was talking! Can you?"

"No but--what's that?"

From the other side of the house came three shots in rapid succession.
Then someone yelled. The next moment Dick came splashing around to
where the Kid and Nort were waiting.

"They--they fooled us!" Dick panted. "Delton and three others got to
the car before we did and warned the smugglers! They all got away!"

"Delton!" the Kid exclaimed. "Why, we had him here----"

"Yes you did!" came a mocking voice. "You big cheese--all you had was
a good talk! So long!" There was the splashing noise of a horse
rapidly departing for parts unknown.

"Can--you--beat--that!" Nort ejaculated. "Fooled! Taken in like
suckers! While we stood here talking----"

"Yes, and while we're standing here talking now, the smugglers are
getting farther and farther away! Come on! We've got to chase them!"
Dick turned and made for the corral.

"Chase an auto on a horse?" the Kid yelled. "What's the sense of that?"

"They can't go fast in this wet--and we can spot them by the noise.
Hurry up!"

"But I ain't got no pony!" wailed the Kid. "Wish I had my bronc! What
am I supposed to do; stay here?"

"No--one of Delton's bunch lost his seat and we've got his animal--use
that. He got away in the auto. But for the love of Pete, hurry up!"

The rain had abated a little when the boys reached the corral. Billee
Dobb was waiting with the ponies untied and ready. It was but the work
of a moment to mount and lead the other horses over to where Hawkins
and Bud were standing.

"Where's my new bronc?" the Kid asked as he came up.

"Here--this do you?" Bud was holding a little black pony.

"Sure--as long as it's got legs!" The Kid swung himself upon the
horse's back. "Right! Let's go!"

"We've no time to lose, men!" Hawkins called out. "We messed that up
proper! This Delton is more clever than I thought he was."

All were mounted now and ready to take up the chase. The Kid was
letting his pony walk about, and the rest were awaiting Hawkins's word
to start.

The six riders set out into the night. Hawkins said the car had taken
a route at right angles and to the left of the road, and all went in
that direction. They pushed their ponies as fast as they dared over
the soaked prairie, hoping to catch sight of the car before they had
ridden too far. It was obvious that no auto could make great speed
over the rough surface of the plains, and to add to this rain must
certainly