"No, they didn't, and I didn't ask them," replied the professor. "They just seemed to be riding for pleasure." "Pleasure of their own kind," chuckled Snake. "Did you see anything of sheep in your wanderings?" asked Yellin' Kid. The professor thought for a moment before replying. He was always careful to give a correct and exact answer to a question. "I saw no sheep," he declared. "That's queer," murmured Billee. "From what news we have it's practically certain they're going to try to rush sheep in here soon, and yet they aren't in sight." Then Bud bethought himself of something. "Did you _smell_ any sheep, Professor?" the boy asked. Again the scientist thought before answering. "Yes, I _smelled_ sheep very strongly, though I saw none," he said. "I distinctly remember the smell of sheep, for it brought back to my mind my youthful days when I used to go to the county fair. I _smelled_ sheep all right." "That's more like it!" cried Yellin' Kid. "Where were they?" asked Billee eagerly. "That is more than I can say," answered the professor. "We were in a hilly section, when those gentlemen overtook me and kindly offered to escort me here, and it was when the wind blew that I smelled sheep most strongly." "In what direction was the wind?" asked Nort, for he thought he might get a clue in this way, as he realized the scientist was likely to have noticed natural effects like wind or rain. "The wind--ah, yes--the wind was blowing from the south," said Professor Wright, after thinking it over for a moment. "Well, that's where I'd expect 'em to be," declared Old Billee. "They're probably working their way up slowly. Did you see anything else suspicious, Professor--or smell anything?" "Suspicious!" exclaimed the college man. "What do you mean? Is there anything suspicious in the smell of sheep--or the sight of them, for that matter?" "I guess you don't understand," spoke Bud. "You have probably been so busy with your research work that you haven't had a chance to hear the news about the opening of the new range land, and the danger of sheep coming in." "I heard something of this--and the theft of your father's papers--the night I arrived, and caused you so much trouble," the professor admitted. "But, truth to tell, it slipped my mind, and I gave no further thought to it. So you fear the advent of sheep; do you? Are they likely to spread some disease among your cattle?" "Disease? They'll drive the cattle away!" cried Old Billee, and then it was briefly explained to the professor what a menace the sheep were, though very necessary in their own station of life. "I'm sorry I didn't observe more closely," said Professor Wright. "As I told you, my mind was filled with thoughts of new fossil deposits I might discover, and I wandered too far. Then these gentlemen found me and showed me the way back." "They were glad enough of the excuse," murmured Nort. "Excuse for what?" the scientist wanted to know.