ter that's all you want in Flume Valley," declared
Babe. "There isn't a finer place t' raise cattle in all th' world than
there--if you have _water_!"

"And if you haven't--you might as well quit!" spoke Bud.

"You eliminated an earful that time," the assistant foreman stated.
"But I reckon it was just a little break, inside th' tunnel, an' it
filled itself up natural like. You won't have any more trouble."

"I hope not," spoke the boy rancher. "Are you going on back to Diamond
X, Babe?"

"Not until I find that bunch of strays from Square M. They're too
valuable t' let slip."

"Especially to let Hank Fisher, or Del Pinzo, slip them away,"
exclaimed Bud as he and his chums left the store where they had been
telephoning.

"Not so loud! Not so loud!" cautioned Babe.

"Why not?" Bud wanted to know, when they were outside.

"'Cause one of Hank's men was in there! He'll be sure t' tell what you
said, Bud."

"Let him! I'm not afraid of Hank, or his tool Del Pinzo, and I'd just
as soon either one would know what I think of 'em!"

"Don't be too brash; don't be too brash!" counseled Babe. "But they
sure are both bad actors--Del an' Hank!"

There was nothing more that needed to, or could, be done at the Pocut
River end of the flume, part natural, part artificial, which supplied
Bud's new ranch with such a vital necessity as water. The stream had
been dammed just above the intake pipe--not completely dammed, but
enough to provide the necessary head of water.

As Nort had said, had the stream been stopped purposely or by accident
inside the tunnel, the water would have backed up and run out around
the pipe, flowing into the river below the dam. But this had not
occurred.

"If it doesn't happen again we'll be all right," spoke Bud, as he rode
back with his cousins, making an easy pace along the trail that led
over Snake Mountain and down into Flume Valley. "But if the water
stops running again----"

"Let's go through the tunnel; it's the only way to be sure!"
interrupted Nort.

"I'm with you!" exclaimed Dick.

"It would seem to be the only way," agreed Bud. "Well, we'll hope this
is the end of my black-rabbit bad luck, and look for success, now that
you fellows are here. Cracky! But we'll have some good times, and
there'll be plenty of work, too!"

"How many cattle you got?" asked Nort.

"About five hundred," Bud answered. "Course you have a share with me,
that your dad bought, but we don't own