"What?"
"Chasing me! I found the water hole, too, and something else and this Delton dragged me for miles and locked me in a room. Then I got out and his gang followed me to the water hole, where I lost them."
"Hey, take it easy! Start from the beginning. Let's hear it, Bud."
Nort and Dick listened eagerly as Bud once again told the tale of his capture.
CHAPTER XVII
A NIGHT OF WAITING
"The old rascal!" Nort exclaimed after Bud had finished. "So that's what they were doing at the water hole? If we had known that we would have taken a chance and rushed them."
"Just as well you didn't," Bud declared. "Wouldn't have gained anything by it. And anyway, we don't want to upset their plans for to-morrow night. The Kid, here, thinks they'll go through with the idea."
"Don't be too sure," warned Dick. "It may never come off, since they know Bud overheard them planning."