Many other remarks of like character were uttered as they were getting ready but the boys were already on their way back to the house. They found Jeb waiting for them and in a few minutes the boys came with horses.
"Spike's gone fer the others," Slats called out as he rode up.
"Then I reckon we'd better be on our way," Jeb said. "But," he added, "we'll take it easy first along."
"Fer why?" Slats asked indignantly.
"I suspect Hains or one of his men is watching from the hills to see if Royce is coming and we want to give him time to quit before we get over the rise," Jeb explained.
"But s'pose he don't quit?" Slats asked.
"Then he'll see us and, of course that'll make it harder but I don't see as we can help it. If we wait too long we'll likely lose him."
"We'll find him all right," Stubby shouted encouragingly.
"I hope so," Jeb returned soberly.
They started off at an easy lope and hardly a word was spoken until they reached the top of the rise.