"Changed their minds," said Archie with a grunt. "I thought they were on the wrong road."
He drove on again, and the conversation was resumed. But Billy seemed thoughtful. It was perhaps an hour later, when they were nearing the ranch, that Billy turned, as he had done several times before, to glance back. As he did so he uttered an exclamation.
"We're being followed!" he cried. "There's the same wagon again!"
CHAPTER XVII
AT THE RANCH
"Followed!" exclaimed Archie Lynch, after the pause that greeted Billy's announcement. "What do you mean? Who would want to follow us?"
"I don't know," replied Billy frankly. "Certainly it can't be Shackmiller, for he's in the hospital. But that's the same wagon we saw a while ago, and we thought it had turned back. Those fellows are certainly following us."
There was no doubt about it, as all four of them could see a little later, for, as the vehicle in the rear topped a rise, it could be noted advancing slowly along the private road that led to the ranch.
"They don't seem to want to catch up to us," observed Andy.
"Maybe they're afraid we'll ask them some questions they don't want to answer," suggested Frank.