reptile-fearing cow puncher and his companions prepared to let

and Bud and his cousins could not but note how diffe

o were after the ten-million-year-old Tricera

is speech," assented Bud. "Gues

was no doubt about the ability of Four Eyes, even if he had not yet made g

d then, too, he may have been in Mexico. Some of the Greas

dsman, had lined themselves up about a hundred feet from where Four Eyes sat on his horse-not

asked Yel

shouted Four Eyes, and even

of the oncoming steeds, and on the ground he spread out his lasso in a great loop, leaning over in his saddle to do this. He retained hold of the rope end that was fasten

o it?" as

id. "It's a trick! I thought

though, if he does

and the Indian were within the spread-out loop of Four

Mellon snapped the outspread rope upward and, reinin

ur horses, holding them together, the rope itself b

ed by the others. For though they might all (save one, perhaps) have pulled out of the encircling rope, there possibly would have been an accident

ed his rope and it fell to the ground, the riders gui

eclared Old Billee. "'T

not every one can do i

can!" dec

It was not as easy as it looked, in s

ated that he alone, of all the "bunch" at the Happy Valley ranch, could do what he had done. "At least if they can, I've never seen it.

'd show me,

't often have need for a trick like it

t, though it was evident they were not

Four Eyes. He seemed to possess uncanny skill with the lariat, though some of h

that are ever present. So, after the roping exhibition was over, and the newcomer had been assigned certain duties, Bud, Nort and Dick rode d

the reservoir, through the pipes that connected with the mysterious u

o vitally interested. The most distant herd had been driven in by Snake and Yellin' Kid-the herd on which the

o round up a good bunch this fall," obs

can't be shut off now, and we

stlers," p

bottle for us," added Bud. "

as some passing cow puncher playing a joke on us. This c

We'll have to let the bottle-breaker wait for a spell, until we size up this rus

nd 'em," grim

noon when the boys reached it. They had stopped for "grub" on the way, having carried with them some food. Water they coul

steer, or yearling," Bud sai

mained from the fe

Nort, pointing to where a plain trail, made by the feet of many animals,

. "We want to see when it get

ght!" chim

o go down the valley to the place where the hills lowered on either side to form

bserved Bud, as they paused to look and

e we'll only find the

othing!"

get to the bottom of this, and

upted by a sh

lad. "There's a fire! Th

rection Dick indicated. It was off to the r

gular prairie fi

n Indians be on the rampage

got to find out abo

And, wheeling his ho

, and galloped toward

and