he Professor anxiously.

"I don't know. I hope I do," answered the foreman, leaping into his
saddle and putting spurs to his mount. "It may be some other herd
crossing the state," he muttered, keeping his eyes fixed on the speck
that was slowly developing into a miniature cloud.

The foreman urged his pony to its best pace, and, in the course of half
an hour he was able to make out a herd of cattle. That was all he could
tell about it. However, it was not long before he discovered a lone
horseman working up and down the herd.

Stallings was in too great a hurry to use his glasses now. He was
driving his pony straight at the yellow mark off there on the plain,
without swerving or appearing to exert any pressure at all on the bridle
rein.

"It's the Pinto, as I'm alive!" he breathed.

The horseman with the herd saw him now, and rising in his saddle, waved
a hand at the foreman.

In a few moments Stallings came rushing up with a shout of joy.

[Illustration: Good for You, Kid!]

"Good for you, kid! How are you?"

"Baked to a turn," answered Tad hoarsely, but with face lighting up
joyously. "I never was so thirsty in my life."

"What? Haven't you had anything to drink?"

"Not a drop in two days."

"Great heavens, boy! You head that pony for camp mighty quick. Ride for
it! You will have no difficulty in following my trail back. Don't drink
much at a time. Take it in little sips," commanded the foreman in short,
jerky sentences.

"Yes, but what about the herd?" asked Tad Butler.

"Never you mind the herd. I'll see to them. You move!"

Stallings noticed that the boy sat in his saddle very straight, and he
knew well enough the effort it cost him to do so.

"I think I'll stay," answered the lad after a moment of indecision.

"You'll go!"

Tad shook his head.

"I've pulled them through, even if I have had quite a time of it. Now
I'm going to stay with them. I guess I can stand it as well as any of
your men could under similar circumstances. They wouldn't desert the
herd, would they?"

Stallings glanced at him sharply.

"All right," he said. "If you insist upon it. By good rights I ought to
order you in. But I understand just how you feel, kid. Here, take a
drink of this brandy. It will brace you up," said the foreman, producing
a flask from his pocket. "I keep it for emergencies, as the men are not
allowed to use it while on duty."

"Thank you," answered the boy, with an emphatic shake of the head. "I