The outfit of the boy ranchers had been sadly depleted by the descent of the unscrupulous gang, and what cattle remained had been driven to the feeding grounds in the vicinity of the reservoir, where Buck Tooth, Old Billee and one man from Diamond X could watch over them. "Are we all ready?" asked Bud, as he and his cousins, followed in example by the older cowboys vaulted to saddles. "I reckon so," announced Slim, as he slewed around his holster with its newly-oiled .45. "Let's go!" said Bud, briefly, and away they started. They made trail, first, to the scene of the raid. As Bud and the others had anticipated, there were plenty of signs showing where the cattle had been driven off. A large herd was missing, and it must have taken a number of rustlers to have rounded them up and started them toward Double Z, or whatever place was to be used to change, or blur the brands, so the cattle could be sold to some innocent purchaser, perhaps. Though there were not wanting, in that country, not-so-innocent-purchasers of rustled cattle. "They'll have to keep near grass and water," said Slim, as he rode along with Bud and his cousins. "So we'll do the same." "Yes, they can't make a dry drive very far," Bud agreed. "They followed this range, it seems." On reaching the scene of the raid the trail led off to the left, along a tow mountain range or wild and rugged peaks, some, evidently, of volcanic origin. At the foot of this range was grass in plenty, and, occasionally, a water hole, made possible by the fact that End's father had brought the waters of the Pocut River to the valley by means of the tunnel flume. "The trail's plain enough for a blind man to follow," said Yellin' Kid, who rode beside Snake. "But it's going to get harder in a little while," spoke Snake. "We're getting into wilder country, and rocks don't take much of an impression. See, it's peterin' out now." He pointed to the surface of the ground over which they were then traveling. The grass and earth were more and more scanty, and in some places there were patches of shale and rock, on which even an iron-shod hoof would leave no mark. "Yes, it's a wild country," agreed Bud. "I've never been over as far as this, and I don't believe our cattle ever get here. There isn't enough feed," he added, as he looked around. The cavalcade was now in a sort of narrow gorge, or gully, with rocky walls on either side, and only scant vegetation on the bottom, where some bunch grass grew. The water seemed to have disappeared. "They can't drive cattle on a trail like this very far," said Slim, looking about with critical eyes. "And yet they did come in this gulch," said Bud, for the "signs" were still plain. "Oh, yes, they've been here," agreed Slim. "It sure is a queer trail they picked. I don't see--"