Produced by Al Haines [Transcriber's note: Extensive research found no evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] [Illustration: Cover art] [Frontispiece: "AND WIN HE DID." _Boy Ranchers on Roaring River._] THE BOY RANCHERS ON ROARING RIVER OR _Diamond X and the Chinese Smugglers_ By WILLARD F. BAKER Author of "The Boy Ranchers," "The Boy Ranchers in Camp," "The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek," "The Boy Ranchers in the Desert," etc. _ILLUSTRATED_ NEW YORK CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY THE BOY RANCHERS SERIES By WILLARD F. BAKER 12mo. Cloth. Frontispiece THE BOY RANCHERS Or Solving the Mystery at Diamond X THE BOY RANCHERS IN CAMP Or the Water Fight at Diamond X THE BOY RANCHERS ON THE TRAIL Or Diamond X after Cattle Rustlers THE BOY RANCHERS AMONG THE INDIANS Or Diamond X Trailing the Yaquis THE BOY RANCHERS AT SPUR CREEK Or Diamond X Fighting the Sheep Herders THE BOY RANCHERS IN THE DESERT Or Diamond X and the Lost Mine THE BOY RANCHERS ON ROARING RIVER Or Diamond X and the Chinese Smugglers CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, New York COPYRIGHT, 1926, BY CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY THE BOY RANCHERS ON ROARING RIVER Printed in U. S. A. CONTENTS CHAPTER I A DANGEROUS MISSION II A STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE III A SUSPICIOUS VISITOR IV THE HIDDEN GUNMAN V ARRIVAL AT THE RANCH VI THE THREAT VII A SHEEPLESS SHEEP RANCH VIII CYCLONE IX DELTON RETURNS X BUD FINDS A NOTE XI JOE HAWKINS'S VISIT XII THE STORY OF SMUGGLING XIII TRAPPED XIV TO-MORROW NIGHT XV BILLEE DOBB'S STORY XVI BUD'S ESCAPE XVII A NIGHT OF WAITING XVIII SMUGGLING OPERATIONS XIX THE CHASE XX DOWN AND OUT XXI CLOSING IN XXII FLYING BULLETS XXIII A RING OF FIRE XXIV THE RATTLING BUCKBOARD XXV YELLIN' KID FINDS HIS BRONC THE BOY RANCHERS ON ROARING RIVER CHAPTER I A DANGEROUS MISSION "Hold up there, you pint o' peanuts! Hold up, I say! Well, for the love of spread eagle! I suppose you boys are lookin' for a job; eh?" The speaker, a typical, raw-boned cowboy, looked down from his pony at three boys seated on a bench at the side of the cook-house. "Whether we are or not, we've got it, Kid," answered one of the seated trio, a well set-up youth with light hair. "And the funny part of it is, we don't know what the job is." "Huh! Got a job and you don't know what it is? Well, Nort, guess I'll have to look into this," and the cowboy whom Nort addressed as "Kid"--or, to give him his full nick-name, "Yellin' Kid"--swung lightly from his saddle. "Hold up there, you pony, you!" this as the Kid's mount started to prance about wildly. "Just got this here dust-raiser, and she ain't used to my ways yet," he chuckled. "Hy' ya', Dick, and Bud! How's the boy, Nort? By golly, ranchin' is sure doin' you fellers good! You-all got some powerful grip!"