He turned, as though to walk away from Henderson, but stopped. Two horses were coming down the street; two saddled horses, without riders, and one of the saddles had turned and was under the horse's belly, greatly impeding its progress.
"That is McKay's horse—that roan!" exclaimed Henderson, naming the trooper who had replaced Bud. "The other belongs to Cree George, McKay's packer. I wonder what has gone wrong."
They caught the horses and led them up to the front of the headquarters. Bud removed the saddles, while Henderson reported it to Grandon. An examination showed that neither horse had been injured.
"Broke loose and came back," was Grandon's comment.
"Which don't fit the case at all," declared Bud. "McKay always uses a tie-rope and so does the Injun."
Grandon looked curiously at Bud. "Are tie-ropes unbreakable?" he asked, a trifle vexed.
"No," Bud shook his head slowly, "but it ain't noways reasonable t' suppose that both of them horses would break loose in such a way as t' leave their ropes; and a tie-rope don't usually break in the neck-loop. Ain't neither horse got a rope nor a rope-burn. Nawsir, them two broncs were untied."
"What do you think, Henderson?" asked Grandon.
"I think that Conley is right, sir."
"Possibly. You will go at once to Kingsburg and try to get in communication with McKay, Henderson."