“Bud said that the message read about Josephine’ captors moving about from place to place,” ranch owner explained. Big Joe was getting impatient. “Come on, Jack. We’ll go and talk it over with the boys,” he said, turning on his heel with an impatient frown. Mason followed him. At the bunkhouse they made the cowboys acquainted with this new phase of the hunt. “I told you so.” Tex cried in a matter-of-fact tone after Big Joe had finished speaking. “We had ought to have held the girl up as I wanted to. Somebody broke through our line last night, and the girl left the ranch soon after I heard that scuffling noise. We don’t know if that message is crooked or not.” Big Joe was plainly impressed by Tex’s serious manner. Mason was leaning against the bunkhouse door listening wearily to their talk. “I think we had better get together and make for the Gap. Bud may need help, Joe,” he said from the doorway. Suddenly he straightened up and looked keenly down the trail. His eyes had caught sight of an object moving slowly towards the bunkhouse. “Josephine’s dog,” he said aloud. “What did you say, Jack?” Big Joe called from within. “Josephine’s dog is coming down the trail and is limping badly,” he answered excitedly. “Limping, you say, Jack?” Big Joe asked as he came out of the bunkhouse, the cowboys at his back. “Yes,” Mason answered, “he must have got hurt some way.” “Come here, old fellow,” he called, for the dog was almost up to them now. The dog gave a whine of delight as he limped up to Mason and crouched at his feet. “Poor fellow, his foot is bleeding,” he said as he bent over to examine the injured member. “Why, what’s this?” His eye had caught sight of something white tied to the dog’s collar. He hastily unfastened the white object and was holding it up for the others to see, when a piece of paper fell to the ground. “Josephine’s handkerchief and a note!” he cried, aghast, staring hard at the white missive. Quickly snatching it up he read its contents. “For God’s sake, boys,” he cried, his face blanching white. “This note is from Josephine herself. She fastened it to Rover’s collar and sent him home. That message the Spanish girl brought is a decoy, and is leading Bud and his men into an ambush!” Exclamations of fury broke from the men at his words. Big Joe instantly began giving orders to the cowboys after Mason had read the contents of the note to them. “Into your saddles, boys,” the big cowboy thundered, his face pale and resolute. “I know a short cut to the Gap, and we’ll be in at the death if we can’t head Bud off. Ride, men, as you never rode before.” The cowboys were in their saddles in a twinkling, and bending low on their horses’ necks they rode like demons in a race against odds. Mason wanted to get his automobile out and join in the race against death, but Big Joe wouldn’t listen to his plan. “It wouldn’t be of any use to us the way we are going into the mountains,” he said, gritting his teeth.