"Well, kid, what about it?" greeted the big cowman. "What about what?" "Trouble." Tad smiled broadly. "There does seem to be plenty of it." "And plenty more coming. You'll see more fun before we are clear of this part of the country." "I don't very well see how we can have much more of it. I should imagine we have had our share." "Wait. We'll be here three or four days yet and mebby more," warned the cowboy. Tad went out with the second guard that night. Contrary to the expectations of Big-foot Sanders and some others, the night passed without incident, the next morning dawning bright and beautiful. For some reason the foreman decided, at the last moment, that he would not go to the Ox Bow ranch. Instead, he instructed Big-foot Sanders to take three of the men with him and pick out what ponies they needed from Colonel McClure's stock. They were to bring the animals out to camp where the boys would break them in. Tad set out with them, after a hurried breakfast, leaving his young companions to amuse themselves as best they could. "How far do we have to ride, Big-foot?" asked the lad after they were in their saddles. "Mile or two, I guess. It's been a long time since I was through these parts. There's that church I've been telling you about." "Where?" "There, near the bedding-down ground. Seems as though the boss might have put the cows further away from the place." Tad surveyed the structure with keen interest. The white walls of the old adobe church reflected back the morning light in a whitish glare. About the place he observed a rank growth of weeds and evil cacti, the only touch of life to be seen being the birds that were perched on its crumbling ridges, gayly piping their morning songs. "It looks deserted." "I reckon it is," answered Big-foot. "Anyway, it ought to be. Ain't fit for human beings to roost in." "Humph! I don't believe there is anything spooky about that building. I'm going to investigate, the first time I get the chance. Have we time to stop this morning?" "No; we'll have to be getting along. The ponies we are after will have to be hobbled and got back to camp somehow. I expect we'll have a merry circus with them. If we get back in time for supper we'll be lucky." "That will be fun," exulted Tad. "Mr. Stallings promised me I might break one of them. My pony having been drowned, I should like to break a fresh one for myself." "And break your neck at the same time. I know you've got the sand, but you let that job out, kid. You don't know them bronchos." "I thought you said I was no longer a tenderfoot," laughed Tad. "Sure thing, but this is different." "I'll chance it. You show me the pony I cannot ride, and I will confess that I am a tenderfoot."