"That doesn't seem to indicate a raid or fight," spoke Nort. "You can't be sure," Bud remarked. "We'd better be careful. Let's dismount and go on foot." They left their ponies, throwing the reins over the heads of the animals, and cautiously approached the tents of the cow punchers on foot. This tent was, practically, the "bunk house," the assembling place of the men after their hours of work. But before the boys reached this their approach was evidently heard. For a figure came to the flap and a challenging voice called: "Who's there?" "Old Billee!" cried Bud, as he and his chums recognized the tones, and with the recognition came a sense of relief. "Oh, you're back; are you, Bud?" asked the veteran cowboy. "I thought I heard some one." "Who's up on the watch tower with a lantern?" called Bud, once it was certain that no disaster had occurred. "Watch tower?" repeated Yellin' Kid, coming to the flap to stand beside Old Billee. "Lantern?" added Snake. "Somebody's signalling," went on Bud. "You'd better come out and we'll have a look. Are you all here?" "All of us," answered Old Billee. "Come on, Four Eyes!" he cried. "Tumble out of your bunk. There's somethin' doin'!" "Four Eyes must have gone to bed early," said Bud to his cousins as they stood outside the tent. For Billee's call indicated that the spectacled cowboy had retired. "Hi! Four Eyes!" shouted Yellin' Kid, in a voice that would have awakened the proverbial Seven Sleepers. "Turn out!" There was a moment's pause, during which Buck Tooth came up to the bunk tent from his own special nook for sleeping. And then, the voice of Snake Purdee announced: "Four Eyes isn't here!" "Isn't here!" repeated Billee. "Why, I saw him turn in a while ago, when we started t' play cards." "He isn't here now," declared Snake. "His bunk is empty, and he didn't go out the front way, I'll wager on that. There's something queer going on all right!" CHAPTER XV A BIG RAID Into the bunk tent of the older cowboys crowded the young ranch lads. Doubt, suspicion and wonder mingled in their minds, and foremost of all were two outstanding matters--the mysterious signalling light, and the disappearance of Four Eyes--if, indeed, that individual had really taken himself off. "Are you sure he was here?" asked Bud, when, after the first break of surprise, questions were in order. "Sure," replied Yellin' Kid. "We all come in here, after th' chores was done, t' have a friendly game of cards an' smoke. We didn't look for you back until late, if at all." "And was Four Eyes with you then?" asked Nort.