This time there was none of the wild rushing of the former pursuit. The men clucked quietly to their horses, and, led by Mr. Manley, they rode out of the yard. They were on a grim business, and each felt the responsibility of his position. They were banded together to wipe out a gang of rustlers. A stern task was ahead of them, and they simply proceeded toward it. With most of the punchers riding away with Mr. Manley, the ranch yard of the X Bar X was now a quiet spot. For some minutes Roy and Teddy stood in silence, watching the dust settle. The sky was overcast, and the usual glory of the western sunset was missing. A drizzle of rain was falling, and, turning about, Teddy and Roy entered the ranch house, to eat in more leisurely manner than those who had gone on the chase. Supper was rather a dreary meal. Try as she would, Mrs. Manley could not altogether conceal her anxiety for the safety of her husband. Teddy reached across the table and laid his hand over his mother’s. “Cheer up, Mom,” he said, with a smile. “Dad’s all right. You’ll see him come rushing in here in the morning, saying that they caught the rustlers and is there any coffee and beans left.” “Oh, I hope so,” Mrs. Manley replied, smiling slightly. “It is foolish of me to worry, and I won’t do it any more. Certainly your father can take care of himself. Belle, dear, do be careful of that pitcher! Roy, pour your sister some milk. I know she’ll spill it, reaching in that fashion.” There were those at the X Bar X who did not sleep much that night. Mr. Manley might return at any time and tell of success--or failure. Many times Teddy and Roy leaped up from their beds, where they were lying fully dressed, and ran to the window, only to find that the noise they had heard was the wind blowing a shingle across the yard or a horse in the corral rubbing against the rails. The drizzle stopped, though the sky remained cloudy and a cold wind blew. At one o’clock the boys heard a tapping on their door. Opening it quickly, they found their mother standing there. “I wondered if you were asleep,” she said, with a little smile. “Now, this won’t do at all. We can’t have you wasting your strength, you know. Come down to the kitchen with me, and I’ll make some cocoa. Then you’re going to take off your things and get in bed--even if I have to tuck you in as I used to, not so long ago. In the morning you have to take Belle over to the 8 X 8, and, after that, there’ll be plenty of work to do. So you need all the rest you can get. Come now, we’ll get the cocoa made, then it’s to bed with both of you!” “But don’t you want us to wait up for dad, Mother?” “No, Roy. When he comes I’ll call you. You must get your sleep. My, listen to that wind!”