Part 23 (1/2)
”Well, alued Nort ”But I e'd find hiht They were nearing, now, the entrance to the defile, or S up above the line of round hills which represented the horizon A new day was being born, but to those from Dot and Dash ranch it was not a joyful day--or it would not be if the mystery over Bud remained unsolved
”I wonder if, by any chance, he could be up in there,”off across the range, his eyes intently focused on a s object that did not seem to be either a cow or a horse
”Up there where we found old Toshthe witches' broth,” and Nort looked closely at his brother to see as attracting his attention
”I lers' Glen,” went on Nort, for dick had not turned
”What you looking at?” suddenly deht--I saw--” dick was speaking in a preoccupied aze still fixed on that small, dark object
Then, so suddenly that it startled all of them, as they sat on their mounts, with back turned toward the defile, there ca one against the other
Like a flash all turned froht dick's eyes, and the reason for the stone-rattling noise was explained
It was caused by so unsteadily out of the defile, and the person alking was--Bud Merkel!
For a moment the searchers could scarcely believe that they really saw theyouth But as he came nearer it was only too evident
”Bud!” cried Nort and dick in a duet as they spurred their horses forward ”Bud!”
”By gosh!+ 'Tis him!” roared Yellin' Kid
”But he's 'bout done up!” coed his pony forward ”What happened?”
It was obvious that so serious had taken place Bud was hardly able to walk, and was supporting hi on a tree branch as a sort of cane or crutch But his face brightened in the rising sun as he beheld his friends co toward him
”What happened?” called dick, as he dise story,” said Bud in a weak voice ”I've been practically kidnaped and put under the spell of soas”
”Kidnaped!” cried Snake
”Poison gas!” echoed Billee
”Who did it?” demanded Nort
”Rustlers, I reckon,” said Bud as he sank down on a bowlder and drank greedily from the canteen dick offered ”I was surprised by a crowd of ulch ”They shot some sort of vapor at me that knocked ed to get away”
”Tell us about it!” cried Nort
”And we'll go back there and clean those fellows out!” shouted Yellin'