“Now I happen to know--never mind how--that old man Trummer went to Manley an’ told him if the dogies weren’t off there soon he’d drive ’em into the river. That was two or three days ago. Manley started out to round ’em up. But he went overland, so he’ll be some time gettin’ there. That’s where we come in.” “And so do we!” Teddy whispered. “Roy, get this!” “We’ll keep goin’ now,” Denver continued, “an’ take a little rest in the morning just before we hit the rapids. Then we take our time with the cows. Mike said he’d have ponies waitin’ for us. We drive the cows off Trummer’s range, hide ’em somewhere, an’ when Manley comes up, his Durhams are gone, an’ he says Trummer drove ’em into the river, like he said he would! What could be simpler?” “You sure got it down pat, Denver,” said a third voice. “Lucky for us that storm came up. All we have to do is to sit back an’ drift along--make good time, too.” “You allus was a great feller fer work, Porky,” Denver said contemptuously. “How you ever--” The voice died away. Bunk had evidently steered the canoe further from the shore, and the murmur of the still turbulent waters drowned out the words that followed. Teddy turned excitedly to Roy. “Did you hear that?” he whispered. “Come on! Let’s get the gang! Rustlers, that’s what they are! After our cattle! And they’ll beat us to it, unless we can nab ’em!” Roy had already turned and was running toward their camp. “See to the canoe!” he called over his shoulder. “I’ll get the others. Take out all the stuff except the rifles. We’ll get those waddies yet!” Realizing that haste was imperative, Teddy stumbled toward the canoe. Frantically he started to unload. Heedless of consequences, he threw the articles right and left, concentrating on the job of emptying the craft as soon as possible. Every moment the rustlers were getting farther and farther away. “This is our chance to save the cattle,” the boy panted, as he tossed out the last can of foodstuff. “The dirty rustlers! Trying to frame Trummer, too. If I could only--” Seizing hold of the boat, he sought to pull it to the water’s edge, but the task was too much for him. Gasping, he finally desisted, and at that moment Roy, Bug Eye and Pop Burns appeared. “All right, boys!” Roy exclaimed. “In she goes--ho! Teddy, take the front! Grab this paddle! I’ll stay in the stern! Bug Eye, you and Pop keep those rifles loaded--we may need ’em!” The canoe was in the water now, and swung about madly. The current was stronger than they had imagined. “With luck, we’ll catch up to them soon!” Teddy panted. “If we can get close enough before they know we’re comin’--” Roy did not reply, needing all his energy to keep the boat straight. The larger craft received the full force of the stream, and also it was much less heavily weighted than it had been. “Want me to--” Bug Eye began. But when he saw, by the moonlight, the lines of intense effort in Roy’s face he stopped. This was no time for talk.