[Chapter XIII—An Overlander Is Missing]
Hippy at last regains consciousness. Lieutenant Wingate relates the story of the attack on the ranch-house. Cowboys howl when they hear the news. Stacy Brown mysteriously disappears. “The prisoners have got away!”
Malcolm Hornby refuses Joe Bindloss’s request. “Pap’s got an awful grouch today.” Jim fails to follow Chunky’s trail. The search is given up for the night. Judy acts strangely. “Something has happened to Jim!” Sam Conifer meets disaster.
[Chapter XV—Clews That Were Loaded]
The old guide finds the trail and a bullet finds him. Stacy and Jim are among the missing. Two-gun Pete makes a strange discovery. The mystery of the carrier pigeons. Birds for a pie. “Wal, I’ll be shot!” exclaims Joe Bindloss.
[Chapter XVI—The Carrier Pigeons’ Flight]
Chunky writes a letter for the Rustlers. “This suspense is killing me!” cries Emma. High ransom is demanded for the fat boy. How to follow the trail of a bird. The “dove of peace” is liberated. “I’ve got it!” shouts Sam Conifer.
[Chapter XVII—Stacy Decides to Leave]
How the Overland boy was captured. Mountain ruffians make desperate plans. Money that came down from the skies. “Put up yer hands, young feller!” The fat boy in the toils. Stacy Brown finds himself under arrest as a horse thief.