The X Bar X Boys on the Ranch
| CONTENTS | |
| I | [The Road to Eagles] |
| II | [A Disheartening Loss] |
| III | [A Puncher in a Checked Shirt] |
| IV | [A Clue] |
| V | [Rimor’s Place] |
| VI | [The Three Horsemen] |
| VII | [Rattlers] |
| VIII | [The Fall] |
| IX | [Facing a Mountain Lion] |
| X | [Searching] |
| XI | [The Return] |
| XII | [Visitors] |
| XIII | [Norine Entertains] |
| XIV | [Gus Comes Home] |
| XV | [Planning a Dance] |
| XVI | [Bug Eye’s Arrival] |
| XVII | [Pursuit] |
| XVIII | [The Man With the Scar] |
| XIX | [Escape] |
| XX | [The Decision] |
| XXI | [News From the 8 X 8] |
| XXII | [The Storm] |
| XXIII | [Discovery] |
| XXIV | [Brand] |
| XXV | [The Round-Up] |
THE X BAR X BOYS ON THE RANCH
CHAPTER I
THE ROAD TO EAGLES
Two boys loped along the winding, dusty road on the way to Eagles. One of them, astride a white-faced mustang, was leading a third horse, a bay, which, though riderless, was saddled and bridled. The day was hot; the road steep and tortuous; and the riderless horse, with head held low, was doing his best to retard the procession.
Taking a firmer hold of the leading rein, the boy gave it a jerk forward.
“Come up here, General!â€� he cried. “Where do you think you’re going—to a funeral? Pretty near train time and we still have a good stretch ahead of us!â€�
His companion, a slightly older youth, riding a brown pony, turned in his saddle.
“Is he holding back on you, Teddy? Those Spanish bridles make awfully poor leading. I think he’s got a sore mouth. And, if he has, dad’ll find it out quick!�
“Boy, don’t I know it! Why,� Teddy Manley added with a chuckling laugh, “I bet dad could tell if General didn’t sleep well the night before. He sure is crazy over this horse!�
“I’ll tell a maverick he is!� cried Roy Manley. “Last thing he told me before he left was to be sure to bring General in to meet him. But as far as liking goes, you don’t exactly hate that Flash of yours, I notice.