There was no answer save the echoes of his voice through the rambling building.
"Give 'em a call, Kid, you can make yourself heard," suggested Snake, and the yeller let out a ringing shout.
Still there was no reply and the silence was beginning to get on the nerves of the boys when Billee, who had been roaming around, came in with a queer look on his face.
"What's the matter?" asked Bud.
"There's a dead man outside in the yard," was the quiet answer of the veteran puncher.
CHAPTER VII
SAM TARBELL'S STORY
This news, so startling, coming as it did after the strange silence that seemed to wrap Dot and Dash in a pall, and following the talk that had been going on the last few days concerning the sinister aspect of the situation, was enough to startle any one. And the boy ranchers were no exception.
"A dead man?" gasped Bud.
"Who is he?" Nort wanted to know.