"Did you see anybody from the Merwell ranch?" asked Dave. "Saw Link and his father just as we were coming home," answered Sid Todd. "Merwell said he had seen nothing of the thieves." "Did Link say anything?" "No. He was dead tired and he looked scared." "Scared?" queried Roger. "Yes. When he saw me I thought he was going to run away. I asked him if he had seen anything, and when he answered me his face went almost white. I reckon he was scared--thinking of the way he treated you folks on the trail. Maybe he thought I was goin' to pitch into him for it." "Maybe," said Dave, slowly. "He hadn't seen anything of the thieves?" "No. He said he didn't know the hosses was gone until his father told him. He said he got lost in the woods, and stayed in a certain spot till the blow was over." "Humph!" murmured Dave, and there the talk came to an end. But Dave was not satisfied. He still wondered if Link Merwell knew anything about the taking of the horses. CHAPTER XX FISHING AND HUNTING The remainder of the week went by, and the boys and girls amused themselves as best they could. During that time, Mr. Endicott received a visit from the sheriff of the county, and Dave and his chums were called upon to tell all they could about the missing horses. Then, after some whispered talk between the county official and the ranch owner, the lads were requested to describe the man who had been seen on the trail in company with Link Merwell. "I really think the fellow was Andy Andrews," said the sheriff. "But if so, he had a big nerve to show himself in these parts." "Didn't you ask Link about the man?" asked Dave. "Yes. He says the fellow was a stranger to him, and they were just riding together for company. He says they were together about half an hour before he met you on the trail, and that the fellow left him about a quarter of an hour later and headed in the direction of the railroad station. He said the fellow didn't give any name, but said he was looking up some ranch properties for some Chicago capitalists." This was all the sheriff could tell, and on that the matter, for the time being, rested. Fortunately, Star Ranch possessed a good number of horses, so none of the young folks were deprived of mounts. But Belle mourned the loss of her favorite steed, to which she had become greatly attached. "I don't care so much for the others, but I do hope papa gets back Lady Alice," she said, dolefully. A spell of bad weather kept the young folks indoors for the time being, and one day they were reminded by a cowboy of the entertainment they had promised. "As soon as it clears, we'll give you an exhibition of fancy ridin'," said the cowboy. "But jest now the boys are dyin' fer some good singin' an' music, and such."