It was no easy matter to get him astride his horse, but Dave finally managed it, and wrapped the swollen ankle in his own coat to prevent its striking against the side of Kurd as they rode off. "How did you come to fall?" asked Dave, as he got into his own saddle, ready for the trip to the ranch. "I'll explain later. I can't talk very well now. But I was prospecting around, looking at the rock formation, when I slipped. I thought it was all up with me, but my foot caught, and I was held suspended over the gully." "I see," Dave replied. "Well, we'll doctor you up." Carefully they made their way out of the rocky woodland, and started across the plain, toward Bar U ranch. As Dave took the lead, making as much speed as was possible under the circumstances, he saw, some distance in advance, a solitary horseman. Again something in the peculiar saddle position of the rider attracted his attention. "There's Len Molick again!" he exclaimed aloud. "I suppose he's hanging around to see how his trick worked!" "Len Molick!" exclaimed Mr. Bellmore. "Why I want to see him. I have been looking for him!" CHAPTER IX DAVE MEETS LEN Dave looked curiously at the man he had rescued. From him he glanced toward the figure of the young bullying cowboy whom he suspected of having been instrumental in causing the stampede. "Do you know Len Molick?" asked Dave slowly, as he guided his horse along the trail. "No, but I want to know him," was the answer. "I have a letter to him, and I understand that he is one of the influential cattle raisers in this vicinity." Dave breathed easier. It was evident a mistake had been made. "I guess it's Len's father, Mr. Jason Molick you want to meet," Dave said. "That's right. Jason is the name!" admitted Mr. Bellmore. "I heard you mention the name Molick and I didn't pay much attention to the first part. So there are two of them?" "Yes, Len and his father," "Do you know them?" "Oh, yes, every one around here knows them." "You don't speak very enthusiastically," said Mr. Bellmore, with a strange look at the boy. "Is it possible that some error has been made on the part of those who gave me letters of introduction? Is not Mr. Molick influential in these parts?" "Oh, yes, that's all right," assented Dave, and still his voice had no ring to it. "Mr. Molick is influential all right--too much so, at times." "You don't seem to like him," said Mr. Bellmore. "I wish you would be frank with me. I am a stranger in these parts, and I have to depend on residents here for my information, and, in a large part, for my success. I know nothing about the Molicks." "Well, since you asked me to be frank," went on Dave, "I will be, and I'll say you haven't missed much by not knowing the Molicks--especially Len. I'm after him now, for I suspect him of having tried to do us a serious injury." "Is that so! That's too bad. If I had known that--"