“It certainly looks that way!�
The two brothers examined the fake iron and the real one with care, and then Teddy turned to his brother.
“The question is—what is to be done?â€� he demanded.
“Well, what can we do? Seems like it’s raining harder than ever now. Even if we did cut for home and tell the gang what we’ve found, what good would it do? It’s a cinch those rustlers won’t come back when they know we’re watching this cabin.�
“But do they have to know that? Why can’t we get the bunch, sneak back, and lay for those horse and cattle thieves? They’ll return sooner or later, because their guns and stuff are here.�
Roy thought for a moment.
“It’s a chance,â€� he said finally. “Of course, they may come back while we’re gone and cart their things away. But we’ve got to risk that. The only thing is, if we stayed here ourselves we’d be sure to see them and maybe we could follow them to their hiding place where they keep the cattle. Then we’d have them cold—our horses too. That is, if this is the same bunch that stole Star and Flash and General.â€�
“Don’t you worry about that! There’s only one gang of rustlers about here, and they do all the jobs. And Froud is one of them, I’ll bet! So is Checkered Shirt.� Teddy tossed the branding iron into the corner. “But if we did stay here, and even if the rustlers did return, how do we know they’d lead us to their cache? And suppose they caught us and we got plugged? That whole gang would head for the border, pronto, and drive their stolen cattle before them. They’d take our broncs with them, most likely, and that’d be the end. Nope, Roy, we’d better get the rest of our fellows and try to capture the thieves when they come back here.�
Roy walked to the door, which had blown partly closed, and flung it open savagely.
“I sure hate to leave here!â€� he declared, his mouth pressed into a thin line. “This bunch has got our broncos, I know it! What I’d like to do would be to wait here till they showed up, then with these rifles, make ’em tell where the horses are. I’m getting sick and tired of this waiting business. Can’t tell what they’ve done to Star! If I find he’s been beaten—â€