As soon as Si was asleep Sag Ruff walked into the opening. "We'll fix this crowd, Soapy," said he to his tool. "A wagon and a mule won't go bad for us, eh?" "Good enough, Sag. But the outfit is known on this route." "Yes, but we can take the Salt Lake route. I've heard it was about as good as this one," added the gambler. "Just as you say. But I don't want to get shot down." "Do you want to hoof it all the way to California?" asked Sag Ruff, sharply. "No." "Then don't talk." "What about the boy?" "He seems to be sound asleep. Leave him where he is." With as little noise as possible they walked over to where Darling was tethered and freed the mule. Then they led the animal to the wagon and hitched him up. They worked swiftly, afraid every instant that Maybe Dixon or Mark or Bob might appear. "Now then, off we go!" cried Sag Ruff, and started Darling. The mule made the move somewhat against his will, but he did not know the true situation and finally settled down to a steady pull, across the ford and then along a side trail, about which the gambler and his tool had heard only the day previous. This led through another patch of timber, and soon men and outfit were lost to view from the fording place. All unconscious of what was happening, Si slept the sleep of the just for nearly two hours. He awoke only when he felt Maybe Dixon's hand on his shoulder. "Si! wake up here!" cried Dixon, shaking him. "Where's the turnout, lad?" "The turnout?" repeated the farm boy, rubbing his eyes in bewilderment. "Why, it's----It's gone!" "Exactly. Don't you know where to?" "Why, I--I didn't know it was gone!" Si leaped to his feet and now he was wide-awake. "Maybe Dixon, is this some joke?" he demanded. "Maybe it is, lad, but if so, it's none of my doings." "Haven't you seen the wagon and Darling?" "Not since I went away. When did you go to sleep?" "I--er--I think I dropped off right after you went off." "That's about two hours ago." "As long as that! Gracious, I thought I only had a short nap! Did you find Mark and Bob?" "No, couldn't get the least trace of 'em. But about the turnout? Haven't you any idea at all where it is?" "No." Si looked around. "Somebody has been here, hitched up the mule, and drove away with our belongings," he continued, bitterly. "And I am to blame! What will Bob and Mark say?" "It might have happened to any of us, lad. But we must get on the trail of the thieves." "Yes! yes! Do you think they followed the regular trail?" "Perhaps so--but if they did, they'll soon run into Socket and some of our other friends. They may have been cute enough to take to some side trail. There are plenty of them around here. Everybody don't go over the mountains by exactly the same trail." The two looked around carefully and saw the tracks of several feet in the soft soil. They wondered who the thieves could be, but could reach no satisfying conclusion.