' I reckons the
X-bar-X must 'a suffered; or it might be the Arrowhead, over on the
creek, was the one. But if so be Pedro Mendoza has been usin' that
canyon to cross over the range with his stolen cattle an' horses, he'll
hev to go further away now to do the same, 'cause his road's a rushin'
river."

"We sure have had a great time of it," declared Bob, as they came in
sight of the buildings of the ranch, and heard the loud calls of the
cowboys who were driving some of the stock in from the range, to get it
ready for shipment later.

"Yes, and think what we found out," Frank pursued. "First of all the
mystery of Thunder Mountain is known, and from this time on those
roaring sounds will never again be heard."

"And the Indians will be wondering why the Great Spirit is angry with
his red children, so that he refuses to speak to them," Bob continued.

"And then there is that little affair about Lopez," Frank remarked,
smiling at the recollection. "We have learned who Lopez is, and what
his grandfather, Lemuel Smith, was doing in that cave. Think of Peg
and his two guides getting out of the region without finding out a
thing!"

"Say won't they be just as mad as hops, though, when they learn about
what we saw and heard," chuckled Bob. "It's been a great time, all
right. And Frank, we'll never again have anything like the fun we had
in that old _barranca_. It makes my blood just jump through my veins
to think of it."

"You're right," said Frank, "I don't believe we ever will!"

But like many other persons who cannot look ahead even one hour, and
know what the future holds for them, both the saddle boys were very
much mistaken. There were plenty of stirring adventures awaiting them
ere many weeks had passed, some of which will be related in the next
volume of this series, called "The Saddle Boys in the Grand Canyon; Or,
The Hermit of the Cave." And those of our boy friends who have found
more or less interest in the present story of life in the far
Southwest, will doubtless be glad to read more of the doings of Frank
Haywood and his brave Kentucky chum, Bob Archer.

That Peg and his guides reached home safely Frank knew shortly, when he
happened to meet the bully on the trail. Peg was eager to hear at
first hand all that had happened, and made friendly overtures with that
design in view; but this did not deceive Frank in the least. He
realized that Peg was more bitter than ever, and believed that if the
o