“Not a sign of him,” he said regretfully. “Let’s get our broncs, Roy, and ride around here! There may be something to that theory of yours about the gang’s headquarters.” The boys ran quickly to where they had left the horses. Teddy half expected to find them gone, but they were not, and, in a moment, the two young ranchers were mounted, having taken their rods apart and slipped them into a case as they ran. They rode toward the place they had seen the figure and examined the earth for hoofprints. These they easily discovered. “He went this way,” Roy declared, pointing. “We can ride along and see what we can find. It’s toward home, anyway.” “I’ll bet anything that was Froud on Flash!” Teddy remarked, almost to himself. “When he saw us he beat it. Let’s follow up these tracks, Roy.” The boys cantered along, eyes upon the ground, easily tracing the marks in the soft earth near the side of the stream. For about a mile they rode. Then they were halted. The tracks led directly down into the stream. “That stops us,” Roy declared, in a disappointed tone. “He may have gone any place from here. Most likely he doubled back and crossed to the other side. Well, that’s that! Another failure!” “But I’m sure it was Flash he was on!” Teddy said in a positive voice. “I couldn’t be mistaken there. We’ll hurry back and tell dad. Maybe he’ll want to go after the skunk.” The day was drawing to a close, and the two boys started homeward. Roy had not forgotten the fish, and these hung from the pommel of the saddle, giving the horse many uneasy moments trying to figure what those cold things were that kept tapping him on the side. Teddy was really disappointed that they had not succeeded in catching the lone horseman, but Roy still had his doubts about the fellow being Froud. Little was said concerning the incident, however, until the boys reached the ranch yard of the X Bar X. There all was confusion. Punchers were rushing about, catching their ponies and throwing saddles on with almost indecent haste. The corral was nearly empty of horses. Mr. Manley stood in the center of the yard issuing orders. As the brothers rode up they eyed this strange scene with puzzled frowns. “For Pete’s sake, what’s all the shooting for?” Teddy inquired. “Blamed if I know!” Roy answered. “Looks as if everybody was going some place! Hey, Dad, what’s the trouble? Why all the fuss?” “Didn’t you hear?” Mr. Manley called out. “Where’ve you been-- Oh, that’s right, you’ve been fishin’. Well, we got some bad news from the 8 X 8.” “What do you mean?” came from Teddy quickly. “Have they been raided again?” “That’s just what happened!” the boys’ father declared. “Rustlers got away with a hundred head of their cattle last night, an’ plugged two of their men! We’re ridin’ out after the thieves--the whole 8 X 8 outfit an’ us! This time we stay ridin’ till we round up that gang, too.”