The four set off across country, after having pulled the canoe up out of reach of the water. As they walked, they turned frequently, as though they expected to find the missing cattle. The way was long, but evening brought coolness, and they were not tired when they came in sight of the ranch house. Jake Trummer’s place was like a hundred others in the state. The low, broad building where the “boss” and his family lived, the high-fenced corral; the bunk-house; and, separated a little from it, the cook house. A few horses were in the corral, and among them Teddy recognized the bronc Nat Raymond usually rode. “All here but General,” Roy murmured. “You said you saw him out on the range, Pop. Then dad must be inside.” Coming nearer the ranch house, a mutter of voices reached them. Loud above the others, sounded Jake Trummer’s, with his repeated: “You hear me, now--you hear me!” “Hot times,” Bug Eye remarked. Then they reached the side steps, and another speaker interrupted. The voice was low, but vibrant. “That’s dad,” Roy said tensely. “He’s good and mad about something.” “Jake Trummer,” Mr. Manley was saying, “I’ve known you for a long time. An’ I never thought you’d pull a low-down trick like this.” “Bardwell Manley, you go careful! I kin only stand so much! You’re at my house, my guest, an’ as such I respect you. But you hear me when I tell you I didn’t touch your dogies, an’ I mean it. An’ if you’re wantin’ to call me a liar to my face, start now!” “But, Jake you tole me you’d drive ’em into the river, an’ when I get here they’re gone! What would you say in a case like that? Don’t it _look_ as if you’d done it?” “But I tell you I didn’t! They was there last night. To-day they was gone. That’s all I know about ’em.” “Well--” Mr. Manley shook his head, and at that moment Roy bounded up the steps. “Dad! We’re here at last. Had a tough time of it.” “Roy! Teddy! Glad to see you, boys. I was beginnin’ to worry, but I figured you might have been delayed on account of the storm. And now you’re here--” he spread his hands expressively--“we might as well turn around an’ go home. The cows are gone. Trummer--” “Wait, Dad,” Teddy said quickly. “You’re wrong. Mr. Trummer had nothing to do with the cattle being stolen.” “Stolen! How do you know that? Who stole ’em? Jake Trummer--” “Give the boy a chance, Bardwell!” Mr. Trummer interrupted testily. “He knows more about it than you do. Let him speak.” “It’s just this,” Teddy went on, with a look at the others. “Two nights ago we camped by the stream, because the storm came up, and we couldn’t see our way clear to taking a chance on keeping afloat. Late at night--at least it seemed late--Roy and I walked down to the river, leavin’ Pop an’ Bug Eye by the fire. That right, Pop?” The veteran nodded. “Yuh tell it, Teddy. Yuh know more about it than what I do.”