diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:33:51 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:33:51 -0700 |
| commit | 3e2416e3d753bcfb84037a796b63784684a04864 (patch) | |
| tree | fec103ec3d0d30992bf49697c888b394707f6e3c | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 27097-8.txt | 6459 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 27097-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 100724 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 27097.txt | 6459 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 27097.zip | bin | 0 -> 100703 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
7 files changed, 12934 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/27097-8.txt b/27097-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..db42b96 --- /dev/null +++ b/27097-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6459 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Boy Ranchers in Death Valley, by Willard F. Baker + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Boy Ranchers in Death Valley + or Diamond X and the Poison Mystery + +Author: Willard F. Baker + +Release Date: October 29, 2008 [EBook #27097] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY RANCHERS IN DEATH VALLEY *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + + + [Transcriber's note: Extensive research found no evidence + that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] + + + + + +THE + +BOY RANCHERS + +IN DEATH VALLEY + + +OR + +_Diamond X and the Poison Mystery_ + + +By + +WILLARD F. BAKER + + + +Author of "The Boy Ranchers," "The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek," "The +Boy Ranchers in the Desert," "The Boy Ranchers on Roaring River," Etc. + + + + +_ILLUSTRATED_ + + +[Transcriber's note: Frontispiece missing from book] + + + + +NEW YORK + +CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY + + + + +THE BOY RANCHERS SERIES + +By WILLARD F. BAKER + +12mo. Cloth. Frontispiece + + +THE BOY RANCHERS + Or Solving the Mystery at Diamond X + +THE BOY RANCHERS IN CAMP + Or the Water Fight at Diamond X + +THE BOY RANCHERS ON THE TRAIL + Or Diamond X After Cattle Rustlers + +THE BOY RANCHERS AMONG THE INDIANS + Or Diamond X Trailing the Yaquis + +THE BOY RANCHERS AT SPUR CREEK + Or Diamond X Fighting the Sheep Herders + +THE BOY RANCHERS IN THE DESERT + Or Diamond X and the Lost Mine + +THE BOY RANCHERS ON ROARING RIVER + Or Diamond X and the Chinese Smugglers + +THE BOY RANCHERS IN DEATH VALLEY + Or Diamond X and the Poison Mystery + + +_Other volumes in preparation_ + +CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, New York + + + + +COPYRIGHT, 1928, BY + +CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY + +THE BOY RANCHERS IN DEATH VALLEY + +Printed in U. S. A. + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + I. BAD NEWS + II. UNDAUNTED BY FEAR + III. ON THE TRAIL + IV. A NIGHT ALARM + V. THE WARNING + VI. AT DOT AND DASH + VII. SAM TARBELL'S STORY + VIII. THE ROUND-UP + IX. THE QUEER OLD MAN + X. DEAD CATTLE + XI. INTO SMUGGLERS' GLEN + XII. THE ELIXER CAVE + XIII. FRIGHTENED HORSES + XIV. BUD DISAPPEARS + XV. THE SEARCH + XVI. BUD'S STRANGE TALE + XVII. THE AVENGERS + XVIII. DRIVEN BACK + XIX. GAS MASKS + XX. GLITTERING YELLOW + XXI. FALSE SECURITY + XXII. TO THE RESCUE + XXIII. TESTING THE GOLD MINE + XXIV. A STRANGE DISCOVERY + XXV. THE END OF DEATH VALLEY + + + + +THE BOY RANCHERS IN DEATH VALLEY + + +CHAPTER I + +BAD NEWS + +Excited shouts, mingled with laughter, floated on the sunlit and +dust-laden air to the ranch house of Diamond X. Now and then, above +the yells, could be heard the thudding of the feet of running horses on +the dry ground. + +"What do you reckon those boys are doing, Ma?" asked Nell Merkel as she +paused in the act of laying the top crust on a raisin pie. + +"Land knows," answered the girl's mother with half a sigh and half a +chuckle. "They're always up to something. And, now that your Pa is +away----" + +Mrs. Merkel's remarks were interrupted by louder shouts from the +corral, and Nell heard cries of: + +"Try it again, Bud!" + +"You missed him clean, that time!" + +"How'd you like that mouthful of dust?" + +"Git up an' ride 'im, cowboy!" + +Like an echo to these sarcastic exclamations, Nell heard the voice of +her brother Burton, commonly known as Bud, answer: + +"I'll do it yet! Just you wait!" + +"I wonder what Bud's trying to do?" murmured Nell. + +"Oh, run along and look if you want to," suggested Mrs. Merkel, with a +kind regard for Nell's curiosity. "I'll finish the pie." + +"Thanks!" And Nell, not even pausing to clap a hat over her curls, +hastened out into the yard, across the stretch of grass that separated +the main house from the other buildings of Diamond X and was soon +approaching the corral where were kept the cow ponies needed for +immediate use by the owner, his family or the various hands on the big +estate. + +Nell saw several cowboys perched on the corral fence, some with their +legs picturesquely wound around the posts, others astraddle of the +rails. Among them she sighted Dick and Nort Shannon, her two "city" +cousins, who had come west to learn to be cowboys. And in passing it +may be said that their education was almost completed now. + +"Why, I wonder where Bud is?" asked Nell, as she made her way to the +fenced-in place. + +A moment later she received an answer to her question, for her brother +arose from the dust of the corral and started for the fence. He seemed +to have been rolling in the dirt. + +"That's a queer way to have fun!" mused Nell. + +Without making her presence known, she stood off a little way and +watched what was going on. She saw Bud mount the fence near where the +two Shannon boys were sitting, though hardly able to maintain their +seats because of their laughter. + +"Going to try it again, Bud?" asked Dick. + +"Surest thing you know!" snapped back the boy rancher. + +"Wait till I go in and get you a bit of fly paper!" suggested Nort. + +"Fly paper! What for?" demanded Bud. + +"So you can stick on!" + +"Ho! Ho! That's pretty good!" shouted such a loud voice that Nell +would have covered her ears only she knew, from past experience, that +Yellin' Kid did not keep up his strident tones long. But this time he +went on, like an announcer at a hog-calling contest, with: "Fly paper! +Ho! Ho! So Bud can stick! That's pretty good!" + +"Go ahead! Be nasty!" commented Bud good-naturedly as he climbed up +the top rail and perched himself there in standing position while he +looked over the dusty corral that was now a conglomeration of restless +cow ponies. "But I'll do it yet!" + +"I wonder what in the world Bud is trying to do?" asked Nell of herself. + +She learned a moment later. For Bud, after balancing himself on the +top rail, looked across the corral to where Old Billee Dobb was holding +a restless pony, and the lad called: + +"Turn him loose, Billee!" + +"Here he comes! All a-lather!" shouted the veteran cow puncher, as he +slapped his hat on the flank of the pony and sent it galloping around +the inside fence toward the waiting youth. "It's now or never, Bud!" + +"It's going to be now!" shouted Nell's brother. + +Fascinated, as any true girl of the west would be, by the spirited +scene, Nell saw Bud poise himself for a leap. Then she understood what +was about to take place. + +"He's going to jump from the top rail of the fence and try to land on +the back of the pony when it gallops past him!" murmured Nell. +"Regular circus trick that is! I wonder if he can do it? But from the +looks of him I should say he'd already fallen two or three times. +Billee gave him a fast one this round." + +Nell referred to the horse. And it was characteristic of her that she +was not in the least afraid of what might be the consequences of her +brother attempting the aforesaid "circus trick." Nell was as eager to +see what would happen, as were any of the cowboys perched on the corral +fence, and in furtherance of her desire she drew nearer. + +By this time the pony, started on its way by the slapping from Billee +Dobb's hat, was running fast. And its speed was further increased by +what Dick, Nort and their companions, perched up there like rail birds, +did and said. For the punchers, old and young, yelled and yipped at +the steed. + +"Come on there, you boneyard bait!" shouted Snake Purdee. + +"Faster there, you spavin-eyed son of a Chinaman!" roared Yellin' Kid. + +Nort gave vent to a shrill whistle, while Dick, drawing his big +revolver, fired several shots in the air. + +All this had the effect of further alarming the already startled pony +and when it neared the place where Bud was perched on the top rail, +ready to make a flying leap, the animal was, as Old Billee had said, +"all a-lather." + +"Bud is crazy to try anything like that!" exclaimed Nell in a low +voice. Nevertheless she did not call out to stop him, and her cheeks +showed rosy pink and her eyes were sparkling in the excitement of the +moment. + +"Go on, now! Ride 'im, cowboy!" came in stentorian tones from Yellin' +Kid. + +"Oh, I hope he makes it!" voiced Nell, clenching her hands so tightly +that the nails bit into her palms. + +A moment later, as the pony rushed around the confused bunch of its +fellows in the center of the corral, Bud leaped for its back, for the +animal was now opposite him. The pony carried only a blanket strapped +around its middle. And there was nothing for the venturesome rider, or +would-be rider, to cling to but this strap or blanket. + +"If there was a saddle, Bud could make it!" whispered Nell in her +excitement. "I guess that's why he must have fallen the other times." + +For upon his clothes and person Bud Merkel bore unmistakable signs and +evidences of having fallen not once but several times in the corral +dust. + +"Wow!" yelled Dick Shannon. + +"He's on!" cried his brother Nort. + +"And off ag'in!" roared Yellin' Kid. + +Bud had made the leap from the fence, his hands, for a moment, had +grasped the strap around the pony and then his fingers had slipped off. +Likewise the one leg he managed to throw over the steed's back seemed +to be about to slide off. + +But just when it seemed that Bud would fall to the ground, his fingers, +in a last, despairing grip, caught a fold of the blanket. By a supreme +effort he pulled himself up, managed to get one leg over the ridge-like +backbone of the pony and, a moment later, he was sitting upright on the +saddle blanket, both hands under the strap, while his heels played a +tattoo on the sides of the steed, urging him forward at even faster +speed. + +"By golly, he done it!" cried Old Billee. + +"He sure enough did!" echoed Yellin' Kid, reaching for his cigarette +papers and muslin bag of tobacco. + +"That ought to get him something at Palmo," commented Snake Purdee, +referring to a coming rodeo in a nearby town close to the Mexican +border. "Can't do a much more hair-raisin' trick than that!" + +"I didn't think he could do it!" commented Old Billee coming around +from the far side of the corral to join his friends. + +"Well, he tried hard enough before he managed to stick," exclaimed Nort. + +In the excess of her enthusiasm Nell clapped her hands. And Dick, +turning to ascertain the source of the noise, chuckled: + +"Look who's here!" + +"Got a ticket, little girl?" asked Bud, who, having demonstrated that +he could do what he had said he could--leap from the corral fence to +the back of a passing pony--was now slowing down his steed and riding +him back to where the other punchers were perched. + +"I'm a reporter," responded Nell with a smile. "I'm writing this rodeo +up for the papers." + +"Then we'll have to make a press box for you," said Nort. + +He and his brother, with the half score of cowboys, and Nell were +offering their congratulations to the daring boy rancher when a new +voice, floating toward the corral from the direction of the house, +called to ask: + +"What's all the excitement about?" + +"Oh, hello, Dad!" cried Bud, waving his hat toward a well set-up, +bronzed specimen of a western ranchman who was walking slowly toward +the fence. "Did you see me?" + +"I saw you risk your neck, if that's what you mean," answered Mr. +Merkel with a half smile. + +"You should have seen him when he missed!" chuckled Old Billee. + +"Anything the matter, Dad?" asked Bud as he swung himself down off the +saddle blanket and approached his father who was now leaning over the +top rail of the corral fence. Something in Mr. Merkel's face showed +that he had news to impart. + +"You see," went on Bud, "we're all going to do stunts over at the Palmo +rodeo, and I made up this one, of fence jumping, so Dick and Nort and I +could horn in on some of the prizes. But if you don't want me to--" +He paused suggestively. + +"You seemed to make out all right this last time, which is the only +time I saw you," chuckled Mr. Merkel. "But----" + +"You needn't worry about the ranch work, Dad!" interrupted Bud, +eagerly. "It's all been 'tended to. Herd riding, looking after +fences, cattle all shipped off just as you left word when you went away +and all that. We got everything cleaned up and I thought we could take +a little time off to practice for the rodeo." + +"Oh, sure! That's all right!" Mr. Merkel hastened to say. "I wasn't +finding any fault with your bare-back riding. But what I wanted to say +was that I've got a new job for you boys and if you take it on, which I +hope you'll do, you won't have any time for a rodeo." + +"A new job!" cried Nort, eagerly. + +"Anything to do with Chinese smuggling?" asked Dick. + +"No, I'm glad to say it hasn't," went on the owner of Diamond X. "This +is right in the line of your regular work." + +"Then you bought the new ranch; did you, Dad?" asked Bud, for his +father had been away about a week on a mission known only to the +immediate family, but which was now stated by his son. + +"Yes," Mr. Merkel slowly replied, "I took over Dot and Dash, and if +everything here at Diamond X and in Happy Valley is in as good shape as +you boys seem to think, why, I'm going to send you there." + +"Send us where?" Bud wanted to know. + +"To the new ranch--Dot and Dash is its cattle brand--to get it in shape +before winter sets in. You don't mind; do you?" + +"Mind!" joyously cried Bud. "Sure not!" + +"That's good news!" commented Nort. + +"Right-o!" sang out his brother. "Things were getting slow around +here, and if we didn't have the coming rodeo to think about----" + +"Well, then if you're willing to take charge of Dot and Dash for a +while you can pass up the rodeo," chuckled Mr. Merkel. "Not but what +you won't have more excitement, maybe, than if you did try bulldogging +and bare-back riding," he added to his son. "Only it will be sort of +different, and your stunts will be doing some good instead of just +endangering your necks." + +"Aw, there wasn't any danger," murmured Bud. + +"No!" chuckled Snake Purdee. "The dust is pretty soft to fall on," and +his point was illustrated as Bud began whipping some of the accumulated +soil from his chaps. + +"Well, that's what I came out to tell you, the news about buying Dot +and Dash," concluded Mr. Merkel. + +"That's good news for us!" declared Nort. "It will give Dick and me a +chance to show how much we have learned about cow punching since we +came here." + +"Sure, it's good news all right," echoed Dick. + +And then Old Billee Dobb struck in with a few remarks which, most +distinctly, were in the category of bad news. For the veteran puncher +said: + +"Excuse me, Boss," and he looked at Mr. Merkel to ask: "Did I +understand you to say you'd taken over the old Dot and Dash ranch?" + +"That's right, Billee." + +"Is that the outfit not far from Los Pompan, near the Mexican border?" + +"That's the place, Billee." + +"Hum!" The old man seemed lost in thought for a moment. Then he went +on with: "It's in a valley; ain't it, Boss?" + +"Yes, Billee, in the prettiest valley, outside of Happy, that I ever +laid eyes on. It's an ideal place for a cattle ranch. I'm lucky to +get hold of it at the price I did. But Jed Barter was anxious to sell +out and----" + +"'Scuse me once more, Boss," and Old Billee seemed very anxious and +much in earnest now, "but did you hear any rumors or talk about Dot and +Dash before you bought it?" + +"No, Billee, I didn't. What do you mean?" + +"Didn't anybody tell you the local name of the place 'fore you took it +over?" + +"The local name! Why, no. What's the name got to do with it?" + +"Nothin' much, maybe," slowly answered Billee while the boy ranchers +regarded him curiously. "Only Dot and Dash ranch is located in what +has always been called Death Valley, and nobody has ever been able to +make a success of it as long as I can remember. I wish, Boss," he went +on earnestly, "that you'd 'a' told me 'fore you bought this ranch. I'd +'a' put you wise to what it really is--Death Valley!" + +"Death Valley?" echoed Bud Merkel. "What do you mean? Who died there, +and how come?" + +An ominous hush fell over the assemblage of cowboys on the corral fence +and they looked from Billee Dobb to the owner of Diamond X. The bad +news, clearly, had startled him from his usual calm. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +UNDAUNTED BY FEAR + +"Look here, Billee," began Mr. Merkel as he leaned against the fence +for he had just returned from a long journey and was rather weary. "Is +this a joke or are you just stringing me?" + +"No stringing, Boss, and not a joke either. You've bought a ranch in +Death Valley as sure as shootin', and while I wish you good luck I +don't see how you're going to have it--not if Death Valley is like what +it was years ago." + +"You aren't getting my new Dot and Dash ranch mixed up with Death +Valley in the Panamint Mountains of California; are you?" asked Mr. +Merkel. "I know that place--four hundred feet below sea +level--alkali--borax and all that sort of stuff. Do you mean----?" + +"No, I don't mean that Death Valley," interrupted Billee. "This Death +Valley I speak of is only a local name for the region around Los +Pompan. But it's as bad as the other." + +"Suppose you tell me more about it, Billee," suggested the ranch owner. + +"Sounds like it would be a good yarn!" commented Bud. + +"The kind I like to read about," added Nort. + +"This is no _yarn_!" declared the veteran puncher in an ominous voice. +"It's gospel truth. I'll tell you all I know." + +He hitched his heavy chaps around to make his legs more comfortable and +then, selecting a place on the ground, where a shadow was cast by the +cowboys on the fence, Billee Dobb began his narrative. + +But before I give you that, I want to make my new readers somewhat +better acquainted with Bud Merkel and his two cousins. They are the +youths who are to be the heroes of this story, and they first came into +prominence in the initial volume of this series, entitled: "The Boy +Ranchers; or Solving the Mystery at Diamond X." + +In that story was related how Norton and Richard Shannon had gone out +west, from New York, and how they took up life on the ranch of their +uncle Henry Merkel. There they found Bud, who had been among horses +and cattle all his life. Nort and Dick soon assimilated the traditions +of the west, became accomplished riders and able to punch cows with the +best of the hands on Diamond X. The lads from the east also learned +what it was to come to grips with rustlers, led by that notorious half +breed Del Pinzo. + +After having solved the mystery at Diamond X, Bud and his cousins were +given virtual charge of another ranch in Happy Valley, not far from the +main one managed by Mr. Merkel and his foreman Slim Degnan. But even +on what was, practically, their own ranch, the troubles and adventures +of the boys were not over. + +Del Pinzo and others tried more of their tricks and in the succeeding +volumes of the series is related about the water fight, the battle with +more cattle rustlers, how the Yaqui Indians were trailed, and how the +sheep herders were overcome. "The Boy Ranchers on Roaring River; or +Diamond X and the Chinese Smugglers" is the title of the book +immediately preceding the present volume, and in that Bud, Dick and +Nort had some narrow escapes from unscrupulous men. Incidentally they +helped the United States government bring to justice a large Chinese +smuggling band. + +Things on Diamond X had somewhat quieted down after the strenuous days +with Delton and the others, and Mr. Merkel had gone off on a business +trip, the import of which was little known to the boys. He had +returned, as has been related, in time to see Bud leap from the fence +to the back of a galloping horse in preparation for rodeo stunts. + +Then Billee Dobb had made his startling announcement about the ominous +character of the new ranch purchased by the cattleman. + +"Before you spill your bad news, Billee," suggested Mr. Merkel, "maybe +I ought to say a few words about what I've done. But also let me ask +you if this Death Valley of yours is anything more than one of the +picturesque names we have out here in the Golden West. You know we +just naturally run to Dead Horse Gulch, Ghost Canyon and all that sort +of stuff. So if your Death Valley doesn't mean more than those names, +why----" + +"It means a while lot more than just a name, Boss," said the old +puncher solemnly. "It means _real death_." + +"Death to whom, Billee?" asked Bud. + +"To anybody that's foolish enough to try to live there and ride herd," +was the short answer. + +"How about the cattle?" Dick wanted to know. + +"The same thing happens to them as happens to the men," said Billee in +a low voice. "They just naturally die off 'fore they can be shipped to +market. Believe me, Death Valley is a good place to stay away from!" + +"How is it, then, Billee," asked Mr. Merkel, "that nothing happened to +me? I just came from there. I don't buy a pig in a poke. I went to +Dot and Dash and sized the place up before I closed the deal with Jed +Barter. How is it Death Valley didn't get me, Billee?" + +Nothing daunted the old man replied: + +"You didn't stay there long enough." + +"Well, there may be something in that," admitted Bud's father. "But it +won't take me long to tell you boys," and he indicated his son, Dick, +Nort and all the other punchers. + +"For some time past," he went on, "I've had the notion that I wanted to +spread out a little. Neither Diamond X nor Happy Valley is quite large +enough. To make any money in the cattle business nowadays you got to +do business on a large scale. So I've been looking around, and making +inquiries, and in that way heard that the Dot and Dash ranch was in the +market. I'd looked at several others before I got word about this and +didn't like 'em, for one reason or another. + +"But when I got to Los Pompan, which is the nearest town to where Dot +and Dash is located, it struck me that here I'd found just what I was +looking for. The ranch wasn't too near the town, and yet it wasn't too +far from the railroad, and I took the trouble to find out if the +railroad branch line I'd have to use had good cattle pens and loading +chutes. Lots of lines haven't." + +"You spilled a mouthful of good beans right there," commented Snake +Purdee. + +"So," resumed Mr. Merkel after nodding at Snake, "liking the first +once-over I gave the ranch, I investigated further. It had plenty of +good grazing ground, lots of water, and there's a range of hills that +will keep off the cold winds in winter. Barter's cattle--what I saw of +'em--looked to be in good shape. So, having satisfied myself, I made +him an offer for the place, we dickered a bit and then closed. So he +vamoosed off Dot and Dash and I went on and took possession." + +"But did you come away, Dad, and leave no one in charge?" asked Bud, in +surprise. + +"Oh, no," was the answer. "I hired Tim Dolan, the foreman who worked +for Barter, to remain in charge until I could send you boys down to get +your hands in." + +"Was this here Dolan anxious to stay?" asked Billee, slowly. + +"Well, no, now you mention it, he did seem in a hurry to get away," +admitted Mr. Merkel. "Though I didn't pay any attention to it at the +time. He said he had another job, and----" + +"Most everybody that goes to Death Valley does get another job," +commented Billee, dryly. "But go on, Boss." + +"Well, that's about all there is to tell," said Mr. Merkel. "I bought +Dot and Dash and hurried home here to get Bud, and some of the boys to +go down and take charge. And when I get here I find you practicing +circus stunts." + +"I'm through that stuff, Dad, if you got a real job for me!" exclaimed +Bud. + +"You'll get a real job all right, and then some," muttered Old Billee. + +"Go on! Spill it!" begged Bud. "What you talking to yourself for? +Broadcast it, Billee!" + +"Oh, I'll tell you all I know, if your father is through," voiced the +veteran puncher. + +"Yes, I'm through, Billee," said Mr. Merkel. "Let's hear your good +news." + +"'Tain't good news, and there's no use pretendin' it is!" snapped the +aged cowboy. "If I'd known you was dickerin' for any ranch near Los +Pompan, Boss, I'd 'a' told you to lay off. But it's too late for that +now, it seems, so I can only warn you to keep away." + +"But I've bought it and paid for it. Barter has my money and----" + +"Let him keep it, Boss." + +"And lose the ranch and the cattle on it?" + +"Better to lose your money than to lose your life," muttered Billee. +"As for the cattle, you'll find fewer of 'em there when you go back +than you left there." + +"Oh, stop croaking, Billee, and spill the beans!" begged Nort. + +"'Twon't take long," Billee answered. "I forget just how many years +ago it is," he said, looking off toward the distant hills that bordered +Diamond X, "when, in the course of my wanderings, I struck Los Pompan. +There was a ranch there then, called Dot and Dash, just as there is +now, but it was run by a fellow named Golas. Maybe he was a Mex. +Anyhow I signed up with him and started to ridin' herd. But I didn't +stay long." + +"Couldn't you hold down the job?" chuckled Babe Milton, who was Slim +Degnan's assistant, and as fat as Degnan was lean. + +"None of your wise cracks!" snapped Billee. "I can cut out a bunch of +cattle better'n what you can any day and I'm a heap sight older 'n' +wiser. No, the reason I quit was on account of what kept happenin' at +Dot and Dash." + +"And what happened?" asked Dick. + +"Death is what happened!" said Billee, solemnly. "Mysterious death!" + +"Death can happen on any ranch," observed Mr. Merkel quietly. "We +have, unfortunately, had deaths here." + +"Yes, but they were natural deaths!" declared Billee. "And they didn't +keep happenin' one after another like at Dot and Dash." + +"How many deaths were there?" Bud wanted to know. + +"I don't rightly remember, but there was plenty." + +"You said they were mysterious," commented Nort. "In what way?" + +"That's what nobody could find out," resumed the veteran puncher. +"First some poor devil of a puncher would be found dead off in some +lonely swale. Then we'd find a bunch of cows stretched out, and then +we'd find another dead man." + +"Rustlers," suggested Slim. + +"Rustlers nothin'!" scoffed Billee. "Rustlers drive off cattle--they +don't kill 'em--what would be the good?" + +"I meant the rustlers did up the cowboys," suggested the foreman. + +"Well, if these fellows, who were found dead, got shot, why wasn't +there bullet holes in 'em?" asked Billee, teasingly. + +"Wasn't there?" asked Dick. + +"Not a hole." + +"How about a knife thrust?" Nort wanted to know. + +"Not a scratch or any kind of mark on 'em!" declared the old man. "And +yet their faces showed they'd died in agony. That's what I meant by +mysterious deaths." + +"It does sound rather queer," admitted Mr. Merkel. "But didn't you +find out what caused all this, Billee?" + +"No, Boss, I didn't stay long enough. And neither did nobody else I +ever heard of, who worked at Dot and Dash. I vamoosed." + +"Well, maybe there was something queer about the ranch years ago," +admitted Mr. Merkel. "But that doesn't say, because fifteen or twenty +seasons back something queer happened, that it's still going on." + +"Oh, but it is!" declared Billee. "Not a month ago I met a puncher who +was lookin' for a job. He come here but I knew we was full up so I +told him to go over to Circle T, and he done so. But he'd been down +Death Valley way recent like, and he said it was just the same." + +"You mean about mysterious deaths?" asked Dick. + +"That's it, boy! So what I says is, lay off that place, Boss!" + +"Hum!" mused Mr. Merkel. "It doesn't sound very jolly. I don't want +anybody to take any unnecessary risks and yet I hate to lose my money." + +"You shan't lose it, Dad!" cried Bud. + +"What do you mean, son?" + +"Just this! Dick, Nort and I will go down there! We aren't going to +be scared off by any of Billee's tales! We're not afraid; are we?" + +He looked at his fellow boy ranchers. + +"Nothing to it!" declared Dick, valiantly. + +"Let's go!" cried Nort, eagerly. + +Undaunted by fear, the three lads ranged themselves alongside of Mr. +Merkel, waiting for his word. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +ON THE TRAIL + +Slowly the owner of Diamond X began to speak. + +"That's just about what I'd expect of you boys," remarked Mr. Merkel +with a smile as he surveyed the lads. "But I can't let you run your +heads into a noose." + +"That's just what they would be doing if they tried to ride herd in +Death Valley," came ominously from the veteran puncher. + +"Watch me get him!" whispered Bud to his cousins. Then, addressing Old +Billee he went on: "I don't reckon, if we hit the trail for Dad's new +Dot and Dash ranch--I don't reckon you'll come with us; will +you--Billee?" and he drawled the last few words with a wink at Nort and +Dick. + +"Who, me? Go out there with you if your Pa thinks he'll let you? Is +that what you asted me?" demanded Billee Dobb, sharply. + +"You heard me the first time!" chuckled Bud. "What say?" + +"Course I'll go with you an' you know it!" snapped the old man. "Hu! +What you think I am, anyhow?" + +"But you just said you vamoosed from Death Valley because you were +afraid," said Bud. + +"Well, what I mean I _was_ afraid!" admitted Billee. "It was a mighty +skeery feelin', I'm tellin' you, to start out in the mornin' an' not +know whether you'd come acrost some dead puncher 'fore you'd ridden +half way round the herd. I sure was scared!" + +"Then why would you be willing to go back?" asked Nort. + +"To look after you kids--that's why--if so be your Pa thinks it fitten +to send you out to Dot and Dash. An' you heard me, too, the first +time!" snapped Billee with a trace of temper which was unusual in his +gentle nature. + +"Well, I don't believe I'm going to send them--that's the answer to one +question," said Mr. Merkel. "After what you told me, Billee, I can't +see that it would be wise to take a chance. I'll put up with my loss, +and----" + +"Did you pay much for the new ranch, Dad?" asked Bud. + +"Well, I thought I was getting a bargain," his father relied. "But +maybe I'm going to be left holding the bag after all. It strikes me +now that Barter was pretty anxious and quick to sell. I ought to have +smelled a rat, but I didn't. And, by and large, it was a pretty good +sum I paid. But, as I said, I'm willing to lose if----" + +"You aren't going to lose, Uncle Henry!" cried Nort. + +"Not if we have anything to say about it!" chimed in his brother. + +"And you got to count on me!" added Bud. + +"The smallest roosters always have the loudest crow!" chuckled Snake +Purdee. + +"Hey, you! Cut that out!" growled Yellin' Kid. "There ain't a yaller +streak in these boys an' you know it!" + +"Course I know it!" chuckled Snake. "I was only kiddin'! Me, I aim to +go 'long with 'em an' see what caused them mysterious killin's. Sure, +I'm goin'!" + +"Go easy, boys!" chuckled Billee. "If you all leave Diamond X, how's +Slim an' Babe goin' to run things?" + +"Don't fool yourselves!" snapped the lanky foreman. "I run Diamond X +'fore any of you fellers ever forked a bronc an' I can do it again." + +"He's got me!" chimed in Babe. + +"Ho! Ho!" chuckled Yellin' Kid. "You must 'a' been readin' the funny +papers!" + +There was an ominous note, now, in some of the voices and Mr. Merkel, +knowing how easily tempers of even the best of punchers are ruffled, +interposed a soothing word or two. + +"This isn't getting us anywhere," he said. "If what Billee states is +true, and I know he is telling the truth as he sees it, or as he heard +it, why, I'm not going to send anybody to Dot and Dash." + +"Oh, Dad!" cried Bud, beseechingly, while Nort and Dick chimed in with: + +"Uncle Henry, we just _got_ to go!" + +"We'll have another talk about it," went on the ranch owner. "This is +all news to me, Billee, and surprising news, too. I don't know what to +do. I wish I had heard some of these stories before I went to Los +Pompan." + +"You'd 'a' heard 'em all right if you had asted me," said the old man, +thoughtfully scratching his head near where a bald spot was plainly +showing. "But I had no idea you'd ever locate there." + +"Oh, I won't _locate_ there!" Mr. Merkel made haste to say. "I'd never +live anywhere else than at Diamond X--my wife wouldn't move. But I +just have to branch out and this struck me as being a good place to +start." + +"Ain't no better place in all the west for raisin' cattle than the +neighborhood of Los Pompan," interposed Billee. "And if it wasn't for +what happened in Death Valley I'd be there yet." + +"But what, actually, did happen?" asked Bud. + +"That's what I don't know--what nobody knows," said Billee, "and that's +what makes it all the more mysterious. Shucks! If we could 'a' found +out what caused the deaths it would have been easy to stop it--whether +it was Indians, rustlers or some disease. But we couldn't find out. +That was the trouble, boys," and his voice sank to a whisper, "we +couldn't find out." + +"Then we will!" cried Bud. + +"You'll do what?" asked his father. + +"We'll solve the mystery of Death Valley. Come on, Dad," he pleaded, +"you just got to let us go!" + +"I'll think about it," was all Mr. Merkel would say, and there was a +more serious air about him than he had worn in many a day. + +Gone, now, on the part of the boy ranchers, was any interest they may +have had in the coming rodeo at Palmo. All their talk and ideas +centered about what the ranch owner had told them, and the bad news +blurted out by Billee Dobb. While Mr. Merkel went in the house, where +he talked to his wife and daughter, speaking only sketchily of the +result of his trip and Billee's remarks, the boys began to question the +veteran puncher. It developed that other hands on Diamond X had also +heard rumors of sinister stories about Dot and Dash. + +"But we never had no reason, before, for speakin' of 'em," remarked +Squinty Lewis. And that, generally, was the sentiment. But though he +could not have guessed his employer was on a mission to Los Pompan, +Billee reproached himself for not having sounded a warning. + +"Do you honestly mean to say, Billee," asked Bud while his cousins +listened eagerly, "that there wasn't any way of tellin' how those +punchers and the cattle died?" + +"Absolutely not, boy!" was the reply. "They'd be all right one day, +and the next they'd be dead." + +"Maybe lightning struck 'em," suggested Nort. + +"Lightning leaves a mark," Billee replied. "Besides, these things--I +mean the deaths--would happen in clear weather. We didn't have many +storms, though lightning did kill some cows and I remember one puncher +who cashed in his chips that way. He was a nasty looking object, too, +let me tell you. But Death Valley don't depend on lightning to get +you. There's some other way." + +"Well, we're going to find out what it is!" declared Bud and his +cousins backed him up so forcefully that, in the end, Mr. Merkel at +last consented to the boy ranchers going to Dot and Dash, at least to +look the place over. + +"I'm not going to ask you to try and sell it for me, so I won't be +stuck," the ranchman said after his decision was made. "I'm not going +to palm off a death-dealing place on somebody the way Barter, so it +appears, loaded me up with it. But I don't yet admit anything is +wrong. However, if you boys find there is, just close up shop and +we'll forget it." + +"No, Dad, we won't!" said Bud in a low voice, but with great +determination. + +"What'll you do then?" + +"We'll find that death-dealing ghost and lay him, or her or whatever it +is!" cried the lad. + +"And we'll be with you from the drop of the hat until the last gun is +fired," cried Nort, while Dick nodded his agreement. + +"Well, I like to hear you talk that way," Mr. Merkel said. "But I do +hope nothing happens," he added anxiously, when the boys left to make +preparations for taking the trail to Death Valley. + +"Something is bound to happen!" said Billee, who had been present when +the decision was made. "But maybe these boys'll be able to beat the +game. They cleaned up the Chinese smugglers and beat the rustlers, so +they may cheat this mysterious death--whatever it is." + +"Hush!" warned Mr. Merkel, for the old man, in the rancher's private +office, had spoken rather loudly. "I don't want my wife and Nell to +hear. They'd never let the boys go, and I'm not sure I should, either." + +"I'm going to be with them," Billee said, as if that meant a lot, and +it really did. + +"I'll send Yellin' Kid and Snake Purdee, too," decided Mr. Merkel. + +"Yes," agreed Billee, "and it's going to be hard to beat that bunch. +Well, maybe the curse has died out, but I'm afraid not--I'm afraid +not," he added with an ominous shake of his head as he went to the +corral to arrange about selecting the horses for the coming trip. + +Los Pompan was about a week's ride, by easy stages, from Diamond X, and +while the trip could have been made by train or auto, the boys decided +to take their horses. Considerable in the way of supplies must be +taken, and, after all, an auto is not of much use, even the +ever-dependable flivver, in riding herd, a round-up or cutting out a +bunch of cattle for shipment. Albeit most of the ranchers owned cars +which came in handy for going to and fro from town, or getting in food +and supplies to the ranch house. + +"We may be able to pick up a cheap, second-hand car after we get out +there," remarked Nort when his brother and Bud were talking plans over +with him a few days before the start. This was after they had decided +to ride their ponies to Death Valley rather than take the rusty and +trusty old Tin Lizzie which they owned and which carried them back and +forth between Happy Valley and Diamond X. + +"Yes, we may need a car to run down this mysterious death-dealing force +that Billee sets such a store by," agreed Bud. + +Final preparations were made. The boy ranchers, with Billee, Snake and +Yellin' Kid were to take over Dot and Dash. Mrs. Merkel and Nell said +their good-byes, happily unaware of the dangerous phase of the +undertaking. As for the boys, they would not admit it was dangerous. +To them it was a great lark. + +"I only hope they'll sing the same tune after they've seen some of the +things I've seen," remarked Old Billee. "But I'll stick by 'em to the +last!" + +"On our way!" cried Bud, the morning of the start, when their ponies +had been saddled and extra mounts, carrying packs, were loaded with +food and supplies. + +"Hit the trail!" echoed Nort. + +"And we'll come back with its scalp!" added Dick, referring, though not +specifically, to the mystery. + +"Good-bye, boys," said Mr. Merkel in a low voice. "And--take care of +yourselves," he added as he clasped firmly the hands of his son and +nephews. "Don't take any risks." + +"No, sir!" they promised. But Mr. Merkel took that for what it was +worth. + +So they were on the trail at last, setting out with high hopes and +light hearts for Death Valley. + +"Where's that outfit heading for?" asked a passing puncher from Circle +T ranch, the nearest to Diamond X, and a place owned by Thomas Ogden, +who was quite friendly with Mr. Merkel. + +"That outfit?" questioningly repeated Babe Milton, sizing up the man +and noting that he was a stranger, "that bunch is going to Los Pompan +to take over a new ranch the boss bought." It was no secret--half the +people around Palmo knew what Mr. Merkel had done, though they had not +heard the sinister reports of Death Valley. + +"To Los Pompan, eh?" murmured the puncher, looking at the cloud of dust +which hovered over the cavalcade of the boy ranchers. "Los Pompan," +and he seemed unusually interested. + +"Know anything about it?" asked Babe. + +"Who, me? Not a thing!" and, putting spurs to his mount he was off and +away. + +"I don't want to be impolite," murmured Babe as he watched the puncher +disappear in a cloud of dust, "but I think you're a liar!" + +Meanwhile the boy ranchers were on the trail. What they would find in +Death Valley not even Billee Dobb could tell. