“Sure!” echoed his chums. Their faces brightened eagerly. “Then help me finish the tomato weeding,” Teddy suggested, “and we can start right away.” Joe and Dick looked blank. They hadn’t counted on weeding. “Oh, I’ll cut you in on whatever I make when I sell my tomatoes, fellows,” Teddy promised. So the two chums agreed to help. They accompanied Teddy to the lower end of the garden, and Joe suddenly said: “Say, I’ve got an idea!” “Better set a trap for it. Maybe it will escape!” chuckled Dick. “No, I mean it,” went on Joe. “Maybe it was the cowboy who sent that deer to upset you, Teddy.” “How do you figure that out?” Teddy asked. “Well, something like this,” Joe continued. “That cowboy with the star heel plates has something to do with this mystery deer. I’m sure of that.” “So am I,” said Dick. “Well,” resumed Joe, “you have his lasso, Teddy, haven’t you?” “Yes, but he sort of gave it to me. Anyhow he threw it around me and yanked me over and the lasso stayed there. He can have it back if he wants it.” “Maybe he thinks you won’t give it to him,” went on Joe. “So he trailed you and as soon as he saw his chance he set his deer on you to topple you over into the tomatoes.” “You mean he set his deer on me as he might set a dog?” asked Teddy. “Sure, that’s it.” “I don’t believe this cowboy had anything to do with the deer upsetting me,” Teddy said quietly. “I don’t, either,” said Dick, siding with Teddy. “Well, maybe I’m wrong,” Joe admitted. “But it’s mighty strange that the deer stays around here. He wouldn’t do that unless his owner was somewhere near, and I think the cowboy owns him.” “Why doesn’t he capture the deer, then, and keep him from bothering us?” asked Teddy. “Maybe he can’t catch the deer, any more than we can,” Joe said. “I’d like to meet that cowboy.” “So would I,” Teddy agreed. “But while he may have something to do with the deer, I don’t believe he set the deer on me.” “Then why did the deer upset you?” Joe asked. “Oh, he’s young--just sort of playful,” Teddy answered. “Oh, yeah?” laughed Dick, somewhat tauntingly. “Well, I don’t like that sort of play.” “You want to help get that deer, don’t you?” Teddy asked. “Sure.” “Well, then you may have to take some chances of hard play. If you fellows want to drop out--” “Oh, we don’t want to do that,” said Joe. “Well, then let’s step on it a little and scout around more,” Teddy suggested. “Our vacation is getting shorter. We want to find that deer before it’s over.” “That’s right!” agreed his chums. “We’ve got to be ready, night or day, to take the trail after the deer!” Teddy declared. “Sure!” echoed Joe and Dick. More determined than ever before to capture the mystery deer, the three boys worked hard at weeding the tomato patch. It was tame work compared to the exciting adventure just ahead. CHAPTER XVIII WRONG NUMBER