The boy ranchers watched the approach of the solitary horseman, and, as he drew nearer Bud exclaimed:
"It's Buck Tooth!"
It was, in fact, that same Zuni Indian, who had been engaged as a sort of camp cook and ranch hand by Bud's father, later being transferred to Bud's service. Buck Tooth was devoted to the boy ranchers.
"What's matter, Buck! What for you ride so pronto fashion!" asked Bud as the Indian, a superb horseman, drew rein close to the boy ranchers. "You race, maybe, Buck Tooth!"
"Yep—race tell you bad news!" half-grunted the Zuni.
"Bad news!" faltered Bud. "Is it my mother—dad—-"
"Them all well," said Buck Tooth. "But got bad news all same. You see anybody out here?" and he slipped from his saddle to rest his almost winded steed.
CHAPTER IV
THE SCRATCHED SAFE
Eagerly the boy ranchers gathered about Buck Tooth. The Indian, as if rather ashamed of the hurry and emotion that had possessed him, grew quieter as he threw the reins down over his pony's head, as an intimation to the animal not to stray. Then the Zuni turned toward Bud and his cousins.