"It can't get too fat for me," replied his friend. "Helpin' th' Kid get his money back was enough to set me after some of that reward money; but when I sized up Kane an' his gang it promised to be a pleasure; now, after that jailin', it's a yelpin' joy. If there's no other way I'm aimin' to ride into Mesquite an' smoke up with both guns." As they neared the carcass Red glanced at his cheerful friend. "Head's swelled up like a keg," he said. "Struck by a rattler." "Reckon so; but cows dead from snakebite ain't common." They pulled up and looked at it at close range. "Shot," grunted Hopalong. "Then somebody was out here with it," said Red swinging down. "He was tender-hearted, _he_ was. Gimme a hand. We'll turn it over an' look at th' brand." Hopalong complied, and then they looked at each other and back to the carcass, where a large piece of hide had been neatly trimmed around and skinned off. "Didn't dare let it wander, an' they plugged it after it got struck," said Red. "Careful, they was," commented his companion. "They was too careful. If they'd let it wander it wouldn't 'a' told nothin', 'specially if it wandered toward home. But shootin' it, an' then doin' _this_--I reckon our comeback is takin' on weight." "It shore is," emphatically said Red. "Cuss this hard ground! It don't tell nothin'. They went north or south--an' not long ago, neither. Which way are you ridin'?" Hopalong considered. "If they went either way they'd be seen. I got a feelin' they went right across. Greasers an' Injuns know that desert, an' there's both kinds workin' for Kane. It allus has been a shore-thing way for 'em. Remember what Idaho said?" "It can't be done," said Red. "Slippery Trendly an' Deacon Rankin did it." "But they only crossed one corner," argued Red. "McLeod's Texans did it!" "They didn't cross much more'n a corner," retorted Red. "An' look what it _did_ to 'em!" "It's a straight drive for them valleys along th' Cimarron," mused Hopalong. "Nobody to see 'em come or go, good grass to fatten 'em up after they got there, an' plenty of time for blottin' th' brands. I'll bet Kane's got men that knows how to get 'em over. There's water-holes if you only know where to look, an' how to head for 'em; an' some of these half-breeds down here know all of that. If they went north or south on a course far enough east to keep many folks from seein' 'em they'd find it near as dry. Well, we better go down an' meet th' Kid before we do anythin' else. We got our bearin's an' can find th' way back again. What you say?" Red mounted and led the way. "If I'm goin' to ride around out here I'm goin' to have plenty of water, an' that means canteens. I'm near chokin' for a drink; an' this cayuse is gettin' mean. Come on."