ey's auto running
away by itself?"

"Oh, please don't mention that tin junk wagon!" pleaded Brassy. "I
started it, and the blamed thing ran over me, and I was lame for a
week."

"Does your uncle know anything about what Haddon and his crowd are up
to?" questioned Jack.

"Not exactly. Although he's becoming suspicious of the whole gang around
the Bimbel place. You know he's never trusted Bimbel since the man got
into difficulty with the authorities several years ago."

After that the seven boys talked the matter over for half an hour longer.
And then the others insisted upon it that Brassy accompany them to the
other entrance to the cave, and there all sat down to partake of the
lunch brought from Big Horn Ranch.

Brassy appeared much relieved by the confession he had made, and readily
answered all the questions put to him. His assertive manner had left him
entirely, and he appeared quite humble.

"If he ever gets out of this I'll bet he'll be a different fellow,"
whispered Randy to Fred.

"I think so myself," was the reply. "But how he is going to square
himself with Colonel Colby remains to be seen. It was a serious piece of
business to let Haddon steal all those things from the school and say
nothing about it."

While the boys were eating the storm stopped, and less than an hour later
the sun was shining as before.

"I think we might as well be on our way back to the ranch," remarked
Spouter. "The sooner we get there and let our fathers know how matters
stand, the better."

"Don't you want to go with us, Brassy?" asked Jack.

"If I did that I couldn't get back to my uncle's place to-night, and then
he'd worry about me. Otherwise I would just as lief go to your place as
not. Now that I've told you everything I'd like to see the whole matter
cleaned up, and quick too."

"How far is it to your uncle's ranch?" asked Fred.

"Not over a mile and a half."

"Then suppose we go there first, and then all of us can strike out for
Big Horn Ranch. Maybe your uncle will want to take part in what is going
on," said Jack.

"I wish you would go with me!" cried Brassy eagerly. "I'm afraid my uncle
will raise Cain when I tell him the truth."

"He won't dare do much when we're around," answered Gif. "If he gets too
ugly you can clear out and meet us on the way to our place."

"That's the talk," said Randy.

Again there was a discussion, but in the end it was decided that the
whole party should lose no time in get