"Yes, and while we're standing here talking now, the smugglers are getting farther and farther away! Come on! We've got to chase them!" Dick turned and made for the corral. "Chase an auto on a horse?" the Kid yelled. "What's the sense of that?" "They can't go fast in this wet--and we can spot them by the noise. Hurry up!" "But I ain't got no pony!" wailed the Kid. "Wish I had my bronc! What am I supposed to do; stay here?" "No--one of Delton's bunch lost his seat and we've got his animal--use that. He got away in the auto. But for the love of Pete, hurry up!" The rain had abated a little when the boys reached the corral. Billee Dobb was waiting with the ponies untied and ready. It was but the work of a moment to mount and lead the other horses over to where Hawkins and Bud were standing. "Where's my new bronc?" the Kid asked as he came up. "Here--this do you?" Bud was holding a little black pony. "Sure--as long as it's got legs!" The Kid swung himself upon the horse's back. "Right! Let's go!" "We've no time to lose, men!" Hawkins called out. "We messed that up proper! This Delton is more clever than I thought he was." All were mounted now and ready to take up the chase. The Kid was letting his pony walk about, and the rest were awaiting Hawkins's word to start. The six riders set out into the night. Hawkins said the car had taken a route at right angles and to the left of the road, and all went in that direction. They pushed their ponies as fast as they dared over the soaked prairie, hoping to catch sight of the car before they had ridden too far. It was obvious that no auto could make great speed over the rough surface of the plains, and to add to this rain must certainly slow them up still more. So the punchers had a fairly good chance of overtaking them. Delton would probably be acting as convoy to the car, and if they were able to take that, they would capture him also. With these thoughts in mind the ranchers beat along through the rain, which was not now so heavy. "What happened?" asked Billee Dobb. "Just this," Bud answered. "Mr. Hawkins and I were waiting for the car to reach us. We couldn't hear what was happening on the other side of the house, and Mr. Hawkins and I were all set to grab the gang in it, when four men came riding by like mad and reached the car before we did. They yelled something, and in a second the car was off the road and away, the horsemen after it. But one of the riders fell, and didn't wait to get on his horse again--just hopped on the running board of the car." "What were those cracks we heard?" "I took a couple of pot-shots at the tires, but I don't think I hit anything. Too dark. And it was raining cats and dogs, you know." "Don't I know it! Nort an' me sure had our hands full. Five men to stop! We figured if we could hold them until you had the fellows in the car covered, we could capture them too. Say, see any Chinks in the car?"