"Wrong? No. Why?" asked Dave, looking up suddenly. "Why you're as glum as an owl, and as silent as one of these prairie dogs," went on the engineer. "You haven't said a word for over a mile. Is something troubling you?" "Yes--that is, no!" exclaimed Dave. "I was--just thinking." "Oh, I could see that," returned the other with a laugh. "Well, if it's anything about this water business, don't worry. Molick and his crowd may bother your father for a time, but Bar U ranch will win out--I'm sure of it!" "I hope so," murmured Dave. "They're a mean crowd, though," and he thought of the cowardly taunt of Len Molick--the taunt which had first given him the clew to his lack of identity. "Well, I'll do all I can for you and your father," went on the engineer. "I owe a great deal to you both. In fact I am convinced that I owe my life to you." "Oh, pshaw!" deprecated Dave. "Yes, that's a fact," went on Mr. Bellmore. "I might have lain caught there in that gully until I died, for it is a lonely place." "Yes, that's true enough," agreed Dave. "And so, in a small way, I'm going to do all I can to repay you," said the Chicago man. "I know something about water rights, irrigation and title deeds to streams, even if I'm not much on the cowpunching," he added with a smile, "and such knowledge as I have is at your service." "Well, I'm sure we'll appreciate it--dad and I," said Dave. "Now let's try a little run. Crow is just spoiling for a good gallop, and the way from here home is as fine a track as you'd want." Calling to his horse, Dave set him at a gallop, being followed by Mr. Bellmore on Kurd, and the two indulged in an impromptu race, reaching the ranch house at the same time. "Hi there, Hop Loy!" called Dave. "Grub ready?" "Alle same leady velly soon," said the amiable Chinese, with a cheerful grin, "How you like plan-cakes?" "Plan-cakes strike me as about right; don't they you, Mr. Bellmore?" "I should say they would be eminently fitting and proper," returned the engineer with a laugh. Presently there were busy scenes being enacted at Bar U ranch as the cowboys came in from their various stations, including those men who were with Mr. Carson, driving in the cattle that had been in such danger. "Grub" in other words, supper, was served, a prodigious number of "plan-cakes" being consumed. But far from being annoyed, Hop Loy was pleased the more the boys ate. His shrill voice, singing a Chinese song, rose higher and higher as he toiled in his kitchen, baking stack after stack of the brown cakes. "Velly much glood eat!" he exclaimed with a grin. "Hop, you're all right!" cried Pocus Pete. "Your pig-tail is safe with us!" declared Tubby Larkin, as he passed his plate for more cakes.