"Yep. Easy now. That does it----" As they raised the form of the old rancher he stirred uneasily. Then he opened his eyes. "Boss!" he exclaimed. "What do you think of me bein' carried around this way. Wait a minute, boys, I can walk. I want to----" "You're to lay right still," admonished Yellin' Kid. "Think we want you bleedin' all over the landscape? Now go slow, an' Mr. Merkel will shake hands with you when we get you in the wagon." "How are you, Billee?" the cattle owner asked warmly. "Heard you had an accident! Well, we'll feed you up good for a couple of days and you'll soon be on horseback again." "Sure will! Can't say I like this lyin' down idea. But the boys won't let me get up." The buckboard carrying Billee and the other injured men went first, and the rest of the procession followed, with Mr. Hawkins and Dick in the extreme rear, to see that everything went well. And thus they started for town. They had scarcely gotten under way when all heard the sound of a horse behind them. They turned and saw a riderless pony galloping toward them. "What the mischief--" Bud cried out as he saw the horse nearing them. "He wants to visit! Look--his halter has been broken. Must be a runaway. I wonder----" "Runaway nothin'!" yelled the Kid. "He's comin' home! That's my bronc!" The horse made straight for Yellin' Kid. "Look at that--knows me! Well! Well! Well! Come home to papa! My bronc, sure as you're a foot high! See that spot above his eye? I'd know it in a million! Come here, baby--where you been? Huh? I been lookin' all over for you." There was a sudden exclamation from one of the smugglers who was riding in front of the Kid. "Got away!" the man muttered. "Thought I tied her----" "So-o-o you're the coot that had her, hey? An' you tied her up tight, hey? So she couldn't get loose? Well, let me tell you that this little paint can bust _any_ halter, if she wants to. Can't you, baby? By golly, I----" "Sing it, Kid, sing it!" Dick laughed. "Do you tuck her in bed at night, too?" "Well, she's the best bronc I ever had!" the Kid said definitely. "An' I'm goin' to ride her in. Dick, hang on to this pony, will you? Lead her in for me. Well!" As he got into the saddle of his own mount. "Here we are again, baby! Now I won't need that other horse that you were goin' to get me, Mr. Hawkins. 'Scuse me a minute, boys----" He threw the bronc into a gallop and tore across the plain. Then he wheeled and came rushing back. "He's happy," Nort said with a grin. "Never expected to see his bronc again, and she runs right into his hands. Hey, you--where did you keep her?" "Around the side," the man who had spoken before answered with a scowl. "Thought I might need her in a hurry. His horse, was it? Well, he was ridin' mine. A fair exchange is no robbery. Now he's got her back he's got no kick comin'." "Hasn't, hey? Don't know about that. If he finds any marks on her----"