"Huh! And if we don't shoot we can starve, eh? Not much! I'm going to take plenty of good things along when I go out." "I wonder if we'll see much of Link Merwell," said Roger, after a pause. "I don't want to see him," answered Dave. "But he'll see you, Dave. Didn't he say he'd square accounts out here? He'll keep his word--when it comes to doing anything mean and dirty." "Roger is right," said Phil. "I shouldn't want to alarm the girls, or Mr. and Mrs. Endicott, but I'd surely keep my eyes open for Link Merwell. He'll try some kind of a game--it's his nature." With caution the boys approached the edge of the ravine and looked over. They saw a spot where the dirt, rocks, and bushes had torn loose and slid down to the bottom of the hollow, carrying with the mass three of Mr. Endicott's herd of cattle. Two of the herd had been driven up to safety by the cowboys, but the third--the vicious steer--was still below, unable to help himself, and showing fight whenever approached by the ranch hands. "I see him!" announced Phil, pointing with his hand to some rocks below. "He looks peaceful enough." "So does a bomb--until it goes off," answered Dave. "The cowboys wouldn't be afraid of him unless he was a bad one. Maybe he is really crazy. I've heard of a crazy horse." "Say, that puts me in mind of a story Shadow Hamilton told," came from the senator's son. "A boy in school was a regular blockhead, and one day the teacher asked him what made him so foolish. 'I dunno,' he answered, 'excepting that my mother makes me sleep under a crazy quilt.'" "Say, that's like Shadow!" cried Phil, after a laugh all around. "Wish he was here--what stories he would tell!" For some little time the boys could not see the men, who were hidden by the rocks and brushwood. But presently they caught sight of Sid Todd. He was flourishing a stick at the steer. The animal paid no attention at first, but presently commenced to shake his head from side to side. "Doesn't like it," was Roger's comment. "He seems to be saying 'No' quite forcibly," added Dave. "Now Todd is after him," cried the shipowner's son a minute later. "See, the steer is on the move at last." "Yes, but he is going after Todd!" answered Roger. Such was the fact, and presently man and beast disappeared behind some brushwood. Then, when they emerged again, it was seen that the cowboy had lassoed the animal by one of the forelegs. He was mounting the rocks, and the steer was limping behind, trying vainly to shake himself free. He did not seem to know enough to hold back altogether. "Well, I think that rather dangerous!" declared Phil. "Supposing the steer should run for him?" "I guess the cowboy knows what he is doing," answered Dave. "If he is pursued, he can easily scramble up on some of the steep rocks and get out of the way."