"We sure will!" cried the crowd as one man.

"Let Billee be the leader," suggested Bud.

And in a few minutes the avengers had formed a sort of plan of battle
or attack which, they hoped, would solve some of the mystery of Death
Valley.

CHAPTER XVIII

DRIVEN BACK

Bud was to go back to the ranch with some of the cowboys and remain
there while the main body of punchers moved up into the glen to
capture, if possible, the mysterious men with their more mysterious
tank of strange gas. And, after a second consideration of the affair
in hand, it was decided that it would be best if the main body of
avengers could have one of Fah Moo's hot breakfasts before starting in
on what might be a strenuous day's work.

"But if we all go in," objected Nort when this plan was outlined,
"those fellows up in the glen may escape, if they haven't already
skipped away to stay."

"I've thought of that," stated Old Billee who was sort of
commander-in-chief. "We'll send some scouts up to watch and see what
happens. Who'll volunteer?"

There was no lack on this score, for though the men were all tired from
the night's vigil, on edge from lack of sleep and hungry into the
bargain, Billee had three times as many as he needed for scouts.

Cow-punchers are "he-men," and little things like loss of sleep and
delay in getting breakfast do not bother them. It was arranged that
when the main body returned, after a session with the Chinese cook,
they would bring a "snack" for the scout volunteers.

"And some hot coffee in thermos bottles," added Bud, who knew how that
would be appreciated. "We have some thermos bottles at the ranch. I
only hope I'll feel able to come back and help fight."

"Do you think there'll be a fight?" asked Yellin' Kid, eagerly.

"It's likely," said Billee.

"Whoop-ee!" roared the loud-voiced one and his joyous sentiment was
echoed on all sides. Bud looked a little glum that he could not be "in
on the fun," as he called it later. But he was more done up than he
imagined, for he had gone through a strenuous time, though he had not
actually been mistreated.

So while some of the cowboys more recently engaged were sent into the
glen as scouts, the main body, with Bud riding on a spare horse which
had been brought along for just such an eventuality, went back to the
ranch.

There things soon began to "hum," as Nort and Dick expressed it. They
had had experience before with desperate and unscrupulous