"How do you know that?" "Joy told me, and more, which you will learn later. But I feel faint, and can talk no more. 'Ware the Gray Wolves!" CHAPTER XXII. THE WOLFSKIN. Frederic Caruthers' warning was received seriously. Ted and the boys consulted about the defense of the house, for the news of the Gray Wolves was not much of a surprise to Ted, who had all along felt that they were sure to be attacked by Mowbray and his men when they found that Major Caruthers and the broncho boys had emptied the Mowbray house of all its valuables. The fact that there was an organized body of murderers and thieves under Mowbray called the Gray Wolves was not inappropriate. But if the Gray Wolves came to the attack, the boys were prepared to receive and deal with them as they would with any band of marauding animals. "We'll establish a guard at once," said Ted, "and it will stand as organized until this thing is settled." "It will have to be kept up night and day," said Ben Tremont. "If these chaps are as clever as I think they will probably seek to do us harm by day as well as night." "Thar's sense in thet thar," said Bud. "Better make it two watches." "All right," said Ted. "Ben will have charge of the day watch, and take six of the boys, whom he will detail for duty as he thinks best." "How do you want to arrange the hours?" asked Ben. "Suit yourself about that, but I would suggest that the day be divided from six o'clock to six o'clock, day and night." "Suits me," said Ben. "That will give my six boys a stunt of two hours each, which will make it easy for every one, and insure a constant and careful watch." "Bud, you will be captain of the night watch," said Ted. "How do you want to arrange it?" "I would patrol ther house outside," said Bud. "And my fellers would work in pairs. I should think Ben's men could do their best work from the cupola on top o' ther house, usin' ther major's spyglass ter keep tabs on ther horizon in every direction. At night, we can only watch close to the house outside." "That sounds all right. Get your first guard established at once. We don't know how close they may be to us right now." Kit was sent into the cupola with the spyglass and a Winchester with its magazine full, to take the first watch. It was not necessary to give Kit any instructions, for he was a most intelligent guard. He had not been on watch more than an hour when he whistled to Ted, who was crossing the yard on his way to the corral. "What is it?" said Ted, stopping and looking up. "I wish you'd come up here a moment. I see something which puzzles me mightily. It's kind of uncanny," replied Kit. Ted laughed at Kit's fancy, but went into the house and climbed into the cupola. "What is it?" he asked, taking his place beside Kit. "Take the glass and look along my arm to where my finger is pointing, and tell me what you see." Ted did so, and, after looking for several moments, took down the glass and said: