Part 5 (1/2)

”And we'll be with you from the drop of the hat until the last gun is fired,” cried Nort, while d.i.c.k nodded his agreement.

”Well, I like to hear you talk that way,” Mr. Merkel said. ”But I do hope nothing happens,” he added anxiously, when the boys left to make preparations for taking the trail to Death Valley.

”Something is bound to happen!” said Billee, who had been present when the decision was made. ”But maybe these boys'll be able to beat the game. They cleaned up the Chinese smugglers and beat the rustlers, so they may cheat this mysterious death--whatever it is.”

”Hus.h.!.+” warned Mr. Merkel, for the old man, in the rancher's private office, had spoken rather loudly. ”I don't want my wife and Nell to hear. They'd never let the boys go, and I'm not sure I should, either.”

”I'm going to be with them,” Billee said, as if that meant a lot, and it really did.

”I'll send Yellin' Kid and Snake Purdee, too,” decided Mr. Merkel.

”Yes,” agreed Billee, ”and it's going to be hard to beat that bunch.

Well, maybe the curse has died out, but I'm afraid not--I'm afraid not,” he added with an ominous shake of his head as he went to the corral to arrange about selecting the horses for the coming trip.

Los Pompan was about a week's ride, by easy stages, from Diamond X, and while the trip could have been made by train or auto, the boys decided to take their horses. Considerable in the way of supplies must be taken, and, after all, an auto is not of much use, even the ever-dependable flivver, in riding herd, a round-up or cutting out a bunch of cattle for s.h.i.+pment. Albeit most of the ranchers owned cars which came in handy for going to and fro from town, or getting in food and supplies to the ranch house.

”We may be able to pick up a cheap, second-hand car after we get out there,” remarked Nort when his brother and Bud were talking plans over with him a few days before the start. This was after they had decided to ride their ponies to Death Valley rather than take the rusty and trusty old Tin Lizzie which they owned and which carried them back and forth between Happy Valley and Diamond X.

”Yes, we may need a car to run down this mysterious death-dealing force that Billee sets such a store by,” agreed Bud.

Final preparations were made. The boy ranchers, with Billee, Snake and Yellin' Kid were to take over Dot and Dash. Mrs. Merkel and Nell said their good-byes, happily unaware of the dangerous phase of the undertaking. As for the boys, they would not admit it was dangerous.

To them it was a great lark.

”I only hope they'll sing the same tune after they've seen some of the things I've seen,” remarked Old Billee. ”But I'll stick by 'em to the last!”

”On our way!” cried Bud, the morning of the start, when their ponies had been saddled and extra mounts, carrying packs, were loaded with food and supplies.

”Hit the trail!” echoed Nort.

”And we'll come back with its scalp!” added d.i.c.k, referring, though not specifically, to the mystery.

”Good-bye, boys,” said Mr. Merkel in a low voice. ”And--take care of yourselves,” he added as he clasped firmly the hands of his son and nephews. ”Don't take any risks.”

”No, sir!” they promised. But Mr. Merkel took that for what it was worth.

So they were on the trail at last, setting out with high hopes and light hearts for Death Valley.

”Where's that outfit heading for?” asked a pa.s.sing puncher from Circle T ranch, the nearest to Diamond X, and a place owned by Thomas Ogden, who was quite friendly with Mr. Merkel.

”That outfit?” questioningly repeated Babe Milton, sizing up the man and noting that he was a stranger, ”that bunch is going to Los Pompan to take over a new ranch the boss bought.” It was no secret--half the people around Palmo knew what Mr. Merkel had done, though they had not heard the sinister reports of Death Valley.

”To Los Pompan, eh?” murmured the puncher, looking at the cloud of dust which hovered over the cavalcade of the boy ranchers. ”Los Pompan,”

and he seemed unusually interested.

”Know anything about it?” asked Babe.

”Who, me? Not a thing!” and, putting spurs to his mount he was off and away.

”I don't want to be impolite,” murmured Babe as he watched the puncher disappear in a cloud of dust, ”but I think you're a liar!”