wagon, at the same time making motions as if he, too,
were cheering.

The boys roared with laughter.

Big-foot Sanders grunted and turned his back on the grinning face of
Pong.

"One of these days I sure will forget that heathen's the cook," he
growled.

CHAPTER XII

UNDER A STRANGE INFLUENCE

"We will move to-morrow shortly after daybreak," announced the foreman
at supper that night.

"Will you put me on the fourth guard this evening, Mr. Stallings?" asked
Tad Butler.

"You take the fourth guard? A cowpuncher who hasn't had a wink in more
than two days? Why, I wouldn't ask a steer to do that! No kid, you roll
up in your blankets and sleep until the cook routs you out for
breakfast."

"I'll take my trick just the same. I can sleep at home when I get back.
I don't want to miss a minute of this fun," returned Tad.

"Fun--he calls it fun!" grunted Lumpy.

"It's just the beginning of the fun," answered Big-foot. "I knew things
would begin to happen when we got near the Nueces."

"Why?" asked Ned Rector.

"I don't know. There seems to be some queer influence at work round
these parts. Last time I was over this part of the trail we had a
stampede almost every night for a week. Two months ago I heard of an
outfit that lost more'n half its stock."

"How about it, Mr. Stallings?" laughed Tad. "Are you superstitious,
too?"

The boys noted that the foreman frowned and would not answer at once.

"Not exactly. Big-foot means the adobe church of San Miguel."

"What's that?" interrupted Chunky.

"An old Mexican church on the plains. Probably hasn't been used for a
hundred years or more. You boys will have a chance to explore the place.
It's not far from the Ox Bow ranch, where we take in another herd. We
shall be there a couple of days or so until the cattle get acquainted.
Besides, we shall have to buy some fresh ponies. Four of ours broke
their legs in the stampede and had to be shot."

"Oh, that's too bad," answered Tad. "I'm sorry. I don't like to see a
horse get hurt."

"No more do I, Master Tad. But in this business it is bound to happen. I
think we shall be able to get some green bronchos. They usually have a
bunch of them at the Ox Bow ranch. You will see some fun when we break
them in," laughed the foreman.

"I think I should like to take a hand in that myself. But I am anxious
to hear more about the haunted church."

"Who said anything about a haunted church?" demanded Stacy Brown.

"