"Yes, don't worry, Professor," calmed the rancher. "He has probably strayed off by himself and is unable to find his way back. Luke will round him up in short order. Finish your breakfast, everybody, then we will see that the young man is brought back. Funny he should have gotten away without any one's having noticed it."
"He's always getting himself into trouble," declared Ned.
"I thought I was the only one that did that," retorted Tad, with an attempt at gayety.
"That's different. I know what I'm talking about. Something is sure to happen to that boy before we are ready to go back home."
"Begins to look as if something had already happened," said Walter.
A wild yell startled the sheepmen at the table. It seemed to come from some distance away.
Everybody started up, some reaching for their guns.
"We are attacked!" cried one.
"No, but we're going to be!" shouted another. "There comes one of the boys on a pony giving the alarm."
"Get ready, everybody!"