aul, with a trace of grim humor he did not really feel. "But I, too,
wish I had a horse and could go along."

"Still, somebody ought to stay on the ranch," went on Chet, "we might
have more unprofitable visitors."

"It's not likely that the gang will dare to show themselves in this
vicinity again in a hurry. Like as not they'll steer for Deadwood, sell
the horses, and then spend their ill-gotten gains around the gambling
saloons. That is their usual style. They can't content themselves in the
mountains or on the plains as long as they have the dust in their
pockets."

After Allen had disappeared the two boys locked up the barn as well as
was possible, using a wooden pin in lieu of the padlock that had been
forced asunder, and then went back to the house. Chet brought in the
string of fish and threw them in a big tin basin.

"I suppose I might as well fry a couple of these," he observed; "though,
to tell the truth, I am not a bit hungry."

"I, too, have lost my appetite," replied Paul. "But we must eat, and
dinner will help pass away the time. I reckon there is no telling when
Allen will be back."

"No. I don't care much, if he only keeps from getting into serious
trouble."

In the meantime Allen had passed down the trail until the buildings of
the ranch were left far behind. He knew the way well, and had no
difficulty in finding the tracks--new ones--made by the hoofs of four
horses.

"As long as they remain as fresh as they are now it will be easy enough
to follow them," was the mental conclusion which he reached, as he urged
forward his tired mare in a way that showed his fondness for the animal
and his disinclination to make her do more than could fairly be
expected.

The belt of cottonwood was soon passed, and Allen emerged upon the bank
of a small brook which flowed into the river at a point nearly half a
mile further on.

He examined the wet bank of the brook minutely and came to the
conclusion that here the horse thieves had stopped the animals for a
drink.

"I imagine they came a long distance to get here," he thought, "and that
means they will go a long way before they settle down for the night.
Heigh-ho! I have a long and difficult search before me."

The brook had been forded, and Allen crossed over likewise, and five
minutes later reached a bit of rolling land dotted here and there with
sage and other brush.

Allen wondered if the trail would lead to Gold Fork, as the little
mining town at