Danger now seemed more imminent than it had been, and, as behooved efficient cowboys, our friends at once began going over the situation and making sure that they had done all that was possible to fortify their position. Of course, while I have referred to the shack hurriedly erected as a "fort," it was nothing of the sort. There were no heavy walls, and of course no artillery, though the boys wished they did have a machine gun. But, on the other hand, no artillery would be brought up against them, so this evened matters up. If it came to a fight there would be only revolvers used on both sides at first, though later rifles might come into play. However, not even the most rabid of the cowboys from Diamond X really wanted a bloody fight. They would much rather the sheep men kept away, leaving the rightful owners of the land in possession. But, as Billee had said, the stealing of Mr. Merkel's papers seemed to indicate some deep-laid plot to cheat him of his land that was so valuable. "We're in as good shape as we can be, until it comes to a showdown and a fight," remarked Billee, when the noon-day meal was served, after they had gone carefully over the defense. "Did you get your dad?" he asked Bud. "Yes, I had him on the wire," answered the son of the owner of Diamond X. "Nothing new has developed back home, and I told him about this fellow. He thinks, as we do, that he was a spy." "And, the more I think of it, the more I think I have seen that fellow before," remarked Nort, with a puzzled air. "Seen him before--what do you mean?" asked Dick. "Well, his face seemed familiar at first, and then when he lit his cigaret and threw it away, he reminded me of some one." "Some one in the movies, maybe," said Bud. "Well, that's what I thought at first," admitted Nort, "though the more I think of it the more I'm certain that I've seen him out here--some time ago. I wish I could recall it." "I can't place him," said Dick. "Stop thinking of it, Nort. It may come to you all of a sudden." "It may not amount to anything, anyhow," Nort admitted. "But I have a feeling that I had a run in with that man before." There was little to do at Spur Creek except await developments, and this waiting was really harder work than actual fighting would have been. It was also more nervous, keeping them all on a strain. The approach of the enemy and by "enemy" I mean sheep men who might try to pasture their flocks on Mr. Merkel's land, or men who might try to take possession of it--these enemies would appear on the southern side of Spur Creek first, as it was well known there were the largest sheep ranches--just across the Mexican border. And pretty well cropped off were the vast fields, too. That is why there was such an eagerness to get into new and fertile ranges. In consequence of this, watch was kept on that side of the stream where the lone horseman had appeared. To the north, east and west little danger was apprehended.