didn't, but I'm sure the man whose
conversation I heard that night is the same man who ordered the cowboy
officers to throw down their weapons."

"But why should they do a thing like that?" demanded Will.

"I don't know," replied George, "unless it is because train robbers have
a continual and perpetual grouch against officers of any kind."

"That must be the reason," Will admitted.

"Well, I'm glad they got us away!" said Tommy, as the five boys reached
the summit and looked down into the little valley, "but they sure put us
in bad with the cowboys from this time on. The cowboys, apparently with
good cause, were accusing us of standing in with the train robbers, and
now the train robbers have proven the point by butting in for our
protection."

"It's too bad," Will answered, "but I don't see how it can be helped. It
is particularly unfortunate at this time, because with the cowboys
opposing us we won't dare search the mountains for Chester's father."

"We'll find a way!" insisted Tommy. "We'll be sure to find a way."

When the boys turned down the slope which led to their camp, not very
far away, daylight was growing in the sky. They could see the figures of
the men who had rescued them creeping away to the south.

Shouts and exclamations of rage were coming over the ridge, and the boys
understood very well that in a short time the cowboys would be at their
camp, with stronger motive than ever for their destruction.

"We've got our guns," Will said as they walked along, "and we've got to
fight. That's all there is to it."

When the boys came to the side of the dying campfire they found two men
who seemed to be entire strangers sitting calmly in one of the tents,
dividing the contents of a great tin of roast beef, and also sharing a
huge loaf of bread. The light was still dim in the tent, and so Will
turned his electric on the rather domestic scene.

"What are you men doing in there?" he demanded.

"Eating!" was the calm reply.

"I didn't know but you were getting a hair-cut," grinned Tommy.

"Where'd you come from?" asked George, as the boys all gathered in front
of the flap.

"Look here, kids," one of the men said easily, "we've been traveling two
days and two nights, and we're hungry and sleepy. Just let us fill up on
this chuck and we'll tell you all about it."

"We really ought to go to sleep!" the other intruder suggested. "But, as
you seem anxious to know why we're consuming your provisions, I'l