THE X BAR X BOYS ON THE RANCH [Illustration: DOWN TOWARD THE ROAD SWEPT THE RIDERS.] -------------------------------------------------------------------- THE X BAR X BOYS ON THE RANCH BY JAMES CODY FERRIS Author of “The X Bar X Boys in Thunder Canyon,” “The X Bar X Boys on Whirlpool River,” etc. ILLUSTRATED BY Walter S. Rogers NEW YORK GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS Made in the United States of America -------------------------------------------------------------------- WESTERN STORIES FOR BOYS By JAMES CODY FERRIS THE X BAR X BOYS BOOKS THE X BAR X BOYS ON THE RANCH THE X BAR X BOYS IN THUNDER CANYON THE X BAR X BOYS ON WHIRLPOOL RIVER THE X BAR X BOYS ON BIG BISON TRAIL THE X BAR X BOYS AT THE ROUND-UP (OTHER VOLUMES IN PREPARATION.) GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK Copyright, 1926, by GROSSET & DUNLAP The X Bar X Boys on the Ranch -------------------------------------------------------------------- CONTENTS I The Road to Eagles II A Disheartening Loss III A Puncher in a Checked Shirt IV A Clue V Rimor’s Place VI The Three Horsemen VII Rattlers VIII The Fall IX Facing a Mountain Lion X Searching XI The Return XII Visitors XIII Norine Entertains XIV Gus Comes Home XV Planning a Dance XVI Bug Eye’s Arrival XVII Pursuit XVIII The Man With the Scar XIX Escape XX The Decision XXI News From the 8 X 8 XXII The Storm XXIII Discovery XXIV Brand XXV The Round-Up -------------------------------------------------------------------- THE X BAR X BOYS ON THE RANCH CHAPTER I THE ROAD TO EAGLES Two boys loped along the winding, dusty road on the way to Eagles. One of them, astride a white-faced mustang, was leading a third horse, a bay, which, though riderless, was saddled and bridled. The day was hot; the road steep and tortuous; and the riderless horse, with head held low, was doing his best to retard the procession. Taking a firmer hold of the leading rein, the boy gave it a jerk forward. “Come up here, General!” he cried. “Where do you think you’re going--to a funeral? Pretty near train time and we still have a good stretch ahead of us!” His companion, a slightly older youth, riding a brown pony, turned in his saddle. “Is he holding back on you, Teddy? Those Spanish bridles make awfully poor leading. I think he’s got a sore mouth. And, if he has, dad’ll find it out quick!” “Boy, don’t I know it! Why,” Teddy Manley added with a chuckling laugh, “I bet dad could tell if General didn’t sleep well the night before. He sure is crazy over this horse!” “I’ll tell a maverick he is!” cried Roy Manley. “Last thing he told me before he left was to be sure to bring General in to meet him. But as far as liking goes, you don’t exactly hate that Flash of yours, I notice.” The other boy grinned and patted the side of his bronco.