LITMIR.BIZ

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the cowboys were not very refined, and to them such a fist-fight seemed a great thing.

      There were a number of letters for those at Star Ranch, including two for Dave,--from his father and from Ben Basswood. With the epistles in their pockets, Dave and Sid Todd started on the return to the Endicott place. They had to follow, for some distance, the trail taken by Link and Snogger, their road branching off after the bridge over the river was crossed.

      Considerable time had been lost waiting for the train and because of the set-to with Merwell, and the sun was now going down over the mountains in the west, casting long shadows over the plains.

      "You'll have a late supper to-night," said Todd, as they moved on at a brisk pace. "And I reckon you'll have an appetite for it. The way you polished off that cub was great!" And he shook his head enthusiastically.

      "I wish you'd do me a favor, Todd," returned Dave.

      "Sure thing, son. What do you want?"

      "Please don't say too much at the ranch about the fight. I don't want to scare my sister and the other girls."

      "Can't I tell the boys how you polished off young Merwell? Most of 'em will be glad to hear it."

      "Well, don't say too much, that's all. If they learn that Link is on the watch to do harm, the girls will be almost too afraid to go out."

      "Do you think that cub would be mean enough to harm the gals?"

      "He'd be mean enough to scare them half to death."

      "If he does that--well, I reckon I'll take a hand in lickin' him myself."

      "We came out here to have a good time, and I want to forget Link Merwell, if possible. But I'll keep my eyes open for him--and I'll tell Phil and Roger to watch out, too," added Dave, soberly.

      Sid Todd was anxious to know more of Link's doings at Oak Hall, and Dave told how Link had tried to get Gus Plum and himself into trouble. He did not mention the trouble Laura and Jessie had had, for he did not wish to drag the names of the girls into the affair.

      "He sure is a bad egg," said the cowboy, at the end of the recital. "Keep an eye on him by all means."

      By the time they reached the vicinity of the bridge it was quite dark. Remembering the bad condition of the structure spanning the stream, Sid Todd cautioned Dave to let his horse walk.

      "Look!" cried the youth, a second later, and pointed around a rise of rocks to the bridge. He had seen two figures leaving the structure. They disappeared behind a high clump of brushwood.

      "What did you see?" questioned Todd, who had been gazing off to one side of the trail.

      "Two persons on the bridge. They just ran away into the bushes."

      "On foot?"

      "Yes."

      "Humph! Didn't know anybody was out on foot around here," mused the cowboy. "Sure it wasn't a bear, or some other animal?" And he felt for his horse-pistol.

      "No, they were men, or boys," answered Dave. "They ran off the bridge the minute we came in sight."

      "Huh! I wonder if it's possible them hoss-thieves is around again."

      "Have you horse-thieves in this territory?"

      "We sure have. Lost two hosses last spring and two last summer. I'll have to tell the boss about seeing them fellows. But maybe--say, hold on, Dave."

      "What now?"

      "I may be mistaken, but--don't go on the bridge on hossback."

      "Why not?"

      "I'll tell you--after I've examined the bridge," answered Sid Todd, and in a manner that mystified Dave very much.

      CHAPTER XVI

      A MEETING ON THE TRAIL

      Arriving at the bridge, Sid Todd told Dave to halt, and the pair dismounted. As they did so they heard a sound in the bushes beside the stream. They looked in the direction, but saw nobody.

      The cowboy had drawn his pistol, and with this in hand he walked closer to the bridge. His eyes were on the planking, and presently he uttered an exclamation:

      "The rascals!"

      He pointed to two of the planks, and Dave saw that they were loose and so placed that the slightest jar would send them down into the stream.

      "Do you think those men I just saw did this?" questioned Dave.

      "Certainly they did! They ought to be hung for it, too!" answered the cowboy, wrathfully.

      "But what for--to cripple our horses?"

      "Either that, or to cripple us. Dave, we've got to be on our guard. If those hoss-thieves are watching us----"

      "I don't think they were horse-thieves, Todd."

      "You don't? Then----" The cowboy broke off into a low whistle. "Do you mean to say Link Merwell would play such a dirty trick?"

      "Yes, I do. You haven't any idea how that fellow hates me."

      "Hum!" mused Sid Todd. "Well, maybe, but I thought it must be the hoss-thieves."

      "Why would horse-thieves want to hurt our horses?"

      "They wouldn't want to do that, but they might be thinking our horses would fall and throw us. But I see that reasoning is weak. Maybe it was young Merwell--and Hank Snogger. If it was, they ought to be punished good an' proper, hear me!" went on the cowboy, with emphasis.

      "I am going to look around the bushes," went on Dave, determinedly.

      "Look out that you don't get into trouble, son. Anybody who would do this would do worse."

      Dave had seen a heavy stick lying beside the road, and arming himself with this, he walked to the bushes and around them. In the soft soil he made out a number of hoof-prints, and he called Todd's attention to these.

      "On hossback, both of 'em," said the cowboy, after an examination. "Dave, you was right," he announced, a little later. "It must have been Merwell and Snogger, fer see, they have taken the old trail along the river. That leads to another trail that runs to the Merwell ranch."

      "Well, they are gone, that's certain," answered the youth, after another look around. "We may as well be on our way. But we ought to mend the bridge."

      "We'll do that,--an' post a warning, too," said the cowboy.

      Not without difficulty, they managed to fasten the planks into place once more. Then, at either end of the rickety structure, they set up a stick in the road.

      "That's the usual warning in this country," explained Todd. "It means 'Go slow and look out.'"

      When the pair arrived at Star Ranch they found the boys and girls waiting for them.

      "You must have walked back," said Belle. "We have been waiting for you ever since we heard the locomotive whistle."

      "Oh, we had to stop to fix the bridge," answered Dave, and then handed around the letters, which instantly claimed attention, so no more questions were asked. Then the Crumville youth had supper, and by that time it was late enough to go to bed.

      "You've got a cut on your cheek, Dave," said Phil, when the three boys were undressing. "Did you scratch yourself?"

      "Thereby hangs a tale, Phil," quoted Dave, and then, in a low voice, told of the encounter at the railroad station, and gave the true particulars of the trouble at the river.

      "It's the same old Link!" murmured Roger. "We'll

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