sdom in buying Dot and Dash at a bargain would be
demonstrated.

So matters went along for a few weeks. Every one was busy, things
looked favorable for a good season and Bud and his cousins were getting
ready to laugh at themselves for thinking there was a jinx.

But one afternoon, when the three had ridden over to mend a broken
fence, and when they were returning home, as they passed the entrance
to what they still called Smugglers' Glen, Dick's horse suddenly
started, reared and then, after a fit of trembling, as though in fear,
made a mad dash across the range. An instant later the steeds of the
other boys did the same and three frightened horses were soon carrying
their puzzled riders over the hills.

CHAPTER XIV

BUD DISAPPEARS

Excellent riders as were the boy ranchers, it took them some little
time and effort to calm their ponies and bring the frightened animals
to an easy canter which gave Bud and his cousins a chance to consider
the matter.

"Whew!" exclaimed the ranchman's son as he eased up on the reins and
patted the neck of his mount. "That was some dash!"

"Not much _dot_ about it!" chuckled Nort.

"For a pun like that you ought to be forced to drink a bottle or two of
Tosh Elixer!" retorted Bud. "How about it, Dick?"

"I'm with you! That was rotten--not much _dot_--I suppose that's a
play on the word _doubt_--not much _dot_ about it--that _dash_! Oh,
somebody hold me!" and he shook his fist at his brother.

"I was thinking we'd soon need somebody to hold our horses," said Nort,
not a little pleased at his own joking words, however nonsensical his
two companions thought them. "What happened?"

"That's what I want to know," chimed in Bud. "All of a sudden my pinto
here started off as if there was a race."

"Same with me," went on Dick.

"Something must have frightened the ponies," said Nort.

"Yes, and we've got to find out what it was," declared Bud. "Come on
back." He wheeled his mount as he spoke.

"Maybe we can't get 'em back," suggested Dick.

"Well, at the place where they begin to balk we'll know the trouble
started," suggested the ranchman's son. "And we'll know we have to
look for the trouble right there."

"What do you reckon it could have been to make them bolt so suddenly?"
Dick wanted to know.

"Skunks, maybe," was the thought Nort offered.

"Not many skunks in this neighborhood, thank goodness," said Bud. "I
wouldn't say there aren't any, but I've nev