Part 17 (1/2)

Finally he broke away altogether and ran off, kicking up his heels behind him.

”Well, I never!” gasped Chet.

”Quick, after him! I believe he means to run away!” cried Paul.

”Rush run away!” said Chet reproachfully. It hurt him a good deal to have Paul speak in that fas.h.i.+on of the horse he so loved.

Both boys leaped from the thicket and after Rush, who was now running up the bank of the stream at top speed. A turn was made and the brothers burst out into a loud and joyous shout.

There, not fifty feet away, was Lilly, the faithful mare Allen had fancied was drowned in the Black Rock River. Rush stood beside her, licking her neck affectionately.

”Allen's horse!” cried Chet.

”And as well as ever almost,” added Paul, as he rushed up and began an examination.

The mare was evidently glad to see both the boys and her mate. She stood trembling as Chet and Paul examined her.

”A few slight bruises, that is all,” said Paul. ”Won't Allen be glad when he hears of it?”

”Indeed he will be. He loves Lilly as if she was his best girl. It's a good thing for us, too, Paul,” he went on. ”Now each can have a mount home.”

”Right you are--if Lilly can carry me.”

Paul was speedily on the mare's back. She seemed willing enough to carry him; in fact, glad to be in the keeping of a human being she knew.

”If she could only talk what a tale she would have to tell,” observed Paul as they rode homeward. ”I wonder how she got out of the river?”

”I reckon we'll never know, unless Allen makes her talk. He can make her do most everything,” laughed Chet.

On they went over the rocks and the level prairie beyond. The sun was now sinking in the west, and ere long the evening shadows would be upon them.

”Well, we found a horse even if we didn't find a mine, and that's something,” said Paul, as they reached the trail beside the river.

”But I hope that the mine isn't lost for good,” replied Chet, quickly.

”The mine is worth a good deal more than even Lilly.”

”Maybe you can't tell that to Allen.”

”Oh, yes I can; for he saw the wealth there, you know.”

”If only he finds Uncle Barnaby,” sighed Paul. ”Do you know, the more I think of it, the more I become convinced that something dreadful has happened to him.”

”And that is the way I look at it, too, Paul. If we could----”

Chet stopped short and stared ahead. They had come in sight of the semi-stockade around their ranch house.

”Our furniture and trunks!” gasped Paul, following the direction of Chet's stare. ”What on earth does it mean?”

There on the gra.s.s lay their furniture in a confused ma.s.s--tables, chairs, trunks, clothing, one on top of another. And in another heap were the farming implements from the barn.

”Captain Grady's dirty work!” cried Paul. ”He has come here and taken possession during our absence.”