as bland and smiling
as ever, on this remote ranch in the Rocky Mountains. The world was only
a small place, after all.

For a long time after he had trotted away again to his duties in the
kitchen they sat discussing the exciting events that his reappearance had
brought back to their minds. Then, at last, Melton arose and shook the
ashes from his pipe.

"I reckon you youngsters are about ready to turn in," he said. "You've
had a long ride and it's getting pretty late. We'll have plenty of time
to chin before the summer's over. For I give you fair warning," he added
with his genial smile, "I've got you roped now and I ain't going to let
you go in a hurry."

He took them up to their rooms, cool, spacious and provided with every
comfort. There with a cordial good-night he left them.

Their windows faced toward the north and commanded a magnificent view of
the mountains. Tall, solemn, majestic, they towered upward in wild and
rugged beauty. The moon had risen and the distant peaks were flooded with
light. It was a scene to delight the soul of an artist and the boys
lingered under the spell.

"Just such a night as when we crouched in the shadow of that big rock in
the Mexican forest," murmured Bert. "Do you remember, Tom?"

"Yes," answered Tom; "but I don't think the moon will ever again see us
in such a desperate fix as we were in that night."

Which showed that Tom had not the gift of prophecy.

CHAPTER III

"Busting" a Broncho

The boys slept that night the dreamless sleep of wholesome fatigue and
perfect health, and awoke the next morning as fresh as daisies. Life is
astir early on a ranch, and the day's work had fairly begun when they
came down to breakfast. The smell of hot coffee and frying bacon had
whetted their appetites, and they needed no urging from their hosts to do
full justice to the ample meal that awaited them. Then they hurried
outdoors to make acquaintance with this new life that they had looked
forward to so impatiently.

It was a glorious morning. There was not a cloud in the sky and a light
breeze tempered the heat of the sun. At that high level it was seldom
sultry, and the contrast to the heat of the sun-baked plains below was
refreshing. It amply justified, in the boys' opinion, Mr. Melton's wisdom
in the choice of this airy plateau as a location for his home.

The mountains hemmed them in on the north, but on the west and east and
south stretched grassy plains and rolling s