A shrill whinny suddenly sounded outside. "Hullo, what's the matter with Ranger?" exclaimed Mr. Mayberry, springing up, followed by Rob. Outside the hut the boy saw a strange sight. The splendid horse was gazing about him apprehensively, and stamping the ground impatiently. His nostrils were dilated, showing red inside, and his whole appearance was one of intense nervousness. "What's the matter with him?" asked Rob, noting in a swift glance that Mr. Mayberry's face had become suddenly clouded. "Well," said Mayberry succinctly, "there are only two things which make him act like that--Indians and bears--and I reckon there are no bears about right now. "But Ranger scents danger," he went on. "I am certain of it. Old horse, you'll have to carry double, after all." CHAPTER XIX. BLACK CLOUD'S VISIT. It was mid-afternoon of the day following the start of Mr. Mayberry and Rob, riding double, from the shanty in the lonely basin. Gathered in the big living room of the ranch house of the Harkness range was a cheerless little group, consisting of the Boy Scouts of the Ranger Patrol, Mr. Harkness and several cow-punchers, including Blinky. They had returned, disheartened and apprehensive, a few hours before, from a painstaking search of the mountains for a trace of Rob. But they had found absolutely none, and as Mr. Harkness had just said, felt as if they had indeed reached "the end of the rope." "You don't think, then, there is a chance of our finding him?" It was Merritt who spoke. "I'm afraid, much as I dislike to say it, my boy, that we have used up every possible resource at our command," rejoined the rancher. "Then what are we to do? We can't give up the search like this. He may be wandering about in the mountains now." "With nothing to eat," put in Tubby tragically. "I only wish you could suggest something," said Mr. Harkness in a weary tone, that made Merritt ashamed of his querulous speech. "What your experience has been unable to suggest it is unlikely that we could think of," he rejoined. "I've only one thing to say, Mr. Harkness, and that is that we delay notifying his parents in the East till the last flicker of hope has died out." "You mean that we may still hear some news of him?" "I know Rob Blake," rejoined Merritt, "and if he has an ounce of strength he will make his way back." "But the tracks of the big bear?" "Silver Tip," put in Harry. "That looks bad, I know," stubbornly rejoined Merritt; "but somehow I feel that Rob will yet come out all right." "I hope so, I am sure," breathed Mr. Harkness fervently.