Part 25 (1/2)
”That's what they are!” cried Nort ”They're cattle rustlers, and so else! Why, they had the nerve to drive soht in under our noses, and they never even apologized!”
”Such fellows don't generally beg your pardon,” coaing, blasting and excavating for soround,” answered Nort ”Whether it's gold or diamonds I don't know”
”I don't see how it can be either,” said Bud, with a shake of his head
”Nothing like that has ever been found around here”
”There's always a first time,” said Mrs Merkel, with a smile ”And wouldn't it be wonderful if there should be a diaold,” she went on, ”as it doesn't take so ot to say is that if those rascals rustle off enough of ht to have,”
commented the head of Diamond X ranch ”I think it's time we closed in on 'em, boys!” he added sharply ”Up to noe didn't have any direct evidence But if Nort and dick saw some of our cattle driven into their cah of what they are”
”That's what I say!” cried Bud ”Let's get after the rustlers, Del Pinzo and the rest! I always did suspect that slick Greaser, and noe've got the goods on him Shouldn't wonder but what that Double Z outfit wastoo fast,” counseled his father ”Zip Foster wouldn't like it!”
”Oh--er--well, you'll see if I'ht!” said Bud, soht of what Nort and Bud had seen and heard, to close in and raid the mysterious camp of the professors' the next day This talk had taken place during the night and early ees with the rescue party
”Maybe we ought to close in on 'eested Bud, as the conference broke up, when the first streaks of daere co in the ranch house s
”No,” decided his father ”Nort and dick want to get a little sleep, and ant them with us e close in Then, too, I want to circulate the word around a bit, and have some deputies fro is done regular Of course I'd have a right to go in there, right off the reel, and take ular”
So it was planned Nort and dick, indeed, were glad to get so the last two days But they were hardy, healthy lads, and their life al to Diamond X ranch had made them able to endure hardshi+ps they could not, otherwise, have stood So, after a short rest and sleep, they were as eager as Bud and the cowboys to start on a raid
Meanwhile Mr Merkel had not been idle He had sent word of what had happened to several adjoining ranches, being careful, however, not to let news of as afoot trickle through to Hank Fisher, owner of the Double Z As a matter of fact, while there was no evidence to directly connect Hank with the mysterious operations at the professors' camp, this man was believed to have been involved inoperation
It was hinted that he branded htfully his, and on several occasions cattle with ”blurred brands” had been found on his ranch But he always h his association with Del Pinzo, who gave it out that he was officially attached to Double Z, did not raise the value of Hank Fisher's reputation So it was thought best not to include hi' ranches asse selected for the start, and by this time saddles and bridles had been provided for Blaze and Blackie, and Nort and dick sported new guns in their holsters
”Now do be careful, won't you?” pleaded Mrs Merkel, as the cavalcade started off, with none of the usual whooping and yelling that ht too serious to be decorated with horse play
”We'll be careful,” proine there'll be any serious trouble We'll surround the place and if those fellows have any sense they'll give up and take what's co to them”
”Look out for the boys!” she said in a lower voice, nodding toward her own son, and Nort and dick
”I will,” promised Mr Merkel ”But from what I've seen,” he added, with a twinkle in his eyes, ”they're oric for that Greaser! That's pretty good!” and he chuckled as he rode off with the others
The plans had been carefully made and each cowboy knehat he was to do The idea was to surround the ca the suspicions of the inmates, and then make a sudden rush on it from all sides This would be comparatively easy to do, since the camp was in the valley, with hills all around it It was sih to follow the trail to the point where Nort and dick had beenAnd when this point was reached, it was left to the two young ranchers theht, nor were there any known trails leading to it
”Well, as near as I can tell this is the e ca over the ht,” decided Mr Merkel ”You lead a party that way, and I'll take dick, and bear off more to the south It ive us two shots at it We'll keep within sight of one another as long as we can, and the first one who sights the right trail, leading in, will build a fire and send up smoke puffs”
Thisone and dick the other