CONTENTS

CHAPTER
I [A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE]
II [A NIGHT RIDE]
III [THE WARNING]
IV [A STRANGE REAPPEARANCE]
V [ANOTHER WARNING]
VI [TROUBLE AT SQUARE M]
VII [DOUBLING UP]
VIII [DRY AGAIN]
IX [A SHOT IN THE NIGHT]
X [INTO THE TUNNEL]
XI [THE RUSH OF WATERS]
XII [THE RISING FLOOD]
XIII [WHERE DID IT GO?]
XIV [A NIGHT ATTACK]
XV [THE BRANDING IRON]
XVI [QUEER ACTIONS]
XVII ["GERMS!"]
XVIII [ROPED!]
XIX [AN EXPEDITION IN THE DARK]
XX [INTO THE DEPTHS]
XXI [THE FIGURE ON THE ROCK]
XXII [THE WATER GATE]
XXIII [THE CONSPIRATORS]
XXIV [A POWERFUL STREAM]
XXV [HAPPY VALLEY]

THE BOY RANCHERS IN CAMP

CHAPTER I

A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE

"Look out there, Bud! Look out! There you go!"

"Side-stepping soap dishes! What's the idea? Whoa, there, Sock!"

The pinto pony reared, swerved sharply to one side as a black streak shot across the trail almost under his feet and then, when the animal came to a sudden stop, there shot over his head the boy who had given vent to the last exclamation.

Bud Merkel came down sprawling on all fours in a bunch of grass which served, in a great measure, to break the force of the catapult over his pony's head. And then, as the lad righted himself and limped over to catch his steed, he cried: