nk's mean tricks,"
answered Dave.

"I think we ought to tax him with it," said Phil.

"He'd deny it point-blank if you did," returned the senator's son. "This
bit of halter is no proof against him. No, you'd only get into hot water
if you accused him without proofs."

"What Roger says is true," declared Dave. "We'll not say a word against
Link, or accuse him, until we have some good proof that he is guilty."

Taking the bit of halter with them, the three chums continued on their
way along the trail. They covered another quarter of a mile, but saw no
game excepting some birds on which they did not care to waste powder and
shot.

"We'll have to go back, I suppose," said Phil, with a sigh. "Gracious, I
wish we'd see a bear, or something!"

"How would an elephant and a few lions do?" quizzed Roger, with a grin.

"Or a couple of man-eating tigers," suggested Dave.

"I don't care! You can make fun if you want to, but I came out to this
ranch to have some hunting," said Phil, stubbornly. "I'm going to the
mountains and get something worth while some day."

"So are we all going, Phil," answered Dave, quickly. "I want to bring
down some big game just as much as you do."

"Sid Todd said he'd take us," said Roger. "We'll make him keep his
word."

They took a look around the locality where they were standing, and then
turned back to where they had left their horses. They were still some
distance from the animals when they heard one of the steeds give a
sudden snort of alarm. Looking through the trees, they saw Phil's horse
leap and plunge, and then the others did likewise, as if trying to break
from their halters.

"Something is wrong!" cried Dave. "Come on, before the horses break
away!"

"Something has scared them," put in Roger. "Keep your guns ready for a
shot. It may be a bear!"

"No such luck!" declared Phil. Nevertheless, he swung his shotgun into
position for firing, and his chums did likewise.

As the boys entered the opening where the horses were tied, Dave caught
sight of what was causing the disturbance. Out on the branch of a tree,
directly over the animals, was a chunky and powerful looking wildcat,
commonly called in that section of the country a bobcat. Its eyes were
gleaming wickedly, its teeth were exposed, and it acted as if ready to
leap at the throat of one of the horses.

"Look!" cried Dave, and then, as quickly as he could, he leveled his
shotgun, took aim, and fired. The report of the fi