"Let's take it a bit easy," he said to Nort and Dick. "I guess we've got a long trail to follow."
"But we've got to get 'em!" declared Dick.
"You got rid of something that time!" commented his brother, meaningly, if slangily. "We're going to make 'em give back our cattle!"
"Say!" suddenly cried Bud. "That's the queer part of it! Where are the steers?"
And for the first time it occurred to the minds of the boy ranchers that of that quarry they had come most in search of they had had not a glimpse. Not a steer was in sight!
Something of the amazement they felt must have been depicted on their faces, for when Slim rode up to where the boy ranchers had halted he asked:
"What's the matter?"
"Where are the cattle?" asked Bud, shouting almost as loudly as Yellin' Kid would have done. "Did you notice they didn't have a one with them, Slim?"
"Yes. Are you just waking up to that, Bud?"
"I reckon I am. But what does it mean?"