The Lone Ranger gripped the trembling hand of the girl firmly. "Please don't jump to conclusions," he admonished her. "We're not going to take a thing for granted." "But everything else they said was true. That _must_ be what they've been doing to steal the cattle. The stock here haven't increased in numbers a great deal. Lonergan told the truth about everything else." "We'll see." "And that horse that came up. Someone has returned from Red Oak." The masked man shook his head. "No one has come from Red Oak yet. That horse you heard was Silver. I sent him after my friend." "Me come." Penny turned sharply and saw Tonto standing in the doorway. The Indian looked troubled. "You come quick," he told the Lone Ranger. "There plenty trouble. Tonto tell you." The man in the mask nodded quickly. "Remember that bullet," he told Penny. "Don't worry and take good care of those kids upstairs. You have plenty of loaded weapons here. If those men below make trouble, shoot a warning through the floor." The Lone Ranger left the room and went outside with Tonto. Chapter XIX ANNOUNCEMENT EXTRAORDINARY Tonto was visibly agitated by something that had happened while he lay hidden in the darkness near the clearing. The Lone Ranger glanced over his shoulder at Penelope, on guard in the house, then closed the door. "Plenty happen," said Tonto. The Lone Ranger interrupted, "Just a minute." He looked toward the bunkhouse, still brilliantly lighted, and then at his prisoner. Yuma was regaining consciousness, and squirming about uneasily in his uncomfortable position. "Could you hear what was said inside, Tonto?" The Indian nodded, and once more started to speak. "Before you tell me what happened in the clearing, let me tell you about a murder down here." The Lone Ranger hurriedly sketched the recent grim events, making no effort to soften his voice so that his prisoner couldn't hear. He didn't mention the document taken from Penny, but he did tell about locking the killers in the cellar. "Now," he finished, "tell me, did that man who passed me find Rangoon?" Tonto said, "That right. Him come to clearing. Rangoon call. Him stop." The Lone Ranger noticed that Yuma had stopped squirming. He seemed to be listening intently to what the Indian said. Tonto explained how the unknown rider had dismounted and had talked for a few moments in an undertone to Rangoon. Their voices were too soft for the Indian to get the gist of the conversation, and he dared not move closer for fear of detection. The unknown rider had then untethered Rangoon's horse. A moment later a shot was fired and hoofbeats signified the fast departure of both horses, one ridden by the killer, the other led. It had been too dark for Tonto to distinguish anything. He didn't even know which man had been shot until he struck matches and identified Rangoon. When Tonto finished his narration, Yuma broke in impatiently.