Suddenly he stopped, pulling the reins taut. Above him, outlined against the eastern sky, was the figure of a man on horseback. As he rode closer, a red beam from the setting sun shot through the trees and illuminated his face like a spotlight. Teddy gave a yell.
“Nick! Nick Looker! Yo-o-o, Nick! How do I get out of here? Where’s Roy? Hey-y-y, Nick!”
CHAPTER III
The Slouching Rider
Nick Looker’s answer winged down on the evening breeze.
“Yo-o, Ted! What you say-y-y? Where you been?”
“How do I get out of here?”
“South! Keep south! Straight out from the gully! Then bear west! I’ll meet you!”
With a throb of sudden hope in his heart that Nick had found Roy, Teddy turned Flash about and rode rapidly in the direction Nick had indicated.
While the boy is hurrying to meet the young puncher on the trail above him, a few moments will be taken to tell something of Roy and Teddy Manley of the X Bar X Ranch.