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A NIGHT ALARM + +"Well, Dick, how they coming?" + +Bud Merkel urged his pony up alongside the mount of his cousin and gave +young Shannon a friendly poke in the ribs. + +"Oh, everything's fine, Bud," responded Dick. + +"How about you, Nort?" + +"I'm sitting pretty," was the response from the other boy rancher. + +"That's good," and Bud began to whistle a lively air. "Thought maybe +you were getting tired of the trip." + +"What, so soon? And we've only been on the trail three days!" +exclaimed Nort. "What do you think we are--tenderfeet?" + +"Sure not!" replied Bud. "But this is one of the longest trips we've +ever taken without something happening, and I thought maybe you two +were getting discouraged." + +"Nothing to it!" chuckled Dick. "As you say, nothing much has really +happened, but we've been having a fine time since we started out from +Diamond X." + +"And there's still plenty of time for things to happen before we get to +Dot and Dash and see what Death Valley looks like," suggested Nort. + +"You said it, kid!" exclaimed Snake Purdee who, with Old Billee Dobb on +one flank, and Yellin' Kid on the other, was trailing the three boys +along the rough and dusty trail. "There's plenty of time yet for +things to happen." + +It was their third day of travel since Mr. Merkel had sent the boys and +the older ranch hands off to take possession of his new place +concerning which Billee had told such sinister tales. The first day +was uneventful if you eliminate the fact that the pack of one of the +led horses came loose, spilling the outfit on the ground. But it was +easily salvaged though it took some little time to pursue and rope the +horse who seemed inclined to take a holiday. + +The first night saw the travelers camping under the glorious stars and +though, as a matter of precaution the boys insisted on standing guard, +it was not necessary. Aside from the distant howling of coyotes, not a +sound disturbed their slumbers. + +They traveled on the next day, stopping to cook their dinner over an +open fire and the boys declared they had even beaten Ma Merkel at the +cooking game. Though Billee Dobb was heard to complain that the beans, +which Dick passed to him, somehow lacked the home ranch flavor. + +They were now on their third day of travel, after two uneventful nights +spent in the open, and, so far, nothing had happened. Truth to tell, +Dick and Nort were beginning to get a bit discouraged. They had heard +much about the great and glorious west before coming to live at Diamond +X and the things that happened shortly after they arrived were quite +"up to sample," as Dick used to remark. And in the succeeding seasons +they passed with Bud, riding fence, helping at the round-ups and at the +cutting out of cattle for shipment, enough had taken place to satisfy +any reasonable lad. + +So it was not without reason that Dick and Nort expected something +startling to happen after they had started on this expedition. +Especially after what Billee Dobb had told them concerning Death Valley. + +"But we haven't had any trouble since that one load was spilled," +complained Dick as he and his brother and cousin rode along together. + +"Are you looking for trouble?" chuckled Bud. + +"Well, I'd like enough to keep from getting lonesome," was the reply. +"You take it now----" + +Dick's remarks were suddenly interrupted for, at that moment, his pony +felt its left forefoot slipping into the burrow of a prairie dog. And +in shifting and struggling to keep from going down the pony neatly +shook Dick from the saddle and deposited him in a heap alongside the +trail. + +"Ride 'im, cowboy!" shouted Yellin' Kid. + +"Say, this is no rodeo!" chuckled Bud. + +"Are you hurt?" Nort anxiously inquired, spurring to his brother, who +was scrambling to his feet. The pony, after running on a little way, +came to a stop for the reins slipped down over its head and this was +sufficient signal to cause a halt. + +"Hurt? Shucks, no!" cried Dick. "'Tisn't the first time I've had a +fall." Nor was it. Suddenly leaving the saddle was something a cowboy +must count on any time of the night or day. And there are ways of +falling off gracefully, and without damage, just as there are in +submitting to a football tackle. Dick and Nort had learned how to +protect themselves. + +"Well, something happened then all right!" chuckled Bud as he rode on +to capture Dick's pony and lead him back to the unseated ranch lad. + +"Thanks, but I don't care for just that kind of happening," and Dick +laughed as he vaulted into the saddle and the travelers kept on their +way. Because of the fact that they had with them several led horses, +carrying packs containing food and other supplies, their progress was +necessarily slow. + +"Well, we're half way there, I guess, aren't we, Billee?" asked Bud +when, late that afternoon, they reached a place in a grove of trees +amid the foothills where it seemed a good place to make camp for the +night. + +"Leetle more'n half way," admitted the old puncher. + +"That's good!" sighed Dick. "I'm anxious to see what we'll find in +Death Valley." + +"Do you know, Billee, I've got another idea," remarked Bud as the +horses were picketed and preparations begun for cooking supper. "I +mean about the mysterious deaths of men and cattle you say you saw +while you were a hand on Dot and Dash." + +"Yes, I seen 'em all right!" declared Billee with more force than +grammar. + +"I'm not doubting that," admitted Bud. "Though you don't know what +killed 'em. But I got an idea." + +"What?" chorused Nort and Dick. + +"A poison spring!" exclaimed Bud. "I mean bad water. You know there's +a lot of it out this way, and especially as we get into the mineral +district, where dad's new ranch is located. Maybe there were poison +springs on Dot and Dash, Billee, and the men you saw lying dead, and +also the cattle, might have drunk from them. Couldn't it happen that +way?" + +"Yes, it _could_," admitted Billee with an emphasis which showed his +doubt. "But I never heard tell of no bad water on Dot and Dash." + +"But maybe we can find some," went on Bud. + +"Find bad water--poison springs! Sufferin' horned toads, what you want +to do that for?" roared Yellin' Kid. + +"To prove my point," answered Bud, "and to locate such places and fence +'em off so there won't be any more deaths. If dad is going to develop +this ranch he doesn't want bad water on it." + +"You're right! I didn't think of that," admitted the cowboy. "The kid +may be right, Billee," he went on. + +"Yes, he _may_ be," admitted the veteran with that same emphasis of +doubt. "And it's true enough the Boss wants to develop this new ranch. +He said, if we could get it going, he'd buy a big herd and raise cattle +down there. But first Death Valley has got to be cleaned up, and +that's certain!" + +"And cleaning up Death Valley and solving the mystery is just what we +are going to do!" declared Bud. "How about it, boys?" and he turned to +his cousins. + +"We're with you!" echoed Nort and Dick in chorus. + +After the meal, and as darkness began to fall, the travelers sat about +the campfire, the dancing flames of which cast flickering shadows over +their faces. The men were smoking and the boys talked among +themselves, speculating over the mystery and occasionally listening to +the conversation of Billee, Snake and Yellin' Kid. + +"Well, I'm goin' to turn in!" Billee announced at last as he rose and +started for his blankets. As the air was warm and dry they had not +erected the small tent which was carried. + +"Shall we stand guard?" asked Nort. + +"What in the name of Tunket for?" asked Snake. "What good did it do +you to have sentry-go the other nights?" + +"None," admitted Bud. "Guess there isn't much sense in it." + +"What do you say, Billee?" asked Nort. + +"Anybody what wants to stay awake all night listenin' to them pesky +coyotes has my permission!" chuckled the old man. "As for me, I'm +going to pound my ear," and he prepared to crawl into his bed. + +"We'll let it go," Bud decided and his cousins were not at all averse +to this, for it was no fun for one member of the trio to lose even a +few hours' sleep while waiting to call his relief to take the nest +trick. + +Accordingly, a little later, all six of the travelers were peacefully +slumbering, while the restless horses moved about the length of their +picket ropes, picking what herbage they could reach. + +It happened to be Dick who was suddenly awakened at what he judged to +be the middle of the night. And the manner of his awakening was this. +He seemed to be dreaming that he was buying a new pair of shoes and, +after having tried on several tentative pairs in a shop, the salesman, +who was attired in the full regalia of a cowboy, gave Dick's left foot +a sharp kick as if to indicate that he should remove the shoe from it. + +This kick was so realistic that it awakened the youth and he sat up, +his eyes barely open, but feeling a distinct pain in his left foot. + +"That was some vivid dream," Dick was murmuring to himself when he +suddenly became aware that some one was moving away from him--a dark +figure barely seen in the shadows of the night--shadows cast by the +flickering embers of the fire. And then, in a rush, there came to the +young rancher the meaning of this night alarm. It had been partly a +dream and partly an actual happening. + +Some one had stepped over him as he lay in his blankets and had kicked +his foot, causing the dream to merge into reality. + +"Who are you?" cried Dick sharply, reaching for his gun. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE WARNING + +Flaring up suddenly, a stick, in the embers of the fire which had long +been smoldering, burst into blaze. By the light of this Dick saw the +figure hurrying out of the maze of sleeping bodies in the camp. And +there was light enough to see, though dimly, that the figure was that +of an old man. + +"Billee Dobb, is that you?" cried Dick, lowering the gun with which he +had begun to draw a bead on the moving figure. "What's the matter?" + +But, even as he asked the question his eyes roved to the place where +the old puncher had spread his blankets. And a huddled form there told +Dick that Billee was still sleeping. + +Then, before the boy rancher could again get his gun up, the mysterious +figure that had caused the night alarm slipped out of the circle of +firelight and into the shadows of darkness. + +Hardly sure, even yet, that it was not all a dream, part of the queer, +fantastic vision of the cowboy shoe salesman kicking his foot, Dick sat +there on his blankets, fingering his gun and wondering what would +happen next. + +"Did I see an old man or didn't I?" the boy was asking himself when two +other things happened simultaneously, in the end convincing him that it +was not all a dream. + +One thing that happened was that Billee Dobb himself awakened and sat +up as Dick was doing. + +"What's the row?" the veteran cattle puncher demanded. + +Before Dick could reply there was a disturbance among the tethered +ponies as though something had alarmed them. In a flash it came to +Dick that the intruder he had seen was trying to steal a horse. The +ponies did not dream. When they saw anything they knew it was real. +Accordingly the boy sharply called: + +"A horse thief, Billee!" + +This warning was enough to set any Westerner on the alert in an +instant, for, in spite of the progress of automobiles, the horse is +still, in the cattle reaches of the west, a thing most vitally needed. + +"Horse thieves, eh?" cried Billee in ringing tones. "The varmints! +Come on, boys! We'll get 'em!" + +His cries and the voice of Dick served to rouse the others in camp and +in a few moments Nort, Bud, Yellin' Kid and Snake Purdee had unrolled +from their warm blankets and had grabbed their guns. Bud threw some +light cottonwood on the embers and the blaze that at once resulted +showed objects up fairly plainly, though there was sufficient shadow to +make the picking out of any particular horse thief very difficult. + +"Where is he--which way did he go?" shouted Yellin' Kid. + +"Over there!" and Dick pointed the trail along which they had ridden +that day. Quickly he told his story--how he had been awakened by the +midnight visitor kicking the boy's foot as he strode over him. + +"Come on!" called Snake and in a moment the entire camp was trailing +after him in the direction where Dick had seen the old man vanish. + +But it was like pursuing one of the shadows of the night, and it did +not take long, after emerging from the circle of illumination of the +fire into the blackness of the surrounding night, to impress all with +the idea that a capture was out of the question. + +"How many horses did he get?" asked Bud. "Gee! Why didn't you wake +me, Dick?" + +"I did as soon as I got my wits about me," was the answer. "It all +happened so suddenly." + +"Horse thieves don't generally send word they're comin'!" chuckled +Billee. "But it strikes me you've made a mistake, Dick." + +"A mistake, how?" + +"Callin' this old man, as you say he was, a horse thief." + +"What else was he?" + +"I'm not sayin' he wasn't. But he didn't take any of our ponies. +Count for yourself." + +It took only a few moments to enumerate the riding and pack animals +tethered near the camp and the count was found to total correctly. Not +an animal was missing. + +"Guess you were too quick for him," commented Nort to his brother. +"It's lucky you woke up." + +"It's lucky he kicked my foot!" chuckled Dick. "Lucky for us and +unlucky for him." + +"Somewhat," admitted Billee Dobb. "Well, he come here and he went +away, and we aren't none the worse off as far as I can make out. Guess +I was a little out when I said not to stand guard. But I didn't +imagine we were in horse-thieves' country." + +"Hadn't we better have sentry-go from now on?" suggested Bud. + +"'Twouldn't be a bad idea," admitted Billee. + +"I'll take first shot at it," said Dick. "I'm wide awake now and since +I saw this old man I'll know him again if he comes sneaking back." + +Nort and Bud were as eager to take the first watch as was Dick, but he +insisted that it go to him. So, after another supply of light wood was +placed near the fire in readiness to throw on and produce a quick +blaze, in case of another alarm, the others retired to their blankets +and Dick was left on guard. + +Once more the silence of the night settled over the camp, a silence +broken only by the occasional howl of a distant coyote. Dick made +himself as comfortable as possible and at first he was able to keep +widely awake. Then as the fatigues of the day manifested themselves in +a desire to go to sleep once more he found himself wishing that the +intruder would come back again to furnish excitement to keep him awake. + +But nothing like that happened. The night continued quiet and in due +time it came the turn of Bud to relieve Dick. Later Nort relieved Bud +and finished the night watch which came to an end when a rosy tint in +the east announced, the coming of a new day. + +"Well, you didn't catch anybody I see!" chuckled Billee as he sauntered +down to the water hole to wash for breakfast. + +"No, nothing happened while I was on duty," announced Bud. + +"He knew better than to come while I was sitting up waiting for him," +added Nort. + +"You didn't see anything; did you, Dick?" asked Yellin' Kid of the +remaining sentry. "I mean after the first scare." + +"No, nothing. He didn't come back--whoever he was." + +"Wonder what he came for, anyhow?" mused Bud who had started to follow +Billee to the water hole. + +Suddenly Nort, who was walking near his cousin, stooped and picked +something up off the ground. It was a soiled bit of paper, evidently +part of what had once been a grocery bag. + +"Maybe he came to leave this!" suggested Nort as he turned the paper +over. + +"Came to leave that--what is it?" asked Bud. + +"It's some sort of a warning, I guess," was the answer. "Look!" + +He held the soiled scrap out to the others. The writing was large and +straggling, but it was plain. The warning said: + + KEEP AWAY FROM DEATH VALLEY + IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU. + S. T. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +AT DOT AND DASH + +Silently the little circle of ranchers, young and old, gazed at the +ominous warning Nort had picked up. Yellin' Kid was the first to +speak, following the reading of the message on the dirty piece of bag +paper. + +"Well, I'll be horn-swoggled!" voiced the Kid in his usual loud tones. + +Billee Dobb looked sharply from Nort to Dick and then at Bud. + +"This any of your doin's?" he asked. + +"Our doings! What do you mean?" challenged Bud. + +"I mean you aren't getting up some stunts for the rodeo--oh, I +forgot--that's off," the veteran puncher hastened to add. "But none of +you youngsters did this, I hope." + +"Dropped that warning?" questioned Dick. "I should say not! I didn't +do it!" + +"Nor I!" voiced Nort. "I picked it up, and I can see, Billee, you +might naturally be suspicious of me as one who knew just where to +locate this piece of paper. But I had nothing to do with it." + +"Nor I!" said Bud. "'Tisn't my idea of the right kind of a joke to +play." + +"You never can tell what young fellows will do," murmured Old Billee. +"But I'm glad to hear you three say you had nothing to do with it. +Sort of relieves me." + +"'Tisn't my kind of writing," went on Dick as though he thought, +because he had given the first alarm and had been, in fact, the only +one to view the midnight intruder, that more suspicion might attach to +him as the joker than to any one else. + +"I'm not much on writin' myself," declared Yellin' Kid, "and while I +might say I'd be proud if I could sling a pen the way this feller did, +I want it distinctly understood I didn't have nothin' to do with it." + +"You needn't tell the folks in the next county about it," gently chided +Billee. Then he took the paper from Snake Purdee, who was curiously +examining it, and subjected it to a close scrutiny. + +"Make anything of it, Billee?" asked Yellin' Kid endeavoring to put the +soft pedal on his voice. + +"The writin' ain't that of anybody I know," said the veteran, "and I +can't, offhand, recall anybody whose initials are S.T. But Tim +Mellick, who keeps the store over at Palmo, has paper bags of the same +kind of stuff as this." + +"I don't believe that will be much of a clew," said Dick. "Most paper +bags are alike, and store keepers get their supply of them from a +wholesale house that supplies a hundred customers." + +"No, I don't reckon we can do much toward pickin' up the trail of this +fellow from that scrap," admitted Billee. "So the next best thing to +do is to get breakfust." + +"That's right--let's eat!" exclaimed Snake. + +"But you aren't going to throw that away; are you?" asked Dick as he +saw Billee folding the ragged piece of brown paper containing the +sinister warning. + +"Throw it away? Oh, no! Of course I'm not. I'm going to keep it +until I can find out what it means." + +"What it means is plain enough," said Bud. "Somebody doesn't want us +to go on to Death Valley and Dot and Dash ranch." + +"All the more reason why we should go on there and see what it means!" +cried Nort. + +"That's the talk!" echoed his brother and cousin. + +"If they're trying to scare us away, they'll find we don't scare worth +a cent," added Bud. + +"It goes to prove, though," remarked Dick, "that Billee's story is +likely to be borne out. I mean that there's something queer going on +at Death Valley." + +"Queer is right!" assented Bud. "Though whether this is a warning in +our interests, sent by one who doesn't want to see any of us get put +out of business with the poisoned water, or whether it's a warning to +keep away so we won't discover some crooked business--that's something +we can't answer." + +"Not yet," said Billee Dobb significantly. "But we'll soon be able to. +I've got my mind made up, now. I'm going to see this thing through to +the finish!" and he smote his right fist into his open left hand with a +sound like the report of a small gun. + +"That's the way to talk!" cried Yellin' Kid. "I wish I'd had a sight +of the fellow who dropped that warning," he went on. "He would be +sitting down here now talking Turkey and tellin' what it was all about. +Why didn't you call me first, Dick?" + +"I raised the alarm as soon as I could wake myself up," was the answer. +"But I guess we were all sleeping pretty sound." + +While Snake was frying the bacon and making the coffee, some of the +others cast about the camp in a circle, seeking some clew to the +midnight visitor. But nothing could be found that shed any light on +the mystery. It was evident that the man, whoever he was, had ridden +to the camp, had picketed his horse out some distance and then had +sneaked in among the prostrate, sleeping figures. Evidently his object +was merely to leave the warning, and not to rob or commit some more +serious crime. And his touching the foot of Dick was an accident. +Then, seeing he had caused an alarm, the man slipped away, dropping his +note. + +Puzzle their heads as they did, none of the six could recall any one, +either among their friends or enemies, whose initials were S.T. and +Dick's suggestion, that the symbols of a name were only assumed, seemed +to be generally accepted. + +Breakfast was eaten, camp was broken and once more, after another +casual casting about for possible clews to the intruder, the cavalcade +was under way. But one more night separated them from the vicinity of +Death Valley and the new ranch. + +"And the sooner we can get there and begin checking up on some of the +things we've heard the better I'll like it," remarked Bud. + +"I guess we all will," echoed Nort. + +"I only hope we'll find something tangible, and not a lot more +mysteries," spoke Dick. + +"It'll probably turn out to be poisoned springs or bad water," +suggested Yellin' Kid. "That's the most reasonable explanation." + +"Um!" was all Billee Dobb would reply to that. + +They made rather good time that day, as the trail was now downward for +they had passed the range of low hills outside of the valley. And when +night came, and they were once more camped out, they knew that the +following day would see them at Dot and Dash ranch. + +"What about standing guard to-night?" asked Bud of his cousins when +camp was established and a good supper had been eaten. + +"'Twon't do any harm to have sentry-go," agreed Dick. + +"But the chances are a hundred to one against anything happening to +disturb us," said Nort. "That fellow isn't likely to come back." + +"I agree with you," said Bud. "But, all the same, I think we'll all +sleep sounder if we stand watch and watch." + +"It'll be our turn," declared Snake. "We three old gazaboes will take +turns. You kids had last night. This is ours." + +It was no more than fair and the boy ranchers were glad enough to let +the men act as sentries. So Billee, Snake and Yellin' Kid arranged it +among themselves, leaving the night to uninterrupted slumber for the +three boys. + +"That is, we'll sleep if nothing wakes us," said Bud. + +And nothing did. Nor did any of the cowboys, who took turns staying +awake during the night, report any untoward occurrences. But in spite +of that fact when Bud went to the grub box to get out some bacon he +found, stuck in a pack, a folded brown paper, like the one on which the +other warning was written. And this message was of like import with +the other. It said: + + DON'T GO TO DOT AND DASH. + + +However there was no signature to this. But none was needed to make it +certain that it was from the same hand. + +"Well, what do you know about that!" cried Nort when he saw what Bud +had found. + +"How'd he get in camp to leave that warning without being seen or +heard?" asked Dick. + +"Guess it's up to us," admitted Billee with a sheepish smile. "We old +geezers must 'a' been asleep at the switch. No tellin' which one it +was," he went on, "'ceptin' I'll swear nobody slipped past when I was +on guard." + +"And nobody came into camp while I was sentry," added Snake. + +"That goes for me, too!" came from Yellin' Kid. + +"Then we'll all have to plead guilty," chuckled Billee. "Anyhow here's +the warnin' and it looks as if this fellow, whoever he is, was +follerin' us up to discourage us from going on." + +"Well, he shan't discourage me!" exclaimed Bud. + +"Nor me!" came in a duet from Nort and Dick. + +"That's the ticket! Then we'll go on!" said Billee. "But I would like +to know," he murmured, "how this chap can sneak in and out of a camp +without rousing somebody. I sure would!" + +However there was nothing more to be done. And after making sure no +clews could be picked up, the second warning was placed with the first, +in Billee's big leather wallet, and the travelers prepared to resume +the trail. + +They were now in a wilder and more lonesome country than any they had +ever before visited. It was distinctly the "bad lands," but often in +such a region can be found isolated places where abundant water and +herbage offer ideal sites for cattle raising. + +Such, Mr. Merkel had said, was his new Dot and Dash ranch. And it was +apparent to the boys and their older companions, as they rode along, +that the valley was a good locality for raising cattle. + +"This must be the place," said Bud as they began riding down the +opposite side of the slope they had climbed to cross the low range of +mountains. "It's just as dad described it. I'll show these papers to +whoever's in charge and they'll know we have come to take over the +ranch." He tapped in his pocket a bundle of documents which his father +had given him to show the transfer of authority. + +"Yes, that's Dot and Dash," said Billee as he recalled some of the +familiar landmarks. "This is the place where I used to punch cattle." + +"Seems to be a right nice sort of a place," murmured Snake. "And I +reckon them tales about all the cattle droppin' dead are fakes. Look +at that herd," and he pointed to a collection of dots on a distant hill. + +"Nobody said _all_ the cows died!" retorted Billee. "And maybe the bad +spell, whatever it was, has worked itself out. I hope so. But there's +Dot and Dash all right," and he waved to a collection of ranch +buildings that came into view with a turn of the trail. + +In a short time they had traversed the slope and were on the level and +green floor of a pleasant valley, long and narrow, yet wide enough to +give space to several big ranches. The hills were barren and rugged in +some places, and wooded in others. + +On up to the ranch rode the cavalcade, the thoughts of the boys busy +with many things. It was rather a tamer entry than they had counted on +after Billee's stories and the receipt of the two dramatic warnings. + +"Guess we aren't going to have any trouble after all," said Dick as +they rode their horses to the hitching rail, made the reins fast and +dismounted to enter the main house. + +"It's quiet enough," said Nort + +"'Tis, for a fact," echoed Bud. "Doesn't seem to be anybody around +here for me to serve my possession papers on!" he chuckled. "Hello! +Anybody home?" he called loudly. + +There was no answer save the echoes of his voice through the rambling +building. + +"Give 'em a call, Kid, you can make yourself heard," suggested Snake, +and the yeller let out a ringing shout. + +Still there was no reply and the silence was beginning to get on the +nerves of the boys when Billee, who had been roaming around, came in +with a queer look on his face. + +"What's the matter?" asked Bud. + +"There's a dead man outside in the yard," was the quiet answer of the +veteran puncher. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +SAM TARBELL'S STORY + +This news, so startling, coming as it did after the strange silence +that seemed to wrap Dot and Dash in a pall, and following the talk that +had been going on the last few days concerning the sinister aspect of +the situation, was enough to startle any one. And the boy ranchers +were no exception. + +"A dead man?" gasped Bud. + +"Who is he?" Nort wanted to know. + +"Who killed him?" was Dick's question. + +To these inquiries Old Billee Dobb returned no answer. As for Yellin' +Kid and Snake Purdee, they just stood in the middle of the deserted +living room of the ranch house and stared at the old puncher. Death +did not frighten, nor was it anything new to the cowboys. Yet Billee's +news was startling. + +"Let's go have a look at him," suggested Yellin' Kid, in no whit +lowering his voice as he might reasonably be expected to do under the +circumstances. "Where is he? Do you know him, Billee?" + +"Never saw him this side of sole leather as far as I know," answered +the veteran. "But he's out there by the corral, and here's another +thing. If we're going to turn our ponies loose into that same corral +the fence has got to be mended. 'Twon't hold a yearling as it is now." + +"That can be 'tended to later," remarked Snake. "Let's go have a look +at this poor gazaboo you say has cashed in." + +"It looks as if Death Valley was living up to its name," said Nort to +Bud as he and the other lads followed the men out of the silent and +deserted house. + +"Can't tell yet," was Bud's rejoinder. "This may be just a natural +death, and somebody that has no connection with this ranch. Lots of +passing strangers stop at our place and he may have stopped here." + +"Well, even then, that doesn't say what killed him," protested Nort. + +"We'll soon find out," went on Bud. "Come on." + +Billee Dobb was leading the way toward his startling discovery, and a +moment later the whole outfit from Diamond X came upon the body. It +lay, as Billee had said, near a corral the fence of which was much in +need of repairs. The man was a typical cowboy, with a bright red +neckerchief and sheepskin chaps. His gun had fallen from the holster +and lay beside him. His horse was nowhere to be seen, and a cowboy +without a pony between his legs, or at least in his immediate vicinity, +is like Hamlet with the melancholy Dane left out. + +"There he is," said Billee in a low voice. + +Snake and Yellin' Kid stopped in their tracks. But Bud, who, perhaps, +was too young to feel any squeamishness at the proximity to death, +hurried forward and knelt beside the motionless figure. Seeing what +their chum had done, Nort and Dick started to follow. But they were +halted, when they had almost reached the man, by Bud's voice exclaiming: + +"He isn't dead at all! He's breathing!" + +"He is?" cried Nort. + +"Sure! He isn't dead at all! Get me some water. We ought to have a +doctor, but maybe we can pull him around until we can find one. But +get some water--_pronto_!" + +Dick slung his canteen around, pulled out the stopper and, an instant +later, was kneeling beside Bud and the stranger. Nort helped Bud, on +the opposite side, support the man's head, which appeared to be but +loosely attached to his body and the boys finally succeeded in forcing +a little water between the almost lifeless lips. + +"We ought to have some sort of a stimulant," said Bud as he noticed a +faint flickering of the man's eyelids, as though life was struggling +hard to return to the frame it had almost decided to vacate. + +"I got some aromatic ammonia in my saddle bags," said Dick. "Your +mother put it in with a lot of other medicine, thinking we might need +it." + +"We do, now, and mighty bad!" exclaimed Bud. "Rustle it here, Dick." + +A little later the powerful heart stimulant, mixed with a little water, +was being administered to the stranger, and when the fumes of it had +done their work the fluttering of his eyelids became stronger. + +"He's comin' 'round," observed Billee who, with his two older +companions, had drawn nearer to observe what the boys were doing. + +"Looks like you didn't call the turn on him after all," said Yellin' +Kid, for once in his life at least lowering his voice. + +"I hope I didn't," said Billee. "I'd like him to pull through. Maybe +he can tell us what's wrong with Dot and Dash." + +"Don't look like there was anything wrong," commented Snake, letting +his eyes rove away from the prostrate stranger to the wide reaches of +the ranch and the valley in which it was so snugly located. "This +seems to be a right proper place to raise cattle. I only wish it was +mine. I'm tired of being just a puncher. I'd like to own this place. +I think it's all bunk what you been tellin' us, Billee." + +"You wait," was all Billee would reply. "You can't tell by squintin' +at a toad how much wool there is on him, and you can't give a ranch a +good name just by lookin' it over. You wait!" + +By this time the ammonia had completed its work and restored to +consciousness the prostrate stranger. He was able to sit up now, +without being supported by Bud and his cousins. And as he supported +himself on one hand, while with the other he reached for his fallen +gun, he murmured: + +"Who are you and what happened?" + +"Stranger," pronounced Billee, who, by common consent seemed to be the +spokesman, "we can answer the first part of your question but not the +last. All we know is we arrived here to find you--er--stretched out +like you was takin' a sleep." Billee had a certain delicacy about +mentioning death, now that the man was so evidently alive. + +"As for us, we're from Mr. Merkel's ranch--Diamond X--and we're sent +here to take charge of Dot and Dash. You may have heard of us and you +may not." + +"Oh, yes, I've heard of you," was the somewhat unexpected answer. "In +fact I was waiting for you to come to take charge." + +"Then you aren't a stranger here?" asked Bud. + +"Well, I been here a few days, that's all. I was Mr. Barter's foreman +up to the time he quit, and sold out, so he told me. He asked me to +stay here and turn the place over to the new owner. Merkel--yes, +that's the name. I was away when the deal went through." + +"I have the papers here," said Bud, reaching for the documents in his +pocket. + +"'Tain't necessary. I'll take your word for it, my boy. And now that +you're in charge I'm going to vamoose. I've had full and plenty." + +He struggled to his feet, plainly showing how weak he was, swayed +unsteadily for a moment and then staggered to a bench on the shady side +of the bunk house not far from the corral. + +"If I could have another nip of whatever that was you gave me--" he +murmured. + +Bud gave him the remainder of the ammonia and it brought a tinge of +color to the tanned and leathery cheeks of the puncher. + +"I guess I can light out now," he went on. "Have you seen my pony--oh, +I forgot--he's dead. Well----" + +He looked at the untenanted corral and then to the bunch of tethered +animals the outfit from Diamond X had brought with them. + +"Look here!" exclaimed Bud. "Do you mind telling us what happened? We +have heard strange stories about this ranch and don't know whether or +not to believe them. We found you stretched out and----" + +"Sort of took me for dead; didn't you?" asked the man. + +Now that he had given the opening Billee had no hesitation in replying: + +"We sure thought you had cashed in." + +"Well, I nearly did," said the man. "I believe I would have been dead +in a short time if you hadn't come along. My horse is dead, I'm sure +of that. And how I managed to drag myself here after he collapsed +under me is more than I know. But I did, hoping I might get some help. +Then I passed out. That's all I know until I found myself sitting up +and drinking camphor water." + +"'Tisn't camphor," said Bud. "It's aromatic ammonia." + +"Oh," murmured the man. "Well, sort of tasted like the old camphor +bottle my mother used when she got faint. However, I'm much obliged. +And, now that you're in possession I'll be traveling on. Only--my +horse----" + +He was as lost without a steed as a sailor would be without a ship, and +he was plainly at a loss how to proceed. + +"Look here!" broke in Bud, who, as the representative of his father +could speak with some authority, "we can't let you go this way. In the +first place you're not fit to travel on, and, in the second place we +want to hear your story. After that maybe we can fix you up with a +pony if you want to leave." + +"I'll tell you my story all right," said the man, readily enough. "And +thanks for the loan of a horse. As for staying here--after what +happened--I guess I don't feel much like it." + +"What happened?" asked Dick, eagerly. + +"Lots of things, but the main one was that I nearly passed out on +account of some deviltry. But I'd better begin at the beginning." + +"'Twould seem the most sensible way," said Old Billee. "In the first +place what's your name?" + +"Sam Tarbell," was the answer. + +In an instant Bud, Dick and Nort exchanged glances. Like a flash came +to them the memory of the warning paper, signed with the initials S.T. +They would fit this man's name--Sam Tarbell. + +But if Billee, Snake and Yellin' Kid thought of this coincidence they +did not remark upon it. + +"Sam Tarbell; eh?" murmured Billee. "I used to know a feller of that +name once. Only he was Bill Tarbell. I don't reckon he could 'a' been +your brother; could he?" + +Sam Tarbell shook his head. + +"I never had a brother," he answered. "Well, as I was saying, I been +acting as foreman for Mr. Barter a few days back, and when he sold out +I agreed to stay and deliver the ranch to the new owners." + +"What became of Tim Dolan, who was foreman, and all the other +punchers?" asked Snake. "Takes more'n a foreman, which you say you are +now, to run a shebang like this. What happened to them?" + +"Well," said Sam slowly, "some died and the rest, including Dolan, lit +out and that left me. Dolan was foreman, like you said, but he +vamoosed in a hurry and I almost cashed in when----" + +He suddenly interrupted his story to gaze off across the level plain. +The others, following his glance, saw riding along an old man on a +somewhat ancient steed. He was an old man with a white beard and +flowing, white locks, and as he glimpsed him Sam exclaimed: + +"There's the old man now!