Paul and Chet gave a groan. Something like a lump arose in the throat of
the younger youth, but he cleared it away with a cough.

"The mean, contemptible scoundrels!" burst out Paul. "We must get after
them somehow!"

"I'll go after them," replied Allen, with swift determination. "Give me
my rifle. I already have my pistol."

"You are not going alone, are you?" demanded Paul.

"I'll have to. There is only my mare to be had."

"It's foolhardy, Allen," urged Chet. "What could one fellow do against
two or more? They would knock you over at the first chance."

"I won't give them the first chance," grimly replied Allen, as he ran
for his rifle. "As they used to say when father was young, I'll shoot
first and talk afterward."

"Can't two of us ride on the mare?" asked Paul. "I am not so very
heavy."

The older brother shook his head.

"It can't be done, Paul; not with her all tired out after her morning's
jaunt. No, I'll go alone. Perhaps the trail will lead past some other
ranch and then I'll call on the neighbors for help."

"Can you follow the trail?"

"I reckon I can; leastwise I can try. I won't lose it unless they take
to the rocks and leave the river entirely, and it ain't likely they'll
do that."

Chet and Paul shook their heads. To them it seemed dangerous, and so it
was. But it was no use arguing with Allen when he had once made up his
mind, so they let him have his own way.

Three minutes later Allen was off on the trail of the horse thieves.

CHAPTER II.

Allen on the Trail

Although Allen Winthrop was but a young man in years, yet the fact that
he had had the care of the family on his shoulders since the death of
his parents had tended to make him older in experience and give him the
courage to face whatever arose before him in the path of duty.

He was four years older than Chet and two years the senior of Paul, and
the others had always looked upon him as a guiding spirit in all
undertakings.

Consequently but little was said by way of opposition when Allen
determined to go after the thieves alone, but nevertheless the hearts of
both the younger brothers were filled with anxiety when they saw Allen
disappear on the back of his mare up the trail that led to the
southwest.

"It's too bad that we can't accompany him," was the way Chet expressed
himself. "I'd give all I possess for a good horse just now."

"All you possess isn't much, seeing we've all been cleaned out," replied
P