"I mean there may have been a fight," Dick went on. "Maybe the rustlers have surprised our camp, put Yellin' Kid and the rest of our bunch out of business and are signalling to the main crowd to come up and drive off the cattle. I might as well say that as think it," he added. "And that's what I've been thinking the last few minutes." This dire suggestion struck Bud and Nort silent for a moment. And then, more because he did not want to believe it, than because he did not believe it possible, Bud exclaimed: "I don't believe any such thing!" "I don't want to believe it!" said Nort. "But of course there may have been a fight." "If there was, there's a lot of dead Greasers and rustlers scattered around, you can depend on that!" declared Bud, grimly. "Yes, I reckon Old Billee, Snake and the rest would give a good account of themselves," asserted Dick. "And they wouldn't be taken by surprise, either," added Nort. "Not likely," affirmed his cousin. Again they directed their gaze toward the flashing signal on the tower. Once more they saw it slowly raised and lowered, and then swept from side to side. "Are they spelling out a message in Morse or Continental code?" asked Bud. "It does look like the Morse," said Nort. "We learned that when we were Boy Scouts. I can make out some letters, but they don't spell anything that has any sense to it." "Maybe it's in Spanish," suggested Bud, who was not familiar with the method of spelling words by flags or lanterns. "There's a lot of Greasers around here who don't know anything but Spanish." "That's so," agreed Nort. "I didn't think of that. I'll try and catch what the next word is, and maybe you'll know it, Bud," for the western lad understood some of the language of Mexico. But just when Nort was directing his attention to the signal flashes Dick, who had ridden on a little ahead, suddenly called: "Is that a fire?" They looked to where he pointed and, for a moment, thought it was another blaze in the dried grass. For the eastern skyline that had been only dimly seen was now outlined in a red flare. "It is a fire!" asserted Nort. "It's the moon rising!" said Bud. And so it proved. The moon was coming up, big, round and red, and, when below the horizon, cast a reflection not unlike a fire. The boys laughed with relieved spirits as they rode on. But when Nort next directed his attention to the flashing lantern it was no longer signalling. In the direction of the watch tower there was only blackness, for the moon's rays had not yet reached it. "Looks as if they'd quit," said Dick. "Maybe they thought the moonlight would give 'em away," suggested Nort. "We'll soon know about it," declared Bud, with grim meaning. They were now within a short distance of the tents, gleaming white in the moonbeams. From one of the larger canvas shelters shone a ruddy light, showing dark figures within. And then was borne to the ears of the boys the sound of laughter.