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE ROUND-UP + +Sam Tarbell suddenly arose from the bench where he had been sitting. +But if he had any intention of starting after the old man on the +distant horse his resolution was better than his performance. For he +had to sink weakly back to his seat, and his face, that had assumed its +natural color after the ammonia, now went white again. + +"Take it easy!" advised Old Billee in soothing tones. + +"Guess I'll have to," and Sam gratefully accepted a dipper of water +that Nort handed him, getting the fluid from a pail that sat on a shelf +outside the bunkhouse. + +"Do you want one of us to chase after that old man?" asked Bud, while +Dick inquired: + +"Did he have anything to do with knocking you out?" + +"No, to both questions, boys," responded Sam. "You can chase that old +man for all of me, but I don't think you'll catch him. He's as +slippery as an eel. As for his having anything to do with me being +knocked out in such a queer way, I can't honestly say he had anything +to do with it. I just happened to see him 'fore my horse crumpled +under me, and he was riding away when I started to stagger back here as +best I could. I hollered at him to give me a lift, but either he +didn't hear me or didn't want to. It was just a coincidence that he +happened along while I was telling you my story." + +Wonderingly the outfit from Diamond X watched the old man slowly riding +into the foothills, amid the woods of which he was soon lost to view. +And the same thought came to all of them--the memory of the old man who +had aroused Dick that night, when, next morning, the mysterious warning +was found. + +"Do you know that old man's name?" asked Bud. + +Sam Tarbell shook his head. + +"He's a stranger to me," he answered. "But I've seen him around off +and on what little time I been here. I'm beginning to wish I'd never +taken the job of puncher or foreman here at Dot and Dash. I've had +nothing but bad luck from the start." + +"You mean being knocked out like you was dead?" asked Yellin' Kid who, +now that there was no mourning to be done, had switched back to his +loud tones. + +"Lots of things besides that," answered Sam. "I lost one good gun, +lamed a good pony and got shook up bad when my other horse, the one +that died under me, stepped into a prairie dog's hole and throwed me. +Nothing but bad luck. I'm through!" + +"Don't blame you for wanting to quit," remarked Bud. "But I hope +you'll stay a little longer. As I said you're not fit to travel +and----" + +"You're right there!" interrupted Sam. "I'm as weak as a new-born +calf. But after I get my strength I'm going to vamoose. This ranch is +no place for a healthy man--or a sick one either, if you come to that. +But I'll tell you what I started to, and give you all the help I can in +rounding things up here. Then you can decide for yourselves whether +it's worth your while." + +"This is Death Valley all right; ain't it?" asked Billee Dobb. + +"You said it, stranger! There's been a lot of deaths here, so I been +told. I never would have come if I had known what I know now." + +"Just what do you know?" asked Dick. + +"Do you know what caused the deaths?" Bud inquired. + +"No, I can't say I do," was the somewhat hesitant answer. "And that's +the mysterious part of it. Only I know I came mighty near passing out +and I don't want to do it again." + +"Suppose you finish telling us all about it," suggested Bud, the while +he looked in the direction taken by the old man who had disappeared. +But the picturesque figure was out of sight. + +"Well, as I was mentioning, I've been knocking around the country quite +a bit," resumed Sam. "I'd have a job first on one ranch and then on +another. You fellows know how it is," he said, looking at Snake and +Yellin' Kid. + +"Sure!" they murmured. + +"Well, finally I ended up here and I must say Mr. Barter treated me all +right, as he did his other hands. But when cattle began to be found +dead all over the place, and when some men and their horses began to +pass out, I began to get worried. So did a lot of others and they left +so fast it was hard work to run the place with the few hands left. + +"I was just getting ready to light out and look for another job when a +man came to look the Dot and Dash over with a view, so Mr. Barter said, +to buying it. Right after that Dolan, who had agreed to stay, quit +sudden like, so I promised to stick and help the boss out and I did. +The place was sold, and you say your dad bought it?" he asked, looking +at Bud. + +"Yes, this is now part of the Merkel holdings," was the answer. +"Though my father didn't know anything about the queer deaths on the +place when he agreed to buy it. He didn't even know that this was +called Death Valley." + +"Not until he got back to Diamond X and I told him," put in Billee. +"Then he said he wasn't going to back out, 'specially after these boys +begged for a chance to chase the jinx." + +"Well, they'll get all the chance they want," remarked Sam. "No, I +don't reckon Mr. Barter would tell the bad name his place had when he +was trying to sell it. I don't say it was right of him to hold back +the news, but lots of men would have done what he did. For myself, I +never had a chance to talk to your father, so I couldn't have put him +wise if I wanted to. Dolan might have, but he didn't. And I guess +even Mr. Barter thought the thing would pass over." + +"What thing?" asked Dick. "You mean the series of deaths?" + +"That's it. They were mighty queer." + +"I told 'em that," said Billee. "I used to work here myself years +ago," he added. "I thought maybe, after all these years, the bad luck +might have passed. But after what happened to you----" + +"Just what did happen?" asked Bud. "We want to get down to brass tacks +on this thing if we can." + +"'Twon't take long to tell you," said Sam. "As I mentioned, I agreed +with Mr. Barter to stay on here and look after what few cattle remained +until the new owner--that's your dad," and he looked at Bud--"could +come along and take possession. + +"Well, I was left pretty much alone here, but I didn't mind that, for +I'm used to rustling for myself. Mr. Barter left when he got his +money, I s'pose, and the cattle wasn't much trouble. There's only a +small herd left, and I didn't bother much with 'em--just rode out now +and then to see they wasn't being run off. Which they wasn't. But +this morning I thought I'd ride to the far end of the range to see if +there was any fences needed fixing, so's I could tell the new owner. + +"I was riding along when, all of a sudden, my horse began acting queer. +Then, 'fore I knew it, he just sort of crumpled up and I just had time +to jump or he'd have fallen with me under him. And as I went down I +began to feel sort of queer myself. One of the last things I remember +seeing in the distance was that old man riding along. Then I went down +and out. + +"That's all I remember, but I must have had sense enough to start +either to walk or crawl back here, and evidently I arrived, for you +found me. That's all I know." + +"But what knocked you out?" excitedly cried Bud. "And what killed your +horse?" + +"You can search me!" was the frank answer. "I didn't look the horse +over after he died, to see what bit him. As for me, I don't know what +ailed me." + +"Maybe the old man shot you and the horse," suggested Nort. + +"I wouldn't swear the horse hasn't a bullet in him, for I didn't +examine him," stated Sam. "But I didn't hear any gun, and I know I got +no holes in me." + +"Then it was bad water!" said Snake. + +"What's that?" Sam inquired, not comprehending. + +"You and your horse must 'a' drunk from some poisoned spring," went on +Snake, explaining how this theory had been advanced among his +companions to account for the mysterious deaths at Dot and Dash. + +"Bad water; eh?" murmured Sam. "Well, I certainly did take a drink at +a spring, and so did the horse. But it's a spring I always have +patronized, so to speak, and it's mighty queer if it would be all right +yesterday and poison to-day. Mighty queer!" + +"The old man----" began Nort. + +"He wasn't nowhere near the spring," interrupted Sam. "I don't believe +you got the right dope." + +"Well, there's something queer around here, that's sure," declared Bud +Merkel, "and we're here to find out what it is! We'll be glad to have +you stay and help us solve the mystery. We need some ranch hands and +I'd be glad to take you on." + +"Thanks. I've got to stay, anyhow, a few days until I get to feeling +more like myself. After that we'll talk business. But I warn you it's +dangerous here." + +"We knew that before we came," said Bud, quietly. + +Much puzzled, and not a little alarmed over the strange story, the +members of the outfit from Diamond X now began putting things to rights +about the ranch house in preparation to taking over Dot and Dash. +While Snake and Yellin' Kid began to repair the corral fence, Bud, his +cousins and Old Billee brought their food and supplies into the ranch +house and began to arrange for supper, since it was now late afternoon. +A look in the bunkhouse showed it to be clean and in good shape. + +"I'll take charge out there, with Kid, Snake and this new hand," said +Old Billee, referring to Sam Tarbell who had been put in a bunk the +better to regain his strength. "You boys'll stay here," and he +indicated the ranch house. + +"It might be a good idea to divide our force up that way," agreed Bud. +"Then, in case the jinx comes it won't get all of us at once." + +"According to the stories," said Billee, "nothing ever occurs inside. +It's all out of doors. Well, we'll see what happens." + +In spite of the sinister cloud of fear that hung over the place, the +adventurers managed to make a good meal, and when the horses had been +turned into the repaired corral preparations were made for the night. +Both parties--the one in the bunkhouse and the boys in the main +building--decided to keep watch all night. + +But their precautions were not needed. Nothing happened. The sun rose +bright and warm over Dot and Dash next morning and Sam Tarbell said he +felt like a new man after his sleep. + +"The first thing to do," decided Bud after matters had been talked over +at the breakfast table, "is to have a sort of round-up. I want to see +just how many head of cattle are left, and what the chances are for +getting more. Also we want to give the whole ranch the once-over." + +"That's right," agreed the veteran Billee. + +"Shall we all go on the round-up?" asked Dick. + +"No," said Bud after a moment of thought, "we'll have to leave some one +here in charge. But in time each one of us must know all there is to +know about Dot and Dash--I mean just how it's laid out, where the +water-holes are, what shape the fences are in and all that. It will +take a little time, but this first round-up will tell us some things we +ought to know." + +"The boy's right!" fairly shouted Yellin' Kid. + +Accordingly, when it was decided to leave Snake, Nort and the still +somewhat invalid Sam at the ranch house, the others started out. + +Nort made the best of being obliged to stay. The choice had fallen to +him by lot, as it was decided this was the fairest way of making a +division of forces, since other things were equal. + +"But you got to tell me everything that happens when you get back!" +Nort stipulated to his brother and Bud as they rode away. + +"Sure!" they promised. + +The three who were left in charge of the ranch buildings watched the +others ride off over the hills and then, as there was plenty to do in +cleaning up the place, and getting it ready for a number of new hands +that must be hired, the two from Diamond X got busy. Sam was able to +help with light work. + +It was while Nort was busy making a checkup of the household articles +on hand that he heard the sound of a horse out near the corral, and, +going to the door, saw dismounting, the same old man to whom Sam had +called attention the night before. + +"Howdy, stranger!" the ancient one greeted Nort, cheerfully. + +"How are you?" responded the boy, courteously. "Are you looking for +some one?" + +"Yes," was the answer. "I'm looking for the boss. I want to warn him +and all with him to get away from here as quick as they can! You don't +know the danger you are in. You had better leave quick!" And then, +though it seemed to take from the force of his words, the old man +strode over to the water pail and took a long drink. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE QUEER OLD MAN + +Nort was doing some quick thinking. And the burden of his thoughts was +to this effect: + +"Bud and Dick have ridden off to see if they can solve the mystery, but +along comes this queer old man to me, and maybe he holds the key to +open the lock. It would be just my good luck!" + +So it was with a feeling of elation, rather than otherwise, that Nort +watched the aged stranger finish his drink and then come back to where +the boy stood near the ranch house. Snake and Sam were in the bunk +house. + +"Why should we go away from here?" asked Nort, trying to speak easily +and naturally. "And what is the danger?" + +"Are you the boss?" was the quick retort. + +"No, but the boss is my cousin, and he and I, with my brother, are +going to run this ranch." + +"You'd better run away before you try to run it!" chuckled the old man +with what seemed to be sinister humor. "But you can't say I didn't +warn you." + +"Warn us of what?" asked Nort, a bit sharply. "What do you mean by +coming here trying to scare me?" + +"I'm not trying to scare you, my boy, I'm just trying to warn you. +Those here before you wouldn't listen to me, and what happened to them? +They died, that's what happened. Now I'm offering you a chance for +your life and it seems to rile you." + +"Oh, no, I'm not mad," and Nort smiled a little. "But I would like to +know what you are driving at. Before we came here we heard stories +about the danger of Dot and Dash, but no one knew just what the danger +was. Now you seem to----" + +"Oh, no, I don't, young man!" interrupted the stranger, running his +skinny hands through his straggly, white hair. "I don't know what +caused all those deaths any more than you do. But I do know if those +who are gone--I mean the humans now and not the cattle--I mean if they +had taken my Elixer they'd be alive to-day. There she is--Elixer of +Life!" and from what seemed to be one of many pockets in his loose coat +he pulled out a bottle of dark liquid. Before Nort had a chance to +make reply the stranger, holding up the bottle and affectionately +patting it from time to time, went on with: + +"There she is! Elixer of Life! Made from roots, berries and herbs I +gathered myself. Compounded in a secret manner after a recipe given me +by an old Indian. It soothes the nerves, strengthens the muscles, +clears the brain and prolongs life. Only a dollar a bottle and I can +let you have as many as you like. Guaranteed to act as specified and +harmless enough so you can give it to babies! There you are--the +Elixer of Life!" It was so labeled--spelled with an e instead of i, +and as the old man insisted this was right the boys let it go at that. +So the stuff remained "elixer" to the end of the chapter. + +He produced another bottle from somewhere in the recesses of his long +coat and, holding the two phials aloft, advanced upon Nort with a +strange light shining in his eyes. + +From a distance it must have looked to an observer as if the old man +was approaching the boy to hurl the bottles at him with evil intent, +for they were high in the air, and over Nort's head. And Snake Purdee +must have taken this view of it, for, a moment later, standing in the +door of the bunkhouse, the cowboy drew his gun, aimed it at the aged +stranger and cried: + +"Stand still or I'll bore you!" + +The command was so threatening and Snake was in such a good position to +shoot that, for a moment, Nort feared a bullet would end the matter. +But the old man wheeled about, took in the situation at a glance and +mildly said, as he lowered the bottles: + +"No harm intended at all. I'm only trying to save this young man's +life. You've got no call to shoot me." + +"Oh," exclaimed Snake rather lamely, seeing how the matter stood. +"Well, I don't just like your attitude, and----" + +"He's only selling a patent medicine," broke in Nort with a smile. +"It's the Elixer of Life." + +"I make it myself, from roots, berries and herbs," eagerly went on the +old man. "Only a dollar a bottle or six for five dollars. If them as +were here before you had taken it they'd be alive to-day. But they +were scoffers. They spurned me and look what happened to them." + +"I've seen you before, old man!" said Sam and there was something +menacing in his tone. "I've seen you around this ranch a lot, and I've +heard some say you was always around when something happened--I mean +when men and cattle were found dead. I saw you just before my own +horse died and I passed out and now I want you to explain. I've got +you now!" + +He made a grab for the old man, who did not seek to elude Sam, but +stood quietly while the cowboy held one arm and took out a gun with +which he covered the inventor of the Elixer. + +"Now, son," said the old man, soothingly, "don't get excited. I +haven't done any harm and I don't intend to. It's true you've seen me +around this ranch a lot--I live a few miles from here back in the +woods. And I've been around when there's been deaths. But I was +trying to stop death--not bring it about. Only I was always too late. +They never would listen to me--them cowboys. And I was around when I +saw your horse go down. I rode back, later, thinking I could sell you +a bottle of my Life Elixer before you passed away, but I got there too +late. I saw that you had expired so I went on." + +"I'm a pretty live man for a dead one!" chuckled Sam. "But what's your +game, anyhow?" + +He had released his hold of the aged one and had put his gun back in +the holster as Snake had done. And then Nort made, unseen by the +stranger, a motion to his two companions which served to explain +matters. Nort made a circular motion with one finger up near his head +as though to indicate wheels going around. + +"Oh!" softly murmured Snake, understandingly, and he was echoed by Sam +with: + +"I'm wise!" + +While, as the aged one again raised his Elixer bottles on high Nort +with his lips only said the words: + +"The poor old man's a bit cracked!" + +And so it seemed. He was one of the many harmless but well-meaning +"herb doctors" to be found in every community. He had a firm faith in +his own concoction. + +"Be warned in time, gentlemen," he went on, still offering the Elixer +to Nort. "You are alive now, but you may be dead to-morrow. This will +save you. One dollar a bottle or six for five." + +He now held the two bottles in one hand while, with the other, he went +searching through his coat for more. But Nort stopped him with a +gesture. + +"Two are enough for now," he said, soothingly, handing over a two +dollar bill. "But can you tell us anything about the causes for the +deaths that have taken place on Dot and Dash ranch?" + +"Yes, young man, I can," was the firm answer as the bill was tucked +away inside the hat band, "I know all about those deaths. They were +caused by a failure to heed my warnings and take this Elixer of Life! + +"Be warned in time, gentlemen," went on the old man as he moved over to +his horse. "There are three of you, and you have only bought two +bottles. At least each one should have his own. I may not be back +here and----" + +"Oh, shucks! Gimme a bottle!" ejaculated Snake. "And see if you can't +tell us what killed these folks and the cattle." + +"I can tell you--yes--certainly!" was the quick retort as another +bottle of the dark liquid was produced and another dollar added to the +hat band bank. + +"What was it then?" asked Snake, eagerly, while Nort and Sam waited for +the answer. + +"The hand of fate!" was the solemn answer. "But now you are safe. You +have the Elixer of Life and so death cannot harm you. I bid you good +day!" + +Before they could stop him, even had they been so inclined, which they +were not, the old man left Nort and his chums holding their bottles of +Elixer and rode away on his sorry looking nag, crooning something into +his ample beard. + +"Well, what do you make of that?" asked Snake when the stranger--they +had not thought to ask his name--was beyond hearing. + +"He's just a harmless crank," said Nort. "An old herb doctor." + +"That's what I think," chimed in Sam. "Though at first I was a bit +suspicious of him. But I guess he doesn't mean anything. And he don't +know anything about the deaths here." + +"If he does he isn't telling," decided Nort. + +"Well," said Snake slowly, "I'm not superstitious, but as long as I +bought this stuff I might as well sample it." + +He pulled the cork from the bottle, and was about to take a drink when +Nort, with a quick motion, knocked the flask down, almost sending it to +the ground. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +DEAD CATTLE + +"What's the idea?" spluttered Snake, for he had his mouth set for a +drink, and did not appear to like being balked. + +"Better wait until you find out what's in the bottle before you sample +it," advised Nort. + +"Why, didn't the old gazaboo tell us what it was--Elixer of Life? Some +sort of tonic, I reckon, and, believe me, boy, I need something right +now!" + +"What you need is grub!" broke in Sam. "I'm in the same boat. I'm +getting my appetite back," he added with a look at Nort, whose turn it +was to get the dinner. + +"Well, maybe this will give me an appetite for baked beans," suggested +Snake. + +"More likely to take your appetite away," went on Nort. "This may be a +good, safe stomach medicine, and, again, it may be deadly poison. I +want it analyzed by a chemist before I take any of it. And, even then, +I don't believe I'll try any though it may be safe. I don't need it." + +"Poison; eh?" mused Snake. "Do you think----" + +"No, I don't think this harmless, crack-brained old man had anything to +do with the deaths that are said to have taken place at Dot and Dash," +interrupted Nort, guessing at Snake's implied question. "But a crank +is a dangerous man to have mix your drinks. He may have brewed this +from honest herbs, or it may be an extract of toadstools. I'm going +slow at it." + +"Well, I guess I'd better, too," agreed Snake, ruefully, "I'm glad you +didn't let me sample it, Nort." + +"It's better to be sure than sorry," said the boy. "Is there a chemist +in Los Pompan," and he nodded in the direction of the town that lay +nearest to the ranch. + +"I don't believe there is," Sam answered. "But there's a doctor and +maybe he can tell whether this stuff is safe or not," and he gazed at +one of the Elixer bottles he had picked up off the bench where Nort had +set them. + +"Safe or dangerous, we don't need it," went on the boy. "I only bought +it to lead the old man on. But we didn't get much out of him." + +"No," assented Snake. "His answers were crazy enough. Guess we'll +have to wait until Billee and the others come back to find out what's +the real secret of Death Valley." + +"Maybe we won't then," suggested Sam, in a low voice. + +"Do you mean they won't come back?" asked Nort with a sudden increase +in his heart beats. + +"Oh, _some_ of 'em are bound to come back," was the not very cheering +reply. "The deaths ain't wholesale like that. And maybe nothing won't +happen to any of 'em," which was sufficiently clear and hopeful if not +very grammatical. "But, even if they all come back, which is more than +likely," went on the most recent foreman of Dot and Dash, "that ain't +saying they'll find out the secret." + +"No, I suppose not," agreed Nort. "Well, we'll hope for the best." + +They resumed their labors of getting the group of ranch buildings in +shipshape against the return of Bud and the others. Sam had agreed to +stay for a while to aid in the check-over and as soon as possible, as +Nort knew, Mr. Merkel intended to add to his cattle already on the +ranch, and hire more men to look after them. + +"I wish we'd found out that old geezer's name and more about him before +we let him vamoose," said Snake as he worked away with Nort. + +"Yes," agreed the boy, "but so much was happening, and he was so queer, +that I forgot about it." + +"Guess we all did. Well, we can pick him up again when we need him--if +we ever do," chuckled Snake. "I mean if the doctor says this here +Elixer is any good." + +"If there isn't any harm in it that's the most I expect," came from +Nort. "As for finding the old man----" + +"He's an eel, I tell you!" broke in Sam. "I've seen him more then +once, riding along, that is some time ago, 'fore I was knocked out. +But when I tried to come up to him he'd vanish. And to look at it you +wouldn't think that cayuse of his was any quicker'n a snail!" + +"He must have some hiding place," suggested Snake. + +"Maybe," admitted Sam. "But I don't like that _hombre_ and you hear +what I'm tellin' you!" + +Dinner was served, and eaten with hearty appetites in spite of what had +happened and what might take place later. Then more work was done +about the place, and as the afternoon waned Nort began to get rather +anxious for the return of those who had gone on the round-up. + +It was not a round-up in the real sense of the word--but merely a +riding around of the place to size it up--to ascertain the number of +head of cattle on the ranch, to find out the location of water holes, +the best pasture, look to the condition of the fences and such matters +as that. + +"And I wish, while they were at it, they'd get a Chink cook," said Nort +to whom had fallen the task of washing the dishes. "Any chance of +getting a yellow man in Los Pompon?" he asked Sam. + +"Oh, sure, I should think so. If you can get him to stay." + +"Why wouldn't he stay?" Nort wanted to know. And then he remembered +and added: "You mean on account of possible deaths?" + +"Sure! That's it. Them Chinks is powerful leery about anything like +that. But maybe we can get one fresh smuggled over from Mexico and he +won't be so particular." + +"That's right," agreed Nort as he recalled how desperately eager the +Celestials were to be smuggled into the United States. + +It was getting dusk, and the three were a bit anxious as they prepared +the evening meal, for, as yet, the prospectors, as they might be +called, had not returned. Nort was going to suggest that perhaps it +might be well to ride out and see if his brother and the others were in +sight when the clatter of horses' feet was heard and into the ranch +yard came riding the cavalcade. + +A quick count showed not one missing, and it was with a relieved heart +that Nort greeted Bud and Dick. + +"Anything happen?" asked Snake. + +"Nary a thing!" boomed out Yellin' Kid. "It was as peaceful as a +Sunday school picnic. But this is sure some dandy ranch." + +"That's right!" chimed in Bud. "We didn't have time to go all over +it," he went on to those who had been left behind. "But we saw enough +to convince us that dad made no mistake in buying it--that is if we can +clear out the jinx." + +"But you didn't see any signs of him--or it?" asked Nort. + +"Who?" inquired Dick. + +"I mean the jinx." + +"No, not a thing. Didn't even see a dead calf, and, as we know, +they're common enough on a ranch. Everything was lovely." + +"It sure is a good buy," went on Bud. "Of course it's a bit run down, +and the fences here and there need mending. But there's plenty of +water and what cattle there are seem to be in good shape. When we buy +a few more herds, and hire some more men to help us, we'll be sitting +pretty." + +"Then we didn't need to do so much worrying?" questioned Nort. + +"Seems not." + +"And that warning was all tommyrot!" added Dick with a laugh. "Hello, +what's this?" and he picked up one of the bottles of Elixer, for by +this time the whole party was in the ranch house, and saw the three +flasks on the table. + +"Stuff your brother bought to save lives!" chuckled Snake, and the +story was told. + +"An old man, half crazy; eh?" mused Billee as he listened. "Who is he +and what about him?" + +"Doesn't seem to amount to much, really," stated Nort. "But I thought +we'd better have this stuff analyzed." + +"Sure!" assented Billee, and, taking the three bottles he locked them +in a wall cupboard and put the key in his pocket. + +There was much to talk about at Dot and Dash that night. Nort related +the coming and going of the vender of Life's Elixer, and on their part +Bud and Dick told of the scenes about the ranch, and added to their +first statements that it was an ideal place to raise cattle. + +"And there weren't any signs of sudden deaths?" asked Nort. + +"Nary a one. It's a shame to call this Death Valley," declared Bud. + +The week that followed was a busy one and there was plenty of work for +all hands, including Sam Tarbell who, when he found that there was no +sudden passing away of any of his new friends or the remaining cattle, +decided to stay and work for Dot and Dash. + +A careful examination was made in the vicinity where Sam had "keeled +over," as he expressed it, and where his horse had died. Nothing +suspicious was discovered, however, and there was no way to account for +the strange happening. The animal appeared to have died a natural +death. + +"Of course," Sam said, "my pony might of dropped dead from heart +disease, and when he fell I was throwed off and hit my head on a rock. +That's what might have knocked me out." + +"It's very possible," agreed Bud. + +Arrangements were under way for the purchase of two herds from ranchmen +in the adjoining county, and several more cowboys had been engaged +when, like a clap of thunder out of a clear sky, it happened. + +Bud, Nort and Dick were riding over to the south end of the ranch one +day, to inspect the present herd, with a view to shifting it, when Nort +pointed to what looked like several dark bowlders on a distant, grassy +slope. + +"What are those?" he asked. "Big stones?" + +"Stones?" queried Bud and, a moment later, he exclaimed, "Those are +dead cattle! Boys, I guess the jinx has come back!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +INTO SMUGGLERS' GLEN + +"Hop to it, boys!" cried Nort, as he dug his spurs lightly against the +sides of his pony. The spurs were blunt ones, for Mr. Merkel insisted +that his men treat their horses kindly, and the spurs were such in name +only. However, even these gentle ticklers indicated to Nort's animal +the need of haste and it leaped ahead. + +"Come on!" echoed Dick, following his brother's example and guiding his +animal toward those silent forms on the grassy hillside. + +Bud, however, held his animal back and shouted to his cousins: + +"Hold on a minute! Don't be rash! Hold on!" + +Nort pulled his pony back so suddenly that the creature reared high in +the air. Some time ago Nort would have been unseated by such a trick, +but now he stuck to the saddle like a burr to a cow's tail. + +"What's the matter?" Nort shot back over his shoulder. + +"Don't you want to find out what killed those cattle?" asked Dick, +riding back to join his cousin. + +"Sure!" Bud replied. "But I don't want to keel over myself. There +must be something there that killed those cows, that is if they're +dead. And what killed them may kill us, if we go too close, just as it +has killed others and nearly did for Sam." + +"Those cows are dead all right," declared Nort who, now that his pony +was quiet, had taken a pair of field glasses from the case slung at his +shoulder and was examining the silent forms. "They're as dead as a +last year's sunflower." + +"But maybe Bud's right about wanting to be careful before we go any +closer," suggested Dick. "You know Uncle Henry warned us not to run +our necks in any noose." + +"But we got to find out what killed these cows, so we'll know how to +guard the others against the same danger," declared Nort. "And if it +was poison water they drank, or maybe poison grass they ate, why, we +don't want our other animals to do the same thing, or get any poison +water ourselves." + +"No," agreed Bud, who, having taken the glasses from his cousin, was +now making a careful observation, "we don't want to drink any poison +water or have cattle eat any poison grass, if there are such things on +the ranch. But we can stop a bullet just as easy as a cow can and with +just the same bad results for us." + +"Bullet?" questioned Nort, wonderingly. + +"Do you think those cows were shot?" asked Dick. + +"They might have been." + +"Who'd do such a thing?" demanded Nort. + +"If it was done at all--which I'm not saying for a fact--it probably +was done by the same man, or men, who have been doing the other +killings in Death Valley." + +"But what in the world for?" exclaimed Dick. + +"Search me!" answered Bud. + +"The other cows weren't shot!" asserted Nort. "Sam's horse that died +wasn't shot, and no bullet nipped him or even creased him." + +"No," agreed Bud. "I guess I'm out when it comes to guessing those +cows were shot. But let's wait a bit before we go any closer. We +can't do those dead cows any good and it may save our lives." + +Though their curiosity made them eager and anxious, the boy ranchers +held themselves in check and while riding slowly around on their ponies +kept a keen watch of the territory surrounding the grazing herd and the +motionless forms of the dead cows. + +But when nearly half an hour had passed, and there was no sign of any +human enemy, and when nothing suspicious had been observed, Bud gave +the signal to ride on to come closer to the scene of the mystery. +During the wait the living members of the herd had exhibited no signs +of uneasiness. They wandered around, grazed, ambled here and there, +some coming close to look at the boy riders. They behaved like any +normal herd of cows. Some of the calves showed their playfulness in +kicking up their heels and darting hither and yon, while some of the +young bulls engaged in head-butting contests. + +"Whatever happened," said Bud as he and his cousins rode nearer, +"didn't scare the whole herd. Death must have come silently, and in +the night." + +"Silently, I grant you, but not necessarily in the night," spoke Dick. +"It could happen any time, as it did to Sam. That was in the daytime." + +"You're right," Bud admitted. "It sure is mighty queer. But maybe we +can find out, now that it has happened almost under our noses as you +might say." + +This section of Dot and Dash ranch consisted of diversified country. +There was a wooded portion, with a small stream running through it, and +in the distance were rolling hills and dales. It was ideal cow country +and the herbage was succulent and rich. + +Near the place where the five dead cows were stretched out was the +beginning of a long, narrow defile, or gorge which ran back into the +hills. Some of these hills were quite high and were covered with a +growth of timber. Others consisted of big rocks piled in fantastic +fashion as though there had been a volcanic eruption some time when the +world was young. Between the hills were small valleys here and there, +which made fine, sheltered places for the grazing of cows. + +Having satisfied themselves that there was no lurking enemy waiting to +attack them, the three young men rode up to the cows. The ponies +showed no signs of fear on approaching the dead bodies, as some Eastern +horses might have done. A cow pony has no nerves. He gets used to so +many queer sights and happenings that even an auto rearing up on its +front wheels and running backward while a cow turned somersaults on the +fender would not cause a pony to turn his head. + +The boys dismounted, pulled the reins of their animals over their heads +as an intimation to the creatures not to stray and then made their way +toward the cows. + +"They're sure dead all right," remarked Bud, prodding the one nearest +him with his foot. + +"Have you just found it out?" asked Nort. + +"No, but I remember what happened to Sam, and I was thinking maybe they +might be only stunned, or something like that. But they're dead." + +"And not long, either," added Dick, noting the fresh and limp condition +of the bodies. "This didn't happen later than last night or early this +morning." + +"Guess you're right," admitted Bud. "Yes, they're dead sure enough." + +"And a total loss," came from Dick. "Can't even sell the fresh beef in +Los Pompan. We wouldn't dare, not knowing whether the cows died from +poison or not." + +"No," agreed Bud. "And it can't be anything but poison of some sort, +for I'm sure they weren't struck by lightning." + +"There was no storm last night," declared Nort. + +As Dick had said, the cows were a total loss, or nearly so, for it +would hardly pay to have a skinner come out to flay off the hides of +such a small number. Often when a cow or steer is killed by accident +the carcass is fit to eat and there is fresh beef on the ranch or the +carcass may be sold to the nearest butcher. But in this case it would +have been dangerous and foolish to use this cow meat for food. + +"Nothing to do but bury 'em and forget it, I guess," sighed Dick. "But +it's quite a loss." + +"It sure is," remarked Bud. "But we're not going to bury 'em right +away--at least not all of 'em, and we're not going to forget it." + +"No, I didn't mean just that," went on Dick. "We've got to get to the +bottom of this. But why not bury the bodies, Bud?" + +"Oh, that will have to be done, of course. But I mean to have some +sort of a doctor come out here and look at these cows, or at one of +them. Maybe he can tell what killed 'em." + +"Good idea," said Nort. "There may be a horse doctor in town." + +"I think there is," spoke Bud. "And we'll see if he can tell us +anything about what that Life Elixer is composed of. I'd like to have +that analyzed." + +"Do you think that, or the queer old man, had anything to do with the +death of these cows?" Dick wanted to know. + +"There's no telling. I'm not going to pass up anything until I find +out there's nothing in it!" retorted Bud. "Dot and Dash isn't going to +ruin if I can help it!" + +"That's the idea!" echoed his cousins. + +They rode about the place but could discover nothing wrong. The cows +seemed to have dropped in their tracks, dying without a struggle, +though the ground around them was considerably cut up by their hooves, +as though the animals had "milled" restlessly before death overtook +them. + +The remaining and live members of the herd showed no uneasiness and no +signs of having been injured or disturbed as far as the boys could see +by riding among them. + +They rode over to the stream, which the ponies showed an anxious desire +to drink from, but as Dick was riding his horse toward the clear water, +evidently to let the animal plunge its nose in, Bud cried: + +"Do you think it's safe?" + +"Why not?" Dick asked, momentarily pulling his pony back, and it was +not easy, for the creature was thirsty. + +"Maybe this is the poison water the cows drank." + +"Running water like this couldn't very well be poisoned," declared +Dick. "A stagnant pool or a water hole might be, but not this. And +horses won't touch bad water. Watch mine." + +The pony fairly got beyond control, now, in its mad desire to quench +its thirst and was soon drinking greedily, an example followed by the +other two. + +"Yes, I guess this water's all right," Bud finally admitted. "As you +say, a horse won't touch bad water. I'm going to sample some myself." + +This he did, and he and his cousins found the stream sweet and +refreshing. There was no taint to it and they drank their fill as did +their ponies. + +"Well, what next?" asked Nort, as he sat easily in the saddle, while he +watched the water dribbling from the champing jaws of his steed. +"Shall we go back and get that horse doctor, and then bury the dead +cows?" + +"Not yet," answered Bud. "I want to ride up that defile and see what's +at the other end." He indicated a long, narrow valley leading up into +the wooded and rocky hills. + +"What's the idea?" asked Dick. + +"Oh, just a notion," Bud replied. "That would make a good hiding place +for rustlers," he added. + +"It's dark, and silent and secret enough," agreed Dick as they turned +their horses into the defile. "Regular smugglers' glen!" and he +chuckled at his suggestion. + +"We can call it that," assented Bud. "Come on, then, let's see what +we'll find in Smugglers' Glen." + +They rode on into the narrow, sinister valley, all unaware what they +would discover there. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE ELIXER CAVE + +"Nifty hiding place--this," remarked Dick as the three rode side by +side up "Smugglers' Glen," as they had jokingly named the defile. + +"Sure is," agreed Bud. + +"A man, or a band of men, if they wanted to, could hole up in here for +the winter, slip out when they liked and raid a ranch, and get back +again without any one being much the wiser," suggested Nort. + +"Let's hope that doesn't happen," remarked Bud. "But it's just as well +to know about this place. Some of our cows might wander up in here +and, not finding them on the range, we'd think the rustlers had paid us +a visit." + +"That's right," came from Nort. + +"Maybe rustlers have used this for a hiding place," was Dick's nest +remark. + +"Smugglers' Glen or Rustlers' Glen--it's about the same," commented +Bud. "If those fellows we fought last year, who were running the +Chinks over the Mexican border, had known of this glen they'd have used +it." + +"That's the truth for you," agreed Dick. "And, speaking of Chinks, +when are we going to get that Celestial cook we talked of?" + +"I expect he'll be back at the ranch when we get there," was Bud's +reply. "Fellow in Los Pompan promised to ship me out a good one." + +"I won't be sorry!" chuckled Nort. "I'm tired of cooking and washing +dishes." + +The boys and their older companions had taken turns with the not very +agreeable duties of housekeeping on the ranch. Old Billee Dobb was an +experienced cook and Snake often said the old puncher could make beans +taste like roast turkey. But Billee drew the line at washing dishes. +Said he couldn't see any sense in cleaning plates only to muss 'em all +up again. So when it came his turn to cook somebody else had to do the +cleaning. + +Talking of various matters, speculating on the mystery at Dot and Dash, +and wondering what had caused the latest deaths, the boys rode on and +on up into the depths of the glen. As they went on, the little valley +seemed to shrink in width until it was barely wide enough for the three +of them to ride abreast. On either side the grim, rocky hills, studded +here and there with trees and bushes, rose high above their heads. Now +and then they came upon a little stream meandering its way down the +defile. Here and there it dropped over a ledge of rocks, making a +pleasant, if miniature, waterfall. + +Aside from the clatter of their horses' feet, the occasional fall of a +dead branch or the rattle of loose stones and the tinkle of the stream, +the only sounds were those of the boys' voices. + +"This place sort of gives me the creeps!" remarked Nort with a little +shiver and a backward glance. "We might as well have called it a +Pirate Den as what we did." + +"It is sort of dismal," assented Bud. "But I guess we aren't going to +find out anything here, so we might as well turn back in a little +while." + +"Say after the next turn," suggested Dick, indicating a place where the +defile swung around a shoulder of bare rock. + +"Suits me," came from Bud. + +They reached the big rock, swung around the narrowest section of the +defile they had yet encountered and, a moment later, made a discovery +which filled them with surprise. + +Burrowing into the side of the gorge, just beyond the sharp turn, was a +cave with an arched opening. At first glance it looked as if it had +been cut by the hand of man, but it evidently had been made by the +erosion of water through many centuries. + +"Jumping flapjacks!" cried Nort, pointing to the cave. "Do you see +that?" + +"Why not?" chuckled his brother. "It's big enough to be seen." + +"But did you know it was there?" + +"I didn't," put in Bud. "Though that's nothing, for this is the first +time we've ever been here. But dad said this was a wilder and +different country than back home, and caves aren't anything unusual." + +"No," assented Nort, "and I s'pose I might have expected to find one or +more in these hills. But it sort of startled me. Wonder if there's +anything in it?" + +"Meaning bears, wildcats or other such varmints?" inquired Dick with a +laugh. + +"Yes," said Nort. "Or maybe rustlers might have hung out in there." + +"The only way to find out is to go in and have a look," suggested Bud. +And, urging on their steeds, which they had, involuntarily, pulled to a +halt, they were soon at the cave entrance. It was big enough to give +passage to a man on horseback--at least for a little distance within, +but the boys did not think it would be safe to guide their ponies into +the cavern. They were not certain of the footing. + +Dismounting, then, at the opening, and tethering their horses, the +three boys entered the dark hole, not without some trepidation. For it +was very dark; the outside light, which was not strong on account of +the darkness of the defile, only penetrating a short distance inside +the cavern. + +Their footsteps echoed eerily as they advanced, and the state of their +nerves can be judged when Dick and Nort jumped and exclaimed aloud as +Bud took out a flashlight and suddenly switched on the current, sending +a brilliant, though small, shaft of illumination down the stretches of +blackness. + +"Did I scare you?" chuckled young Merkel. + +"A little," Dick admitted. "I didn't know you had a lantern with you." + +"Oh, I generally carry a small pocket torch," Bud replied. "Never can +tell when you'll be caught out after dark." + +The flashlight showed the cavern to be hewn out of solid rock, though +how high the roof was, or how wide the walls from side to side, they +could not judge, for their light was not powerful enough to penetrate. +But the cave was, evidently, a big one. + +Suddenly, as they walked along, Bud became aware of a growing sheen of +light ahead of them. At first he thought it was but the reflection of +his own torch on what might be crystals in the cave's sides or roof. +But as they walked on the glow increased. + +Nort and Dick also noticed it, and Nort exclaimed: + +"Guess this is more of a tunnel than a cave. I see daylight ahead." + +"'Tisn't daylight--too red for that," objected Bud. "Looks more like a +fire." + +And, a moment later, as they rounded a turn, they saw that the light +was caused by a fire. It was a fire blazing on the floor of the +cavern. Over the fire, suspended on a tripod, was a black kettle, a +veritable witch-caldron and, bending over it, if not a witch, was a +good imitation of one. For it was the figure of an old man--a man with +long, straggling white hair and a flowing white beard, as the flames +revealed. It was the same old man who had called at the ranch with his +sinister warning when he sold the Elixer of Life. + +"Look!" murmured Bud, but he need not have said this. His two cousins +were looking with all the power of their staring eyes. + +"It--it's him!" murmured Nort, and the others knew what he meant. + +"But what's he doing?" whispered Dick. + +There was hardly need to ask that question. Undoubtedly the old man +was brewing something in the kettle over the fire. There was a +peculiar odor in the air, not unpleasant, but rather overpowering. + +"He's making that stuff he bottles and sells," went on Dick. "The +Elixer. And maybe----" + +He did not finish the sentence. Either the cautious talk of the boy +ranchers, or some noise they made carried to the sharp ears of the old +man. + +He started back, out of the circle of light cast by the fire under the +kettle. He seemed to be alarmed. + +"Who's there?" he cried. + +The boys did not answer. They did not know what to do. It was all so +strange and startling. + +A moment later the queer hermit, for such he seemed to be, had snatched +the kettle off the chain by which it was suspended. With a quick +motion of his foot he scattered the embers of the fire so that +immediate section of the cave was obscured by smoke and fantastic +shadows. Then the old man ran back into the darkness of the far +reaches of the cavern and disappeared from view. + +"There he goes!" cried Nort. There was no longer need of whispering. + +"After him!" cried Dick. + +"No! Don't go!" exclaimed Bud. "You don't know what he was doing, +what he may be up to nor where he's gone. It isn't safe!" + +This last was so evident that Nort and Dick at once agreed to the +proposition and halted. But Dick added: + +"We don't know, for sure what he was doing, but I can pretty near +guess!" + +"What?" asked Bud. + +"He was brewing stuff to poison our cattle. He's the fellow that's +been doing it. He's the cause of all the trouble at Dot and Dash. We +ought to have him arrested, and we've got good proof against him!" + +"What proof?" Bud asked. + +"The bottles of stuff he sold us. Lucky we didn't take any of it! +It's poison, sure! Come on, let's get back and then send word to the +sheriff to come and arrest this old man." + +It seemed to be good advice and the best thing to do under the +circumstances, whether or not Dick's theory would be borne out by facts. + +"We'll go back and have that Elixer analyzed," said Bud as he swung +around with his cousins and began the retreat. "I meant to have it +done before but there's so doggoned much to do here it slipped my mind. +But I'll have it looked after now." + +It did not take the three long to emerge from "Elixer Cave," as they +named the place where they had seen the hermit over his brew. Their +horses were patiently waiting and in a little while the boys were +within sight of the ranch house. + +But something seemed to be going on there. Snake, Billee and Yellin' +Kid were standing near the cook house, whence came a series of wild, +yipping yells. + +"What's the matter?" cried Bud as he rode up to the group of cowboys. +"Who's doing all that yelling?" + +"Fah Moo!" answered Old Billee Dobb. + +"Who in the world is Fah Moo?" + +"The new Chinese cook that come out from town soon after you boys left." + +"But what's the matter with him?" asked Dick. "Doesn't he like it here +that he's taking on like this?" + +"Maybe he's singing for joy," suggested Nort as a louder series of +yelping cries came from the cookhouse. + +"More like he's in pain," remarked Snake Purdee. "I'm mighty glad I +didn't drink any of it." + +"Any of what?" asked Bud, wonderingly. + +"That Elixer of Life the old gazaboo sold for a dollar a chunk. There +was three bottles of it, you know." + +"Yes, I know," assented Bud with growing uneasiness. + +"Well," went on Snake, "you know I started to take a swig from the +bottle I bought, but Nort wouldn't let me. Then Old Billee locked the +three bottles in a cupboard." + +"That's right," assented Bud. + +"Well," resumed the cowboy, "we discovered, a little while ago, and +soon after Fah Moo arrived to take charge of the kitchen, we discovered +that those three bottles were gone. We found 'em in the new cook's +department and the last one was empty." + +"You mean he drunk all that Elixer?" cried Dick. + +"Onless he used it for bathin', which I doubt!" chuckled Snake. "He +must have been nosing around, discovered where the stuff was hid and he +drunk every last drop. That's what makes him sing so, or +cry--whichever way you take it." + +"He's poisoned!" cried Bud, no less excited, now, than were his two +cousins. "Poor Fah Moo is poisoned. We just discovered some of our +cattle dead over on the south range. And we found a cave where the old +man brews that Elixer. It's poison, sure. I guess it's all up with +the Chink, but we'll try to get a doctor to save him. I'll 'phone in +to town!" + +Bud disappeared into the ranch house while the cowboys looked at each +other's startled faces, and, meanwhile, Fah Moo continued to yelp, yap +and yip in his high, falsetto voice. