"Goody!" exclaimed Violet.
"Will mother come, too?" asked Rose.
"No, indeed!" laughed Mrs. Bunker. "I don't know how to ride pony-back, and I'm not going to learn now. You children can go."
"That's what we'll do then," said Uncle Fred. "Daddy and I will take Rose and Vi and Laddie and Russ for a ride over the plain. We'll go and see if we can find where our spring water comes from, and why it shuts itself off in that queer way."
The children waved good-bye to the ponies, and went back to the house. On the broad, shady porch stood Captain Roy. He was waiting for Uncle Fred, and there was a worried look on the old soldier's face.
"What's the matter?" asked the ranchman of his partner.
"More bad news," was the answer. "One of the cowboys just rode in to tell me that some more of the cattle have been taken."
"I might have known it!" cried Uncle Fred. "When the spring goes dry other bad news is sure to come in!"