"He'd probably smell a mouse, but he isn't apt to notice it. He'll just turn his horse in and hit the hay as soon as he can. Anyhow, that's a chance we've got to take. We probably couldn't beat him to it now even if we tried."
"You're right, of course, but I'll be nervous till I know he doesn't know that we know what we know."
"Two bad you couldn't get a few more knows in that last statement," Bob laughed.
They waited a few minutes longer and then mounted the horses and started at a slow trot for the ranch. The first hint of the coming dawn was showing in the eastern sky as they stole swiftly into the house after turning the horses into the corral.
"I'm not sure the game was worth the candle," Jack declared as he tumbled info bed.
"Time will tell," Bob replied sleepily from beneath the covers.
CHAPTER XI.
SKEETS STAGES A FARCE.
Although it had been after three o'clock when they got to bed the boys were up before seven. In the first place, they were anxious that Jeb should know the little they had learned and then they feared that, should they sleep later than usual, Los might know of it and be suspicious. Jeb was eating breakfast alone as they came from their room.
"Well?" he asked as they took their seats.