"But here are four stout boys, ready to do their level best to upset the plans of these cattle thieves, if given half a chance, ma'm. Now, in this message, it is promised that if the conditions look favorable, another line will be sent, the same way as this was. And as we came up we saw a pigeon flying into the west, so we take it for granted that has been done, and the rustler crowd will get busy between now and sun-up." "The herds are all out on the range, unfortunately, and it is too late now to get them in," the lady went on to say, dejectedly. "Oh! how unfortunate that you did not arrive a few hours ago, when my husband would have been here to take charge of things, for we have no foreman, you know." "It may not be too late, even now, to get the herds rounded up and brought in to the corral where the boys can guard them," Ned told her. She looked at him admiringly, doubtless impressed, as many others had been before then, with his manly bearing and the resolute look on his face. "I really believe that if any one could manage it, you could, my son!" she said, with a simplicity and ardor that caused the warm glow to spread over Ned's face. "With what assistance you might give us, Mrs. Haines, we believe we can save the cattle from this threatened raid," he continued, calmly. "And first of all it is of the utmost importance that we learn just who these other four punchers may be who are hand in glove with Ally Sloper--the man who has sent the pigeon messenger." "Oh! so he is the one?" she cried, "and I never could bear the sight of his face, because of the cast in that evil eye of his. But Job always laughed at me, and said Ally Sloper was one of the best men he had on the place. What do you want me to do, for you said I could help you win out?" "First of all, in the absence of your husband and Harry's other uncle," began the scout master, just for all the world, Jimmy thought, like a great general, such as Napoleon or Grant, laying out his campaign, "it seems as if the men would take orders from you. Am I right there? "Yes, it has happened a few times, but I would not have known a thing about what to do, only for Chunky's advice," she told him. "Oh! you can rely on Chunky then, can you?" asked Ned, quickly, for that was one of the points he wanted settled, because a great deal depended on it. "Always. My husband would trust him with his life. If ever we do have a foreman at the Double Cross, Chunky will be the one." "I'm glad to hear that, because I rode in behind him, and somehow I fancied he would be the one to confide in. Please send out for him as soon as you can, ma'm, because we have little time to waste. I hope to learn from Chunky just who the other four traitors are, for he will have noticed how this Ally Sloper picks out his friends. Birds of a feather flock together, you know; and these fellows would feel safer if they kept in constant touch with each other."