CHAPTER XXVI
THE CATTLE STAMPEDE
“Four more horses gone!” cried Songbird Powell in consternation. “When did this happen, Jackson?”
“Less than half an hour ago, over on the three-tree range,” returned the foreman.
“And what makes you certain that they were stolen this time?”
“Because the horses had been left all properly tethered. Billy Brown and his crowd had ’em, and I know Billy is a very careful man. He’s positive they couldn’t have broken away.”
“This is certainly getting to be a serious matter,” declared Sam Rover. “Songbird, if these last four horses were stolen, it’s more than probable that the first four went the same way.”
“Any clue to the thief or thieves?” asked Tom Rover.
“The boys looked around and picked up a quirt that they say don’t belong to our outfit. But it’s a very ordinary quirt and might belong to almost anybody. Of course, they found a good many hoof marks, but they were so mixed up with the marks from the other horses they couldn’t tell one from the other.”
“I’ll ride over to the place with you and investigate,” returned Songbird Powell after a moment’s thought. “Perhaps we can get on the trail of the thieves.”