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +FRIGHTENED HORSES + +Bud Merkel lost no time in getting connected, through the telephone, +with the only physician in Los Pompan. Old Doc Taylor, the medical man +was called, though he was not very old. It was more a term of +affection. + +"Our Chink cook is poisoned!" Bud explained. "Can you come out quick?" + +"_Pronto!_" was the illuminating reply and then there was nothing to do +save wait for Dr. Taylor's arrival. + +"He's got a flivver," announced Snake who, with Yellin' Kid, had paid +more than one visit to town since arriving at Dot and Dash, thereby +learning considerable about the place and its inhabitants. "It won't +take long for the doc to get here." + +"But can't we do anything, meanwhile, for that poor Chink?" asked Nort. + +"Guess there isn't much hope for him if he drank all that stuff," +remarked Bud in gloomy tones. "Though we might try to help him get it +out of his stomach." + +"How you goin' to do that?" Snake demanded. + +"By giving him an emetic," Bud answered. "Mustard and water's good, +I've heard. Come on--we got to try something," and he turned to his +cousins as the most likely ones to be of service. + +They found poor Fah Moo rushing around the somewhat narrow confines of +his kitchen. The Chinese was still yelling and holding both yellow +hands across the pit of his stomach. On a table, amid pots, pans and +dishes, were the three bottles of the Elixer of Life. Two were +completely emptied and the third had but a little fluid remaining in it. + +"You drink all that?" asked Bud, pointing to the three bottles when he +could get Fah Moo's attention for a moment. + +"Can do! Dlink lot--chop-chop!" was the groaning answer the import of +it being that he had taken the stuff quickly. + +"Whew!" murmured Nort. "Guess there's no hope for him." + +"There may be," said Dick. "Sometimes an overdose of poison is its own +antidote. He may have taken so much that he'll be sick and that would +be the best thing for him." + +"He sure took an overdose," declared Bud. "See if you can find some +mustard, you fellows. I'll put on a kettle of water to boil. The +mustard ought to be mixed with warm water to make it work." + +The boys bustled about, Fah Moo, meanwhile, rushing around, clutching +his stomach and howling at the top of his voice. Billee and his +companions looked in now and then to ask if they could help, or to +offer suggestions, more or less useless, but their services were not +required. Indeed there was room for no more first-aiders in the small +kitchen. + +In due time the water was warm, the mustard had been found and a big +dose mixed. Then came the difficulty of administering it to the +Chinese cook, and a great difficulty it was. As soon as he got the +idea that he was to be made to drink something more, and when he had +sight of the unappetizing yellow mixture of warm water and mustard in a +big bowl, the cook revolted. He retreated into a corner, pulled a +chair in front of him and yelled: + +"No can do! No can do!" + +"But you've got to do!" insisted Bud. "It's the only way to save your +life! Drink it!" + +"No can dlink! Fah Moo dlink chop-chop--plenty--no can do!" + +And that was all there was to it. He yipped and yapped, clutched his +stomach but would not come out of his corner nor touch the emetic. The +boys were in despair, and their comrades were of no help, Snake even +suggesting that it served the Chink right for taking the stuff. But +just when it seemed that Fah Moo would raise the roof with his yells, +Dr. Taylor arrived in his rattling flivver and took charge of the case. + +"What did he take?" was his first question. + +"Poison!" chorused the whole Diamond X outfit. + +"All right, but what kind? I can't tell what to give him to counteract +it until I know what poison it was," said the medical man. + +"Here's the dope!" announced Yellin' Kid, handing over the bottle +containing what was left of the Elixer. + +Dr. Taylor smelled it, tipped the flask to get a little of the mixture +on his finger and then, gingerly, applied the digit to his tongue. He +waited for any possible reaction, and then took a larger taste of the +stuff. Then a slow smile spread over his face as he indulged in even a +bigger "swig," as Snake called it. + +"This stuff isn't poison," he said, setting the bottle back on the +table. "If this is all the Chink drank he won't die." + +"Not if he took three bottles of it?" asked Bud. + +"Not if he took a dozen. It may make him mighty sick, but he won't die +this trip." + +"What is that stuff?" asked Nort. + +"Sarsaparilla!" was the chuckling answer. "Nothing but good, +old-fashioned sarsaparilla soda pop with the pop left out. It's as +flat as ditch water. Where'd you get it?" + +"Bought it from an old geezer who said it was Elixer of Life," Snake +informed the doctor. + +"You mean old Tosh?" + +"Don't know what his name is," Bud said, "but he's an old man and he +has a place back here in a cave. We caught him, a little while ago, +brewing the stuff. Just before that we found some of our cattle dead +and we sort of jumped to the conclusion that he'd poisoned the animals. +Then, when we got here and found the Chink taking on so, and discovered +the three bottles in his kitchen, empty, we thought he was poisoned." + +"Not a bit of it!" chuckled Dr. Taylor. "A barrel of that wouldn't +poison anybody, though, as I said, it would make them ill and give +considerable pain. Elixer of Life! Ha! Ha!" + +"Do you know this old man--what did you say his name was?" asked Dick. + +"Old Tosh he calls himself. Might better be _Bosh_! No, I don't know +him--never saw him as far as I know. But a lot of fools in Los Pompan +have bought his dope, and it made some of them sick. That's how I +happened to know what it was soon as I tasted it. I've seen samples in +the homes of folks who called me in to treat them for stomach pains. +Almost always it was because they had taken too much of this Tosh +elixer. I've sampled dozens of bottles of it. He puts it out under +all sorts of names--makes the labels himself, I guess. So I didn't +recognize his concoction here until I sampled it," and the medical man +waved his hands at the three bottles. "So that's that. Fah Moo won't +die." + +"He'll wreck our nerves, though, if he keeps this yelling up!" +complained Bud. "Can't you give him something?" + +"Yes, I can relieve him," chuckled the doctor. "Mustard and water; +eh?" he went on as he saw the mixture. "Good enough but you have to +swallow too much of it to be effective. I've got something that will +do the work." + +He produced a couple of capsules, which after much urging, the Chinese +was induced to swallow when told they would save his life. Then he was +led outside and far away by Snake and Yellin' Kid. In a short time Fah +Moo was a very sick Celestial, but after that he grew rapidly better +and came creeping back to the kitchen, somewhat pale, wan and drawn, +but no longer yipping, yelling and yapping. + +"Can do now," he said, meaning that he could proceed with his work, +which he did, when he had formally been engaged by Bud who was +virtually head of the new ranch. + +"Well, I guess that's all there is to this case," remarked the doctor +as he repacked his black bag. "There was no danger. He would have +gotten over it in time, anyhow." + +"So the Elixer is only sarsaparilla; is it?" asked Bud. + +"That's about all. Just a sort of root beer mixture of herbs and barks +the old man concocts. Harmless enough. It hasn't even the virtues of +soda water, for that has carbonic acid gas in it and that's beneficial +at times. So he calls it Life's Elixer; does he?" + +"He does," assented Bud. + +"And he stung me for a dollar!" sighed Snake. "Wait till I get hold of +him! Did I hear you boys say you caught him in a cave?" + +"We didn't catch him--he vamoosed as soon as he heard us," reported +Bud. "But we saw him boiling the stuff. Only we thought it was +poison, on account of the dead cows." + +"That's so--you did mention dead cows!" exclaimed Billee. "So Death +Valley is livin' up to its name. Let's have the yarn, boys." + +Bud and his cousins explained what they had discovered and the older +cowboys looked anxious. Dr. Taylor listened attentively. + +"I don't believe old Tosh had any hand in it," he said. "He bears the +name of being a harmless crank, always imagining every one is going to +die who doesn't take his herb medicine." + +"I wonder if you could tell what those cows died of?" asked Bud. + +"I could take a look at 'em," said the medical man, "but unless signs +of the poison--granting that it was poison--were very plain, I could +not say what kind was used. It would require an autopsy and a chemical +analysis. I'm not equipped for such work." + +"Well, would you mind having a look at the bodies?" asked Bud. "I know +it isn't in your line----" + +"Oh, I don't mind," said Dr. Taylor, good-naturedly. "Anything to +oblige. I'll run out and go over the matter with you to-morrow. I've +got to get back to town now. Not that my practice is so large," and he +laughed, "but I've got to look after it. Your Chink cook will be all +right in a little while," and he hurried off in his flivver, promising +to return next day. + +"How'd Fah Moo get the Elixer?" asked Bud when matters had somewhat +quieted down and the Celestial was busy in the kitchen. + +"Oh, I reckon he was snoopin' around and found where I hid the stuff in +the cupboard," Billee answered. "If he's going to be our regular +kitchen canary, Bud, I'll have to keep things better hid." + +"I guess he's had his lesson," said young Merkel. "And I guess he'll +be our permanent pot wrestler from now on. I left word for a man in +Los Pompan to send me the first one he could get hold of, and Fah Moo +is the result." + +"And I'm glad he's here!" voiced Dick. "I'm sick and tired of giving +the dishes their bath." The others felt the same about it, so Fah Moo +became a fixture at Dot and Dash. + +Billee and the others were surprised at the news the boys brought back +from their little expedition. The finding of the cave was not +considered remarkable, as Billee said there were many such about the +neighborhood. + +"And it wasn't strange that old Tosh, if that's his name, skipped out +when he saw you," went on the veteran puncher. "Likely he thought you +were coming to steal his Elixer secrets. So I guess we don't need to +worry about him." + +"Probably not," assented Bud and his cousins. "But," added Mr. +Merkel's son, "it will be necessary to give some attention to the +deaths of the cows." + +"You're right there!" declared Billee. "Looks like the same old +trouble was starting up again." + +However the mystery was not solved by Dr. Taylor who came to the ranch +next day. He looked at the dead cows, but beyond saying that they had +undoubtedly died from some sort of poison he could give no opinion. +And, because of the hot weather, it was not considered wise to cut up +any of the bodies to send the inner organs away for a laboratory test. + +"We'll have to solve the problem some other way," Bud said. + +So the unfortunate cows were buried and then, resolving not to be +frightened in their operations by this streak of bad luck, the boys +carried out Mr. Merkel's ideas by completing the purchase of several +score more head of choice animals and hiring additional cowboys to help +with the work at Dot and Dash. + +The new ranch was, by this time, quite an establishment, and though +many croakers in Los Pompan predicted failure for it, as those who had +gone before failed, Bud and his chums went on with their heads high and +their hearts strong. + +Fences were repaired, the herds were put out to graze, arrangements +were made to ship away cattle at the most advantageous times and the +work of Dot and Dash was now in full swing. Meanwhile nothing more had +been seen or heard of the old hermit, as the boys called Tosh. + +Bud and his cousins paid another visit to the Elixer Cave, as they +christened it, but aside from the ashes of the fire they found nothing. +The cavern was too big for them to explore completely in the limited +time at their disposal, though they resolved, after the fall round-up, +to investigate it fully. + +Fah Moo fitted well into the routine at Dot and Dash. He was a good +cook and was popular with the punchers for that reason. But he was +cured of any "snooping" habits he may have had. He would not touch a +bottle of any liquid, no matter how openly it was left around. Two or +three times some of the cowboys, having heard the story, laid traps for +the Chinese. But he blandly passed them by, murmuring: + +"No can do!" + +Mr. Merkel had been informed of the progress of affairs and though he +expressed a little anxiety because of the fact that those five cattle +had been found dead, he added that the animals might have eaten some +poison weed which the others in the herd did not get at. And as since +then nothing had happened, he expressed the hope that nothing would, +and that his wisdom in buying Dot and Dash at a bargain would be +demonstrated. + +So matters went along for a few weeks. Every one was busy, things +looked favorable for a good season and Bud and his cousins were getting +ready to laugh at themselves for thinking there was a jinx. + +But one afternoon, when the three had ridden over to mend a broken +fence, and when they were returning home, as they passed the entrance +to what they still called Smugglers' Glen, Dick's horse suddenly +started, reared and then, after a fit of trembling, as though in fear, +made a mad dash across the range. An instant later the steeds of the +other boys did the same and three frightened horses were soon carrying +their puzzled riders over the hills. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +BUD DISAPPEARS + +Excellent riders as were the boy ranchers, it took them some little +time and effort to calm their ponies and bring the frightened animals +to an easy canter which gave Bud and his cousins a chance to consider +the matter. + +"Whew!" exclaimed the ranchman's son as he eased up on the reins and +patted the neck of his mount. "That was some dash!" + +"Not much _dot_ about it!" chuckled Nort. + +"For a pun like that you ought to be forced to drink a bottle or two of +Tosh Elixer!" retorted Bud. "How about it, Dick?" + +"I'm with you! That was rotten--not much _dot_--I suppose that's a +play on the word _doubt_--not much _dot_ about it--that _dash_! Oh, +somebody hold me!" and he shook his fist at his brother. + +"I was thinking we'd soon need somebody to hold our horses," said Nort, +not a little pleased at his own joking words, however nonsensical his +two companions thought them. "What happened?" + +"That's what I want to know," chimed in Bud. "All of a sudden my pinto +here started off as if there was a race." + +"Same with me," went on Dick. + +"Something must have frightened the ponies," said Nort. + +"Yes, and we've got to find out what it was," declared Bud. "Come on +back." He wheeled his mount as he spoke. + +"Maybe we can't get 'em back," suggested Dick. + +"Well, at the place where they begin to balk we'll know the trouble +started," suggested the ranchman's son. "And we'll know we have to +look for the trouble right there." + +"What do you reckon it could have been to make them bolt so suddenly?" +Dick wanted to know. + +"Skunks, maybe," was the thought Nort offered. + +"Not many skunks in this neighborhood, thank goodness," said Bud. "I +wouldn't say there aren't any, but I've never heard of them." + +"Or smelled them," added Nort. + +"That's right--smelled 'em, either, and, what's more, I don't want to! +No, I don't believe it was skunks." + +"Rattlesnakes, maybe," was Dick's next contribution. "Horses are +afraid of rattlers all right." + +"Yes, and with good reason," Bud said, "though I don't know as I ever +heard of a horse dying from a side-winder's bite. It may happen, but, +personally, I can't prove it. All the same I don't believe it was +rattlers, though there are plenty in this region." + +"Why couldn't it have been snakes?" asked Dick. + +"Well, if any rattlers had sounded their warning, and they always do +rattle before they strike, we would have heard them as well as the +horses would, and I didn't hear anything." + +"No, I didn't, either," Dick and Nort admitted in turn. "But what was +it, then?" Nort asked. + +"It was something the horses smelled!" declared Bud with conviction. +"They got a whiff of something they didn't like and they lit out like +all possessed." + +"Do you mean a bear?" asked Dick. + +"Bear what?" came from Bud who had urged his pony somewhat ahead of the +mounts of his cousins. + +"Did the horses smell a bear, do you think?" went on Dick. "You know a +bear, even a tame circus one, will set a cow pony off quicker than +anything else." + +"Yes," agreed Bud. "But I hardly think this was a bear. There are +probably some back in the woods and hills, but they don't very often +venture into the open, especially at this time of year. And if it had +been a bear I think I would have winded him." + +"I don't know about that," came from Nort. "You know a horse, and +almost any other animal, has a keener sense of smell than most humans. +The horses might have smelled something we didn't." + +"That's true enough," assented Bud. "But the fact of the matter is I +noticed a queer sort of smell just before the horses bolted. It wasn't +very strong, and was more like perfume than anything else. In fact I +thought it might be some sort of flower or perhaps an herb the ponies +stepped on and crushed. I was just going to mention it to you fellows +when the rush began and I had my hands full, same as you did. Either +of you notice any smell?" + +Nort and Dick had to confess that they had not, but Dick added: + +"You've lived out of doors more than we have, Bud, and you got a better +nose--I mean for smelling, not for shape!" he added as Bud's hand went +to his olfactory organ. "So you might have caught a whiff of something +we didn't." + +"There's something in that, though I don't like to boast," said Bud. +"I'm pretty sure that's what it was--a queer smell the ponies didn't +like, and feared, and so they ran away from it." + +"But what kind of a smell could it be?" asked Dick. + +"Maybe we'll find out when we get back to where the thing +happened--that is if the ponies will go back," spoke Bud. + +However there seemed to be no trouble on this score, for, as the boys +came nearer and nearer to the place whence the animals had started on +their dash, there was no sign of fear or nervousness. The steeds +trotted on as they had done over any other stretch of the range, and +the deepest breathing of which the boys were capable betrayed to their +alert noses not the slightest taint in the air. + +"This is mighty queer!" murmured Bud as he guided his mount to and fro +around the locality. "Mighty queer!" + +"It's almost as if we had dreamed it," remarked Nort. + +"It was no dream the way I had to pull my horse back!" declared Dick, +and the others agreed with him. + +"Well, I guess we'll have to give it up and put it down as part of the +unsolved mystery of Dot and Dash," said Bud as he wheeled his horse +around and headed for the ranch house. + +"Unless you want to take a ride up there again," suggested Nort. + +"Where do you mean?" + +Nort pointed to the defile--that gulch which the boys had named +Smugglers' Glen--and added: + +"We might catch the old man in Elixer Cave." + +"What good would that do?" asked Dick. "You don't imagine he had +anything to do with scaring our horses; do you?" + +"Not exactly," replied his brother. "But, seeing we're so near the +place, I thought we might give it the once over." + +"Not much point to it," said Bud. "There's nothing to be learned up +there. No, I guess it was some sort of queer weed or flower I smelled +and which also frightened the ponies. I wish I knew more about botany. +I might find out what it was," and he looked at the trampled grass over +which they were now riding. But it gave no clew. + +"If there's a weed, the mere smell of which causes a horse to bolt," +said Nort, "it may be the thing that's causing the cattle to die. +Maybe it's the poison weed that caused so many deaths here." + +"I can't believe anything as strange as that," declared Bud. "But +after we get things running well I'm going to have a doctor, or a +chemist or somebody who knows about such things come out here and look +the place over. We've got to get to the bottom of this puzzle." + +His cousins agreed with him. However there was nothing they could do +at present. So they rode back to the ranch where they told their +strange experience, and suggested to Billee, Snake and the other +cowboys that it would be well for them to be on the watch, to find out +if any strange weed or flower growing in Death Valley was responsible +for the sinister manifestations. + +"It may be a new brand of loco weed," suggested Yellin' Kid in his big +voice. "Some of that's deadly." + +"To eat, yes, but not to smell," Bud reminded him. "But you may be +right at that. Keep your eyes open, boys." + +"Loco weed!" exclaimed Billee. "I've had experience with that--I mean +some ponies I once owned went crazy from it. It sure is queer stuff." +He referred to a species of bean plant, growing in some sections of the +west. Horses and cattle who inadvertently eat this weed with their +other fodder run madly about as if insane and often have to be shot. +Sometimes loco weed is powerful enough to kill, it is said by some, +though there is a doubt on this point. But none of the cowboys had +ever heard of the odor from loco weed doing any damage. + +The incident of the ponies running away was soon forgotten in the rush +and detail of work that soon piled up at Dot and Dash ranch. More +cattle were put out to graze, to thus fatten up for market. More hands +were hired and the place soon was almost as busy, big and important as +the boys' ranch in Happy Valley, or the original one at Diamond X. + +There was one thing Bud and his cousins noticed and spoke of, however, +and this was that all their cowboys came from distant places, with the +exception of Billee, Kid and Snake. All the hands hired gave their +addresses as of ranches far removed from Death Valley. And though when +they first started business the boy ranchers had endeavored to hire +hands in Los Pompan, they were not successful. + +"Why don't you want to sign on with us?" Bud asked more than one. + +"Oh, well, I don't have nothin' against you, personal, boss," would be +the answer, "but I don't jest like that locality." + +Then Bud and his cousins knew that the sinister reputation of Dot and +Dash was at the bottom of the refusal. + +But enough men from other places were hired to run the ranch, and +matters were shaping themselves nicely. Bud sent word home that in +spite of the sensational stories, and the one or two strange happenings +the boys had themselves experienced, it looked as if the proposition +would be a successful and paying one. Fah Moo was a jewel of a cook +and there was soon established quite a happy little family at Dot and +Dash. + +Then, without warning, another blow fell. + +It was decided that some of the original herd, purchased with the +ranch, could now be sold, as cattle on the hoof were bringing good +prices. And, talking it over one night, Bud and his chums planned to +cut out a number of fat steers and ship them away. + +"I'll ride over to that range in the morning," Bud told his cousins at +the conclusion of the conference, "and give the bunch the once-over. +Then you two can do the cutting out for I've got to go to town the next +few days to sign up some papers for dad. So I'll leave the shipment to +you." + +"It will be our first from here," said Dick. + +"Yes," agreed his brother. "And I hope they don't die before we get +'em to the loading chutes." + +"Not much danger, I guess," Bud remarked. "This jinx seems to be +passing us up. Guess it got tired of the way we came back at it. +Well, I'll go over the first thing in the morning and next day you can +begin to round up and cut out." + +"When'll you be back?" Nort asked his cousin when Bud slung his leg +over the saddle next morning. The two Shannon boys were to be busy at +some duties about the ranch during their cousin's absence. + +"Oh, I'll be back by noon," was the answer. + +So Bud rode away, singing the Cowboy's Lament, and idly flipping the +end of his lariat. + +Noon came almost before Nort and Dick realized it, so busy were they, +and when Fah Moo cried: "Klum an' glit it!" which was the signal for +dinner, Nort exclaimed: + +"Bud isn't back yet!" + +"No," said Dick. "Maybe he found the herd farther off than he counted +on. But he'll be along before we finish." + +However, Bud did not show up, and when all the cowboys had eaten, and +the afternoon began to wane without the return of the ranch owner's +son, his cousins looked at each other with anxious faces. + +"Where do you reckon he is?" asked Dick. + +"That's hard to say, but----" + +"Say, let's ride out that way!" interrupted Dick. "We've finished here +and----" + +He did not complete the sentence, but his brother knew what was +implied. Accordingly a little later, saying nothing to the other +hands, the two saddled their ponies and started out on the trail to +that part of the ranch situated near Smugglers' Glen, where the +original bunch of cattle were grazing. + +"I don't like this disappearance on Bud's part," said Nort, as they +rode along. + +"Is it a disappearance?" asked Dick, pointedly. + +"What else is it? He hasn't come back." + +To this Dick returned no answer, but there were anxious looks on the +faces of the boy ranchers as they urged their ponies forward. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE SEARCH + +Pleasant enough it was, riding over the sunlit, undulating broad +stretches of the range, and Dick and Nort would have thoroughly enjoyed +it had it not been for the nature of their errand. Had Bud been with +them they would probably have "whooped it up" with joyous, care-free +exuberance. But now they were rather solemn, not to say glum. + +Dick, noticing that his brother rode along with his eyes bent on the +ground just ahead of the pony, inquired: + +"What are you looking for--lost something?" + +"No. But I was thinking about the possibility of poison weed and I +thought maybe I could spot it before anything happened." + +"I don't take much stock in that poison weed theory," said Dick. + +"No? What do you think caused the deaths?" + +"Hanged if I know! I'm more concerned, right now, with finding out +what's keeping Bud away." + +"Well, that's why I was sort of looking for this weed--if there is such +a thing." + +"You thought maybe he'd been overcome by it?" + +"Somewhat--like Sam Tarbell was overcome, you know." + +"There's a possibility of that," admitted Dick, with an anxious air. +"But we ought to meet him soon." + +However they rode on for several miles, and though they strained their +eyes for a sight of their returning cousin, they did not glimpse him. +It was getting dusk when they came within view of the original herd +which had been purchased with the ranch. The cattle were quietly +feeding, chewing cuds or roaming about as suited each individual taste. +But there was no sight of Bud. + +"Something must have happened to him!" said Nort, voicing not only his +own fear but that of his brother. "He doesn't seem to be around here. +Something sure has happened!" + +"I'm beginning to fear so," admitted Dick. "He might have had a +tumble, or his pony might, and gotten a broken leg from it--I mean Bud +might." + +"He could manage to sit on his horse with a broken leg--that is some +kinds of broken legs," Nort pointed out. + +"He couldn't get back up in the saddle if he fell off and broke his +leg," objected Dick. "Gosh! I wish we'd find him." + +They topped a little rise, which gave them a good view of the +surrounding territory, and eagerly scanned the vista. There seemed to +be nothing but cattle in sight, but a few moments after reaching the +little hill summit Dick exclaimed: + +"There's a pony!" + +Excitedly he pointed to it, and a moment later Nort had taken his field +glasses from their case and was focusing on the animal. After what +seemed like a long time, but which, really, was only a few seconds, +Nort cried: + +"That's Bud's horse all right!" + +"Do you see Bud?" anxiously inquired Dick. + +"No, he doesn't seem to be in sight. But let's ride over there." + +They urged their ponies forward at top speed but as they drew near +Bud's favorite mount, which he had brought with him from Diamond X, the +steed perversely kicked up his heels, wheeled about and was away on a +fast trot. + +"He must have lost his bridle, or else the reins are caught up on the +saddle horn!" cried Dick as he and his brother took after the runaway. +For a Western horse, in almost all cases, will stand still if the reins +are dropped over his head to the ground. Of course there are +exceptions, but Bud's mount was well trained in this habit. +Consequently when Nort and Dick saw the animal running from them they +realized that one of two things must have happened. A horse cannot run +far with the bridle reins dangling in front of him. He is very likely +to step on them and trip himself up. But nothing like this happened +with Star, which was the name of Bud's pony. He ran on easily. + +"Have to rope him, I guess!" cried Nort, who was a little in advance of +his brother. + +"Go to it! We got to find out what's wrong!" + +There was an exciting race for a few minutes but in the end Nort and +his trusty lariat won. The coils settled over the head of the runaway +and he was gently brought to a halt. Once caught he was tractable +enough. It was as though he had wanted to show off. + +"Bridle's gone; eh?" remarked Dick as he cantered up alongside his +brother and the captured horse. "That looks bad." + +"Unless Bud took it off himself, to let his pony graze in more comfort." + +"He wouldn't do that without hobbling him, and look--there's his rope." +Dick pointed to the coils on the saddle horn. + +"Then what happened? Is there any----" + +Nort did not like to use the word "blood," but that is what he implied. +And his brother knew the thought--that Bud might have been shot by some +rustlers or roving desperados and so had been dropped from the saddle. +But there were no evidences of foul play, and no signs of a struggle. +No marks showed on the pony, either. + +"Well, this sure is a mystery!" exclaimed Nort when the casual +examination, was over. "What has become of Bud?" + +"That's what I'd like to know," echoed Dick. "What's the next move?" + +"Better go back and tell some of the boys. We'll have to organize a +search." + +"Guess that's the only thing to do," admitted Dick. "Gosh! The jinx +was only on a vacation. Now it's back in full force." + +"Oh, I wouldn't go thinking the worst--not yet a while," urged Nort as +they started back for the ranch, leading Bud's mount by a rope around +his neck. "Something might have given Bud a fall and his pony might +have run away. Then Bud may have met some cowboys who loaned him a +mount to get back on. He may be back at the ranch when we get there." + +But Dick shook his head over this theory. + +"If Bud had ridden back on a borrowed horse we'd have seen him, sure!" +he declared. "We came the same trail he'd have used." + +Truth to tell Nort did not think much of his own reasoning, but he put +it forward as the best under the circumstances. There was clearly only +one thing to do, and that was to acquaint the cowboys with the mystery +of Bud's disappearance as soon as possible, and get a search under way. + +There was plenty of excitement at Dot and Dash when, in the shadows of +the coming night, Nort and Dick galloped into the yard and shouted the +news. They knew, without asking, that Bud had not returned in their +absence, so Yellin' Kid did not have to shout: + +"He isn't here!" + +"Then we've got to find him!" was Billee's conclusion after hearing the +brothers' story. "Come on, boys! We've got to search for Bud!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +BUD'S STRANGE TALE + +Darkness, which shrouded Death Valley shortly after the search started, +was a severe handicap. Even the most skillful followers of a trail, +and there were several such among the cow punchers, could do little in +the night. Still they rode out in various directions from the Dot and +Dash ranch house--big, stern-faced men, with lariat and gun ready and +determined looks in their eyes. + +Though some of the cowboys had only been associated with Bud Merkel +during the short time of their hire, they had come to admire the boy +rancher who treated them as his father would have done, with fairness +and kindness. + +"If any doggoned rustlers have been playing tricks with Bud," voiced +Yellin' Kid as he rode off with Nort, Dick and Billee, "they had better +make their wills. I'm after 'em, boy, I'm tellin' you!" and he shouted +this information to the silent night. + +So they rode forth into the blackness. The Shannon brothers, with +Yellin' Kid and Old Billee Dobb, made up one party. Snake Purdee with +Sam Tarbell headed another, and the various new cow punchers, including +one or two who had recently been sent by Mr. Merkel from Diamond X, +took up such trail as there was. + +At best it was only a series of faint clews that led toward Bud. It +was known in what direction he had started that morning, and the +finding of his horse near the original herd, and not far from the +Smugglers' Glen, gave color to the theory that he had carried out his +intention of getting information about the cattle he wanted to ship +away. That was as far as clews went. + +What had happened to the young man, how he came off his horse, how the +pony's bridle was missing--all these were points to be cleared up by +the searchers. And it was not easy in the night. + +"We can't do much till morning," said Billee Dobb when he and his +companions had circled around the wondering cattle of the original +herd, without getting any nearer to the solution of the mystery. +"Something's happened to Bud to put him out of business." + +"Out of business!" exclaimed Nort. "Do you mean----" + +"I mean only temporary!" Billee made haste to add. "Bud's in some sort +of condition where he can't come back to us or send word. I don't +really think anything could have happened to him--I mean anything +serious." + +"I hope not," murmured Dick, while Nort echoed the wish. + +However, as the hours of the night passed, and searching as best they +could by the glimmer of flashlights, stopping to shout Bud's name now +and then, they did not find the missing young rancher. + +"It's getting daylight," remarked Yellin' Kid in lower tones than he +was wont to use. Perhaps the strange hush which always precedes the +dawn, or perhaps the sorrow that pervaded all hearts on account of +Bud's absence had an influence on Kid and he was more solemn. + +"Yes, soon be time to eat," agreed Old Billee. "We'll have to go back, +though. Didn't bring no grub with us." + +This was true enough. When the search started no one thought it would +last very long. There was no idea that the searchers would be out all +night. Yet such was the case. + +"Yes, we'll have to go back and then start out again after we eat," +assented Nort. + +They rode along for a time in silence. Slowly the light in the east +grew. More and more rosy it appeared, now with golden streaks. +Morning was about to break forth in all its glory. + +"I wonder if he could have had anything to do with it?" spoke Nort +suddenly, and apparently asking himself the question. + +"Who?" inquired Dick a bit sharply. "What do you mean?" + +"I mean the old Elixer peddler." + +"Tosh?" + +"Yes." + +"How could he have anything to do with Bud staying away all night?" + +"That's it. I don't know. I'm just wondering. Tosh is a queer old +crank, you know, and he may have met Bud and tried to sell him some +more of the stuff that Fah Moo got sick on." + +"Well, there'd be no harm in that," remarked Billee. "Old Tosh +probably tries to sell everybody he meets some of his dope, on the plea +that it'll save them from the fate that overtakes so many in Death +Valley. No harm in that. Poor, old crank!" + +"No harm in trying to sell--no," assented Nort. "But if Bud didn't buy +any bottles of the stuff--and he wouldn't be likely to--Tosh might have +got mad and kicked up a row. There might have been a fight and----" + +"Oh, I don't think so!" interrupted Dick. "That's a little too far +fetched." + +"Well, almost anything might have happened," argued Nort. "But I wish +we'd find him!" + +The others heartily echoed the thought. They were nearing, now, the +entrance to the defile, or Smugglers' Glen. The sun was just peeping +up above the line of round hills which represented the horizon. A new +day was being born, but to those from Dot and Dash ranch it was not a +joyful day--or it would not be if the mystery over Bud remained +unsolved. + +"I wonder if, by any chance, he could be up in there," mused Nort. + +"Where?" asked Dick, who was gazing off across the range, his eyes +intently focused on a small, moving object that did not seem to be +either a cow or a horse. + +"Up there where we found old Tosh making the witches' broth," and Nort +looked closely at his brother to see what was attracting his attention. +"I mean in Smugglers' Glen," went on Nort, for Dick had not turned. +"What you looking at?" suddenly demanded Nort. + +"Why, I thought--I saw--" Dick was speaking in a preoccupied manner, +his gaze still fixed on that small, dark object. + +Then, so suddenly that it startled all of them, as they sat on their +mounts, with back turned toward the defile, there came from the glen a +noise. It was a noise of stones rattling one against the other. + +Like a flash all turned from observing the object that had caught +Dick's eyes, and the reason for the stone-rattling noise was explained. +It was caused by some one walking unsteadily out of the defile, and the +person who was walking was--Bud Merkel! + +For a moment the searchers could scarcely believe that they really saw +the missing youth. But as he came nearer it was only too evident. + +"Bud!" cried Nort and Dick in a duet as they spurred their horses +forward. "Bud!" + +"By gosh! 