s darkness
settled down a fire was started, and huddled in their blankets the boy
ranchers prepared to make the best of it.

The silence of the night hung close over the four blanketed figures.
The firelight threw weird shadows about them, but above the stars shone
calmly on, quietly reassuring. A light breeze rustled softly through
the mesquite bushes. Now and then a coyote yowled in the distance.

Suddenly Bud jerked upright. He nudged Dick, who was lying beside him.

"Dick!" he whispered, so as not to disturb the others, "do you hear
anything?"

"Eh? What? What's that? You speak to me?" Dick muttered sleepily.

"Listen! Can't you hear a noise like a horse walking?"

Dick sat up, now wide awake.

"Say, I believe I do! Wait a minute--" and he tossed some wood on the
fire--"let's have a look!"

"Kid?" Bud called hopefully.

The approaching pony gave a sudden leap forward.

"Yea boy!" yelled its rider. "Home again!"

"It is the Kid!" Dick cried exultingly.

"Nort! Billee! The Kid's back!"

In a moment Yellin' Kid was surrounded by the four who shot questions
at him as fast as they could talk.

"Where in the name of the spread eagle have you been?"

"What happened?"

"Did you get lost?"

"Are you all right?"

"Hey, hey! Not so fast! Gimme time! Wait 'til I get down off this
here pony. Oh, baby--that feels good." And the Kid stretched long and
high. "What a ride! Say--got anything to eat?"

"Sure! Sink your teeth in this," Billee said, handing him a cold beef
sandwich from his kit. "And here's some water. Are you all right,
Kid?"

"Me? Sure! Except tired and hungry. Been ridin' most of the day an'
night. S'pose you-all would like to know what it's all about, hey?"

"Well, if you haven't anything to do at present, you might let us in on
the secret. We looked all over Texas for you," Dick said, grinning,
happy now, that their lost comrade had returned.

"Just a second while I put this little paint pony of mine over with the
others. Old boy--you sure had some journey to-day!" and the Kid rubbed
the horse's nose. "Stood up well, too. To-morrow I'll give you a big
feed--what you need now is rest--like me. Well, boys, guess I'll turn
in."

"You'll what?"

"You will not--not until we hear what happened!"

"He'll turn in--well for the love of Pete!"

"All right boys--all right!" the Kid laughed. "Seems you want to hear
something about my trip, hey? Well, to start f