For a few seconds longer there was silence in the ranks of those holding Fort Spur Creek as it might be called. Then Bud broke out with: "What do you make of that?" "Can't make much," admitted Old Billee. "If he came to find out whether we were ready, he went away satisfied." "Regular stage and moving picture stuff!" commented Nort. "I believe the fellow was an actor," laughed Dick. "The way he flipped his cigaret and waved to us--he must have been in the movies sometime." "I'll movie him if he comes on this side of Spur Creek!" muttered Snake Purdee. "Him and his '_adios_'! Nothin' but a Greaser, I'll wager!" "He had his nerve with him," said Old Billee. "But, boys, we mustn't let him get ours. He came to spy out and see what he could pick up." "Well, he found us ready for him!" exclaimed Yellin' Kid. "Yes, but maybe he'll go back and report that we aren't ready enough," said Billee. "What do you mean?" asked Bud. "I mean he has sized up our force, and he and his gang may be able to bring up enough to beat us back. You see, boys, this land is a rich prize, not only for sheep men but for any who want to use it for grazing. It has water and good grass." "Well, what's the matter with 'em stayin' on their own side of Spur Creek?" asked Snake, growling out the words. "That's where they should stay, by rights," said Billee, "and it's where we intend to keep 'em. The other land is open to those who stake it out, I suppose, but on this side it belongs to your father, Bud." "The trouble is he has to prove it," answered the boy rancher. "Yes, and that's going to be hard with his papers stolen the way they are," admitted Billee. "Of course it was a put up job, and I have my suspicions of who did it. But this land would be a rich prize for a sheep herder or anybody else, and we've got to fight 'em off." "Who are you suspicious of?" demanded Bud. "Never you mind," was the enigmatical answer, given with a shake of the head, "but I have 'em all right. However, that's another matter. What we have to do now is to get ready to meet any of these sheep men if they come up and try to cross the creek." "You reckon he's gone back to his gang to tell 'em to get ready to come here?" asked Snake. "Shouldn't wonder," admitted Billee. "But it'll be some time before they can bring up the woollies." "Sheep travel fast, they eat fast and they ruin water and pastures faster'n Sam Hill!" exclaimed Yellin' Kid, and this was true. If you have ever watched a flock of sheep feeding you would know this. They eat as though they feared some one was going to take all the grass away on a moment's notice. "Well, he's ridin' fast," observed Snake, as, shading his eyes with his hat, he gazed in the direction taken by the lone horseman. The fellow was almost out of sight now, and soon was lost to view.