'Tis him!" roared Yellin' Kid. + +"But he's 'bout done up!" commented Billee Dobb as he, with Kid, urged +his pony forward. "What happened?" + +It was obvious that something serious had taken place. Bud was hardly +able to walk, and was supporting himself by leaning on a tree branch as +a sort of cane or crutch. But his face brightened in the rising sun as +he beheld his friends coming toward him. + +"What happened?" called Dick, as he dismounted beside his cousin. + +"It's a strange story," said Bud in a weak voice. "I've been +practically kidnaped and put under the spell of some sort of poison +gas." + +"Kidnaped!" cried Snake. + +"Poison gas!" echoed Billee. + +"Who did it?" demanded Nort. + +"Rustlers, I reckon," said Bud as he sank down on a bowlder and drank +greedily from the canteen Dick offered. "I was surprised by a crowd of +men back there," and he nodded back up the gulch. "They shot some sort +of vapor at me that knocked me out, and I've been a prisoner ever +since. I just managed to get away." + +"Tell us about it!" cried Nort. + +"And we'll go back there and clean those fellows out!" shouted Yellin' +Kid, reaching for his gun. + +He would have put his threat into execution, too, but Bud restrained +him with a gesture as he said: + +"It's no use!" + +"Why not? Did you shoot 'em up?" asked Snake, with the beginning of a +delighted grin. + +"No," Bud replied. "But they aren't there now. They lit out. That's +how I could get away." + +"Say, there's more to this than you're telling us!" said Nort. + +"Go ahead. Spill the whole yarn--that is if you're able," begged Dick. + +"Oh, yes, I feel better now. Give me a little more water and I'll tell +you what happened to me." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE AVENGERS + +Bud Merkel took a long drink, shook his head several times as though to +clear his brain of some benumbing influence and began his story. + +"I guess you all know," he said, "how I started over here yesterday to +size up our stock to get ready for the first shipment to go from Dot +and Dash under the new ownership." His hearers nodded. By this time +several other cowboys from the other searching parties had arrived to +hear the good news of the finding of Bud. + +"Well," went on the young rancher, "I got to the range all right, +looked the herd over and found there were more steers ready to ship +than we had counted on," and he looked toward his cousins. "Then I +thought I'd spend the rest of the morning in exploring Smugglers' Glen. +I wanted to see if I could find out where the old Elixer man +disappeared to that time he ran away from us," and again he looked at +Nort and Dick. The story of the herb doctor was known to most of the +cowboys. + +"I rode on up into the gulch," continued Bud, "and when I got close to +the cave I slid off my horse, for his feet made so much noise on the +rocks that I thought if the old man was in the cavern he'd take warning +and skip out before I could catch him at work. That's what I wanted to +do--see old Tosh at work brewing his stuff. And I wanted to find if +there was another entrance or exit from the cavern. I didn't know but +what, in case of a big blizzard, we might not shelter some of our stock +in the cave if we could open it up more." + +"That wouldn't be a bad idea," commented Nort. + +"Well, anyhow," resumed Bud, "I got off my pony, tied him to a tree and +went on up the glen afoot. I was almost at the cave when, all of a +sudden, two or three men came out. They seemed quite surprised to see +me, and I certainly was to see them. They weren't any of our men, and +they hadn't any right on our range, any more than Old Tosh has, but I +guess no one minds him. + +"I thought, of course, that these fellows were rustlers--they were +rough and tough enough looking to be almost anything. But before I +could say or do anything, one of them set down what looked like a tank +containing carbonic acid gas, like they use at drug store soda water +fountains. I wondered whether these fellows were going into the game +of putting pop in the Tosh Elixer, when, all at once I felt sort of +queer. I tried to fight off the sensation, but I kept getting weaker +until I just crumpled up in a heap. + +"I thought of all sorts of things--the stories Billee had told about +the sudden deaths here, how Sam Tarbell was overcome and his horse +killed and then, just as if I was in a dream, I felt some of those men +pick me up and carry me into the cave." + +"The darned hijackers!" cried Yellin' Kid. + +"Can't we do something to 'em?" demanded Snake angrily. + +"Wait," cautioned Bud. "I haven't finished. The men picked me up. I +was so weak and knocked out by that peculiar smell, whatever it was, +that I couldn't do anything. It was, as I said, just like being in a +dream. They laid me down on a pile of bags, or something. It was +dark, but they had some lanterns. My eyes were half open so I could +see a little. Then they tied me up and after that I don't remember +much. I have a hazy recollection, just as you'd have from trying to +remember a half-forgotten dream, a recollection of seeing the men +moving about the cave, digging out rocks, hammering and crushing them. +For a time I thought they might be going to wall up the entrance and +bury me there alive. + +"Then I must have gone to sleep, or lost consciousness, for everything +faded away and the next thing I knew I woke up. It was dark and quiet +around me and I began to move my arms and legs. I had been tied up +pretty tight, but the knots seemed to be looser now and I managed to +work some of them off so I could free myself. + +"Then I got up, found a flashlight in my pocket--luckily the men hadn't +searched me--and I managed to make my way out of the cave. So here I +am--that's all there is to it." + +"Well, that's good and plenty!" cried Nort. + +"Didn't you stop to see if those men were still there, and what they +were doing?" asked Dick. + +"No, I didn't feel able," Bud answered wearily. "All I wanted to do +was get out, find my horse and ride back to the ranch. But where is +Star?" the young rancher suddenly asked, looking around. + +"He's safe in the corral," Dick answered. "We found him wandering +around without his bridle on when we went to look for you late +yesterday afternoon." + +"He must have pulled away from the tree where I had him tied and yanked +the bridle off that way," Bud said. + +"Horses an' bridles ain't much account now!" declared Billee. "The +main thing is about these darn varmints that treated Bud so. Who do +you think they were--I mean what sort of scamps?" asked the old ranch +hand, and he fingered his gun, which several other cowboys were doing. + +"I think they were cattle rustlers," answered Bud, who seemed to be +feeling better each moment. "They must have been hiding in the cave +waiting for a chance to drive off some of our stock, when their plans +were spoiled by my happening along." + +"That's probably it," agreed Nort. "But what about that soda water +cylinder you say they shot at you?" + +"I wouldn't call it soda water," stated Bud with a grim smile. "But it +contained some sort of gas and they must have shot it at me for it +knocked me out." + +"How was it they could turn a stream of poison gas, or at least +knock-out gas, on you, Bud, and not suffer from it themselves?" asked +Dick. + +"The wind was blowing straight from them to me, down the glen," was the +reply. "The breeze carried the stuff to me and it didn't bother them +at all for it floated right from them." + +"Just like gas in the war," stated Snake, who had fought in France, as +had several of the other husky cowboys. "That's probably what it was, +too, some kind of gas they used in the war. It comes in tanks, and the +Germans used to lay a shallow trench full of these cylinders, with the +openings in 'em pointed our way. Then they'd open a faucet, let the +gas out and the wind would blow it right in our faces. If we didn't +put on gas masks it was bye-bye for us." + +"But," exclaimed Nort, "Bud wasn't killed." + +"No," agreed Snake with a grim smile, "and we're darn glad he wasn't. +Like as not they didn't use strong gas on him. There's lots of kinds +of gas, you know. I took some once to have a tooth yanked out and I +laughed to beat the band. Even in war all the gas wasn't sure death. +There was a kind that made you cry like you'd lost your best girl." + +"That's the explanation then," decided Nort. "These fellows--call 'em +rustlers for the time being--have got hold of some kind of knock-out +gas and they used it on Bud." + +"I sure was knocked out," murmured the young rancher. + +"But what's their game?" asked Yellin' Kid in no gentle tones. "If +they're rustlers why did they just hold Bud a prisoner a while and then +light out and not take any stock?" + +"They probably figgered the game was up," suggested Snake, "and wanted +to make their get-away. Anyhow they didn't get no stock." + +"Are you sure of that?" asked Bud. + +By this time nearly all the other members of the searching parties had +been gathered near Smugglers' Glen, the more distant ones having been +signaled to by shots previously agreed upon. And from the leaders of +these squads it was learned that no raid had been made during the +night. The whole range had been pretty well covered. + +"Well, that's good," said Bud when the welcome news had been conveyed +to him. + +"Do you think these rustlers were responsible for the deaths here in +this valley?" asked Nort. "Have they been setting off this gas--or +some even worse--and killing cattle, men and horses?" + +Billee Dobb shook his head. + +"Death Valley got its name a long while back," he said. "Long before +these fellers could have been operating. This is some new dodge, take +my word for it." + +"It's a queer way to rustle cattle--kill 'em with gas," said Yellin' +Kid. + +"Oh, they keep the gas for humans that might try to catch 'em, I +guess," Billee went on. "That's just something to cover their +operations. And it doesn't solve the other deaths that took place +here." + +"You say you saw those men digging away in the cave, cracking rocks and +the like of that?" asked Snake. + +"That's what I think I saw," spoke Bud. "Of course I don't know _what_ +I really saw and what I may have _dreamed_, half unconscious as I was. +But it's easy to find out if any digging has been done in the cave. We +can take another trip back there and----" + +"That's just what we'll do!" cried Nort + +"And we'll catch these fellows an' string 'em up!" cried Sam Tarbell. +"They killed my best horse and I'm going to have revenge on 'em. Are +you with me, boys?" + +"Sure!" cried half a score of cowboys, their hands going to their guns. + +"We'll revenge Bud, too!" exclaimed Dick. + +"That's the talk!" shouted Yellin' Kid. "Let's get at these _hombres_ +an' chase 'em out of the country!" + +Eager and excited, angry, and justly so, the crowd was ready for +anything. They would have rushed at once into the defile but that +Billee Dobb held up a restraining hand. + +"We want to go at this thing calm and cautious like," he said. "We +want either to catch these scamps or drive 'em out. At the same time +we want to find out what their game is." + +"That's right," agreed Bud. "The more I think of it the more I'm sure +I didn't _dream_ I saw 'em digging something out of the sides of the +cave. They _really did it_." + +"Diamonds, maybe!" exclaimed Snake, eagerly. + +"Be yourself, boy!" chuckled Yellin' Kid. "Diamonds don't grow out +here." + +"All right--have it your way," mildly assented Snake. + +"So it would be a good thing to see what these birds were up to," went +on Bud. "I'm still so sort of knocked out that I can't do much. I've +got to get back and rest up. But if you boys want to go back up there +and see what you can find, and do, I'm willing." + +"We sure will!" cried the crowd as one man. + +"Let Billee be the leader," suggested Bud. + +And in a few minutes the avengers had formed a sort of plan of battle +or attack which, they hoped, would solve some of the mystery of Death +Valley. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +DRIVEN BACK + +Bud was to go back to the ranch with some of the cowboys and remain +there while the main body of punchers moved up into the glen to +capture, if possible, the mysterious men with their more mysterious +tank of strange gas. And, after a second consideration of the affair +in hand, it was decided that it would be best if the main body of +avengers could have one of Fah Moo's hot breakfasts before starting in +on what might be a strenuous day's work. + +"But if we all go in," objected Nort when this plan was outlined, +"those fellows up in the glen may escape, if they haven't already +skipped away to stay." + +"I've thought of that," stated Old Billee who was sort of +commander-in-chief. "We'll send some scouts up to watch and see what +happens. Who'll volunteer?" + +There was no lack on this score, for though the men were all tired from +the night's vigil, on edge from lack of sleep and hungry into the +bargain, Billee had three times as many as he needed for scouts. + +Cow-punchers are "he-men," and little things like loss of sleep and +delay in getting breakfast do not bother them. It was arranged that +when the main body returned, after a session with the Chinese cook, +they would bring a "snack" for the scout volunteers. + +"And some hot coffee in thermos bottles," added Bud, who knew how that +would be appreciated. "We have some thermos bottles at the ranch. I +only hope I'll feel able to come back and help fight." + +"Do you think there'll be a fight?" asked Yellin' Kid, eagerly. + +"It's likely," said Billee. + +"Whoop-ee!" roared the loud-voiced one and his joyous sentiment was +echoed on all sides. Bud looked a little glum that he could not be "in +on the fun," as he called it later. But he was more done up than he +imagined, for he had gone through a strenuous time, though he had not +actually been mistreated. + +So while some of the cowboys more recently engaged were sent into the +glen as scouts, the main body, with Bud riding on a spare horse which +had been brought along for just such an eventuality, went back to the +ranch. + +There things soon began to "hum," as Nort and Dick expressed it. They +had had experience before with desperate and unscrupulous men who, as +rustlers, or otherwise, had endeavored to make trouble for the boy +ranchers. And the young managers of Dot and Dash did not shrink from +the coming conflict. + +"Can do--sure!" was the bland reply of Fah Moo when asked if he could +get breakfast for the bunch in a hurry. "Sure can do!" + +And he did. + +Guns were looked to, extra ammunition was packed, hurried snatches of +food were the order of the day, and when baskets of grub had been +packed for the scouts left on guard, once more the cavalcade started +off. + +On the way to Smugglers' Glen a sort of campaign was outlined and +agreed upon. It was decided to advance on foot against the men in the +cave, for the defile was so narrow, and the footing so uncertain +because of loose rocks, large and small, that horses would be a +disadvantage rather than a help in case of a fight. + +"We'll leave the ponies at the entrance, same as Bud did his," +suggested Old Billee. + +"All alone?" asked Nort. "Some of those fellows may sneak up in our +rear and make off with our mounts." + +"They won't be unguarded," declared Billee, who was too old a fighter +to make the mistake of leaving his rear open to attack. "I'll have a +couple of the hands stay with the horses." + +"Not me you won't!" shouted Yellin' Kid. "Me, I'm goin' to _fight_! +I'm not goin' to be nurse-maid for a lot of cow ponies!" + +"Me either!" declared Snake. + +"Order in the ranks!" snapped Billee with blazing eyes. "I'm in charge +here, by the instructions of the boss, and I won't have anybody saying +what they will and won't do! You heard me!" + +He was as different from the usual mild Old Billee Dobb as chalk is +from cheese. He was in his element and he knew it. + +"No offense, chief," said Yellin' Kid, humbly and in subdued tones. +"But I do want to get a shot at these fellers!" + +"I wonder if Del Pinzo can be back of this gang?" mused Nort as he rode +beside his brother toward the glen. + +"I wouldn't put it past him," answered Dick. "But I thought he was in +jail." + +"They don't seem to make, out here, the kind of jails that will keep +Del Pinzo behind the bars," commented Nort. "If he's around these +diggings he'd be the very one to engineer some dirty trick." + +"Speaking of diggings," went on Dick, "what do you reckon it was Bud +saw those fellows digging out of the sides of the cave?" + +"Give it up, for the time being. We'll find out when we get inside. +But in spite of the fact that Bud thinks he saw some queer operations +he may have dreamed it all--after that gas attack, you know." + +"Yea, I guess so. It's queer all around. Fancy rustlers being so up +to date as to use the tactics of chemical warfare." + +"There's been a lot of strange things since the Big War," stated Nort. +"Maybe some of these rustlers were in the chemical division of the +A.E.F. and learned tricks there of how to make and send out of +cylinders gas that would knock a man out but not kill him." + +"That's possible. But what about the horses, cattle and men who were +killed here in Death Valley? I mean years ago, the way Billee tells +it. Did these fellows have anything to do with that?" + +"Hard to say, but I don't believe so." + +"Then what did?" + +"That's what we've got to find out after we get through with this gang." + +The avengers urged their ponies ahead at a fast clip and the sun was +still far from the meridian when they came in sight of the entrance to +the defile. Dark and sinister it loomed in contrast to the brightness +of the day. What secrets did it hold? + +"I wonder if Old Tosh is up there, helping the rustlers?" mused Dick as +Billee got ready to call a halt and deploy his forces. + +"Don't believe that old yarb doctor does any more harm than giving +Chinks the stomach-ache," chuckled Nort. "But he may have rented that +cave to those fellows." + +"Nervy of him, considering that the cave is on Dot and Dash land," said +Dick. + +It did not take long to get ready for the attack. Billee named the men +he wanted to remain as a rear guard in charge of the horses, and they +accepted the detail in as cheerful spirits as possible. To the relief +of Yellin' Kid and Snake Purdee, they were not compelled to remain thus +inactive. + +"Though you fellows may have a fight on your hands," Billee said to the +horse guard as he posted them, "these fellows may dash out after we +rouse 'em, and it'll be up to you to deal with 'em." + +"We'll do that all right, boss," chuckled a big, lanky puncher, one of +the new hands hired. + +With Nort and Dick at his side, Billee Dobb led the way up into the +dark defile. Every man had his gun out and was eager-eyed for what +might happen next. + +"Don't make any more noise than you can help," cautioned Billee to the +men back of him. "We want to surprise these _hombres_ if we can." + +On and on they went, over big and little bowlders, up into the glen +where the frowning, towering walls looked down on them. The passage +became narrower. They were now approaching the cave. + +"Steady, boys!" called Billee as they rounded a turn and came within +view of the dark entrance to the cavern. + +It was a tense moment. Some of the men carried a gun in either hand. +Nort and Dick had one each, and Billee was armed likewise. A little +wind began blowing down the gulch in the faces of the attackers. It +seemed to bring with it a slight mist. + +"Gettin' foggy," commented Snake. "I wonder----" + +Then he began to cough and choke. So did Nort, Dick and Old Billee. +The white mist came floating nearer. + +"Look out, boys!" suddenly shouted Yellin' Kid. "It's a gas attack, +same as in the war. Look out!" + +A moment later the party was sneezing, coughing and gasping for breath +as the faint white mist, blown by the wind, enveloped them. It caused +a terrible, gripping sensation, a constriction of the throat muscles so +that breathing was difficult. + +"They've got us!" yelled Billee. "We can't fight poison gas! Back up, +boys! We've got to run!" + +It was impossible to advance in the face of this mysterious surprise +attack and the avengers were driven back. Gasping, and trying to keep +from collapsing under the afflicting sensation, the Dot and Dash men +were forced to retreat from their unseen foes. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +GAS MASKS + +"Hold on!" yelled Snake Purdee as he swung around a ledge at the edge +of the narrow entrance to Smugglers' Glen and made a grab at Nort who +was running as fast as he could under the weakening influence of the +gas. "It's all right here--the wind will blow the stuff to the east. +Swing around here, everybody!" and he indicated a niche to the west of +the entrance. + +Nort stopped, his brain dully comprehending what Snake meant. Then the +others in the wild, frightened retreat sensed what the words were +intended to convey and, one after another, they gathered there in +comparative safety with Snake, Nort and Dick. + +"Whew!" gasped Billee Dobb whose age was telling on him, not only in +the rapid, forced retreat, but in the effect of the gas. "That was +tough! But what makes you think we'll be safe here, Snake?" + +"On account of the wind blowing the gas away from us. Look, there it +floats to the east. We're safe here. I didn't get nearly gassed in +the war for nothing. We're safe here till the wind shifts and it won't +do that right away." + +"What about the horses?" gasped Dick, taking deep breaths to rid +himself of the gas already breathed. + +"They're all right--they're up wind, too!" shouted Yellin' Kid, whose +lungs did not seem to have suffered much. + +This was true enough. The ponies, with the guard of cowboys, were to +the west of the gorge entrance and, as Snake had been quick to observe, +the strange, white mist which had so mysteriously floated out of the +cave toward the avengers, was drifting, now, out of the mouth of the +defile and off to the east. + +"If any of the cattle get in the path of that they'll be killed!" +exclaimed Dick, noting how the mist clung to the ground and rolled +along as fog sometimes does when the clouds are low. + +"The bunch isn't down there," said Billee. + +"And I don't know as that gas is so very deadly after all," stated +Snake, breathing deep after a few cautious inhalations to make sure the +air was clear. + +"Then what'd you run for?" Yellin' Kid wanted to know. + +"Because I wasn't sure of what sort of stuff it was. There's lots of +kinds of gas, you know. We had one kind in the war that would just +knock a man out for a few hours. I reckon that's the kind they shot at +Bud and the kind they just now loosed at us. But I wasn't takin' any +chances!" + +"I should say not!" cried Billee Dobb. "But now we're out of danger +for a while, what's to be done next?" + +Nort had the answer ready in a moment. + +"Gas masks!" he exclaimed. + +"Gas masks?" echoed Billee. + +"Sure! I get you!" cried Snake. "That's the ticket! Gas masks! Same +as we used in war when the Germans let their gas loose. Why didn't I +think of it before?" + +"There's been so much happening!" remarked Dick, "that it's a wonder we +thought of half we did. But gas masks would be just what is needed +here. Only where are we going to get them?" + +Up spoke one of the new cowboys to observe: + +"There's a branch of the American Legion in Los Pompan. I belong to it +and so do some of the other boys. 'Tain't much of a branch, but they +got some war relics hangin' around the meetin' room, and I seen some +gas masks there the last time I was in. I reckon we can borrow them +without any trouble." + +"Golly! That's the cheese!" cried Nort. + +"But are the masks any good?" Dick asked. "If they're relics of the +war they're likely to be old and no good. And a gas mask that won't +keep gas out is worse than none at all." + +"You're right there!" exclaimed Sim Roller, who had proposed the +matter. "Some of the masks are the same as the boys used in France. +But others are new ones they got from the gov'ment lately to decorate +the meetin' room. I reckon they'd be fresh, with charcoal in and +everything needed." + +"Will you see if you can get some for us?" asked Billee, who was in +charge during the forced absence of Bud. + +"Sure!" + +"Good!" cried Nort. "Then we'll come back and have another go at these +fellows!" + +"Yes, it will need another go," remarked Billee, looking at the +entrance to the defile out of which a faint mist was still floating. +"We don't dare go back at 'em now, unprotected. They're regular +devils, that's what they are! Devils!" + +"Wonder what their game is?" mused Dick as he and his brother, with the +other cowboys, moved to where their horses were picketed in charge of +the guard. + +"They want to keep us out of that glen," suggested Nort. + +"But why?" went on Dick. + +"So they can poison more cattle and bust up this ranch and rustle what +stock they don't kill," was what Nort answered. + +"It doesn't seem reasonable that they'd poison cattle," and Dick shook +his head. "What good would dead ones be to them? They can't be sold, +and it wouldn't pay to kill 'em just for the hides." + +"No, that's so," admitted Nort. "But they evidently want to keep us +out of that glen, and drive us away from the ranch if possible, so they +can have it for themselves." + +"Part of that seems like to be true," spoke Billee, taking a part in +the discussion. "But this isn't the first time there have been queer +doings at Dot and Dash. Years ago I'm pretty sure there was no band of +devils up here with cylinders of gas. This is something new." + +"Tell me, Billee," resumed Nort, "on what sections of the ranch did +most of the deaths occur--I mean when you worked here?" + +"Well," and the veteran scratched his head reflectively, "as near as I +can remember they was all somewhere near this glen, come to think of +it." + +"And this is where Sam Tarbell's horse was killed and where Sam was +knocked out--near this glen; wasn't it?" went on Nort. + +"That's true enough." + +"And it's from this glen that Bud got his dose of poison gas and where, +just now, we got ours; isn't it?" + +"Sure," Billee was forced to say. + +"Well, then," went on Nort, "isn't it reasonable to suppose that this +band--or some bunch like it--has been doing this right along?" + +Here Billee shook his head. + +"You can't make me believe," he said, "that this gang, or one like it, +has been doin' this gas business all along. In the first place the +earliest, mysterious death on Dot and Dash took place many years ago, +before poison gas in war was thought of. I won't deny that this bunch +back there," and he nodded in the direction of Smugglers' Glen, "I +won't deny but what they may be usin' war gas. But it wasn't so years +ago.". + +"Then it looks," spoke Dick, "as if these men had some object in +keeping us out of the glen." + +"That's it!" cried Billee. "There's something up there they don't want +us to find out." + +"Maybe it's the secret Old Tosh has of makin' sarsaparilla," said Snake. + +"No," objected Dick, "I don't believe the old man is mixed up in this +at all. He was in the cave, that's sure, but I think this bunch of +rascals with their poison gas have deposed him and taken possession for +their own ends." + +"And what those ends are it's for us to find out," suggested Nort. + +"Sure!" cried his companions. + +"We'll get gas masks and make another attack!" added Snake. + +"I wonder what we'll find?" mused Dick. + +"Bud could have told if they hadn't knocked him out," suggested Nort. +"He says he saw them pounding rocks and digging in the sides of the +cave. They were after something besides cattle, that's sure." + +"Diamonds!" some one said. + +"That's been mentioned before," remarked Dick. "It is out of the +question, I think, but it may be something always associated with +diamonds." + +"What's that?" exclaimed several. + +"Gold, maybe," was the quick answer, and into the eyes of every man +there came a sudden, new gleam. + +"By golly!" cried Yellin' Kid in his loudest tones, "I'll bet you're +right! There's a gold mine in that cave and those fellers want to keep +it for themselves! Whoopee! Let's get them there gas masks and rustle +the whole bunch over the border. Then we'll have the gold for +ourselves! Come on!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +GLITTERING YELLOW + +Such excitement followed the Kid's outburst that the very horses seemed +imbued with it. The cowboys, keeping well out of the way of that +floating, white cloud of gas--more or less poisonous, it was not to be +doubted--had mounted their animals and were on their way, by a +roundabout trail, to the ranch house. + +"Gold!" muttered Snake. "Do you really think there's gold in that +cave?" + +"It would not be beyond the bounds of possibility," Dick replied. "I'm +not a geologist, and I don't know anything about mining. But the west +is the home of gold, and so is Mexico. We're not far from Mexico. +What's to prevent a ledge or seam of gold from running up into these +hills, or small mountains, and cropping out in that cave? What's to +prevent?" + +"Nothing!" came from Billee, a new light in his eyes. + +"It would be very natural, I think," added Nort. + +"That would account for what Bud saw--the men picking away at the stone +sides of the cave," went on Dick. "And the roof and sides are of +rock--that my brother and I saw." + +"Then we're on the right track!" cried Snake joyfully. "I been tryin' +to figger out what all this meant, but I see it now. The other poison +attacks, where cattle and men died, didn't have nothin' to do with the +gas we just now ran away from. Somebody else must have been the blame +of that, or maybe it wasn't poison gas at all--might 'a' been just bad +water or loco-weed. But this is different." + +"Yes," agreed Nort, "this is different. We know, positively, that this +gas attack was launched by men." + +"Men who want to keep us out of that cave 'cause it's full of gold!" +murmured Old Billee. "Boys, for once I see daylight ahead of me! I'm +goin' to turn miner! I'm through nursin' cattle! I'm goin' to dig +gold and retire rich! By golly, I am!" + +"You better wait until we see the color of pay dirt!" chuckled Snake. + +"And until we get those fellows out!" added another cowboy. + +"Oh, we'll git them out soon as we have them gas masks!" declared +Billee, who seldom had shown such enthusiasm. "By golly, at last I see +daylight! I'll soon lay this on the shelf," and he patted his old +lariat. + +"I hope he isn't disappointed," murmured Dick to his brother. + +"Do you really believe there's a chance of finding gold in that cave?" +Nort asked in a low voice. + +"I really do. Why else would those fellows want to keep us out? It +can't be that it's a mere cattle-rustling game." + +"No," admitted Nort, "I don't believe it's that. But--gold! Seems +sort of far-fetched." + +"Well, maybe I'm wrong," went on Dick. "But we'll soon find out, if +those gas masks are any good." + +On the way back to the circle of ranch buildings a close lookout was +kept for any sign of intruders on the range of Dot and Dash. But no +strangers were seen, nor did a casual survey of the various herds +scattered over the plains disclose any casualties. + +"I guess everything that happens takes place around Smugglers' Gulch," +observed Dick. + +"Seems so," admitted his brother. + +No one had suffered any serious results from the gas attack. It had +been discovered so quickly, and the retreat had been made so promptly, +thanks to Snake's vigilance, that aside from a little irritation of +their mouths and throats the attackers were not injured. The +irritation soon passed away and was about gone when they neared the +ranch. + +"They were just teasing us that time," decided Snake. "The next time +they'll shoot some real nasty gas at us." + +"And that's the time we'll be ready with the masks," declared Nort. + +Bud Merkel was as excited as either of his cousins when he heard the +news. He declared no better plan could be devised than going against +the unknown cave dwellers with gas masks and a telephone message was +soon on the way, asking the commander of the Los Pompan branch of the +American Legion for the loan of as many of the protectors as were +needed. + +In due time word came back that the Dot and Dash ranchers were quite +welcome to the masks. Snake and Kid, as experts in their use, and as +judges of the best ones to bring back, were sent as a committee into +town to get the life-saving apparatus. + +It was next day, when the gas masks had been tried on by the cowboys +who were to use them, and plans were being talked over for a second +attack, that Nort suggested: + +"Maybe we ought to try these masks before we use them. They may be +defective in spite of the fact that they look all right." + +"Not a bad idea," agreed Bud. "But we haven't any poison gas to try +'em with." + +"If we could go in a room filled with ammonia, or some such vapor as +that, we could soon tell if the masks were any good," Dick suggested. + +Dr. Taylor was communicated with and agreed to supply from his somewhat +limited laboratory sufficient fumes to make a sure test of the masks. +He came out to the ranch, a small room was set aside for the experiment +and into this vile chamber the men went one at a time, each one wearing +the mask that was designed to protect him in the coming fight. + +With the exception of one or two of the affairs, each one was gas proof +and the defective ones were quickly replaced with good ones. So that +in a comparatively short time the avengers were once more ready to make +the attack. + +Much the same tactics were observed as on the former occasion. The +horses were left well out of reach of any clouds of vapor that might +float from the ravine, and the guards were instructed to deploy their +reserve cavalry to east or west, according to the direction of the +wind, in case gas was noted coming out of the defile. + +"Well, I reckon we're all ready," observed Old Billee on a certain +morning a few days after the first failure. "How about it, Bud?" + +"All set," answered the ranch owner's son, for he had recovered from +the gas he had inhaled and was quite fit again. "Let's go!" he cried. + +The cavalcade moved forward, and when within about the same distance as +before from the defile, the horses were led aside, the guard posted and +the men again advanced up the gorge. + +"Don't make any more noise than you can help," warned Bud, as one of +the men rattled some of the loose stones. + +"Oh, I think they know we're coming," said Dick. + +"You do? How?" + +"Well, naturally they have scouts posted. We'd do the same if we were +in their position. They know we're coming, all right." + +"Perhaps so," Bud admitted. "Well, everybody have his mask ready to +slip on as soon as gas is smelled." + +"What if they use a kind we can't smell until it's too late?" asked +Dick. + +"Well, that's a chance we have to take," said Bud with a shrug of his +shoulders. + +"I think I shall smell it all right," Snake interjected. "I was pretty +good at that sort of thing in the war. The officers said I had a +mighty good nose--for smelling I mean," he made haste to add for fear +his pals would accuse him of personal vanity. "In some of the trenches +they used rats and canary birds to give warning of gas. But I was the +official smeller for my bunch, and I got so I was pretty good at it if +I do say it myself." + +"Then we'll make you the advance guard," decided Bud, and so it was +arranged. + +Up the gulch they marched, with guns and gas masks ready, and once +more, as on the former occasion, they were just within sight of the +cave when Snake cried: + +"Gas! Gas!" + +At once each man donned his protector, and then, looking like +prehistoric monsters the crowd, led by Bud, Nort, Dick and Old Billee +rushed to the attack. The same white wisps of vapor floated down into +the faces of the avengers, but there was no turning back now. There +was no choking or gasping. The gas masks were a perfect protection. + +Dick's surmise that the advancing party was being spied on seemed to be +correct, since before they reached the cave shots came from the cavern, +and there was the vicious whine and ping of bullets. One or two of the +cowboys were hit, one seriously, and then the avengers began shooting +on their own account. + +Bud gave the signal for a rush attack and eagerly he and his comrades +sprang forward. They passed a little trench near the mouth of the +cave. In this shallow ditch were several iron cylinders from holes of +which was pouring a white vapor. This was the gas, how deadly could +only be surmised for the masks kept all fumes and effects of it from +the attackers. + +There was a current of air from the cave blowing down the defile and +this carried the fumes away from the hidden men and into the ranks of +the attackers. This direction of the wind explained why no gas masks +were needed by the foe. The wind was their protection. And the fact +that they wore no masks was soon demonstrated. + +For as the attackers swept on and up to the cave they dislodged several +of the first line fighters of their foes--rough, ugly-looking men who +sprang up from amid the rocks and, after firing their last shots, +turned and ran into the cavern. Not one wore a mask. + +In a few minutes the attackers were safely back of the gas-emitting +cylinders and could take off their masks for the wind carried the fumes +away from them. Yanking his protector off, Bud shouted: + +"Into the cave after them!" + +The rush was made. A sight was had of a crowd of men retreating into +the black depths of the cavern. The cowboys fired at them and were +shot at in turn, Nort receiving a nasty scratch from a bullet along his +shoulder, and his brother stopping a lead slug in the fleshy part of +his thigh. Bud was nipped on the hand and several of the other cowboys +were more or less painfully injured. + +Some damage was inflicted on the foe, for there were yells of pain from +several and one man was seen to fall. He was quickly picked up by his +pals, however, and carried into the far end of the cave. + +Then, when it grew dark as the daylight faded, a short distance beyond +the entrance, Bud called a halt on further pursuit. + +"No use going back there when we don't know what's beyond," he said. +"We've driven 'em out, and we can have a look, now, and see what secret +they have been guarding." + +When Snake and Kid, again donning their masks, had shut off the flow of +gas from the cylinders, a precaution taken against a possible change of +wind, flashlights were produced and a close inspection of the cave was +begun. It was evident that the men who had been in it, and who had +relied on gas to keep intruders out, had made their escape through some +rear exit, or they might still be hiding in the depths of the cavern. + +Extra powerful portable electric torches had been brought by the +exploring party and these were turned, now, on different parts of the +rocky walls and roof of the cave. Bud showed where he had been held a +prisoner, and it did not take long to find places where digging had +been going on. + +As the lights flashed over the rough, rocky walls, there were reflected +back glistening yellow slivers of illumination. + +"Look!" cried Dick, pointing. "There it is! Gold!" + +"Gold! Gold!" came in joyful shouts from the exulting cowboys. "We've +found a gold mine!" + +And truly it seemed so. