"I think you are right, for here are marks where the animals were tied to trees," went on Dave. "I wonder--well, I declare!" Dave stopped short and picked up a bit of a leather halter lying on the ground. It was of curious Mexican design, having a light leather thong entwined in a dark one. "I don't know that I have ever seen a halter like that before," mused Roger, as he took the bit of halter from Dave, and then passed it to Phil. "I have," answered Dave. "So have I!" cried the shipowner's son. "Link Merwell's horse had one on, the day we met on the trail!" "Just what I was going to say," added Dave. "I noticed it particularly." "Then this must belong to Link," came from the senator's son. "Perhaps not," answered Dave, slowly. "There may be other such halters around. We'll have to give Link the benefit of the doubt, you know." "See here!" burst out Phil. "You may think as you please, but I have always thought that Link had something to do with the taking of our horses." "Do you think he would deliberately steal six horses, Phil?" "Well, maybe not deliberately steal them, but--but--I think he took them, anyhow." "He may have taken them intending to drive them to our ranch, and perhaps the horses got away from him in the storm," suggested Roger. "That may be true--it would be just like one of Link's mean tricks," answered Dave. "I think we ought to tax him with it," said Phil. "He'd deny it point-blank if you did," returned the senator's son. "This bit of halter is no proof against him. No, you'd only get into hot water if you accused him without proofs." "What Roger says is true," declared Dave. "We'll not say a word against Link, or accuse him, until we have some good proof that he is guilty." Taking the bit of halter with them, the three chums continued on their way along the trail. They covered another quarter of a mile, but saw no game excepting some birds on which they did not care to waste powder and shot. "We'll have to go back, I suppose," said Phil, with a sigh. "Gracious, I wish we'd see a bear, or something!" "How would an elephant and a few lions do?" quizzed Roger, with a grin. "Or a couple of man-eating tigers," suggested Dave. "I don't care! You can make fun if you want to, but I came out to this ranch to have some hunting," said Phil, stubbornly. "I'm going to the mountains and get something worth while some day." "So are we all going, Phil," answered Dave, quickly. "I want to bring down some big game just as much as you do." "Sid Todd said he'd take us," said Roger. "We'll make him keep his word." They took a look around the locality where they were standing, and then turned back to where they had left their horses. They were still some distance from the animals when they heard one of the steeds give a sudden snort of alarm. Looking through the trees, they saw Phil's horse leap and plunge, and then the others did likewise, as if trying to break from their halters.