importance, we should certainly have
kept him a prisoner," replied Songbird.

"I was watching my chance to get into the ranch house unobserved,"
continued the government official. "That shot rather floored me. But
I am going to get in, some way," he added with determination.

"Listen, I think I hear somebody coming!" cried Songbird.

"Let us get to the side of the road," said James Monday.

They did as advised, the boys mounting their horses and the government
official donning his wig and false beard and taking Sam's steed. Soon
they were stationed behind a pile of rocks.

"It's a wagon that is coming!" said Tom a minute later. "I can hear
the wheels scraping on the rocks."

"I think I'll investigate on foot," said James Monday, and slipped
to the ground once more. Soon the wagon came in sight. It was pulled
by a team of strong looking horses and was piled high with boxes. On
the seat sat an old man.

"Hullo, there!" called out the government official, stepping along
the trail in the direction of the turnout.

The old man was evidently startled, and he pulled up with a jerk. As
he did so, the boys rode a little closer.

"Hullo, stranger! What do you want?"

"I want to talk to you," responded James Monday.

"What about?" and the old man began to grow uncomfortable.

"Where are you bound?"

"What do ye want to know fer?"

"I am curious, that's all, friend. Are you afraid to answer me?"

"No, I ain't. I'm bound fer Red Rock ranch."

"What have you on the wagon?"

"All sorts o' supplies that came in on the railroad."

"What's your name?"

"Bill Cashaw. It seems to me you're a curious one, you are."

"Do you belong in town, or out here?"

"In town, o'course. Hain't I lived there nigh sixty-four years?"

"Do you work steadily for Sack Todd?"

"No. I do a leetle drivin' now an' then, that's all. But, see here--"

"Do you know all the others at the ranch?"

"Most on 'em. I don't know the new fellers much."

"Did you intend to stay at the ranch?"

"You mean to-night?"

"Yes."

"Not unless Sack asked me to stay. He's queer about that, you know."
The old man glanced at the boys. "Quite a party o' ye, hain't there?"

"You state positively that you do not belong to the crowd at the
ranch?" resumed the government official.

"I said so. But, see here, stranger--"

"Please get down off that wagon," went on James Monday quietly.

"Eh?"

"I said get down off that wagon."

"What fer?"

"Bec