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +FALSE SECURITY + +Only those, probably very few of you, who have ever taken part in a +gold rush can understand and appreciate the wild excitement that +prevailed when the flashing lights revealed the rock of the cave to be +seamed and studded with yellow veins and patches. It aroused even the +most lethargic of the cowboys. And, truth to tell, none of them were +very strongly of that type. They were accustomed to live amid +excitement of one kind or another, and this was but a new sort. + +"Gold! Gold!" was the exulting murmur on all sides. + +"There's enough here to make us all rich!" cried Yellin' Kid, his loud +voice echoing through the cavern. + +"No more ridin' fence for me!" cried Snake. + +"Me, I'm going to have one of them pianos that plays itself!" declared +Billee, whose soul, hitherto, had been obliged to get its feast of +music from a mouth organ. + +"And look where them hombres have been takin' out our gold!" exclaimed +Yellin' Kid as he flashed his light on a wall where, unmistakably, +excavating had been going on. There were signs of new digging in the +rock and dirt of the cave's sides and the ground beneath showed a +litter of debris. + +"You ought to make 'em pay for all they took out!" declared Snake to +Bud. + +"Maybe it would be a good idea to catch 'em first," suggested Dick, +quietly. + +"Well, that's so. We'll do that after we have begun to dig out the +gold," decided the cowboy. "Oh, boy! Look at the yaller stuff!" and +he picked up what seemed to be a nugget of great value. It was of +gleaming yellow and heavy in his hand. + +The boy ranchers were no whit less excited than their older companions. +But perhaps the finding of the gold mine, in which, knowing Mr. +Merkel's generosity, the cowboys believed they all would share, meant +more to the older men than it did to the boys. The latter were, in a +sense, owners of the ranch and were not doomed to days and nights of +hard work on the range. There was a brighter future before them, +because of their advantageous position, than there was ahead of Billee +and the others. Up to now the old cowboys had seen nothing but a hard +life (though there were enjoyable spots here and there) and they +counted on dying with their boots on, not from violence, perhaps, so +much as from wearing out at their labors. Now they saw a chance of +getting rich quickly, or, if not exactly rich, at least of gaining a +competence. + +No wonder they were excited. + +"Boy howdy! I can't hardly believe it!" shouted Yellin' Kid. "First +time I was ever on a ranch that developed gold!" + +"It's the first for me, too," said Bud. + +"What's the best thing to do?" asked Nort, of no one in particular. + +"Hadn't the boss better file a claim of discovery?" suggested a cowboy +who said he had once lived in California. + +"He don't need to file nothin'!" declared Billee. "This gold is found +on Mr. Merkel's land. Everything on the land is hissen. He can work +the gold mine same as he can his cattle ranges." + +That seemed to be the consensus of opinion and it was decided that all +remaining to be done was to inform Bud's father of the discovery, start +to work the claim and take the profit. + +"And clean out them rascals!" added Billee. + +"Oh, sure!" agreed Bud. "It's queer, though," he went on as he flashed +his light about the cave, "that if gold has been here since the +beginning, as it must have, that the secret of it only just now got +out. And if the gang that's been working this mine has been shooting +out poison gas to keep people away from here, why didn't some rumor of +this gold strike filter out before?" + +"There's something wrong," declared Billee. "I don't believe the +deaths that took place in this here valley, from the time I knowed +about 'em, had anything to do with this gold cave. I'm sure they +didn't. And, what's more, this claim has only been worked recent like. +You can tell that by the fresh marks of the digging." + +This was plain to all, and the more they thought of it the more of a +puzzle it was. Clearly poison gas, if such it was, had only recently +been used to guard the approach to the cave. What, then, was the +explanation of the former mysterious deaths? + +But the boys and their friends were so excited over the discovery of +the yellow metal that they gave little heed to this phase of the +matter. All the talk had to do with getting out the ore and finding +how much it assayed to the ton. + +"But we can't let the cattle business slide; can we?" asked Dick, as he +and most of the others prepared to depart. A guard was to be left in +the cave, and sufficient food and supplies would be sent them to enable +them to remain on constant duty. + +"Oh, no, we won't give up the cattle business," decided Bud. "We'll +work that and the mine, too." + +Mr. Merkel was duly astonished when, that night, his son succeeded in +getting in touch with him over the long-distance telephone from Los +Pompan. Bud found a booth to talk from which insured his conversation +not being broadcast in the town. If news of the gold strike got out it +might mean a rush. Not that any land around the gulch or cave could be +preëmpted by others, for it was all on Mr. Merkel's ranch. But not +everybody would respect his property rights and there might be trouble. + +"Are you sure it's gold, son?" asked the ranchman over the wire. + +"Why of course it is, Dad. What else could it be?" + +"I don't know. But I'm going to make sure before I start a torch-light +procession. I'll send you out a good mining man. Don't do anything +until he arrives, and keep your shirts on--all of you." + +"All right, Dad. I know what you mean. We won't broadcast it." + +"Better not. There might be a slip-up, you know." + +"I don't see how there can be, but we'll keep it mum." + +Busy days followed at Dot and Dash. While the cattle business was not +passed up, Bud and his cousins devoted all their time to the discovery +in the cave, and let the new cowboys attend to the shipping and care of +the cattle. Some of the yellow ore was dug out and taken to the ranch +house to await the arrival of the mining expert. Meanwhile it was +carefully guarded. + +Covering several days a careful exploration of the cave had been made +without discovering any of the enemy. There were several exits from +the cavern, and it was surmised that the "gas gang," as they were +dubbed, had escaped by one of these. + +"But as long as they're gone, we haven't anything to worry about," said +Bud. "We're sitting pretty now." + +"Nothing to worry about," added Nort. + +"And I guess we won't find any more dead cattle," said Dick. "It must +have been some of the gas they were experimenting with that killed the +cows and Sam's horse." + +"Sure!" assented Bud. + +Thus were the boys lulled into a false security, and their fond dreams +were not shattered for several days. It was on the afternoon of the +day before the mine expert was to arrive that Bud, Nort and Dick, +riding toward the cave to find out how matters were progressing there, +saw, on a hillside some distance away from the glen, a number of +motionless lumps. + +"Looks like some of the steers from the main herd had strayed and were +taking a siesta," suggested Nort. + +"Yes," admitted Bud, slowly. "But I wonder----" + +Suddenly he put spurs to his pony and dashed toward the dark objects. +His cousins followed and as they got near enough they saw that the +cows, far from taking a siesta, were in their last sleep. + +"They're dead!" exclaimed Bud. "Dead same as the others were--from +gas, or something. Boys, that gang is back again!" + +"Then it's all up with the men on guard at the mine!" cried Nort. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +TO THE RESCUE + +There was no use wasting any time or sympathy over the dead cattle. +They were dead beyond a doubt, a fact which was easily proved. And +yet, as before, there was not a sign of anything that showed how they +had met their death. The bodies lay in a natural position, as though +the animals had been overcome when grazing and had sunk gently down. +Or as if they had succumbed to some gentle poison that brought a +painless death. + +"Well, if this isn't the limit!" cried Bud while his cousins looked at +him and at each other with wonder on their faces. + +"Of all the rotten things to do!" snapped out Nort. "To kill these +poor cattle! Why doesn't that gang fight like men if they want to give +battle--not spray their dirty poison gas around dumb beasts?" + +"It is pretty rotten," agreed Dick. + +Bud was carefully scanning the ground in the vicinity of the dead +cattle, at the same time cautiously sniffing the air to detect any +possible taint. But he seemed to discover nothing. Dick and Nort +followed his example, but were unable to come upon any clew. + +However, not far from where the half dozen valuable animals had dropped +dead there was a little crack or rift in the earth. It was a sort of +opening between two long ridges of rocks, there being an outcropping of +stone at this point. It was part of the two ridges which, suddenly +rising higher, formed the walls of Smugglers' Glen farther to the +south. Dick was the first to notice it. + +"See anything there?" asked Bud, noting that his cousin was bending +over the cleft in the surface. + +"No, I can't see anything and I can't smell anything," he added, as he +bent closer. + +"But I can hear something!" added Nort. + +"Hear something?" questioned Bud. + +"Yes, the sound of running water down there. Listen!" + +He bent with his ear over the crack in the rocks. And in the silence, +broken only by the slight movements of their ponies, from which they +had dismounted, the boys heard the murmur as of water flowing along far +under ground. + +"I'm afraid that doesn't mean anything," said Bud when he had signified +that he, too, heard the ripple. "Dad said there were a lot of +underground streams around here. This one must come from the little +brook that flows through Smugglers' Glen. It takes a dip down under +the rocks and comes to the surface again farther on." + +"I guess you're right," admitted Dick. "It doesn't mean anything. But +I didn't know there was underground water in this section." + +"Oh, yes, plenty of it," Bud added. "I've seen other places with rock +fissures like this where you could hear water bubbling along beneath +the surface." + +"Then this goes into the discard," spoke Nort, meaning that it was +useless to form any theory about the mysterious deaths if it was to be +based on the underground streams. + +"But we'd better get on to the cave mine!" cried Bud. "If those +fellows are at their poison gas game again, it's likely that Sam +Tarbell and the fellows we left on guard are in as bad shape as these +cows. Darn the luck, anyhow!" + +"That's what I say!" chimed in Nort as the three hastened to where they +had left their ponies. "Just as we thought we were sitting pretty, +with nothing to worry about, along comes this! Wonder how they worked +the game, anyhow?" + +"They must have got back in the cave--probably from the end where they +ran out the time we chased 'em with our gas masks on," said Dick. +"They sneaked up on our fellows, let loose a cloud of gas, put them out +of business and then came down here to kill the cows." + +"But that's what I can't understand," said Bud. "Why should they go to +the trouble of killing cows? Cows can't spy on those gold mine +jumpers. Cows can't get out any gold. It's all so useless, this +killing of our beasts." + +"I guess they're just natural devils as Billee claims," suggested Nort. +"But we'll pay 'em back!" + +"You bet we will!" exclaimed Bud. "And now to the rescue! We've got +to save Sam and his crowd if we can!" + +They galloped their ponies in the direction of the Glen, and reached +the opening to the sinister defile in record time. Nor did they stop +to dismount. Rough as was the way, they rode their mounts up the +valley until they came within sight of the cave. Nor were they +stopped, and they detected no gas, though they were on the alert for it. + +"Maybe it's a false alarm," suggested Nort. "Maybe our fellows didn't +suffer from a gas attack after all." + +"Well, the cows certainly did!" exclaimed his brother. + +However their worst fears were realized when, as they flung themselves +off their horses at the mouth of the cave they saw, just within, the +prostrate forms of Sam Tarbell and his companion guards. Stark and +silent the men lay there. + +"We're too late!" muttered Bud sorrowfully. + +"They're all dead!" echoed Nort. + +"This is Death Valley sure enough!" came gloomily from Dick. + +There was a movement within the cave. There sounded the rattling +echoes of dislodged stones. + +"Some one's coming!" murmured Bud, drawing his gun. + +A moment later there emerged from the cavern the form of Old Tosh. He +did not appear surprised to see the boys, nor to note the prostrate +forms of the men. In one hand he held a bottle of his Elixer and +waving it over his head he cried: + +"I'm just in time! Come on, boys, help me! We'll save 'em yet!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +TESTING THE GOLD MINE + +Any suspicions which the boy ranchers held against the old man vanished +quickly as they saw the eagerness with which he went to work to save, +if possible, the men on guard at the cave gold mine. Bud and his +cousins had, naturally, held back a little against approaching the +stark, prostrate forms too closely. They were still young enough to +be, at a time like this, unduly impressed by death. + +But Old Tosh, as he was generally called, went at the business as if he +were a doctor intent on saving lives in desperate danger. He opened a +bottle of his Elixer, and, though the boys thought it pitifully weak +stuff for the occasion, he appeared to have unbounded faith in it. +Raising the head of Sam Tarbell, the old man placed the bottle to the +silent lips, tipped it up and managed to force a little into the cow +puncher's mouth. + +"Come on, you boys!" Tosh called to Nort, Dick and Bud. "You got to +help. I can't do this all alone. I'm just in time. I knew this would +happen. They're on the verge of death but I'll save them." + +"I'm afraid you're too late," said Bud. + +"No, I'm not. These men are alive yet. All they need is a little +stimulant to bring 'em around. They didn't get much of a dose of the +poison gas. If they had, not even my Elixer could save 'em. But it +can now. Come on, there's another bottle in my coat pocket. Reach it +out and get busy, boys!" + +Bud made a jump to do as directed. And as he was taking the second +bottle from the old man's coat, while Tosh was still administering the +medicine to Sam, Bud could not help wondering whether the queer hermit +had anything to do with loosing the flood of gas against the mine +guards. It was no time, now, however, to make such an inquiry. + +Bud and his cousins gave Ned Frosh and Bill Dungan each some of the +Elixer, raising the men's heads and forcing the liquid between their +lips as they had seen Tosh do. As for the hermit, he went from Sam to +a puncher who rejoiced in the name of Slippery Mike, giving him a good +dose. + +And then, strange as it may see, each of the four guards revived, +opened his eyes and sat up. They had dazed looks on their faces, but +were unharmed. + +"What happened?" asked Bud of Sam, who was the leader in charge of the +force guarding the gold mine. "Did those fellows come back and shoot +gas at you?" + +"I don't rightly know what did happen," Sam answered. "If those +fellows came back we didn't see 'em. But there was sure some gas, for +it hit us all of a sudden and keeled us over before we knew it. How +did you get here, and what's he doing here?" Sam pointed at the old +man. + +"He got here soon after we did," Nort explained. "And I guess it's +lucky he did. That stuff he gave you brought you fellows back to life." + +"It's strong enough to make a mud turtle race with a jack rabbit!" +chuckled Slippery Mike. "But it isn't bad, at that. If I could have +another swig of it----" + +Old Tosh hospitably held out the bottle. + +"'Twon't hurt you," he said. "It's Life's Elixer." + +"But how'd you know we was knocked out?" asked Sam when each of the +guards had taken some more of the medicine. "It only happened a little +while ago." + +"And we only came a little while ago," said Dick. "We were out on the +range and we saw some dead cattle. Right away we jumped to the +conclusion that you had been poisoned with gas same as the steers. So +we came here and found you stretched out. Then along came Mr. Tosh and +he did the right thing, it seems." + +"Did you know this had happened?" asked Bud of the old man. + +"What, that these men had been gassed? No, I wasn't aware of it," +answered the hermit. "I came back here to see if those men had gone +away from my cave--the cave where they drove me out. I wanted to use +it again, for there's no better place for brewing my Elixer. I went in +the cave from the other end, and when I got here I saw you men +stretched out. I knew what had happened, right away." + +"But did you see any of those rustlers, holdup men, or whatever they +are, with their gas cylinders?" asked Bud. + +"No, I didn't," was the reply. "I don't know anything about gas +cylinders. The poison gas doesn't come in cylinders. It comes out----" + +"Oh, yes, it does come in cylinders, and it comes out of them," +interrupted Bud. "We have some of the cylinders that we captured when +we drove the men out of the gold mine." + +"Gold mine?" excitedly cried the old man. "Where's a gold mine?" + +"In that cave," and Bud pointed to it. "The cave where we saw you +brewing your pot of herbs. Didn't you know there was gold there?" + +Old Tosh shook his head. + +"I don't take much stock in gold," he said. "But I liked that cave +because it was so sheltered. Only, sometimes, I couldn't stay in it on +account of the gas." + +"That's the gas we mean," explained Nort. "The poison gas these men +sprayed out of cylinders to keep us away so we wouldn't find there was +gold in the cave. But we got gas masks and drove 'em out." + +Again Old Tosh shook his head. + +"I don't know anything about gas in cylinders," he said. "But then I +been away a long time, in another county, getting different kinds of +herbs. My Elixer is better than ever now and stronger." + +"I'll say it's strong!" declared Slippery Mike. + +"So I came back to see if I could use my cave," went on Old Tosh. "Now +about this gas----" + +But he was not allowed to go on, for Bud, seeing the effect of the +Elixer on Sam and his companions had a new thought. + +"Will that save the dead steers--I mean the steers that seem to be +dead?" he asked the hermit. "There's half a dozen of 'em out on the +hill, and----" + +"No," replied Tosh, "this stuff won't bring the dead back to life. It +will only revive where a spark of life remains. And, in any case, it +isn't effective on animals. It is only for humans." + +"Then our steers are dead," sighed Dick. + +"Guess that's a foregone conclusion," agreed Nort. "But what do you +think of him, anyhow?" he asked Bud in a whisper, indicating Tosh. + +"You mean do I have any suspicions against him?" + +"Yes. Do you think he may have gotten hold of a cylinder of the poison +gas and sprayed it on these men so as to get a chance to use his Elixer +to revive them?" + +Before Bud could answer there was a noise as of men and horses coming +up the defile, and, thinking it was some of the former gang returning, +guns were whipped out. But they were not needed. Two mild-mannered +and inoffensive appearing men rode into sight. They had the look of +college professors. Behind them rode Billee Dobb. + +"Hello, boys!" greeted Billee, all unaware of the recent sensational +happenings. "Here's the mine experts your dad sent out to look over +our gold prospects, Bud. They're going to test the quality of the ore, +and see how much it assays to the ton. That's the right way to express +it; ain't it?" He turned to the older of the two men. + +"That is perfectly correct, Mr. Dobb. And if you will show us the mine +we can soon tell you, approximately, how valuable it is." + +"It's in that cave. You'll find lots of gold there. And the first lot +that comes to me is goin' to be spent for a self-playin' piano. But +what happened here?" Billee asked, for he was now aware that something +unusual had taken place. + +"The darn scoundrels!" he exclaimed when he had been told of the death +of the cattle and the plight of the men. "So they come back; did they? +Well, we'll soon have a big force here takin' out gold and we'll keep +better guard." + +Meanwhile the mining experts went into the cavern to test the gold mine. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +A STRANGE DISCOVERY + +Billee Dobb, having listened to the stories of Bud and his cousins, and +the tale told by Sam and his pals, shook his head dubiously. + +"I can't figger it all out," he said. "But you sure done a noble job, +Tosh, and we thank you for it. Can you tell us anything about those +rascals with their tanks of gas?" + +"I don't know nothin' about gas tanks," said the old man. "But more +than once I've warned you men about----" + +What the warning was he did not get a chance to explain, for at that +moment Professor Dodson, the mine expert, with his assistant, Professor +Snath, emerged from the interior of the cave, into whose black depths +they had disappeared some time ago, while Bud and the others were +talking. + +"By golly!" exclaimed Billee, suddenly changing the subject. "They got +their report ready pretty quick. I reckon the gold's so thick in there +they don't need to make much of a test. Whoopee! I'll soon have my +self-playin' piano!" He was as eager and excited as a boy. Indeed Bud +and his cousins were not a little excited as they looked at the two +scientists who came out carrying specimens of ore which they had +knocked off the walls of the cave with their peculiar hammers. + +"Didn't take you long," commented Bud. + +"No, this was an easy problem," answered Professor Dodson. "We don't +even need an assay to determine our findings." + +"By golly! What do you know about that?" cried Billee. "About how +many dollars will she run to the ton?" he asked. "I only want to know +_about_," he stipulated. "I won't pin you down by five or ten dollars, +'cause I think that wouldn't be fair. But roughly about how much do +you think our mine will assay to the ton?" + +"How much what?" asked Professor Dodson with a peculiar smile. "How +much what to the ton?" + +"How much gold, of course!" exclaimed Billee. "What else? Gold's what +we want; ain't it?" and he chuckled as he turned to his friends. + +"Sure--gold!" was the murmur. + +"Then I'm sorry to have to tell you that there is not one ounce of gold +in any number of tons of ore and rock in that cave!" was the unexpected +and startling answer. "There isn't any gold at all." + +"No gold!" cried Bud. + +"No gold!" echoed his cousins. + +"No--no--gold!" faltered Billee Dobb, his jaw falling. He saw his +self-playing piano fading back into the dim vista of his dreams. + +"No gold," repeated Professor Dodson. "What we have here," and he +indicated the ore specimens held by himself and Professor Snath, "is a +selected lot of samples of iron sulphid. It is a yellow ore that looks +very much like gold, but which has none of the properties of real gold. +In fact it is so often mistaken for the valuable metal that it has come +to be called 'Fools' Gold.' I am sorry, but such is the case. I shall +so report to Mr. Merkel, who engaged me to come out here after hearing +his son's account." + +"Fools' gold!" murmured Bud. "Well, it fooled us all right." + +"Yes, and it fooled those other fellows," said Nort. "The men with the +gas cylinders," he added. + +As the two professors looked a little puzzled, Dick explained: + +"There were some men hiding in this cave who must have thought, the +same as we did, that it contained gold. They drove out Mr. Tosh, who +used the cavern to brew his medicine. Then they drove us out. They +used tanks of some poison gas, or at least gas that made a man +unconscious. We had to put on gas masks, the kind used in the war, to +fight 'em. But we drove 'em out." + +"And a lot of good it did us," said Bud gloomingly, "if there isn't any +gold in there." + +"No, the evidence is too plain to be mistaken," said Professor Snath. +"It does not even require a laboratory test to prove that the cave is +rich in iron sulphid, but not gold." + +"Maybe it will turn out to be an iron mine instead of a gold mine!" put +in Billee, with new hope showing on his face. "Iron's valuable. Not +worth as much as gold, of course, but a good iron mine--say, boys, +maybe I'll get that self-playin' piano yet." + +But again his hopes were dashed. + +"It wouldn't pay to work this section even for iron," said Professor +Dodson, and his assistant nodded his agreement. + +"Well, then," remarked Nort, "we'll have to keep on raising cattle." + +"But we can't do that if these fellows are going to let loose a flood +of poison gas and kill them off every now and then!" bitterly cried +Bud. "We're beat either way you look at it. Just as you said, Billee, +this is Death Valley." + +"Tell me more about this!" suddenly suggested the older scientist. +"What is all this about poison gas in tanks killing cattle?" + +"I can tell you!" came from Old Tosh. "I know all about it but nobody +would ever listen to me. They said I was crazy. But I know! Look +here!" + +He pointed to a crack, or fissure in the rocky floor of the glen, not +far from the cave entrance. It was just such a crack as Bud and his +cousins had noticed one day near the place where they had found some +dead cattle. + +"Listen to that! It's rising!" cried Old Tosh, bending over the crack. + +The two professors, the boy ranchers and some of the punchers leaned +over and listened. From somewhere down in the depths of the earth came +the rustle and swish of running water. + +"An underground stream," said Professor Dodson. "They are not uncommon +in this region. But----" + +Suddenly he started back and withdrew his face quickly from above the +crack in the earth. + +"Hurry away from here!" he cried. "The gas is rising. I begin to +understand now. It is the secret you have been trying to solve. Hurry +away! It may not be deadly, but it will overcome all of us in a short +time." + +He ran down the defile, away from the long fissure, followed by the +others, Billee and his men driving the ponies before them. Professor +Dodson had made a strange discovery, after Old Tosh had put him on the +track of it. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE END OF DEATH VALLEY + +Hurrying along, some of the men in their saddles, others stumbling on +foot, not having taken the time to mount, the whole party rushed out of +the defile. It was not until they had reached open country, some +distance removed from the entrance to Smugglers' Glen, that the older +scientist thought it safe to call a halt. And he did not do this until +he had looked around, with his assistant, to make sure there were no +earth fissures near, and had also ascertained the direction of the +wind. He tested the air by breathing deeply of it and said: + +"We're safe for a time. But there's no telling how long. This is a +most remarkable natural phenomenon--one of the most remarkable I have +ever happened upon." + +"Very remarkable," agreed Professor Snath. + +"But what's it all about?" asked Bud. "We've seen those earth cracks +before." + +"And near the place where there were dead cattle," added Nort. + +"We heard running water down below, too," was Dick's contribution to +the general information. + +"Those cracks go down to the bed of an underground stream," explained +Professor Dodson. "The subterranean river, brook or whatever it is, +must flow a long distance under this ranch," and he looked over the +expanse of valley, hill and plain. "Now an ordinary underground stream +is not dangerous. In fact where it comes to the surface, as many do, +it provides valuable water. But the stream below here is impregnated +with a deadly gas." He gave it a long Latin name. "At least if it is +not always deadly," he went on, "and it may not be so at all times, +owing to dilution, it is risky to breathe it. I think that is the +explanation of the deaths of your cattle," he said to Bud. "And you +men who were rendered unconscious," he indicated Sam and his guards, +"you must have breathed a modified form of the gas." + +"But those fellows had gas in tanks!" cried Nort. + +"No question about that!" added Billee. "Did they bottle up this stuff +you gave such a long name to, Professor, and shoot it out at us?" + +"No," was the answer. "I am inclined to think these unknown men used a +very different kind of gas against you--probably a comparatively +harmless vapor discovered during the war activities. I think there are +two puzzles here and that they are both in the way, now, of being +solved." + +"It looks so," murmured Bud. "But how is the poison gas generated and +how does it come up out of cracks in the earth to kill cattle and knock +out our men?" + +"The explanation is probably very simple," said the scientist. "There +must be, somewhere near the head of the defile we just left, a deposit +of the mineral or ore from which this gas I speak of is generated. It +is somewhat like carbon monoxide, but more powerful even in the open +air." + +"Water, flowing over a bed of this mineral, liberates the gas in the +form of an almost invisible vapor. It is swept forward in a cloud by +the wind, some of it is carried along above the course of the +underground stream, and as soon as it reaches an opening in the earth, +like a fissure crack in the rock or ground, the gas rises and whoever +breathes it dies or is rendered unconscious for a time, according to +the strength of the vapor. At one time the underground stream may be +strongly impregnated with the dissolved chemicals that generate the +gas. At another time the emanations may be comparatively weak. That, +I think, is the explanation of happenings here in Death Valley, as you +call it." + +"Then the men who thought they had a gold mine in the cave had nothing +to do with killing the cattle?" asked Nort. + +"I can't say for sure, but I think not," the professor replied. "I am +inclined to believe that they got these tanks of gas to use in driving +away any who might try to get at their secret--a useless secret as it +proves now. But the accidental deaths, both of cattle and men, from +the underground gas must have been going on here a long time," the +scientist suggested. + +"They have!" declared Old Billee. "Several years back. That's why I +quit here. But we didn't know what the cause was. Some said poisoned +water, others poison loco-weed. Some said it was the souls of Indians +who were driven out of this valley years ago." + +"And all the while it was just a natural gas liberated by an +underground stream running over a bed of chemicals," stated Bud. + +"That's what I think," said Professor Dodson. "It remains to be proved +conclusively, but that is what I think will be found." + +"Then this means the end of Death Valley," went on Bud, gloomily. "We +can't afford to stay here and raise cattle to be killed off by gas." + +"No," agreed Professor Dodson. "But do not form a hasty decision. +Science can do much these days. It may be possible to neutralize this +gas and so make your ranch safe. In that case it will be the end of +Death Valley but in a better way. It will be Life Valley then." + +"Do you think it can be done?" eagerly Bud asked. + +"I don't know. But it's worth trying. You say you have gas masks? +They will be needed I think." + +"Plenty of 'em!" cried Bud. "Come on back to the ranch where we still +have them. We may win yet!" he said to his cousins. "If the gold mine +peters out, as it has done, we'll get rich raising cattle in one of the +best valleys of the west--providing the poison gas can be done away +with." + +"There's always an _if_ in the road," murmured Nort. + +But when, a little later, the scientists, the boy ranchers and some of +the men, wearing gas masks, penetrated to the far end of the defile, +they found conditions which were distinctly encouraging. Professor +Dodson located the mass of mineral which, when wet, gave off the vapor +that caused death or disablement according to its strength. + +"All that needs to be done," he said, indicating the stream which ran +for some distance in the open before plunging underground, "is to build +a small dam, change the course of this little river and send it down +_outside_ the defile, instead of _through_ it. Keep this stream +entirely in the open and you will do away with the poison gas. It is +really a not very difficult problem in engineering and irrigation. It +will not cost much to do this." + +"Then it's going to be done, and it means the end of Death Valley +forever!" cried Bud. "I mean a happy ending," he added. "For we'll do +away with all danger." + +"Thanks to you gentlemen and to Old Tosh," said Nort. "For he helped, +didn't he?" + +"Indeed he did," agreed Professor Snath. + +"And when the course of the stream is changed," went on his chief, +"there is no reason why the old herb doctor cannot resume work in his +cave if he wants to. It will be safe then." + +"Guess he'll be glad to hear that!" chuckled Nort. "He's been like a +lost dog these last few weeks. Then those fellows, with their gas +tanks, didn't have anything to do with killing our cattle?" he +suggested. + +"Not a thing," declared Professor Dodson. "It was a war against nature +you were fighting." + +"We've only just begun to fight her!" cried Bud. + +Mr. Merkel was not much disappointed when he learned that the cave mine +had petered out. + +"I never took much stock in it," he told his son over the telephone. +"But I'm glad you've solved the mystery of Death Valley. I'll send +some engineers over, we'll change the course of that stream and go in +for cattle raising. That's our business, anyhow, not mining." + +In a few weeks the dam was constructed, the stream, where it ran in the +open, was shifted several hundred feet and there was no longer any +danger of it dissolving the chemicals and carrying the deadly gas +underground, to send it up out of fissures to the detriment of man and +beast. While the work was going on, all cattle were removed from the +vicinity of the defile, which was found to be the only danger spot on +Dot and Dash. + +The boys recalled the time when, in riding over the range, their horses +had taken such a sudden fright. They could not determine whether at +that time some poison gas might have seeped out, alarming the sensitive +beasts, or whether it was something like a snake which might have +startled the ponies. It was one of the things that remained unsolved, +but it was a minor phase of the main problem which had been brought to +a successful conclusion. + +And so, in this comparatively simple manner, was the mystery solved and +an end put to Death Valley, though it retained that name for many years. + +Some time after all danger was removed, when cattle roamed freely over +the range, as near the defile as they cared to go, and when Old Tosh +was again allowed to brew his Elixer in the cave, a man was arrested in +Los Pompan for horse stealing. He was convicted and it developed he +was one of the men who had used the poison gas tanks against the boy +ranchers. He was one of a gang. + +They had nothing to do with and knew nothing of the emanations of +natural gas in Death Valley. They had heard the sinister reputation of +the place, but that did not keep them out, and they discovered the cave +and at once jumped to the conclusion that it contained gold. They +frightened away Old Tosh and when Bud stumbled on their operations they +adopted the sinister form of defense they used later. One of the men +in the gang had served in the chemical warfare division of the A.E.F. +overseas. He was an expert chemist and developed a gas that would +knock a man out but not kill him. Thus Bud was made a prisoner, +escaping when the men left him for a time. + +The gang had taken considerable of the yellow ore out of the cave, and, +doubtless after the battle in which they were worsted, they discovered +it to be valueless. So they had no reason to return to the territory. +The gang dispersed. None of them, it appeared, had ever suffered from +the effects of the natural gas. + +Soon after the course of the stream was changed, Dot and Dash ranch was +a busy place. Several new herds were bought and pastured and more men +were hired. There was no trouble, now, in getting men from near by, +for the story of the passing of the menacing gas was told all over. + +Old Tosh was kept busy making his Elixer, for though the men knew it +was comparatively useless as a medicine, some of them thought it did +them good, and they rather liked the root beer taste it had. + +"Why don't you put your full name on your labels?" asked Nort of the +queer old codger one day, when the boys were visiting him in his, or, +rather, their cave, which he had fitted up to live in while he did his +brewing. "You just call it 'Tosh Elixer.'" + +"That's enough for a name," he chuckled. "But my first name, if you +want to know it is Simon. I don't fancy it so I seldom use it." + +"Simon Tosh!" murmured Bud. "S.T. Why," he cried, "those were the +initials signed to that warning we received while we were on our way +here. Did you come to our camp and leave that note?" + +"Yes, I did," was the answer. "I heard a new crowd was coming to Death +Valley and I thought I'd save their lives if I could warn them not to +come. I knew there was something with a queer smell, coming out of the +earth, that killed men, horses and cattle. But I couldn't find out +what it was. But I knew enough to get out of my cave and the glen when +I caught the first whiff of the queer perfume. It didn't get me." + +"No, but it did for enough poor fellows, and for too many of our stock +before we found out what it was," said Nort. + +"I never could understand, though," said Mr. Tosh, after he had +identified the two warning notes which Bud produced from his wallet, "I +never could understand why the gas came at some times and not at +others. You never knew when to look for it." + +"Professor Dodson explained that," stated Bud. "It was due to the +height of the underground stream, and also the stream in the open. At +low water there wasn't enough fluid to cover the bed of chemicals, and +so no gas was generated. When the water rose, the gas was given off." + +"Science is wonderful," murmured the old man. + +The boys left him brewing his kettle of herbs. He insisted on giving +them a bottle of the Elixer though he knew they would not swallow any +of it. + +"Give it to Fah Moo," suggested Mr. Tosh. "But tell him not to drink +it all at once." + +"We will," promised Dick with a chuckle. + +The boys rode home over the rolling plains, dotted with cattle. No +longer need they look for lifeless forms. Death Valley, as such, was +no longer in existence. + +"And we'll make almost as much money out of stock raising as if we had +a gold mine," said Nort. + +"Surest thing you know!" agreed Bad. + +They put their horses in the corral and went in to supper. + +"Smells good--whatever Fah Moo is cooking!" commented Dick. "What is +it, Fah?" he asked as the Chinese cook came shuffling in. + +"Melican man tulky," was the smiling answer. + +"American turkey, what does he mean?" asked Nort. + +"Roast pork and apple sauce," chuckled Bud, and he was right. + +"Here, Fah," said Dick, handing the cook the bottle of Elixer. "Tosh +sent this to you." + +The celestial gave one look at the flask, raised his hands to cover his +mouth and ran from the room, squeaking in his falsetto voice: + +"No can do! No can do!" + +"He'll never open another bottle here as long as he lives!" chuckled +Bud. + +And then, as the sun began to sink behind the western hills and from +the various stations on the ranch the cowboys filed in to supper, the +boys gathered at the table for the bountiful meal and were very happy. +They had solved the poison mystery and made Death Valley a place of +life. + + + + +THE END + + + + + + +THE BOY RANCHERS SERIES + +By WILLARD F. BAKER + +_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full colors_ + + +_Stories of the great west, with cattle ranches as a setting, related +in such a style as to captivate the hearts of all boys._ + + +1. THE BOY RANCHERS + +_or Solving the Mystery at Diamond X_. Two eastern boys visit their +cousin. They become involved in an exciting mystery. + +2. THE BOY RANCHERS IN CAMP + +_or the Water Fight at Diamond X_. Returning for a visit, the two +eastern lads learn, with delight, that they are to become boy ranchers. + +3. THE BOY RANCHERS ON THE TRAIL + +_or The Diamond X After Cattle Rustlers_. Our boy heroes take the +trail after Del Pinzo and his outlaws. + +4. THE BOY RANCHERS AMONG THE INDIANS + +_or Trailing the Yaquis_. Rosemary and Floyd are captured by the Yaqui +Indians but the boy ranchers trailed them into the mountains and +effected the rescue. + +5. THE BOY RANCHERS AT SPUR CREEK + +_or Fighting the Sheep Herders_. Dangerous struggle against +desperadoes for land rights brings out heroic adventures. + +6. THE BOY RANCHERS IN THE DESERT + +_or Diamond X and the Lost Mine_. One night a strange old miner almost +dead from hunger and hardship arrived at the bunk house. The boys +cared for him and he told them of the lost desert mine. + +7. THE BOY RANCHERS ON ROARING RIVER + +_or Diamond X and the Chinese Smugglers_. The boy ranchers help +capture Delton's gang who were engaged in smuggling Chinese across the +border. + +8. THE BOY RANCHERS IN DEATH VALLEY + +_or Diamond X and the Poison Mystery_. The Boy Ranchers track +Mysterious Death into his cave. + + +CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers, New York + + +THE BOMBA BOOKS + +By ROY ROCKWOOD + +_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. With colored jacket._ + + +_Bomba lived far back in the jungles of the Amazon, with a +half-demented naturalist who told the lad nothing of his past. The +jungle boy was a lover of birds, and hunted animals with a bow and +arrow and his trusty machete. He had a primitive education in some +things, and his daring adventures will be followed with breathless +interest by thousands._ + + + +1. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY + _or The Old Naturalist's Secret_ + +2. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY AT THE MOVING MOUNTAIN + _or The Mystery of the Caves of Fire_ + +3. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY AT THE GIANT CATARACT + _or Chief Nasconora and His Captives_ + +4. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY ON JAGUAR ISLAND + _or Adrift on the River of Mystery_ + +5. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY IN THE ABANDONED CITY + _or A Treasure Ten Thousand Years Old_ + +6. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY ON TERROR TRAIL + _or The Mysterious Men from the Sky_ + +7. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY IN THE SWAMP OF DEATH + _or The Sacred Alligators of Abarago_ + +8. