“We’ll be gettin’ on,� Mr. Manley said. He had heard Nick say he had not seen “checkered shirt,� as Roy called the puncher, and he knew there would be no use in delaying further. They could get no information in Eagles.
The six swung down the main street and out of the town. They were riding directly away from the X Bar X and into a valley separating Bitter Cliff Mountain from its neighbor, Mica Mountain. Here the road lost its travel-worn appearance and dwindled into an uphill trail. Up this trail the six men rode.
Teddy and Roy were in the rear of the riders, about two hundred yards from the rest.
The trail turned now, and in a moment those ahead were out of sight of the two boys.
“Come on, let’s get along,� Roy said. “Dad’s hitting a good gait, all right.�
Touching spurs to the ponies, Roy and Teddy galloped forward. They came to a fork in the trail, and here halted for a moment.
“This way,� Teddy advised, with a gesture. “That other’s only a little path. I rode over it just the other day.�
Roy did not reply. He pulled his horse to a halt and stared up the left trail. Seeing him stop, his brother did likewise.
“What’s the matter, Roy?� Teddy asked in a puzzled tone.
“Ahead there!� Roy exclaimed in a tense voice. “Those horses! See them?