Dave held it up to get a better view of it. As Mr. Carson had said it was a belt, composed of a number of corks strung together on a strong cord, there being many rows of them, one above the other. The corks were of all sizes, the cord passing through them on the short axis. There were two holes for the arms, and a sort of tape by which the belt could be tied around one. It was small, clearly made for a child, though for a larger one than Dave could have been at the time he was picked up in the flood. "I must have rattled around in that?" he said, with a questioning look. "Yes, it was lapped around you a couple of times," said the ranchman. "But, just as I said, Dave, it isn't much of a clew. They are just common corks." This was so. There were no marks on the corks, as far as Dave could see, by which any identification could be made. He looked closely at the odd life-preserver. "I say, Dave, are you coming?" called Mr. Bellmore from without. "Right away," was the answer. Dave sadly laid down the cork jacket and went out. CHAPTER XXIV BROTHERS Profound indeed was the impression made on Dave by the sight of the childish things in the trunk Mr. Carson had received from Denver. Sadness, too, was mingled with his feelings. Somehow he felt as though the last hope had gone from him, for he did not see how he could find any clew to his identity in the corks, strung into such a queer jacket. Dave tried to look cheerful as he came out to join Mr. Bellmore for the ride across the prairies to the place where they were going to measure the flow of water. He did not want his companion to suspect anything. "Feel like taking it on the gallop?" asked the engineer. "Yes, I guess Crow can stand it if your animal can," Dave said. "Oh, I'll bank on Kurd!" Together they were off at a fast pace that fairly ate up the distance, and soon they were half-way to the place where a small stream had given Mr. Bellmore hopes that he could add it to his water conservation scheme. "I wonder how it would be to take a trip over to the Molick dam, and see what they're doing?" suggested the water man. "It's just as well to keep tab on those fellows." "Go ahead, I'm with you," said Dave. They changed their course slightly. The whole day, or, rather, the best part of it was ahead of them, for they had made an early start. Dave had not much to do at the ranch since the big cattle shipment, though Mr. Carson was getting ready to increase his stock as soon as the question of providing water for them was settled. "Looks as if something was going on," commented Mr. Bellmore, as they approached the place where the Molick dam had been rebuilt. "Yes, there's a crowd there, anyhow," agreed Dave. "And some of them are on our land, too!" he exclaimed, excitedly. "Now take it easy," advised his friend. "This matter must take a legal course, since we have started it that way. Keep cool."