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY AMONG THE SLAVES + _or Daring Adventures in the Valley of Skulls_ + + +CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers, New York + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Ranchers in Death Valley, by +Willard F. Baker + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY RANCHERS IN DEATH VALLEY *** + +***** This file should be named 27097-8.txt or 27097-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/7/0/9/27097/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/27097-8.zip b/27097-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9edffc7 --- /dev/null +++ b/27097-8.zip diff --git a/27097.txt b/27097.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5f63a0f --- /dev/null +++ b/27097.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6459 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Boy Ranchers in Death Valley, by Willard F. Baker + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Boy Ranchers in Death Valley + or Diamond X and the Poison Mystery + +Author: Willard F. Baker + +Release Date: October 29, 2008 [EBook #27097] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY RANCHERS IN DEATH VALLEY *** + + + + +Produced by Al Haines + + + + + + + + + + + [Transcriber's note: Extensive research found no evidence + that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] + + + + + +THE + +BOY RANCHERS + +IN DEATH VALLEY + + +OR + +_Diamond X and the Poison Mystery_ + + +By + +WILLARD F. BAKER + + + +Author of "The Boy Ranchers," "The Boy Ranchers at Spur Creek," "The +Boy Ranchers in the Desert," "The Boy Ranchers on Roaring River," Etc. + + + + +_ILLUSTRATED_ + + +[Transcriber's note: Frontispiece missing from book] + + + + +NEW YORK + +CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY + + + + +THE BOY RANCHERS SERIES + +By WILLARD F. BAKER + +12mo. Cloth. Frontispiece + + +THE BOY RANCHERS + Or Solving the Mystery at Diamond X + +THE BOY RANCHERS IN CAMP + Or the Water Fight at Diamond X + +THE BOY RANCHERS ON THE TRAIL + Or Diamond X After Cattle Rustlers + +THE BOY RANCHERS AMONG THE INDIANS + Or Diamond X Trailing the Yaquis + +THE BOY RANCHERS AT SPUR CREEK + Or Diamond X Fighting the Sheep Herders + +THE BOY RANCHERS IN THE DESERT + Or Diamond X and the Lost Mine + +THE BOY RANCHERS ON ROARING RIVER + Or Diamond X and the Chinese Smugglers + +THE BOY RANCHERS IN DEATH VALLEY + Or Diamond X and the Poison Mystery + + +_Other volumes in preparation_ + +CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, New York + + + + +COPYRIGHT, 1928, BY + +CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY + +THE BOY RANCHERS IN DEATH VALLEY + +Printed in U. S. A. + + + + +CONTENTS + +CHAPTER + + I. BAD NEWS + II. UNDAUNTED BY FEAR + III. ON THE TRAIL + IV. A NIGHT ALARM + V. THE WARNING + VI. AT DOT AND DASH + VII. SAM TARBELL'S STORY + VIII. THE ROUND-UP + IX. THE QUEER OLD MAN + X. DEAD CATTLE + XI. INTO SMUGGLERS' GLEN + XII. THE ELIXER CAVE + XIII. FRIGHTENED HORSES + XIV. BUD DISAPPEARS + XV. THE SEARCH + XVI. BUD'S STRANGE TALE + XVII. THE AVENGERS + XVIII. DRIVEN BACK + XIX. GAS MASKS + XX. GLITTERING YELLOW + XXI. FALSE SECURITY + XXII. TO THE RESCUE + XXIII. TESTING THE GOLD MINE + XXIV. A STRANGE DISCOVERY + XXV. THE END OF DEATH VALLEY + + + + +THE BOY RANCHERS IN DEATH VALLEY + + +CHAPTER I + +BAD NEWS + +Excited shouts, mingled with laughter, floated on the sunlit and +dust-laden air to the ranch house of Diamond X. Now and then, above +the yells, could be heard the thudding of the feet of running horses on +the dry ground. + +"What do you reckon those boys are doing, Ma?" asked Nell Merkel as she +paused in the act of laying the top crust on a raisin pie. + +"Land knows," answered the girl's mother with half a sigh and half a +chuckle. "They're always up to something. And, now that your Pa is +away----" + +Mrs. Merkel's remarks were interrupted by louder shouts from the +corral, and Nell heard cries of: + +"Try it again, Bud!" + +"You missed him clean, that time!" + +"How'd you like that mouthful of dust?" + +"Git up an' ride 'im, cowboy!" + +Like an echo to these sarcastic exclamations, Nell heard the voice of +her brother Burton, commonly known as Bud, answer: + +"I'll do it yet! Just you wait!" + +"I wonder what Bud's trying to do?" murmured Nell. + +"Oh, run along and look if you want to," suggested Mrs. Merkel, with a +kind regard for Nell's curiosity. "I'll finish the pie." + +"Thanks!" And Nell, not even pausing to clap a hat over her curls, +hastened out into the yard, across the stretch of grass that separated +the main house from the other buildings of Diamond X and was soon +approaching the corral where were kept the cow ponies needed for +immediate use by the owner, his family or the various hands on the big +estate. + +Nell saw several cowboys perched on the corral fence, some with their +legs picturesquely wound around the posts, others astraddle of the +rails. Among them she sighted Dick and Nort Shannon, her two "city" +cousins, who had come west to learn to be cowboys. And in passing it +may be said that their education was almost completed now. + +"Why, I wonder where Bud is?" asked Nell, as she made her way to the +fenced-in place. + +A moment later she received an answer to her question, for her brother +arose from the dust of the corral and started for the fence. He seemed +to have been rolling in the dirt. + +"That's a queer way to have fun!" mused Nell. + +Without making her presence known, she stood off a little way and +watched what was going on. She saw Bud mount the fence near where the +two Shannon boys were sitting, though hardly able to maintain their +seats because of their laughter. + +"Going to try it again, Bud?" asked Dick. + +"Surest thing you know!" snapped back the boy rancher. + +"Wait till I go in and get you a bit of fly paper!" suggested Nort. + +"Fly paper! What for?" demanded Bud. + +"So you can stick on!" + +"Ho! Ho! That's pretty good!" shouted such a loud voice that Nell +would have covered her ears only she knew, from past experience, that +Yellin' Kid did not keep up his strident tones long. But this time he +went on, like an announcer at a hog-calling contest, with: "Fly paper! +Ho! Ho! So Bud can stick! That's pretty good!" + +"Go ahead! Be nasty!" commented Bud good-naturedly as he climbed up +the top rail and perched himself there in standing position while he +looked over the dusty corral that was now a conglomeration of restless +cow ponies. "But I'll do it yet!" + +"I wonder what in the world Bud is trying to do?" asked Nell of herself. + +She learned a moment later. For Bud, after balancing himself on the +top rail, looked across the corral to where Old Billee Dobb was holding +a restless pony, and the lad called: + +"Turn him loose, Billee!" + +"Here he comes! All a-lather!" shouted the veteran cow puncher, as he +slapped his hat on the flank of the pony and sent it galloping around +the inside fence toward the waiting youth. "It's now or never, Bud!" + +"It's going to be now!" shouted Nell's brother. + +Fascinated, as any true girl of the west would be, by the spirited +scene, Nell saw Bud poise himself for a leap. Then she understood what +was about to take place. + +"He's going to jump from the top rail of the fence and try to land on +the back of the pony when it gallops past him!" murmured Nell. +"Regular circus trick that is! I wonder if he can do it? But from the +looks of him I should say he'd already fallen two or three times. +Billee gave him a fast one this round." + +Nell referred to the horse. And it was characteristic of her that she +was not in the least afraid of what might be the consequences of her +brother attempting the aforesaid "circus trick." Nell was as eager to +see what would happen, as were any of the cowboys perched on the corral +fence, and in furtherance of her desire she drew nearer. + +By this time the pony, started on its way by the slapping from Billee +Dobb's hat, was running fast. And its speed was further increased by +what Dick, Nort and their companions, perched up there like rail birds, +did and said. For the punchers, old and young, yelled and yipped at +the steed. + +"Come on there, you boneyard bait!" shouted Snake Purdee. + +"Faster there, you spavin-eyed son of a Chinaman!" roared Yellin' Kid. + +Nort gave vent to a shrill whistle, while Dick, drawing his big +revolver, fired several shots in the air. + +All this had the effect of further alarming the already startled pony +and when it neared the place where Bud was perched on the top rail, +ready to make a flying leap, the animal was, as Old Billee had said, +"all a-lather." + +"Bud is crazy to try anything like that!" exclaimed Nell in a low +voice. Nevertheless she did not call out to stop him, and her cheeks +showed rosy pink and her eyes were sparkling in the excitement of the +moment. + +"Go on, now! Ride 'im, cowboy!" came in stentorian tones from Yellin' +Kid. + +"Oh, I hope he makes it!" voiced Nell, clenching her hands so tightly +that the nails bit into her palms. + +A moment later, as the pony rushed around the confused bunch of its +fellows in the center of the corral, Bud leaped for its back, for the +animal was now opposite him. The pony carried only a blanket strapped +around its middle. And there was nothing for the venturesome rider, or +would-be rider, to cling to but this strap or blanket. + +"If there was a saddle, Bud could make it!" whispered Nell in her +excitement. "I guess that's why he must have fallen the other times." + +For upon his clothes and person Bud Merkel bore unmistakable signs and +evidences of having fallen not once but several times in the corral +dust. + +"Wow!" yelled Dick Shannon. + +"He's on!" cried his brother Nort. + +"And off ag'in!" roared Yellin' Kid. + +Bud had made the leap from the fence, his hands, for a moment, had +grasped the strap around the pony and then his fingers had slipped off. +Likewise the one leg he managed to throw over the steed's back seemed +to be about to slide off. + +But just when it seemed that Bud would fall to the ground, his fingers, +in a last, despairing grip, caught a fold of the blanket. By a supreme +effort he pulled himself up, managed to get one leg over the ridge-like +backbone of the pony and, a moment later, he was sitting upright on the +saddle blanket, both hands under the strap, while his heels played a +tattoo on the sides of the steed, urging him forward at even faster +speed. + +"By golly, he done it!" cried Old Billee. + +"He sure enough did!" echoed Yellin' Kid, reaching for his cigarette +papers and muslin bag of tobacco. + +"That ought to get him something at Palmo," commented Snake Purdee, +referring to a coming rodeo in a nearby town close to the Mexican +border. "Can't do a much more hair-raisin' trick than that!" + +"I didn't think he could do it!" commented Old Billee coming around +from the far side of the corral to join his friends. + +"Well, he tried hard enough before he managed to stick," exclaimed Nort. + +In the excess of her enthusiasm Nell clapped her hands. And Dick, +turning to ascertain the source of the noise, chuckled: + +"Look who's here!" + +"Got a ticket, little girl?" asked Bud, who, having demonstrated that +he could do what he had said he could--leap from the corral fence to +the back of a passing pony--was now slowing down his steed and riding +him back to where the other punchers were perched. + +"I'm a reporter," responded Nell with a smile. "I'm writing this rodeo +up for the papers." + +"Then we'll have to make a press box for you," said Nort. + +He and his brother, with the half score of cowboys, and Nell were +offering their congratulations to the daring boy rancher when a new +voice, floating toward the corral from the direction of the house, +called to ask: + +"What's all the excitement about?" + +"Oh, hello, Dad!" cried Bud, waving his hat toward a well set-up, +bronzed specimen of a western ranchman who was walking slowly toward +the fence. "Did you see me?" + +"I saw you risk your neck, if that's what you mean," answered Mr. +Merkel with a half smile. + +"You should have seen him when he missed!" chuckled Old Billee. + +"Anything the matter, Dad?" asked Bud as he swung himself down off the +saddle blanket and approached his father who was now leaning over the +top rail of the corral fence. Something in Mr. Merkel's face showed +that he had news to impart. + +"You see," went on Bud, "we're all going to do stunts over at the Palmo +rodeo, and I made up this one, of fence jumping, so Dick and Nort and I +could horn in on some of the prizes. But if you don't want me to--" +He paused suggestively. + +"You seemed to make out all right this last time, which is the only +time I saw you," chuckled Mr. Merkel. "But----" + +"You needn't worry about the ranch work, Dad!" interrupted Bud, +eagerly. "It's all been 'tended to. Herd riding, looking after +fences, cattle all shipped off just as you left word when you went away +and all that. We got everything cleaned up and I thought we could take +a little time off to practice for the rodeo." + +"Oh, sure! That's all right!" Mr. Merkel hastened to say. "I wasn't +finding any fault with your bare-back riding. But what I wanted to say +was that I've got a new job for you boys and if you take it on, which I +hope you'll do, you won't have any time for a rodeo." + +"A new job!" cried Nort, eagerly. + +"Anything to do with Chinese smuggling?" asked Dick. + +"No, I'm glad to say it hasn't," went on the owner of Diamond X. "This +is right in the line of your regular work." + +"Then you bought the new ranch; did you, Dad?" asked Bud, for his +father had been away about a week on a mission known only to the +immediate family, but which was now stated by his son. + +"Yes," Mr. Merkel slowly replied, "I took over Dot and Dash, and if +everything here at Diamond X and in Happy Valley is in as good shape as +you boys seem to think, why, I'm going to send you there." + +"Send us where?" Bud wanted to know. + +"To the new ranch--Dot and Dash is its cattle brand--to get it in shape +before winter sets in. You don't mind; do you?" + +"Mind!" joyously cried Bud. "Sure not!" + +"That's good news!" commented Nort. + +"Right-o!" sang out his brother. "Things were getting slow around +here, and if we didn't have the coming rodeo to think about----" + +"Well, then if you're willing to take charge of Dot and Dash for a +while you can pass up the rodeo," chuckled Mr. Merkel. "Not but what +you won't have more excitement, maybe, than if you did try bulldogging +and bare-back riding," he added to his son. "Only it will be sort of +different, and your stunts will be doing some good instead of just +endangering your necks." + +"Aw, there wasn't any danger," murmured Bud. + +"No!" chuckled Snake Purdee. "The dust is pretty soft to fall on," and +his point was illustrated as Bud began whipping some of the accumulated +soil from his chaps. + +"Well, that's what I came out to tell you, the news about buying Dot +and Dash," concluded Mr. Merkel. + +"That's good news for us!" declared Nort. "It will give Dick and me a +chance to show how much we have learned about cow punching since we +came here." + +"Sure, it's good news all right," echoed Dick. + +And then Old Billee Dobb struck in with a few remarks which, most +distinctly, were in the category of bad news. For the veteran puncher +said: + +"Excuse me, Boss," and he looked at Mr. Merkel to ask: "Did I +understand you to say you'd taken over the old Dot and Dash ranch?" + +"That's right, Billee." + +"Is that the outfit not far from Los Pompan, near the Mexican border?" + +"That's the place, Billee." + +"Hum!" The old man seemed lost in thought for a moment. Then he went +on with: "It's in a valley; ain't it, Boss?" + +"Yes, Billee, in the prettiest valley, outside of Happy, that I ever +laid eyes on. It's an ideal place for a cattle ranch. I'm lucky to +get hold of it at the price I did. But Jed Barter was anxious to sell +out and----" + +"'Scuse me once more, Boss," and Old Billee seemed very anxious and +much in earnest now, "but did you hear any rumors or talk about Dot and +Dash before you bought it?" + +"No, Billee, I didn't. What do you mean?" + +"Didn't anybody tell you the local name of the place 'fore you took it +over?" + +"The local name! Why, no. What's the name got to do with it?" + +"Nothin' much, maybe," slowly answered Billee while the boy ranchers +regarded him curiously. "Only Dot and Dash ranch is located in what +has always been called Death Valley, and nobody has ever been able to +make a success of it as long as I can remember. I wish, Boss," he went +on earnestly, "that you'd 'a' told me 'fore you bought this ranch. I'd +'a' put you wise to what it really is--Death Valley!" + +"Death Valley?" echoed Bud Merkel. "What do you mean? Who died there, +and how come?" + +An ominous hush fell over the assemblage of cowboys on the corral fence +and they looked from Billee Dobb to the owner of Diamond X. The bad +news, clearly, had startled him from his usual calm. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +UNDAUNTED BY FEAR + +"Look here, Billee," began Mr. Merkel as he leaned against the fence +for he had just returned from a long journey and was rather weary. "Is +this a joke or are you just stringing me?" + +"No stringing, Boss, and not a joke either. You've bought a ranch in +Death Valley as sure as shootin', and while I wish you good luck I +don't see how you're going to have it--not if Death Valley is like what +it was years ago." + +"You aren't getting my new Dot and Dash ranch mixed up with Death +Valley in the Panamint Mountains of California; are you?" asked Mr. +Merkel. "I know that place--four hundred feet below sea +level--alkali--borax and all that sort of stuff. Do you mean----?" + +"No, I don't mean that Death Valley," interrupted Billee. "This Death +Valley I speak of is only a local name for the region around Los +Pompan. But it's as bad as the other." + +"Suppose you tell me more about it, Billee," suggested the ranch owner. + +"Sounds like it would be a good yarn!" commented Bud. + +"The kind I like to read about," added Nort. + +"This is no _yarn_!" declared the veteran puncher in an ominous voice. +"It's gospel truth. I'll tell you all I know." + +He hitched his heavy chaps around to make his legs more comfortable and +then, selecting a place on the ground, where a shadow was cast by the +cowboys on the fence, Billee Dobb began his narrative. + +But before I give you that, I want to make my new readers somewhat +better acquainted with Bud Merkel and his two cousins. They are the +youths who are to be the heroes of this story, and they first came into +prominence in the initial volume of this series, entitled: "The Boy +Ranchers; or Solving the Mystery at Diamond X." + +In that story was related how Norton and Richard Shannon had gone out +west, from New York, and how they took up life on the ranch of their +uncle Henry Merkel. There they found Bud, who had been among horses +and cattle all his life. Nort and Dick soon assimilated the traditions +of the west, became accomplished riders and able to punch cows with the +best of the hands on Diamond X. The lads from the east also learned +what it was to come to grips with rustlers, led by that notorious half +breed Del Pinzo. + +After having solved the mystery at Diamond X, Bud and his cousins were +given virtual charge of another ranch in Happy Valley, not far from the +main one managed by Mr. Merkel and his foreman Slim Degnan. But even +on what was, practically, their own ranch, the troubles and adventures +of the boys were not over. + +Del Pinzo and others tried more of their tricks and in the succeeding +volumes of the series is related about the water fight, the battle with +more cattle rustlers, how the Yaqui Indians were trailed, and how the +sheep herders were overcome. "The Boy Ranchers on Roaring River; or +Diamond X and the Chinese Smugglers" is the title of the book +immediately preceding the present volume, and in that Bud, Dick and +Nort had some narrow escapes from unscrupulous men. Incidentally they +helped the United States government bring to justice a large Chinese +smuggling band. + +Things on Diamond X had somewhat quieted down after the strenuous days +with Delton and the others, and Mr. Merkel had gone off on a business +trip, the import of which was little known to the boys. He had +returned, as has been related, in time to see Bud leap from the fence +to the back of a galloping horse in preparation for rodeo stunts. + +Then Billee Dobb had made his startling announcement about the ominous +character of the new ranch purchased by the cattleman. + +"Before you spill your bad news, Billee," suggested Mr. Merkel, "maybe +I ought to say a few words about what I've done. But also let me ask +you if this Death Valley of yours is anything more than one of the +picturesque names we have out here in the Golden West. You know we +just naturally run to Dead Horse Gulch, Ghost Canyon and all that sort +of stuff. So if your Death Valley doesn't mean more than those names, +why----" + +"It means a while lot more than just a name, Boss," said the old +puncher solemnly. "It means _real death_." + +"Death to whom, Billee?" asked Bud. + +"To anybody that's foolish enough to try to live there and ride herd," +was the short answer. + +"How about the cattle?" Dick wanted to know. + +"The same thing happens to them as happens to the men," said Billee in +a low voice. "They just naturally die off 'fore they can be shipped to +market. Believe me, Death Valley is a good place to stay away from!" + +"How is it, then, Billee," asked Mr. Merkel, "that nothing happened to +me? I just came from there. I don't buy a pig in a poke. I went to +Dot and Dash and sized the place up before I closed the deal with Jed +Barter. How is it Death Valley didn't get me, Billee?" + +Nothing daunted the old man replied: + +"You didn't stay there long enough." + +"Well, there may be something in that," admitted Bud's father. "But it +won't take me long to tell you boys," and he indicated his son, Dick, +Nort and all the other punchers. + +"For some time past," he went on, "I've had the notion that I wanted to +spread out a little. Neither Diamond X nor Happy Valley is quite large +enough. To make any money in the cattle business nowadays you got to +do business on a large scale. So I've been looking around, and making +inquiries, and in that way heard that the Dot and Dash ranch was in the +market. I'd looked at several others before I got word about this and +didn't like 'em, for one reason or another. + +"But when I got to Los Pompan, which is the nearest town to where Dot +and Dash is located, it struck me that here I'd found just what I was +looking for. The ranch wasn't too near the town, and yet it wasn't too +far from the railroad, and I took the trouble to find out if the +railroad branch line I'd have to use had good cattle pens and loading +chutes. Lots of lines haven't." + +"You spilled a mouthful of good beans right there," commented Snake +Purdee. + +"So," resumed Mr. Merkel after nodding at Snake, "liking the first +once-over I gave the ranch, I investigated further. It had plenty of +good grazing ground, lots of water, and there's a range of hills that +will keep off the cold winds in winter. Barter's cattle--what I saw of +'em--looked to be in good shape. So, having satisfied myself, I made +him an offer for the place, we dickered a bit and then closed. So he +vamoosed off Dot and Dash and I went on and took possession." + +"But did you come away, Dad, and leave no one in charge?" asked Bud, in +surprise. + +"Oh, no," was the answer. "I hired Tim Dolan, the foreman who worked +for Barter, to remain in charge until I could send you boys down to get +your hands in." + +"Was this here Dolan anxious to stay?" asked Billee, slowly. + +"Well, no, now you mention it, he did seem in a hurry to get away," +admitted Mr. Merkel. "Though I didn't pay any attention to it at the +time. He said he had another job, and----" + +"Most everybody that goes to Death Valley does get another job," +commented Billee, dryly. "But go on, Boss." + +"Well, that's about all there is to tell," said Mr. Merkel. "I bought +Dot and Dash and hurried home here to get Bud, and some of the boys to +go down and take charge. And when I get here I find you practicing +circus stunts." + +"I'm through that stuff, Dad, if you got a real job for me!" exclaimed +Bud. + +"You'll get a real job all right, and then some," muttered Old Billee. + +"Go on! Spill it!" begged Bud. "What you talking to yourself for? +Broadcast it, Billee!" + +"Oh, I'll tell you all I know, if your father is through," voiced the +veteran puncher. + +"Yes, I'm through, Billee," said Mr. Merkel. "Let's hear your good +news." + +"'Tain't good news, and there's no use pretendin' it is!" snapped the +aged cowboy. "If I'd known you was dickerin' for any ranch near Los +Pompan, Boss, I'd 'a' told you to lay off. But it's too late for that +now, it seems, so I can only warn you to keep away." + +"But I've bought it and paid for it. Barter has my money and----" + +"Let him keep it, Boss." + +"And lose the ranch and the cattle on it?" + +"Better to lose your money than to lose your life," muttered Billee. +"As for the cattle, you'll find fewer of 'em there when you go back +than you left there." + +"Oh, stop croaking, Billee, and spill the beans!" begged Nort. + +"'Twon't take long," Billee answered. "I forget just how many years +ago it is," he said, looking off toward the distant hills that bordered +Diamond X, "when, in the course of my wanderings, I struck Los Pompan. +There was a ranch there then, called Dot and Dash, just as there is +now, but it was run by a fellow named Golas. Maybe he was a Mex. +Anyhow I signed up with him and started to ridin' herd. But I didn't +stay long." + +"Couldn't you hold down the job?" chuckled Babe Milton, who was Slim +Degnan's assistant, and as fat as Degnan was lean. + +"None of your wise cracks!" snapped Billee. "I can cut out a bunch of +cattle better'n what you can any day and I'm a heap sight older 'n' +wiser. No, the reason I quit was on account of what kept happenin' at +Dot and Dash." + +"And what happened?" asked Dick. + +"Death is what happened!" said Billee, solemnly. "Mysterious death!" + +"Death can happen on any ranch," observed Mr. Merkel quietly. "We +have, unfortunately, had deaths here." + +"Yes, but they were natural deaths!" declared Billee. "And they didn't +keep happenin' one after another like at Dot and Dash." + +"How many deaths were there?" Bud wanted to know. + +"I don't rightly remember, but there was plenty." + +"You said they were mysterious," commented Nort. "In what way?" + +"That's what nobody could find out," resumed the veteran puncher. +"First some poor devil of a puncher would be found dead off in some +lonely swale. Then we'd find a bunch of cows stretched out, and then +we'd find another dead man." + +"Rustlers," suggested Slim. + +"Rustlers nothin'!" scoffed Billee. "Rustlers drive off cattle--they +don't kill 'em--what would be the good?" + +"I meant the rustlers did up the cowboys," suggested the foreman. + +"Well, if these fellows, who were found dead, got shot, why wasn't +there bullet holes in 'em?" asked Billee, teasingly. + +"Wasn't there?" asked Dick. + +"Not a hole." + +"How about a knife thrust?" Nort wanted to know. + +"Not a scratch or any kind of mark on 'em!" declared the old man. "And +yet their faces showed they'd died in agony. That's what I meant by +mysterious deaths." + +"It does sound rather queer," admitted Mr. Merkel. "But didn't you +find out what caused all this, Billee?" + +"No, Boss, I didn't stay long enough. And neither did nobody else I +ever heard of, who worked at Dot and Dash. I vamoosed." + +"Well, maybe there was something queer about the ranch years ago," +admitted Mr. Merkel. "But that doesn't say, because fifteen or twenty +seasons back something queer happened, that it's still going on." + +"Oh, but it is!" declared Billee. "Not a month ago I met a puncher who +was lookin' for a job. He come here but I knew we was full up so I +told him to go over to Circle T, and he done so. But he'd been down +Death Valley way recent like, and he said it was just the same." + +"You mean about mysterious deaths?" asked Dick. + +"That's it, boy! So what I says is, lay off that place, Boss!" + +"Hum!" mused Mr. Merkel. "It doesn't sound very jolly. I don't want +anybody to take any unnecessary risks and yet I hate to lose my money." + +"You shan't lose it, Dad!" cried Bud. + +"What do you mean, son?" + +"Just this! Dick, Nort and I will go down there! We aren't going to +be scared off by any of Billee's tales! We're not afraid; are we?" + +He looked at his fellow boy ranchers. + +"Nothing to it!" declared Dick, valiantly. + +"Let's go!" cried Nort, eagerly. + +Undaunted by fear, the three lads ranged themselves alongside of Mr. +Merkel, waiting for his word. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +ON THE TRAIL + +Slowly the owner of Diamond X began to speak. + +"That's just about what I'd expect of you boys," remarked Mr. Merkel +with a smile as he surveyed the lads. "But I can't let you run your +heads into a noose." + +"That's just what they would be doing if they tried to ride herd in +Death Valley," came ominously from the veteran puncher. + +"Watch me get him!" whispered Bud to his cousins. Then, addressing Old +Billee he went on: "I don't reckon, if we hit the trail for Dad's new +Dot and Dash ranch--I don't reckon you'll come with us; will +you--Billee?" and he drawled the last few words with a wink at Nort and +Dick. + +"Who, me? Go out there with you if your Pa thinks he'll let you? Is +that what you asted me?" demanded Billee Dobb, sharply. + +"You heard me the first time!" chuckled Bud. "What say?" + +"Course I'll go with you an' you know it!" snapped the old man. "Hu! +What you think I am, anyhow?" + +"But you just said you vamoosed from Death Valley because you were +afraid," said Bud. + +"Well, what I mean I _was_ afraid!" admitted Billee. "It was a mighty +skeery feelin', I'm tellin' you, to start out in the mornin' an' not +know whether you'd come acrost some dead puncher 'fore you'd ridden +half way round the herd. I sure was scared!" + +"Then why would you be willing to go back?" asked Nort. + +"To look after you kids--that's why--if so be your Pa thinks it fitten +to send you out to Dot and Dash. An' you heard me, too, the first +time!" snapped Billee with a trace of temper which was unusual in his +gentle nature. + +"Well, I don't believe I'm going to send them--that's the answer to one +question," said Mr. Merkel. "After what you told me, Billee, I can't +see that it would be wise to take a chance. I'll put up with my loss, +and----" + +"Did you pay much for the new ranch, Dad?" asked Bud. + +"Well, I thought I was getting a bargain," his father relied. "But +maybe I'm going to be left holding the bag after all. It strikes me +now that Barter was pretty anxious and quick to sell. I ought to have +smelled a rat, but I didn't. And, by and large, it was a pretty good +sum I paid. But, as I said, I'm willing to lose if----" + +"You aren't going to lose, Uncle Henry!" cried Nort. + +"Not if we have anything to say about it!" chimed in his brother. + +"And you got to count on me!" added Bud. + +"The smallest roosters always have the loudest crow!" chuckled Snake +Purdee. + +"Hey, you! Cut that out!" growled Yellin' Kid. "There ain't a yaller +streak in these boys an' you know it!" + +"Course I know it!" chuckled Snake. "I was only kiddin'! Me, I aim to +go 'long with 'em an' see what caused them mysterious killin's. Sure, +I'm goin'!" + +"Go easy, boys!" chuckled Billee. "If you all leave Diamond X, how's +Slim an' Babe goin' to run things?" + +"Don't fool yourselves!" snapped the lanky foreman. "I run Diamond X +'fore any of you fellers ever forked a bronc an' I can do it again." + +"He's got me!" chimed in Babe. + +"Ho! Ho!" chuckled Yellin' Kid. "You must 'a' been readin' the funny +papers!" + +There was an ominous note, now, in some of the voices and Mr. Merkel, +knowing how easily tempers of even the best of punchers are ruffled, +interposed a soothing word or two. + +"This isn't getting us anywhere," he said. "If what Billee states is +true, and I know he is telling the truth as he sees it, or as he heard +it, why, I'm not going to send anybody to Dot and Dash." + +"Oh, Dad!" cried Bud, beseechingly, while Nort and Dick chimed in with: + +"Uncle Henry, we just _got_ to go!" + +"We'll have another talk about it," went on the ranch owner. "This is +all news to me, Billee, and surprising news, too. I don't know what to +do. I wish I had heard some of these stories before I went to Los +Pompan." + +"You'd 'a' heard 'em all right if you had asted me," said the old man, +thoughtfully scratching his head near where a bald spot was plainly +showing. "But I had no idea you'd ever locate there." + +"Oh, I won't _locate_ there!" Mr. Merkel made haste to say. "I'd never +live anywhere else than at Diamond X--my wife wouldn't move. But I +just have to branch out and this struck me as being a good place to +start." + +"Ain't no better place in all the west for raisin' cattle than the +neighborhood of Los Pompan," interposed Billee. "And if it wasn't for +what happened in Death Valley I'd be there yet." + +"But what, actually, did happen?" asked Bud. + +"That's what I don't know--what nobody knows," said Billee, "and that's +what makes it all the more mysterious. Shucks! If we could 'a' found +out what caused the deaths it would have been easy to stop it--whether +it was Indians, rustlers or some disease. But we couldn't find out. +That was the trouble, boys," and his voice sank to a whisper, "we +couldn't find out." + +"Then we will!" cried Bud. + +"You'll do what?" asked his father. + +"We'll solve the mystery of Death Valley. Come on, Dad," he pleaded, +"you just got to let us go!" + +"I'll think about it," was all Mr. Merkel would say, and there was a +more serious air about him than he had worn in many a day. + +Gone, now, on the part of the boy ranchers, was any interest they may +have had in the coming rodeo at Palmo. All their talk and ideas +centered about what the ranch owner had told them, and the bad news +blurted out by Billee Dobb. While Mr. Merkel went in the house, where +he talked to his wife and daughter, speaking only sketchily of the +result of his trip and Billee's remarks, the boys began to question the +veteran puncher. It developed that other hands on Diamond X had also +heard rumors of sinister stories about Dot and Dash. + +"But we never had no reason, before, for speakin' of 'em," remarked +Squinty Lewis. And that, generally, was the sentiment. But though he +could not have guessed his employer was on a mission to Los Pompan, +Billee reproached himself for not having sounded a warning. + +"Do you honestly mean to say, Billee," asked Bud while his cousins +listened eagerly, "that there wasn't any way of tellin' how those +punchers and the cattle died?" + +"Absolutely not, boy!" was the reply. "They'd be all right one day, +and the next they'd be dead." + +"Maybe lightning struck 'em," suggested Nort. + +"Lightning leaves a mark," Billee replied. "Besides, these things--I +mean the deaths--would happen in clear weather. We didn't have many +storms, though lightning did kill some cows and I remember one puncher +who cashed in his chips that way. He was a nasty looking object, too, +let me tell you. But Death Valley don't depend on lightning to get +you. There's some other way." + +"Well, we're going to find out what it is!" declared Bud and his +cousins backed him up so forcefully that, in the end, Mr. Merkel at +last consented to the boy ranchers going to Dot and Dash, at least to +look the place over. + +"I'm not going to ask you to try and sell it for me, so I won't be +stuck," the ranchman said after his decision was made. "I'm not going +to palm off a death-dealing place on somebody the way Barter, so it +appears, loaded me up with it. But I don't yet admit anything is +wrong. However, if you boys find there is, just close up shop and +we'll forget it." + +"No, Dad, we won't!" said Bud in a low voice, but with great +determination. + +"What'll you do then?" + +"We'll find that death-dealing ghost and lay him, or her or whatever it +is!" cried the lad. + +"And we'll be with you from the drop of the hat until the last gun is +fired," cried Nort, while Dick nodded his agreement. + +"Well, I like to hear you talk that way," Mr. Merkel said. "But I do +hope nothing happens," he added anxiously, when the boys left to make +preparations for taking the trail to Death Valley. + +"Something is bound to happen!" said Billee, who had been present when +the decision was made. "But maybe these boys'll be able to beat the +game. They cleaned up the Chinese smugglers and beat the rustlers, so +they may cheat this mysterious death--whatever it is." + +"Hush!" warned Mr. Merkel, for the old man, in the rancher's private +office, had spoken rather loudly. "I don't want my wife and Nell to +hear. They'd never let the boys go, and I'm not sure I should, either." + +"I'm going to be with them," Billee said, as if that meant a lot, and +it really did. + +"I'll send Yellin' Kid and Snake Purdee, too," decided Mr. Merkel. + +"Yes," agreed Billee, "and it's going to be hard to beat that bunch. +Well, maybe the curse has died out, but I'm afraid not--I'm afraid +not," he added with an ominous shake of his head as he went to the +corral to arrange about selecting the horses for the coming trip. + +Los Pompan was about a week's ride, by easy stages, from Diamond X, and +while the trip could have been made by train or auto, the boys decided +to take their horses. Considerable in the way of supplies must be +taken, and, after all, an auto is not of much use, even the +ever-dependable flivver, in riding herd, a round-up or cutting out a +bunch of cattle for shipment. Albeit most of the ranchers owned cars +which came in handy for going to and fro from town, or getting in food +and supplies to the ranch house. + +"We may be able to pick up a cheap, second-hand car after we get out +there," remarked Nort when his brother and Bud were talking plans over +with him a few days before the start. This was after they had decided +to ride their ponies to Death Valley rather than take the rusty and +trusty old Tin Lizzie which they owned and which carried them back and +forth between Happy Valley and Diamond X. + +"Yes, we may need a car to run down this mysterious death-dealing force +that Billee sets such a store by," agreed Bud. + +Final preparations were made. The boy ranchers, with Billee, Snake and +Yellin' Kid were to take over Dot and Dash. Mrs. Merkel and Nell said +their good-byes, happily unaware of the dangerous phase of the +undertaking. As for the boys, they would not admit it was dangerous. +To them it was a great lark. + +"I only hope they'll sing the same tune after they've seen some of the +things I've seen," remarked Old Billee. "But I'll stick by 'em to the +last!" + +"On our way!" cried Bud, the morning of the start, when their ponies +had been saddled and extra mounts, carrying packs, were loaded with +food and supplies. + +"Hit the trail!" echoed Nort. + +"And we'll come back with its scalp!" added Dick, referring, though not +specifically, to the mystery. + +"Good-bye, boys," said Mr. Merkel in a low voice. "And--take care of +yourselves," he added as he clasped firmly the hands of his son and +nephews. "Don't take any risks." + +"No, sir!" they promised. But Mr. Merkel took that for what it was +worth. + +So they were on the trail at last, setting out with high hopes and +light hearts for Death Valley. + +"Where's that outfit heading for?" asked a passing puncher from Circle +T ranch, the nearest to Diamond X, and a place owned by Thomas Ogden, +who was quite friendly with Mr. Merkel. + +"That outfit?" questioningly repeated Babe Milton, sizing up the man +and noting that he was a stranger, "that bunch is going to Los Pompan +to take over a new ranch the boss bought." It was no secret--half the +people around Palmo knew what Mr. Merkel had done, though they had not +heard the sinister reports of Death Valley. + +"To Los Pompan, eh?" murmured the puncher, looking at the cloud of dust +which hovered over the cavalcade of the boy ranchers. "Los Pompan," +and he seemed unusually interested. + +"Know anything about it?" asked Babe. + +"Who, me? Not a thing!" and, putting spurs to his mount he was off and +away. + +"I don't want to be impolite," murmured Babe as he watched the puncher +disappear in a cloud of dust, "but I think you're a liar!" + +Meanwhile the boy ranchers were on the trail. What they would find in +Death Valley not even Billee Dobb could tell. