But Len showed no intention of drawing a weapon. Probably it was all he could do to manage his now fast-tiring steed. Suddenly the stillness of the morning was broken by a prolonged shrill screech. "What's that?" cried Mr. Bellmore. "Railroad train," said Dave. "The line passes just below us. You can see the smoke of the train in a minute. There she is--a fast freight. Whistled because they're going to stop for water I guess. Yes, there she goes up to the tank." Down below them they could see the crawling freight. As they watched they saw it draw up to the tank and stop. Water poured into the tender of the engine. "Why, look at Len! He's riding straight for the freight!" cried Dave. "That's what he is," echoed Mr. Bellmore. "Maybe he's going to take it!" "If he does--" murmured Dave. They spurred on, but were too far away. A moment later they saw Len leap from his horse, abandon the creature, and jump on one of the freight cars. The engine whistled, started off and rapidly gathered speed, taking Len away from his pursuers. "Well, if that isn't tough luck!" bitterly said Dave, as they pulled up. Len had escaped. There was no use in chasing the fast freight. CHAPTER XXII TANGLES Sitting astride his tired horse Dave looked lung and earnestly at the fast-disappearing freight, as it went around a bend in the hills. He could not see Len, but he knew the young bully was aboard. "Well, you're gone now, but there'll come a time when you may want to come back," mused Dave. "And when you do, I'll get you. I think you started the big fire, but I'll give you a chance to prove you didn't." He sat there musing for a while longer. The freight was out of sight now but there came to his ears, faintly through the heavy morning air, the sound of the distant puffing. And he could see the trail of smoke. "Smoke! Ugh!" exclaimed Dave. "I've seen enough, and smelled enough, in the last few hours to last me a year!" His eyes smarted from the acrid fumes of the burning prairie grass, and his mouth was parched. "Guess you must want a drink too, Crow," said Dave aloud, and his horse whinnied as though understanding. Dave saw Len's horse, which the young rascal had abandoned, taking a long drink from a pool that had formed under the railroad tank. Dave's horse needed no urging toward the inviting water and soon both master and beast were drinking deeply. Dave also plunged his head down in a puddle and soused his arms and hands in it. "There, I feel better," he said. "A heapsight better. And now what am I going to do with you?" he asked as he saw Len's abandoned horse cropping the grass near the tank. "I can't leave you here for rustlers to make off with. You're too good an animal, if you do belong to a mean skunk. And yet I don't feel like doing Len any favor. If I take you I may get into trouble with Mr. Molick, too.