“Make your mind easy, Billie,” said Donald, with a firm closing of his jaws together, and a gleam in his eyes that proclaimed the spirit of the prairie boy, “we don’t leave this same village until we’re good and ready, no matter what Mr. Mark Braddon and his crowd think, or want us to do. And if it came to a fight, I’ve got an idea those several cowboys from the ranches would flock to our side, once I told ’em who I was, and that my dad owns the good old Keystone Ranch.” Adrian looked up at that, with a smile on his face. “Now that isn’t half a bad idea, Donald,” he remarked, hastily; “and if I was you I’d just stroll out, and make the acquaintance of some of those same punchers. There are three of them, and they seem to be a jolly lot. Not much danger that they’re in touch with Braddon in his game, whatever it may be.” “I’ll do it, right away,” announced Donald, as he went into the tent to strap on his belt with its dangling six-shooter, without which no cowboy would care to be seen abroad; and waving his hand to his chums, he sauntered off on his mission. CHAPTER XXI. A TREMENDOUS SCHEME. Billie began to tire of lying around, and once more started out to investigate things for himself. He carried his little kodak along with him, for there were a couple of pictures he had thought of which he wanted very much to get, if the opportunity arose, and he could induce some of the Zuni boys, in their peculiar costumes, to pose for him, and he thought that would not be hard for a fellow whom his chums both said had such an insinuating, wheedling way about him. He spent a good hour in the task, while Donald still remained absent; and Adrian put in his time in various ways, now with the horses, and again at the tent. The one who had remained behind was somewhat surprised at seeing Billie hurrying toward the camp after a while, and to note the look of deep anxiety upon the rosy face of the fat chum. “Hello! there, what’s been happening to you now, I wonder?” Adrian remarked, as Billie threw himself down on the ground beside him, seemingly short of breath, for he was panting heavily. He made a gesture to indicate that after he had managed to get in half-way decent shape again, he would proceed to enlighten the stay-at-home chums; and so Adrian had to take it out for a minute or two in vague guessing. “Chances are three to one that it’s got something to do with that same Braddon?” he proceeded to say, presently, when Billie failed to start explaining. A violent nod of the other’s head announced that his first shot had hit the mark in the bull’s-eye. “Don’t tell me he tackled you, and abused you in any way?” demanded Adrian, with a look of gathering anger on his face. Billie shook his head, this time in the negative. Then he seemed to have reached the opinion that he had recovered enough of his breath to explain. “No, it wasn’t that, you see; but what I managed to hear them say,” he exclaimed.