sort of warfare proved most effective, for by turning the horses
and sending them back, in spite of all the efforts of their riders, the
forces of the sheep herders were thrown into confusion.

And this, really, was the object of Bud and his companions. They did
not want to kill so much as a single sheep. All they desired was to
keep inviolate the land rightfully owned by Mr. Merkel. And he felt
that he still owned it, in spite of the action of the United States
Congress, and even though his papers had been stolen.

In this initial skirmish, which soon developed into a fight, the
advantage, at first, was all on the side of the Diamond X force as the
Greasers did not fight back. Some of them carried guns, but did not
draw them.

It might be reasoned that they wanted to go into court with "clean
hands," as the legal term is. That is, they could claim they were
fired upon when attempting to make a peaceable crossing of the creek in
order to pasture their sheep on the new government open range land.
One part of their contention might be true, but the one implying that
Mr. Merkel's land could be taken by any chance comer, was not true.

At any rate, first along, the Mexicans did not fire back. Meanwhile
Bud and his comrades were fairly peppering the Greasers with stones
from the rubber slings. No one was badly hurt--indeed, bruised faces
and hands were about the only injuries, but if you have ever faced a
fusilade from a battery of putty blowers or bean shooters you know how
disconcerting it is.

Then, too, the horses proved allies of our friends. For the light
"peppering" the animals received from the slings made the animals
nervous and disinclined to face the shower of stones.

Some few sheep were driven into the stream, and it was evident that,
for the present at least, this was a good crossing--shallow enough and
with no quicksands. But once the sheep began to hear and see the
stones "zipping" in the water around them, some of the woollies feeling
the pebbles--though only slightly--a new problem was presented to the
Mexicans. Their sheep, like the horses, turned about and made for the
southern shore.

So that, in less than five minutes after the attempt to make the
crossing was started, it had failed, and the hostile forces withdrew.

"Guess we made it too hot for them," chuckled Bud.

"For a while, yes," agreed Nort. "But it isn't over yet."

"No," added his brother. "If they give up now I miss m