boy turned to Will with an interrogation point in both eyes.
Will saw the question and answered it.

"Shortly after midnight," he said, "a boy who gave the name of Chester
Winslow, his age as fourteen, his rank as Tenderfoot, came here and told
a hard luck story about tramping from Chicago. I gave him something to
eat and put him to bed with Mr. Katz."

"Then the fellow is a little thief! That's all I've got to say about
it!" exclaimed Katz, not quite so aggressive, now that he saw that the
boys were inclined to resent insults, and remembering that he had no
revolver with which to enforce his demands!

Shortly after breakfast the figures of four burros, heavily laden, and
two men appeared at the south, heading directly for the camp.

"There's my associate bringing in the burros and the provisions!" Katz
shouted.

"And there's our messenger!" whispered Tommy to Will.

CHAPTER III

THE CASE IS STATED

"It may be that your messenger has come in with my associate," Katz
blustered, as the little caravan came nearer to the camp, "but if I'm
not very much mistaken, both men are here to assist me!"

"You must need a lot of assistance!" Tommy said, with a wrinkling of his
freckled nose. "You look the part, too!"

"Now see here, young man," exclaimed Katz, angrily. "I don't want any
lip from you boys. I've been robbed in this camp, and as soon as my men
come up I'm going to know whether my property is here or not!"

"If you try any funny business with us," Sandy cut in, "you'll get your
block knocked off!"

"We'll see about that when my men come up!" retorted Katz, defiantly.
"I'm not going to submit to being held up by four boys who ought to be
spanked and put to bed instead of being permitted to roam about the
mountains robbing unwary travellers."

Tommy was about to make an angry reply, but Will motioned for him to
remain silent. No more was said until the two men came up with their
heavily-loaded burros. Katz was first to address the newcomers.

"Well, Cullen," he said, extending a hand to a short, heavily-built man
with a dissipated-looking face, "I'm glad you came in on time. I am also
glad that you brought a man in with you, and plenty of provisions," he
added with a look of challenge at the boys.

"Why," replied Cullen, "I don't know anything about this fellow with me.
He came out of Green River with his two burros just ahead of me, and so
we decided to travel together. I should judge from what