er. "They have
just called for help!"

"Trouble! What sort?"

"Oh, nobody's hurt, as far as that goes," Billee hastened to assure the
boy. "But there's been a raid on your cattle. Rustlers up to their
old tricks, I reckon. It's a call for help from Diamond X!"

CHAPTER X

DEL PINZO'S HAND

Instantly all were astir in the shack that had been erected as a fort
on the bank of Spur Creek, and a rush was made for saddles and the
usual trappings of a cowboy. Nor were guns forgotten, for if these
would not be needed in fighting off the rustlers, they would be of
service in driving back a herd of frightened animals determined to put
as much distance as possible between themselves and the source of their
alarm.

Billee was overwhelmed with questions.

"Who were they?"

"What did they do?"

"Who was on the wire?"

To all of these the veteran raised a hand for silence.

"I'll tell you all I know," he said.

"Maybe you'd better tell us on the run," suggested Yellin' Kid. "If
we're goin' t' help we'd better be moseying along, and _pronto_ at
that."

"Good idea," chuckled Old Billee. "Well," he resumed as they hurried
toward the corral where their horses were kept, "it was the boss
himself speaking on the wire. He didn't say much except to let it out
that we'd better get back as soon as we could. He didn't say who it
was that caused the ruction, so you know about as much of it as I do.
Then he hung up. But I could hear there was some excitement in your
place, lads," he went on to the boy ranchers, "for I could hear some of
the boys standing around your dad murmurin' an' talkin', an' I heard
somebody ask if they got th' bullet out yet."

"Then there must have been shooting!" cried Dick.

"I reckon!" assented Old Billee.

"Cracky!" cried Nort. "This is like old times!"

"You said it!" voiced Bud.

They were all in the saddles now, pulling their ponies sharply around
to head for the trail that led back to Diamond X. Then Old Billee
bethought him of something.

"I say!" he sung out. "This won't do!"

"What won't?" asked Nort.

"All of us going off this way. We've got to leave some one here to
hold the fort, boys. Them onery sheep herders may steal in on us while
we're away, and take possession. An' you know," went on Billee with a
momentous shake of his head, "possession is nine points of th' law.
Somebody's got t' stay here," he decided. "You two fellers'd better do
it," and he poin