"But I can't understand what happened to the lantern," went on Bud, making an examination by means of a second candle, from the store he had, luckily, placed in his pocket. "Oh, yes, I can!" he went on. "What?" asked Dick. "One of the soldered seams of the lantern oil tank started, and the oil has leaked out. Guess one of us must have banged it against a stone when we made the rush. But we'll be all right. A candle in the lantern is nearly as good as the regular wick." It was not quite so good, but the boys made the best of it as they tramped on through the tunnel, hoping to reach the river end without another flood, or any mishap. "The water seems to be behaving very nicely," observed Nort, as they all saw that the stream was well within its rocky channel. "But what gets me," said Bud, "is where it goes to--when it goes. I mean where does it disappear to? We haven't come to a single branch tunnel, or any other passage that could drain off the river water." "That's right," agreed his cousins. "But maybe we'll find it further on," suggested Nort. "We'll soon know, for we must be close to the other end now," observed Bud. "Our candles are holding out well." They had come several miles, as they knew by the time consumed. The way through the tunnel had been uphill all the way, as it must needs be to allow the water to run down to the reservoir in Flume Valley. But, so far, they had seen nothing to indicate any side channel for the stream--any place that might drain off the water, and return it in such a sudden volume as to cause a flood. "I can't understand it," Bud remarked as he swung the lantern to and fro. "It sure is a puzzle. Where does the water disappear?" His cousins could offer no solution. All the way along they had carefully scanned the underground stream, but there appeared no break in its uneven, rocky bank in the middle of the tunnel. "Well, let's keep on," suggested Nort. "We aren't at the end yet, and it may be close to the intake--I mean the mysterious influence--that shuts off our water supply and turns it on again, may be there. Forward, march!" he cried gaily. Together they started off, having come to a momentary halt to inspect a place wider and deeper than usual, when Bud suddenly came to a stop and exclaimed: "Some one is coming!" CHAPTER XIV A NIGHT ATTACK Instantly the boy ranchers came to a halt, standing there in the tunnel, beside the running water. They had nearly reached the other end of the flume, and could dimly see, ahead of them, a faint glow, which told of daylight to come. Bud, who was carrying the lantern, made shift to hide it behind the bodies of himself and his cousins, so that the unknown, approaching, might not have them at a disadvantage, he being in the dark.