“We’ll be good for another hour, and that’s all,” Roy declared. He had to keep a tight rein, for Star, keyed up as he was to the pitch of excitement, would have taken his opportunity to run fiercely until he dropped from exhaustion. But Roy was a wise rider. The horses were cantering, but not with that abandonment which means a mile or so at top speed, then the finish. They might find the Jarmey place easily. And, on the other hand, they might have to look for hours. They rode along, neither boy saying much, with a strange feeling that this journey was to be endless, that they were fated to ride forever over the moon-bathed prairie, up hills, into valleys, skirting groves of poplars and evergreens, now and then leaping small streams. What neither realized was that, from lack of sleep and food, they were getting a trifle light-headed. “Must have moved it,” Teddy said suddenly, and laughed shortly. Roy looked at him sharply. He pulled Star nearer to his brother’s horse and, leaning over, rested a hand on Teddy’s arm. “Feel all right, old boy?” “Me? Sure! Why shouldn’t I? Throat is dry and got a little headache. When I see Mob Jamisson again I’ll give him a headache! Where in thunder are we going, any how?” “To the old station at the Jarmey place.” “Oh, snakes, I know that! I mean are we headed in the right direction?” Teddy did not hear the sigh of relief his brother gave. But when Roy spoke his voice had a note of hope in it. “I think so, Teddy. We’ll soon know, anyway. If I’m right it’ll be over the next hill. We’ve been going upgrade for the last half hour, and the station is pretty high--Pop told us that.” He stopped and peered ahead. It was fully three hours since they had left the camp of the rustlers. All that time they had been riding with hope of success driving them on. For the first time Roy felt a wave of lassitude sweep over him. Savagely he fought it off and gritted his teeth. This was no time for sleep. Sleep! What had he thought of that for? Sleep! How pleasant it would be to let his head drop forward and drift off--off-- “Hey! Come out of it! Buck up there, boy! We’ve got plenty ride ahead of us. Don’t cave in like that!” “Huh? You talk--talking to me? Oh! Hang it all, I did doze for a minute, didn’t I?” Roy shook himself and sat straighter in the saddle. “That sock on the head must have made me a bit goofy. I’m O.K. now. Golly, Teddy, I think we’re almost there! Listen! Can you hear anything?” Teddy pulled his pony to a sliding stop and strained his ears. Then he uttered an exclamation. “Cattle on the march! Over to the left! We’re on time, Roy! We’re on time! Head for the station!” “Straight ahead, isn’t it? Can we make that hill? Take a good start up. Now--” Teddy felt Flash rear and leap forward. The loose stones gave a precarious footing, and for a moment the boy feared that the pony would go over backward. But he recovered himself, and lowering his head plunged onward.