ught the leather holster whence protruded the grim, black handle of his .45. But he did not draw the w

mer, and Buck Tooth, who had glanced up from wher

ecognized the fat assistant for

"Looks like you had an idea it might be one of them rustl

' back to Diamond X, but I sorter missed you-been out tryin' t' locate a bunch of strays," he confided to Bud, "an' I didn't have no luck! Glad to meet yo' all, tho

nt on, when they had moved over to the camp fire, the blaze

ing there this t

"I'm raising cattle in the old Buffal

Well, I've been over at Square M for so long I don't hear no real news no more. Gosh! But we did have some e

rected Bud, laughing at the expressio

d Babe. "Fond as I am, too, of singing," and, taking a long breath, he

eep with a spu

e biscuits

'round th' ole

eet under

soberly, as they squatted around the fire for breakfast,

way to his mouth, while in his other hand he held a steaming tin

the valley," explained Bud. "Th

ped running!" i

uble, we get this warning," and Bud extended the dirty piece

. He opened his mouth again, to intone another of the hundred or more

y singin'?" asked

uestions," went on Bud. "You say y

. My grub giv' out with supper last night, an' I was hopin' I might even run in

ined us," re

full of bacon and flapjacks. "But

e written this?" and the boy ranch

er frum Pocut River if yo

spoke Babe, with more force than

the water has stopp

s Square M ranch from Diamond X. "But some of us rather thought there'd be trouble when your paw dammed up the river to shunt some of i

r had at Double Z. Besides, this isn't his way of doing business. He's as mean as

. Better tell your paw about this, Bud. You got grit-all three of you!" and he included the other boys

and down on his outstretched leg. "

an?" as

ne Bud

half starting to his feet

the boy, using a word to denote a grazing

This sounds like old times! Let's ha

ousins whom he expected. He told of finding the stream of water shut off, of the appearan

lared Nort. "I was trying to think where

that it might not have been, of course," he added, "for I understand he broke jail, after they

o another of the flapjacks which Buck was m

He just naturally vanished, the way my w

o anxious about," was the answer. "But I reckon I got time t'

anything wrong at the in

you try that ride through the old water course, u

" Bud want

risk, an' he may want t' send some of us with you

r had been dammed to enable water to flow into the pipe line, and then through the old

, reached the Pocut River. There an inspection showed the water from the rive

d one end of the pipe. And it was through this natural tunnel, extending under the

ewhere inside," agreed Babe.

X, that Old Billee had departed, early that morni

he wire, for there was a 'phone in Bud's camp. It seemed rather an incongruity, but it was a great convenience,

expected to have reached the camp in Flume Valley, and afte

answer," Cen

his time," co

ther trials, the voice of Old Billee cam

r?" demanded the voice of the old cowpuncher.

, something happened at my place last night. The water stopped, and we came over

ok at your reservoir. I can see it from the tent where you got this

illee," Bud answered

ver the spillway, now, it's a sign

s she running?" as

ll take a look. Hold o

romised Bud, smil

cy, the boy ranchers could see Old Billee going t

sently came the c

llee. What

ust 'a' come back in th' ni