rs by those at
Red Rock ranch was most discouraging to Tom and Songbird.

"They are in a hole in the ground," said the fun-loving Rover. "That
must mean that they are in some sort of dungeon."

"More than likely they have a place for prisoners at the ranch,"
returned Songbird. "The question is, now that we have learned so
much: what's to do about it?"

"We must rescue Sam and Dick."

"That may be easier said than done, Tom. My idea is, the fellows at
the ranch are desperate characters--horse thieves, or worse."

"No horse thieves there!" burst out Peter Poll, who had listened to
the talk in wonder. "Sack Todd is rich--piles of money, piles. But
Peter must not tell all he knows!" he added with a whine.

"So Sack Todd is rich?" questioned Tom.

"Piles of money--fine bank bills, I can tell you! Some day Peter will
be a millionaire! But Peter must not tell--"

"Say, perhaps this dolt isn't telling the truth," cried Songbird.
"He seems to be more than a button short."

"Button, button, who's got the button!" sang out the foolish boy.
"Played that once--lots of fun. Let us play now." And he started to
pull a button from his jacket.

"Come with us, Peter," said Tom. "Come, we won't hurt you."

"Where do you want Peter to go?"

"Not very far away. Come, we will give you something nice to eat."

Now, as it happened, eating was one of the dolt's weak points, and
he readily consented to accompany them. Without loss of time, they
made their way back to where Fred and Hans had been left.

"Hullo! who vos dot?" ejaculated the German youth as they hove in sight.

"This is a boy we picked up along the stream," answered Tom, and then
drew the others aside and told his story.

"What are you going to do next?" questioned Fred seriously. "It is
certainly too bad Sam and Dick are prisoners. We must take care that
we are not captured."

"The mystery of the ranch grows deeper," said Songbird. "I rather
wish we had some officers of the law to consult. We could then ride
right up to the ranch and make our demands."

"It may come to that before we get through," answered Tom.

"That dolt may not be telling the truth, Tom."

"Well, he has told some truth anyway, for if Sam and Dick are free,
why don't they show up here?"

They did their best to make Peter Poll tell them more concerning
himself and those at the ranch. But the foolish boy was growing more
and more suspicious, and would scarcely answer a question.

"Peter