d," voiced
Yellin' Kid as he rode off with Nort, Dick and Billee, "they had better
make their wills. I'm after 'em, boy, I'm tellin' you!" and he shouted
this information to the silent night.

So they rode forth into the blackness. The Shannon brothers, with
Yellin' Kid and Old Billee Dobb, made up one party. Snake Purdee with
Sam Tarbell headed another, and the various new cow punchers, including
one or two who had recently been sent by Mr. Merkel from Diamond X,
took up such trail as there was.

At best it was only a series of faint clews that led toward Bud. It
was known in what direction he had started that morning, and the
finding of his horse near the original herd, and not far from the
Smugglers' Glen, gave color to the theory that he had carried out his
intention of getting information about the cattle he wanted to ship
away. That was as far as clews went.

What had happened to the young man, how he came off his horse, how the
pony's bridle was missing--all these were points to be cleared up by
the searchers. And it was not easy in the night.

"We can't do much till morning," said Billee Dobb when he and his
companions had circled around the wondering cattle of the original
herd, without getting any nearer to the solution of the mystery.
"Something's happened to Bud to put him out of business."

"Out of business!" exclaimed Nort. "Do you mean----"

"I mean only temporary!" Billee made haste to add. "Bud's in some sort
of condition where he can't come back to us or send word. I don't
really think anything could have happened to him--I mean anything
serious."

"I hope not," murmured Dick, while Nort echoed the wish.

However, as the hours of the night passed, and searching as best they
could by the glimmer of flashlights, stopping to shout Bud's name now
and then, they did not find the missing young rancher.

"It's getting daylight," remarked Yellin' Kid in lower tones than he
was wont to use. Perhaps the strange hush which always precedes the
dawn, or perhaps the sorrow that pervaded all hearts on account of
Bud's absence had an influence on Kid and he was more solemn.

"Yes, soon be time to eat," agreed Old Billee. "We'll have to go back,
though. Didn't bring no grub with us."

This was true enough. When the search started no one thought it would
last very long. There was no idea that the searchers would be out all
night. Yet such was the case.

"Yes, we'll have to go back and then