“But you’ll make four,” suggested Tom.

“Providing I was going with you, which I ain’t, I’d like to, but I reckon I’d better ride back to my own ranch and see they haven’t lifted any of my cattle.  If they have, I’ll get my boys and take up the trail.”

Realizing from the expressions on their faces that the lads were surprised as well as disappointed at his refusal to accompany them, the horseman said: 

“You all just take my advice and don’t try to follow those raiders into the mountains.  What you want to do is to find Wilder and Snider as quick as you can, providing you won’t go back to your ranch, where you ought to be.”

“Which you can bet your whole outfit we won’t!” snapped Horace.  “We started on this chase and we’re going to stay on it.”

Jeffreys smiled at the determined manner of the young rancher,

“Then join your father as soon as you can.  Don’t try any fool stunt like going into the mountains.  Remember, when you are on the prairie you can sec on all sides of you.”

“Except when you’re behind a crest,” chuckled Tom.

At this reference to the recent contretemps Jeffreys frowned, started to say something and instead dug his spurs into his pony, galloping away without even so much as looking back.

“He’s a fine neighbor—­not,” declared Larry as the trio resumed their way.  “I should have thought he would be only too glad to help your father and Mr. Snider get back their cattle.”

“He isn’t very keen for the Half-Moon,” rejoined Horace.  “Father beat him in a law case over a boundary line once and he’s never forgotten it.”

“And I reckon he won’t forget his meeting with us to-day,” said Tom, grinning.

At the memory of the reception they had given, Jeffreys the comrades had a hearty laugh.

“Still, he gave us some good advice,” asserted Larry.  “I agree with him that the thing for us is to find the Half-Moon and Three Stars crowd as soon as we can.”

“Which seems to be a pretty big order in itself,” mused Tom.  “I say we go and see where they drove the cattle into the hills and then decide.”

This suggestion met with no opposition, and as the boys rode toward the mountains, the wooded sides of which looked inviting because of the relief they promised from the torrid heat of the plains, they discussed various plans, only to discard them.

At last they reached the hills.  Dismounting, they hobbled their ponies, removed the saddles and bridles sticky with lather, and then broke out some lunch which they ate ravenously, despite the fact that their mouths were almost parched.

Greatly refreshed by the food, the boys decided to follow the trail of the cattle till they could get some idea of its direction.

“Let’s go on foot,” suggested Tom.  “The ponies will be all right, the rest will do them good, and we can get through the brush and over the rocks with less noise.”