Of course, they might have been kept there for a little while, and then concealed, either further up the side of the mountain or among the low foothills. But searches in these places had failed to give any clue.
“The cattle come into this gulch,” was Jerry’s decision, “and we’ve got to find out how they are taken out without being seen.”
The boys searched the rocky sides of the gulch thoroughly. They even climbed part way up, but all to no purpose. When Jerry and Ned met with Bob in the angle, and began to eat, they were no nearer a solution of the mystery than at first.
“Well, I know one thing I’m going to do!” exclaimed Jerry, vigorously, as he washed down the last of his sandwich with a drink of water.
“What’s that?” queried Ned.
“I’m going up on top and look down. That’s getting a different viewpoint, and that’s a whole lot, sometimes. Me for the top of the mountain.”
“Well, maybe that wouldn’t be a bad idea,” conceded Ned. “Go to it!”
“But not to-day,” objected Bob. “I’m about tuckered out.”
“You’re getting too fat!” laughed Jerry. “But I’m in no hurry about it to-day. To-morrow or day after will do as well. And I have an idea we’ll discover something.”
“It’s going to be a climb,” observed Bob, dubiously, as they rode out of the gulch on their homeward way and looked up at the steep sides of the mountain. Then they started for the house.