"Where have you been? What happened? Are you hurt?"
These were only a few questions fired at the escaped prisoners, and as they managed to tell their story there were ominous growls and comments from the cowboys with Bud.
"The scoundrels! Rustling our cattle!" cried Bud. "We'll fix 'em!"
"They're doing something else besides rustling your cattle," declared Nort. "Let's go back to Diamond X and organize a crowd to raid this camp! We haven't enough men here, and Dick and I haven't any guns," he added.
"All right," assented Bud, after a moment's thought. "We can do better in daylight, anyhow. Back to the ranch it is!"
And as the rescue squad turned to go back Nort and Dick rode with them, their thoughts busy with many topics.
CHAPTER XXIII
CLOSING IN
"Now let's have the whole yarn," urged Bud Merkel.
The rescue party of cowboys had returned to Diamond X ranch, after meeting Nort and Dick who were riding their saddleless horses on their way of escape from the mysterious camp.