They started in a bunch, but gradually drifted into pairs, Dave riding beside Jessie, Roger escorting Laura, and Phil taking the lead with Belle. The senator's son and Dave's sister had become very "chummy," and it can be said that Phil and Belle were fully as attentive to one another as the occasion warranted. All told stories and sang, and the boys whistled. Half an hour of riding brought them to the edge of a woods, and here they had to proceed in single file, or "Indian fashion," as Belle expressed it. "By the way, are there any Indians around here?" asked Jessie, timidly. "A few, and they are very peaceable," answered the ranch owner's daughter. "Our only enemies are the cattle- and horse-thieves." They were passing through some dense underbrush when Belle suddenly called a halt. The trail was very narrow, and on either side grew dense clumps of trees. "Somebody is coming," announced the girl. "On this trail?" asked Laura. "Yes." "We'll have some fun passing each other, especially if it's a fat man," remarked Roger, dryly, and this caused a laugh. They waited, and presently saw a boy approaching on horseback, followed by a lean-looking man who wore a tattered cowboy dress and a much-battered sombrero. "It's Link Merwell!" exclaimed Phil. He was right, and the bully did not stop until his horse stood directly in front of that ridden by Belle. Then he came to a halt, and his companion halted directly behind him. "I want to pass," growled Link, without so much as raising his hat or bidding the time of day. "All right, pass," answered Phil, stiffly. "We are not keeping you." "You are blocking the trail." "Can't you pass around the ladies?" questioned Roger. "I've got as much right on this trail as you," returned the bully, shooting a dark look at the others. "You needn't think you own everything!" "Oh, let us ride to one side and let him pass!" whispered Jessie. "He may want to fight if we don't!" "He won't fight with so many against him," answered Dave. "You are very considerate of the ladies, I must say," said Roger. "We'll give you half the trail and no more," and he urged his horse a little to one side and Dave and Phil did the same. The girls moved still further over, so that Link Merwell might not touch them as he passed. "Where are you going?" demanded the bully, as he moved slowly forward. "That is our affair, not yours," answered Dave, sharply. "You keep off my father's land!" "We don't intend to go near your land," said Belle, coldly. "Oh, I didn't mean you, Belle, I meant Dave Porter and his cronies." "Mr. Porter and his friends are my guests, Mr. Merwell. When you insult them, you insult me." And Belle held her head high in the air.