mself around this
place?" remarked Spouter that evening. "Wouldn't you think he'd at least
ride over to see what sort of an outfit we had here?"

"More than likely he's afraid of his welcome," said Jack. "He knows that
none of us care for him."

"I'd like to know if he really started that auto," put in Fred.

"Gosh, what a sour fellow that Jarley Bangs was!" exclaimed Andy.

There had been an indication of a storm, but this had passed away, and
one day found the Rover boys and their chums off on a trip along a trail
which led across the river and to the mountains westward, a trail which
they were informed by Jackson led between the ranches owned by Jarley
Bangs and Bimbel.

"I'd like to get a better view of Bimbel's ranch and also of Bangs'
place," declared Jack. "And maybe we'll see something of Bud Haddon and
his crowd."

All of the boys were now on good terms with Hop Lung, and he had prepared
for them a substantial lunch and also something extra in case they should
remain out after the supper hour.

"Now you lads take good care of yourselves," admonished Tom Rover, when
they were ready to depart on their day's outing. "No more rattlesnakes or
mountain lions!"

"Or mix-ups with runaway cattle," put in Sam Rover.

Spouter and Jack carried small rifles, and the others were armed with
pistols. They, however, were not going out to hunt, but thought best to
provide themselves with the firearms in case any game presented itself.

It did not take the boys long to cross the river, and then they followed
a trail which led up a long hill and through a somewhat dense forest.

They had journeyed along the best part of two hours when they noticed the
sun going under a cloud. This caused the trail under the trees to become
dark.

"Gee! I wonder if we're going to have a storm?" remarked Randy.

"Oh, maybe it's nothing but a wind cloud," answered Spouter.

They continued to move along the trail, and presently reached a small
opening where there was a spring.

"Halt!" called out Jack, who was riding ahead with Spouter.

"What's the matter?" questioned Gif quickly.

"Look there! Isn't that a wolf?" asked Jack. He pointed with his rifle,
which he had already unslung, and all the boys looked in the direction
pointed out.

"Maybe it's a dog," put in Fred quickly.

"You don't want to shoot somebody's pet," admonished Gif.

The animal had slunk away behind some brushwood, and now they saw it
trying to retreat, pull