley Bangs. "If what you say is true, how in thunder did that car git started? I left it by the edge of the woods while I went in to look over some timber that we thought of gitting out this fall. All at once I heard the engine go off with a bang, and when I ran out of the woods to see what was doing the car was gone."

"Was any one with you?" questioned Spouter.

"No. I came out alone. Lester wanted to come along, but I told him to stay at the ranch and do some work. He seems to think that all he's out here for is to play."

"Oh, then Lester is staying with you, is he?" queried Fred.

"Yes. His folks let him come up for a couple of months. Then he's going back to his home in Wyoming, and after that he's got to return to that military school. I think it's a fool notion to send him to that school. If I was his father I'd make him stay out here and go to work."

"You don't suppose Lester tried to start the car, do you?" questioned Andy.

"How could he if he was at the ranch? But wait a minute! He said something about going fishing in that brook that flows through the woods. Maybe he did come up that way, after all."

"Does he know how to run the auto?" asked Randy.

"Yes, he does. But I don't let him run it very often because he's so careless I'm afraid he'll ruin the machine—he bangs her over the rocks something awful. I ain't got no money to waste on a new car. This has got to do, even if it is kind of used up."

"Maybe Brassy—I mean Lester—came up and tried to start the car while the gears were in mesh," suggested Jack; "and then when the car started to run away perhaps he got scared and ran away, too."

"If he did anything like that he'll have an account to settle with me!" exclaimed Jarley Bangs, his eyes glowing with anger. "That boy is getting too fresh. I said he could come up here, thinking he'd do some work around the place and so earn the money that I promised him for his schooling. But evidently he thinks more of having a good time than he does of working. He is forever fooling around the car and wanting to run it; so I wouldn't put it past him to do what you suspect. As soon as I git home I'll ketch him and make him tell me the truth," continued Jarley Bangs, with a determined shake of his head.

After that he questioned Spouter concerning the ranch Mr. Powell had purchased and spoke of the men who had previously owned the place.

"These city fellows think they kin come out here and make a fortune on a ranch," he growled. "But after they've owned a place a year or two they find it ain't so easy. A man has got to hustle like all git-out to make a living."

"Where is your ranch located?" asked Fred.

"Our buildings are right behind that patch of timber," was the reply. "It's not so very much of a place, but it's good enough for me."

"And where is the Bimbel ranch?" questioned Gif.

"That's up to the northward, over the top of yonder hill. But you young fellows had better give Bimbel a wide berth," went on Jarley Bangs, with a shake of his head.

"Why?" asked Spouter.

"He don't like no strangers hanging around, that's why. If a stranger comes up to his door Bimbel always reaches for his gun. He had trouble years ago with some tramps, and he never got over it."

After that Jarley Bangs had but little more to say. The boys had left the touring car, and now the man jumped inside, saw to it that everything was in order, and then asked Spouter to crank up for him.

"Ain't no use to waste time here," he remarked. "I've got to git back to what I was doing. I'll tell Lester I saw you, and if he wants to he kin come over to Big Horn Ranch and visit—he ain't of much account around my place. And I'll git at the bottom of what happened to this auto, too, even if I have to lick it out of him."

"I don't think Lester will care to visit our ranch," answered Spouter coldly.

"Well, I ain't got nothing to say about that one way or the other. Now I'm off," and with a short nod of his head Jarley Bangs threw in the gears of his machine and rattled away, slowly gathering speed as he proceeded.

"A kind, considerate man, not!" exclaimed Andy in disgust.

"How politely he thanked Jack for returning his car," added Spouter.

"And the beautiful invitation we got to visit his place," put in Randy.

"I wonder if Brassy really started that car on him?" questioned Fred.

"It might be," answered Gif. And then he added: "Gee, I'm sorry for Brassy if he has to live with such an uncle as that! Wouldn't you think he'd rather stay at home?"

"Perhaps it's a case of money," put in Randy. "Didn't you hear what Mr. Bangs said about paying for tuition at Colby Hall? Brassy's folks may be quite poor, and they may be depending on this uncle for financial aid."



CHAPTER XXIV

A NEW ARRIVAL

After the disappearance of Jarley Bangs the Rover boys and their chums continued their trip on horseback.

"Let's move over the hill in the direction of the Bimbel ranch," suggested Spouter. "I'd like to get a bird's-eye view of that outfit."

"Perhaps we had better not go too close," advised Fred. "Bimbel may be getting out a shotgun for us."

"I guess it isn't as bad as all that, Fred. Those things might have happened years ago when the country was more sparsely settled and when there were more bad men around. I don't take much stock in what Bangs said. Probably he and Bimbel have quarreled. He struck me as being a man who could get into a dispute very easily."

"Oh, I was only fooling," answered Fred. "I wouldn't be afraid to ride right up to his door. That is, in the daytime. Of course, if we did it at night he might become suspicious."

"Say, do you fellows know that it's five minutes to twelve?" questioned Andy, after consulting his watch. "I move that we keep our eyes open for some place where we can take it easy and have lunch."

"And I second the commotion," returned his brother, joking in a way their father had made familiar to them.

The boys rode on for half an hour longer, and then reached the top of the hill they were ascending. Here they could look a long distance in all directions.

"Some view, I'll say," declared Jack, as he surveyed the panorama. "What a picture for an artist to paint!" and he pointed to the majestic mountains to the westward.

"Just look at the river—how it glistens and sparkles in the sunshine," burst out Spouter. "See how it winds in and out like a silvery ribbon among the hills and brushwood and then comes out to cut the broad and fertile prairie in the far distance."

"Spouter, you'll have to write an essay about this when you get back to the Hall," said Fred, with a grin.