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A NIGHT ALARM + +"Well, Dick, how they coming?" + +Bud Merkel urged his pony up alongside the mount of his cousin and gave +young Shannon a friendly poke in the ribs. + +"Oh, everything's fine, Bud," responded Dick. + +"How about you, Nort?" + +"I'm sitting pretty," was the response from the other boy rancher. + +"That's good," and Bud began to whistle a lively air. "Thought maybe +you were getting tired of the trip." + +"What, so soon? And we've only been on the trail three days!" +exclaimed Nort. "What do you think we are--tenderfeet?" + +"Sure not!" replied Bud. "But this is one of the longest trips we've +ever taken without something happening, and I thought maybe you two +were getting discouraged." + +"Nothing to it!" chuckled Dick. "As you say, nothing much has really +happened, but we've been having a fine time since we started out from +Diamond X." + +"And there's still plenty of time for things to happen before we get to +Dot and Dash and see what Death Valley looks like," suggested Nort. + +"You said it, kid!" exclaimed Snake Purdee who, with Old Billee Dobb on +one flank, and Yellin' Kid on the other, was trailing the three boys +along the rough and dusty trail. "There's plenty of time yet for +things to happen." + +It was their third day of travel since Mr. Merkel had sent the boys and +the older ranch hands off to take possession of his new place +concerning which Billee had told such sinister tales. The first day +was uneventful if you eliminate the fact that the pack of one of the +led horses came loose, spilling the outfit on the ground. But it was +easily salvaged though it took some little time to pursue and rope the +horse who seemed inclined to take a holiday. + +The first night saw the travelers camping under the glorious stars and +though, as a matter of precaution the boys insisted on standing guard, +it was not necessary. Aside from the distant howling of coyotes, not a +sound disturbed their slumbers. + +They traveled on the next day, stopping to cook their dinner over an +open fire and the boys declared they had even beaten Ma Merkel at the +cooking game. Though Billee Dobb was heard to complain that the beans, +which Dick passed to him, somehow lacked the home ranch flavor. + +They were now on their third day of travel, after two uneventful nights +spent in the open, and, so far, nothing had happened. Truth to tell, +Dick and Nort were beginning to get a bit discouraged. They had heard +much about the great and glorious west before coming to live at Diamond +X and the things that happened shortly after they arrived were quite +"up to sample," as Dick used to remark. And in the succeeding seasons +they passed with Bud, riding fence, helping at the round-ups and at the +cutting out of cattle for shipment, enough had taken place to satisfy +any reasonable lad. + +So it was not without reason that Dick and Nort expected something +startling to happen after they had started on this expedition. +Especially after what Billee Dobb had told them concerning Death Valley. + +"But we haven't had any trouble since that one load was spilled," +complained Dick as he and his brother and cousin rode along together. + +"Are you looking for trouble?" chuckled Bud. + +"Well, I'd like enough to keep from getting lonesome," was the reply. +"You take it now----" + +Dick's remarks were suddenly interrupted for, at that moment, his pony +felt its left forefoot slipping into the burrow of a prairie dog. And +in shifting and struggling to keep from going down the pony neatly +shook Dick from the saddle and deposited him in a heap alongside the +trail. + +"Ride 'im, cowboy!" shouted Yellin' Kid. + +"Say, this is no rodeo!" chuckled Bud. + +"Are you hurt?" Nort anxiously inquired, spurring to his brother, who +was scrambling to his feet. The pony, after running on a little way, +came to a stop for the reins slipped down over its head and this was +sufficient signal to cause a halt. + +"Hurt? Shucks, no!" cried Dick. "'Tisn't the first time I've had a +fall." Nor was it. Suddenly leaving the saddle was something a cowboy +must count on any time of the night or day. And there are ways of +falling off gracefully, and without damage, just as there are in +submitting to a football tackle. Dick and Nort had learned how to +protect themselves. + +"Well, something happened then all right!" chuckled Bud as he rode on +to capture Dick's pony and lead him back to the unseated ranch lad. + +"Thanks, but I don't care for just that kind of happening," and Dick +laughed as he vaulted into the saddle and the travelers kept on their +way. Because of the fact that they had with them several led horses, +carrying packs containing food and other supplies, their progress was +necessarily slow. + +"Well, we're half way there, I guess, aren't we, Billee?" asked Bud +when, late that afternoon, they reached a place in a grove of trees +amid the foothills where it seemed a good place to make camp for the +night. + +"Leetle more'n half way," admitted the old puncher. + +"That's good!" sighed Dick. "I'm anxious to see what we'll find in +Death Valley." + +"Do you know, Billee, I've got another idea," remarked Bud as the +horses were picketed and preparations begun for cooking supper. "I +mean about the mysterious deaths of men and cattle you say you saw +while you were a hand on Dot and Dash." + +"Yes, I seen 'em all right!" declared Billee with more force than +grammar. + +"I'm not doubting that," admitted Bud. "Though you don't know what +killed 'em. But I got an idea." + +"What?" chorused Nort and Dick. + +"A poison spring!" exclaimed Bud. "I mean bad water. You know there's +a lot of it out this way, and especially as we get into the mineral +district, where dad's new ranch is located. Maybe there were poison +springs on Dot and Dash, Billee, and the men you saw lying dead, and +also the cattle, might have drunk from them. Couldn't it happen that +way?" + +"Yes, it _could_," admitted Billee with an emphasis which showed his +doubt. "But I never heard tell of no bad water on Dot and Dash." + +"But maybe we can find some," went on Bud. + +"Find bad water--poison springs! Sufferin' horned toads, what you want +to do that for?" roared Yellin' Kid. + +"To prove my point," answered Bud, "and to locate such places and fence +'em off so there won't be any more deaths. If dad is going to develop +this ranch he doesn't want bad water on it." + +"You're right! I didn't think of that," admitted the cowboy. "The kid +may be right, Billee," he went on. + +"Yes, he _may_ be," admitted the veteran with that same emphasis of +doubt. "And it's true enough the Boss wants to develop this new ranch. +He said, if we could get it going, he'd buy a big herd and raise cattle +down there. But first Death Valley has got to be cleaned up, and +that's certain!" + +"And cleaning up Death Valley and solving the mystery is just what we +are going to do!" declared Bud. "How about it, boys?" and he turned to +his cousins. + +"We're with you!" echoed Nort and Dick in chorus. + +After the meal, and as darkness began to fall, the travelers sat about +the campfire, the dancing flames of which cast flickering shadows over +their faces. The men were smoking and the boys talked among +themselves, speculating over the mystery and occasionally listening to +the conversation of Billee, Snake and Yellin' Kid. + +"Well, I'm goin' to turn in!" Billee announced at last as he rose and +started for his blankets. As the air was warm and dry they had not +erected the small tent which was carried. + +"Shall we stand guard?" asked Nort. + +"What in the name of Tunket for?" asked Snake. "What good did it do +you to have sentry-go the other nights?" + +"None," admitted Bud. "Guess there isn't much sense in it." + +"What do you say, Billee?" asked Nort. + +"Anybody what wants to stay awake all night listenin' to them pesky +coyotes has my permission!" chuckled the old man. "As for me, I'm +going to pound my ear," and he prepared to crawl into his bed. + +"We'll let it go," Bud decided and his cousins were not at all averse +to this, for it was no fun for one member of the trio to lose even a +few hours' sleep while waiting to call his relief to take the nest +trick. + +Accordingly, a little later, all six of the travelers were peacefully +slumbering, while the restless horses moved about the length of their +picket ropes, picking what herbage they could reach. + +It happened to be Dick who was suddenly awakened at what he judged to +be the middle of the night. And the manner of his awakening was this. +He seemed to be dreaming that he was buying a new pair of shoes and, +after having tried on several tentative pairs in a shop, the salesman, +who was attired in the full regalia of a cowboy, gave Dick's left foot +a sharp kick as if to indicate that he should remove the shoe from it. + +This kick was so realistic that it awakened the youth and he sat up, +his eyes barely open, but feeling a distinct pain in his left foot. + +"That was some vivid dream," Dick was murmuring to himself when he +suddenly became aware that some one was moving away from him--a dark +figure barely seen in the shadows of the night--shadows cast by the +flickering embers of the fire. And then, in a rush, there came to the +young rancher the meaning of this night alarm. It had been partly a +dream and partly an actual happening. + +Some one had stepped over him as he lay in his blankets and had kicked +his foot, causing the dream to merge into reality. + +"Who are you?" cried Dick sharply, reaching for his gun. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +THE WARNING + +Flaring up suddenly, a stick, in the embers of the fire which had long +been smoldering, burst into blaze. By the light of this Dick saw the +figure hurrying out of the maze of sleeping bodies in the camp. And +there was light enough to see, though dimly, that the figure was that +of an old man. + +"Billee Dobb, is that you?" cried Dick, lowering the gun with which he +had begun to draw a bead on the moving figure. "What's the matter?" + +But, even as he asked the question his eyes roved to the place where +the old puncher had spread his blankets. And a huddled form there told +Dick that Billee was still sleeping. + +Then, before the boy rancher could again get his gun up, the mysterious +figure that had caused the night alarm slipped out of the circle of +firelight and into the shadows of darkness. + +Hardly sure, even yet, that it was not all a dream, part of the queer, +fantastic vision of the cowboy shoe salesman kicking his foot, Dick sat +there on his blankets, fingering his gun and wondering what would +happen next. + +"Did I see an old man or didn't I?" the boy was asking himself when two +other things happened simultaneously, in the end convincing him that it +was not all a dream. + +One thing that happened was that Billee Dobb himself awakened and sat +up as Dick was doing. + +"What's the row?" the veteran cattle puncher demanded. + +Before Dick could reply there was a disturbance among the tethered +ponies as though something had alarmed them. In a flash it came to +Dick that the intruder he had seen was trying to steal a horse. The +ponies did not dream. When they saw anything they knew it was real. +Accordingly the boy sharply called: + +"A horse thief, Billee!" + +This warning was enough to set any Westerner on the alert in an +instant, for, in spite of the progress of automobiles, the horse is +still, in the cattle reaches of the west, a thing most vitally needed. + +"Horse thieves, eh?" cried Billee in ringing tones. "The varmints! +Come on, boys! We'll get 'em!" + +His cries and the voice of Dick served to rouse the others in camp and +in a few moments Nort, Bud, Yellin' Kid and Snake Purdee had unrolled +from their warm blankets and had grabbed their guns. Bud threw some +light cottonwood on the embers and the blaze that at once resulted +showed objects up fairly plainly, though there was sufficient shadow to +make the picking out of any particular horse thief very difficult. + +"Where is he--which way did he go?" shouted Yellin' Kid. + +"Over there!" and Dick pointed the trail along which they had ridden +that day. Quickly he told his story--how he had been awakened by the +midnight visitor kicking the boy's foot as he strode over him. + +"Come on!" called Snake and in a moment the entire camp was trailing +after him in the direction where Dick had seen the old man vanish. + +But it was like pursuing one of the shadows of the night, and it did +not take long, after emerging from the circle of illumination of the +fire into the blackness of the surrounding night, to impress all with +the idea that a capture was out of the question. + +"How many horses did he get?" asked Bud. "Gee! Why didn't you wake +me, Dick?" + +"I did as soon as I got my wits about me," was the answer. "It all +happened so suddenly." + +"Horse thieves don't generally send word they're comin'!" chuckled +Billee. "But it strikes me you've made a mistake, Dick." + +"A mistake, how?" + +"Callin' this old man, as you say he was, a horse thief." + +"What else was he?" + +"I'm not sayin' he wasn't. But he didn't take any of our ponies. +Count for yourself." + +It took only a few moments to enumerate the riding and pack animals +tethered near the camp and the count was found to total correctly. Not +an animal was missing. + +"Guess you were too quick for him," commented Nort to his brother. +"It's lucky you woke up." + +"It's lucky he kicked my foot!" chuckled Dick. "Lucky for us and +unlucky for him." + +"Somewhat," admitted Billee Dobb. "Well, he come here and he went +away, and we aren't none the worse off as far as I can make out. Guess +I was a little out when I said not to stand guard. But I didn't +imagine we were in horse-thieves' country." + +"Hadn't we better have sentry-go from now on?" suggested Bud. + +"'Twouldn't be a bad idea," admitted Billee. + +"I'll take first shot at it," said Dick. "I'm wide awake now and since +I saw this old man I'll know him again if he comes sneaking back." + +Nort and Bud were as eager to take the first watch as was Dick, but he +insisted that it go to him. So, after another supply of light wood was +placed near the fire in readiness to throw on and produce a quick +blaze, in case of another alarm, the others retired to their blankets +and Dick was left on guard. + +Once more the silence of the night settled over the camp, a silence +broken only by the occasional howl of a distant coyote. Dick made +himself as comfortable as possible and at first he was able to keep +widely awake. Then as the fatigues of the day manifested themselves in +a desire to go to sleep once more he found himself wishing that the +intruder would come back again to furnish excitement to keep him awake. + +But nothing like that happened. The night continued quiet and in due +time it came the turn of Bud to relieve Dick. Later Nort relieved Bud +and finished the night watch which came to an end when a rosy tint in +the east announced, the coming of a new day. + +"Well, you didn't catch anybody I see!" chuckled Billee as he sauntered +down to the water hole to wash for breakfast. + +"No, nothing happened while I was on duty," announced Bud. + +"He knew better than to come while I was sitting up waiting for him," +added Nort. + +"You didn't see anything; did you, Dick?" asked Yellin' Kid of the +remaining sentry. "I mean after the first scare." + +"No, nothing. He didn't come back--whoever he was." + +"Wonder what he came for, anyhow?" mused Bud who had started to follow +Billee to the water hole. + +Suddenly Nort, who was walking near his cousin, stooped and picked +something up off the ground. It was a soiled bit of paper, evidently +part of what had once been a grocery bag. + +"Maybe he came to leave this!" suggested Nort as he turned the paper +over. + +"Came to leave that--what is it?" asked Bud. + +"It's some sort of a warning, I guess," was the answer. "Look!" + +He held the soiled scrap out to the others. The writing was large and +straggling, but it was plain. The warning said: + + KEEP AWAY FROM DEATH VALLEY + IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU. + S. T. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +AT DOT AND DASH + +Silently the little circle of ranchers, young and old, gazed at the +ominous warning Nort had picked up. Yellin' Kid was the first to +speak, following the reading of the message on the dirty piece of bag +paper. + +"Well, I'll be horn-swoggled!" voiced the Kid in his usual loud tones. + +Billee Dobb looked sharply from Nort to Dick and then at Bud. + +"This any of your doin's?" he asked. + +"Our doings! What do you mean?" challenged Bud. + +"I mean you aren't getting up some stunts for the rodeo--oh, I +forgot--that's off," the veteran puncher hastened to add. "But none of +you youngsters did this, I hope." + +"Dropped that warning?" questioned Dick. "I should say not! I didn't +do it!" + +"Nor I!" voiced Nort. "I picked it up, and I can see, Billee, you +might naturally be suspicious of me as one who knew just where to +locate this piece of paper. But I had nothing to do with it." + +"Nor I!" said Bud. "'Tisn't my idea of the right kind of a joke to +play." + +"You never can tell what young fellows will do," murmured Old Billee. +"But I'm glad to hear you three say you had nothing to do with it. +Sort of relieves me." + +"'Tisn't my kind of writing," went on Dick as though he thought, +because he had given the first alarm and had been, in fact, the only +one to view the midnight intruder, that more suspicion might attach to +him as the joker than to any one else. + +"I'm not much on writin' myself," declared Yellin' Kid, "and while I +might say I'd be proud if I could sling a pen the way this feller did, +I want it distinctly understood I didn't have nothin' to do with it." + +"You needn't tell the folks in the next county about it," gently chided +Billee. Then he took the paper from Snake Purdee, who was curiously +examining it, and subjected it to a close scrutiny. + +"Make anything of it, Billee?" asked Yellin' Kid endeavoring to put the +soft pedal on his voice. + +"The writin' ain't that of anybody I know," said the veteran, "and I +can't, offhand, recall anybody whose initials are S.T. But Tim +Mellick, who keeps the store over at Palmo, has paper bags of the same +kind of stuff as this." + +"I don't believe that will be much of a clew," said Dick. "Most paper +bags are alike, and store keepers get their supply of them from a +wholesale house that supplies a hundred customers." + +"No, I don't reckon we can do much toward pickin' up the trail of this +fellow from that scrap," admitted Billee. "So the next best thing to +do is to get breakfust." + +"That's right--let's eat!" exclaimed Snake. + +"But you aren't going to throw that away; are you?" asked Dick as he +saw Billee folding the ragged piece of brown paper containing the +sinister warning. + +"Throw it away? Oh, no! Of course I'm not. I'm going to keep it +until I can find out what it means." + +"What it means is plain enough," said Bud. "Somebody doesn't want us +to go on to Death Valley and Dot and Dash ranch." + +"All the more reason why we should go on there and see what it means!" +cried Nort. + +"That's the talk!" echoed his brother and cousin. + +"If they're trying to scare us away, they'll find we don't scare worth +a cent," added Bud. + +"It goes to prove, though," remarked Dick, "that Billee's story is +likely to be borne out. I mean that there's something queer going on +at Death Valley." + +"Queer is right!" assented Bud. "Though whether this is a warning in +our interests, sent by one who doesn't want to see any of us get put +out of business with the poisoned water, or whether it's a warning to +keep away so we won't discover some crooked business--that's something +we can't answer." + +"Not yet," said Billee Dobb significantly. "But we'll soon be able to. +I've got my mind made up, now. I'm going to see this thing through to +the finish!" and he smote his right fist into his open left hand with a +sound like the report of a small gun. + +"That's the way to talk!" cried Yellin' Kid. "I wish I'd had a sight +of the fellow who dropped that warning," he went on. "He would be +sitting down here now talking Turkey and tellin' what it was all about. +Why didn't you call me first, Dick?" + +"I raised the alarm as soon as I could wake myself up," was the answer. +"But I guess we were all sleeping pretty sound." + +While Snake was frying the bacon and making the coffee, some of the +others cast about the camp in a circle, seeking some clew to the +midnight visitor. But nothing could be found that shed any light on +the mystery. It was evident that the man, whoever he was, had ridden +to the camp, had picketed his horse out some distance and then had +sneaked in among the prostrate, sleeping figures. Evidently his object +was merely to leave the warning, and not to rob or commit some more +serious crime. And his touching the foot of Dick was an accident. +Then, seeing he had caused an alarm, the man slipped away, dropping his +note. + +Puzzle their heads as they did, none of the six could recall any one, +either among their friends or enemies, whose initials were S.T. and +Dick's suggestion, that the symbols of a name were only assumed, seemed +to be generally accepted. + +Breakfast was eaten, camp was broken and once more, after another +casual casting about for possible clews to the intruder, the cavalcade +was under way. But one more night separated them from the vicinity of +Death Valley and the new ranch. + +"And the sooner we can get there and begin checking up on some of the +things we've heard the better I'll like it," remarked Bud. + +"I guess we all will," echoed Nort. + +"I only hope we'll find something tangible, and not a lot more +mysteries," spoke Dick. + +"It'll probably turn out to be poisoned springs or bad water," +suggested Yellin' Kid. "That's the most reasonable explanation." + +"Um!" was all Billee Dobb would reply to that. + +They made rather good time that day, as the trail was now downward for +they had passed the range of low hills outside of the valley. And when +night came, and they were once more camped out, they knew that the +following day would see them at Dot and Dash ranch. + +"What about standing guard to-night?" asked Bud of his cousins when +camp was established and a good supper had been eaten. + +"'Twon't do any harm to have sentry-go," agreed Dick. + +"But the chances are a hundred to one against anything happening to +disturb us," said Nort. "That fellow isn't likely to come back." + +"I agree with you," said Bud. "But, all the same, I think we'll all +sleep sounder if we stand watch and watch." + +"It'll be our turn," declared Snake. "We three old gazaboes will take +turns. You kids had last night. This is ours." + +It was no more than fair and the boy ranchers were glad enough to let +the men act as sentries. So Billee, Snake and Yellin' Kid arranged it +among themselves, leaving the night to uninterrupted slumber for the +three boys. + +"That is, we'll sleep if nothing wakes us," said Bud. + +And nothing did. Nor did any of the cowboys, who took turns staying +awake during the night, report any untoward occurrences. But in spite +of that fact when Bud went to the grub box to get out some bacon he +found, stuck in a pack, a folded brown paper, like the one on which the +other warning was written. And this message was of like import with +the other. It said: + + DON'T GO TO DOT AND DASH. + + +However there was no signature to this. But none was needed to make it +certain that it was from the same hand. + +"Well, what do you know about that!" cried Nort when he saw what Bud +had found. + +"How'd he get in camp to leave that warning without being seen or +heard?" asked Dick. + +"Guess it's up to us," admitted Billee with a sheepish smile. "We old +geezers must 'a' been asleep at the switch. No tellin' which one it +was," he went on, "'ceptin' I'll swear nobody slipped past when I was +on guard." + +"And nobody came into camp while I was sentry," added Snake. + +"That goes for me, too!" came from Yellin' Kid. + +"Then we'll all have to plead guilty," chuckled Billee. "Anyhow here's +the warnin' and it looks as if this fellow, whoever he is, was +follerin' us up to discourage us from going on." + +"Well, he shan't discourage me!" exclaimed Bud. + +"Nor me!" came in a duet from Nort and Dick. + +"That's the ticket! Then we'll go on!" said Billee. "But I would like +to know," he murmured, "how this chap can sneak in and out of a camp +without rousing somebody. I sure would!" + +However there was nothing more to be done. And after making sure no +clews could be picked up, the second warning was placed with the first, +in Billee's big leather wallet, and the travelers prepared to resume +the trail. + +They were now in a wilder and more lonesome country than any they had +ever before visited. It was distinctly the "bad lands," but often in +such a region can be found isolated places where abundant water and +herbage offer ideal sites for cattle raising. + +Such, Mr. Merkel had said, was his new Dot and Dash ranch. And it was +apparent to the boys and their older companions, as they rode along, +that the valley was a good locality for raising cattle. + +"This must be the place," said Bud as they began riding down the +opposite side of the slope they had climbed to cross the low range of +mountains. "It's just as dad described it. I'll show these papers to +whoever's in charge and they'll know we have come to take over the +ranch." He tapped in his pocket a bundle of documents which his father +had given him to show the transfer of authority. + +"Yes, that's Dot and Dash," said Billee as he recalled some of the +familiar landmarks. "This is the place where I used to punch cattle." + +"Seems to be a right nice sort of a place," murmured Snake. "And I +reckon them tales about all the cattle droppin' dead are fakes. Look +at that herd," and he pointed to a collection of dots on a distant hill. + +"Nobody said _all_ the cows died!" retorted Billee. "And maybe the bad +spell, whatever it was, has worked itself out. I hope so. But there's +Dot and Dash all right," and he waved to a collection of ranch +buildings that came into view with a turn of the trail. + +In a short time they had traversed the slope and were on the level and +green floor of a pleasant valley, long and narrow, yet wide enough to +give space to several big ranches. The hills were barren and rugged in +some places, and wooded in others. + +On up to the ranch rode the cavalcade, the thoughts of the boys busy +with many things. It was rather a tamer entry than they had counted on +after Billee's stories and the receipt of the two dramatic warnings. + +"Guess we aren't going to have any trouble after all," said Dick as +they rode their horses to the hitching rail, made the reins fast and +dismounted to enter the main house. + +"It's quiet enough," said Nort + +"'Tis, for a fact," echoed Bud. "Doesn't seem to be anybody around +here for me to serve my possession papers on!" he chuckled. "Hello! +Anybody home?" he called loudly. + +There was no answer save the echoes of his voice through the rambling +building. + +"Give 'em a call, Kid, you can make yourself heard," suggested Snake, +and the yeller let out a ringing shout. + +Still there was no reply and the silence was beginning to get on the +nerves of the boys when Billee, who had been roaming around, came in +with a queer look on his face. + +"What's the matter?" asked Bud. + +"There's a dead man outside in the yard," was the quiet answer of the +veteran puncher. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +SAM TARBELL'S STORY + +This news, so startling, coming as it did after the strange silence +that seemed to wrap Dot and Dash in a pall, and following the talk that +had been going on the last few days concerning the sinister aspect of +the situation, was enough to startle any one. And the boy ranchers +were no exception. + +"A dead man?" gasped Bud. + +"Who is he?" Nort wanted to know. + +"Who killed him?" was Dick's question. + +To these inquiries Old Billee Dobb returned no answer. As for Yellin' +Kid and Snake Purdee, they just stood in the middle of the deserted +living room of the ranch house and stared at the old puncher. Death +did not frighten, nor was it anything new to the cowboys. Yet Billee's +news was startling. + +"Let's go have a look at him," suggested Yellin' Kid, in no whit +lowering his voice as he might reasonably be expected to do under the +circumstances. "Where is he? Do you know him, Billee?" + +"Never saw him this side of sole leather as far as I know," answered +the veteran. "But he's out there by the corral, and here's another +thing. If we're going to turn our ponies loose into that same corral +the fence has got to be mended. 'Twon't hold a yearling as it is now." + +"That can be 'tended to later," remarked Snake. "Let's go have a look +at this poor gazaboo you say has cashed in." + +"It looks as if Death Valley was living up to its name," said Nort to +Bud as he and the other lads followed the men out of the silent and +deserted house. + +"Can't tell yet," was Bud's rejoinder. "This may be just a natural +death, and somebody that has no connection with this ranch. Lots of +passing strangers stop at our place and he may have stopped here." + +"Well, even then, that doesn't say what killed him," protested Nort. + +"We'll soon find out," went on Bud. "Come on." + +Billee Dobb was leading the way toward his startling discovery, and a +moment later the whole outfit from Diamond X came upon the body. It +lay, as Billee had said, near a corral the fence of which was much in +need of repairs. The man was a typical cowboy, with a bright red +neckerchief and sheepskin chaps. His gun had fallen from the holster +and lay beside him. His horse was nowhere to be seen, and a cowboy +without a pony between his legs, or at least in his immediate vicinity, +is like Hamlet with the melancholy Dane left out. + +"There he is," said Billee in a low voice. + +Snake and Yellin' Kid stopped in their tracks. But Bud, who, perhaps, +was too young to feel any squeamishness at the proximity to death, +hurried forward and knelt beside the motionless figure. Seeing what +their chum had done, Nort and Dick started to follow. But they were +halted, when they had almost reached the man, by Bud's voice exclaiming: + +"He isn't dead at all! He's breathing!" + +"He is?" cried Nort. + +"Sure! He isn't dead at all! Get me some water. We ought to have a +doctor, but maybe we can pull him around until we can find one. But +get some water--_pronto_!" + +Dick slung his canteen around, pulled out the stopper and, an instant +later, was kneeling beside Bud and the stranger. Nort helped Bud, on +the opposite side, support the man's head, which appeared to be but +loosely attached to his body and the boys finally succeeded in forcing +a little water between the almost lifeless lips. + +"We ought to have some sort of a stimulant," said Bud as he noticed a +faint flickering of the man's eyelids, as though life was struggling +hard to return to the frame it had almost decided to vacate. + +"I got some aromatic ammonia in my saddle bags," said Dick. "Your +mother put it in with a lot of other medicine, thinking we might need +it." + +"We do, now, and mighty bad!" exclaimed Bud. "Rustle it here, Dick." + +A little later the powerful heart stimulant, mixed with a little water, +was being administered to the stranger, and when the fumes of it had +done their work the fluttering of his eyelids became stronger. + +"He's comin' 'round," observed Billee who, with his two older +companions, had drawn nearer to observe what the boys were doing. + +"Looks like you didn't call the turn on him after all," said Yellin' +Kid, for once in his life at least lowering his voice. + +"I hope I didn't," said Billee. "I'd like him to pull through. Maybe +he can tell us what's wrong with Dot and Dash." + +"Don't look like there was anything wrong," commented Snake, letting +his eyes rove away from the prostrate stranger to the wide reaches of +the ranch and the valley in which it was so snugly located. "This +seems to be a right proper place to raise cattle. I only wish it was +mine. I'm tired of being just a puncher. I'd like to own this place. +I think it's all bunk what you been tellin' us, Billee." + +"You wait," was all Billee would reply. "You can't tell by squintin' +at a toad how much wool there is on him, and you can't give a ranch a +good name just by lookin' it over. You wait!" + +By this time the ammonia had completed its work and restored to +consciousness the prostrate stranger. He was able to sit up now, +without being supported by Bud and his cousins. And as he supported +himself on one hand, while with the other he reached for his fallen +gun, he murmured: + +"Who are you and what happened?" + +"Stranger," pronounced Billee, who, by common consent seemed to be the +spokesman, "we can answer the first part of your question but not the +last. All we know is we arrived here to find you--er--stretched out +like you was takin' a sleep." Billee had a certain delicacy about +mentioning death, now that the man was so evidently alive. + +"As for us, we're from Mr. Merkel's ranch--Diamond X--and we're sent +here to take charge of Dot and Dash. You may have heard of us and you +may not." + +"Oh, yes, I've heard of you," was the somewhat unexpected answer. "In +fact I was waiting for you to come to take charge." + +"Then you aren't a stranger here?" asked Bud. + +"Well, I been here a few days, that's all. I was Mr. Barter's foreman +up to the time he quit, and sold out, so he told me. He asked me to +stay here and turn the place over to the new owner. Merkel--yes, +that's the name. I was away when the deal went through." + +"I have the papers here," said Bud, reaching for the documents in his +pocket. + +"'Tain't necessary. I'll take your word for it, my boy. And now that +you're in charge I'm going to vamoose. I've had full and plenty." + +He struggled to his feet, plainly showing how weak he was, swayed +unsteadily for a moment and then staggered to a bench on the shady side +of the bunk house not far from the corral. + +"If I could have another nip of whatever that was you gave me--" he +murmured. + +Bud gave him the remainder of the ammonia and it brought a tinge of +color to the tanned and leathery cheeks of the puncher. + +"I guess I can light out now," he went on. "Have you seen my pony--oh, +I forgot--he's dead. Well----" + +He looked at the untenanted corral and then to the bunch of tethered +animals the outfit from Diamond X had brought with them. + +"Look here!" exclaimed Bud. "Do you mind telling us what happened? We +have heard strange stories about this ranch and don't know whether or +not to believe them. We found you stretched out and----" + +"Sort of took me for dead; didn't you?" asked the man. + +Now that he had given the opening Billee had no hesitation in replying: + +"We sure thought you had cashed in." + +"Well, I nearly did," said the man. "I believe I would have been dead +in a short time if you hadn't come along. My horse is dead, I'm sure +of that. And how I managed to drag myself here after he collapsed +under me is more than I know. But I did, hoping I might get some help. +Then I passed out. That's all I know until I found myself sitting up +and drinking camphor water." + +"'Tisn't camphor," said Bud. "It's aromatic ammonia." + +"Oh," murmured the man. "Well, sort of tasted like the old camphor +bottle my mother used when she got faint. However, I'm much obliged. +And, now that you're in possession I'll be traveling on. Only--my +horse----" + +He was as lost without a steed as a sailor would be without a ship, and +he was plainly at a loss how to proceed. + +"Look here!" broke in Bud, who, as the representative of his father +could speak with some authority, "we can't let you go this way. In the +first place you're not fit to travel on, and, in the second place we +want to hear your story. After that maybe we can fix you up with a +pony if you want to leave." + +"I'll tell you my story all right," said the man, readily enough. "And +thanks for the loan of a horse. As for staying here--after what +happened--I guess I don't feel much like it." + +"What happened?" asked Dick, eagerly. + +"Lots of things, but the main one was that I nearly passed out on +account of some deviltry. But I'd better begin at the beginning." + +"'Twould seem the most sensible way," said Old Billee. "In the first +place what's your name?" + +"Sam Tarbell," was the answer. + +In an instant Bud, Dick and Nort exchanged glances. Like a flash came +to them the memory of the warning paper, signed with the initials S.T. +They would fit this man's name--Sam Tarbell. + +But if Billee, Snake and Yellin' Kid thought of this coincidence they +did not remark upon it. + +"Sam Tarbell; eh?" murmured Billee. "I used to know a feller of that +name once. Only he was Bill Tarbell. I don't reckon he could 'a' been +your brother; could he?" + +Sam Tarbell shook his head. + +"I never had a brother," he answered. "Well, as I was saying, I been +acting as foreman for Mr. Barter a few days back, and when he sold out +I agreed to stay and deliver the ranch to the new owners." + +"What became of Tim Dolan, who was foreman, and all the other +punchers?" asked Snake. "Takes more'n a foreman, which you say you are +now, to run a shebang like this. What happened to them?" + +"Well," said Sam slowly, "some died and the rest, including Dolan, lit +out and that left me. Dolan was foreman, like you said, but he +vamoosed in a hurry and I almost cashed in when----" + +He suddenly interrupted his story to gaze off across the level plain. +The others, following his glance, saw riding along an old man on a +somewhat ancient steed. He was an old man with a white beard and +flowing, white locks, and as he glimpsed him Sam exclaimed: + +"There's the old man now!" + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE ROUND-UP + +Sam Tarbell suddenly arose from the bench where he had been sitting. +But if he had any intention of starting after the old man on the +distant horse his resolution was better than his performance. For he +had to sink weakly back to his seat, and his face, that had assumed its +natural color after the ammonia, now went white again. + +"Take it easy!" advised Old Billee in soothing tones. + +"Guess I'll have to," and Sam gratefully accepted a dipper of water +that Nort handed him, getting the fluid from a pail that sat on a shelf +outside the bunkhouse. + +"Do you want one of us to chase after that old man?" asked Bud, while +Dick inquired: + +"Did he have anything to do with knocking you out?" + +"No, to both questions, boys," responded Sam. "You can chase that old +man for all of me, but I don't think you'll catch him. He's as +slippery as an eel. As for his having anything to do with me being +knocked out in such a queer way, I can't honestly say he had anything +to do with it. I just happened to see him 'fore my horse crumpled +under me, and he was riding away when I started to stagger back here as +best I could. I hollered at him to give me a lift, but either he +didn't hear me or didn't want to. It was just a coincidence that he +happened along while I was telling you my story." + +Wonderingly the outfit from Diamond X watched the old man slowly riding +into the foothills, amid the woods of which he was soon lost to view. +And the same thought came to all of them--the memory of the old man who +had aroused Dick that night, when, next morning, the mysterious warning +was found. + +"Do you know that old man's name?" asked Bud. + +Sam Tarbell shook his head. + +"He's a stranger to me," he answered. "But I've seen him around off +and on what little time I been here. I'm beginning to wish I'd never +taken the job of puncher or foreman here at Dot and Dash. I've had +nothing but bad luck from the start." + +"You mean being knocked out like you was dead?" asked Yellin' Kid who, +now that there was no mourning to be done, had switched back to his +loud tones. + +"Lots of things besides that," answered Sam. "I lost one good gun, +lamed a good pony and got shook up bad when my other horse, the one +that died under me, stepped into a prairie dog's hole and throwed me. +Nothing but bad luck. I'm through!" + +"Don't blame you for wanting to quit," remarked Bud. "But I hope +you'll stay a little longer. As I said you're not fit to travel +and----" + +"You're right there!" interrupted Sam. "I'm as weak as a new-born +calf. But after I get my strength I'm going to vamoose. This ranch is +no place for a healthy man--or a sick one either, if you come to that. +But I'll tell you what I started to, and give you all the help I can in +rounding things up here. Then you can decide for yourselves whether +it's worth your while." + +"This is Death Valley all right; ain't it?" asked Billee Dobb. + +"You said it, stranger! There's been a lot of deaths here, so I been +told. I never would have come if I had known what I know now." + +"Just what do you know?" asked Dick. + +"Do you know what caused the deaths?" Bud inquired. + +"No, I can't say I do," was the somewhat hesitant answer. "And that's +the mysterious part of it. Only I know I came mighty near passing out +and I don't want to do it again." + +"Suppose you finish telling us all about it," suggested Bud, the while +he looked in the direction taken by the old man who had disappeared. +But the picturesque figure was out of sight. + +"Well, as I was mentioning, I've been knocking around the country quite +a bit," resumed Sam. "I'd have a job first on one ranch and then on +another. You fellows know how it is," he said, looking at Snake and +Yellin' Kid. + +"Sure!" they murmured. + +"Well, finally I ended up here and I must say Mr. Barter treated me all +right, as he did his other hands. But when cattle began to be found +dead all over the place, and when some men and their horses began to +pass out, I began to get worried. So did a lot of others and they left +so fast it was hard work to run the place with the few hands left. + +"I was just getting ready to light out and look for another job when a +man came to look the Dot and Dash over with a view, so Mr. Barter said, +to buying it. Right after that Dolan, who had agreed to stay, quit +sudden like, so I promised to stick and help the boss out and I did. +The place was sold, and you say your dad bought it?" he asked, looking +at Bud. + +"Yes, this is now part of the Merkel holdings," was the answer. +"Though my father didn't know anything about the queer deaths on the +place when he agreed to buy it. He didn't even know that this was +called Death Valley." + +"Not until he got back to Diamond X and I told him," put in Billee. +"Then he said he wasn't going to back out, 'specially after these boys +begged for a chance to chase the jinx." + +"Well, they'll get all the chance they want," remarked Sam. "No, I +don't reckon Mr. Barter would tell the bad name his place had when he +was trying to sell it. I don't say it was right of him to hold back +the news, but lots of men would have done what he did. For myself, I +never had a chance to talk to your father, so I couldn't have put him +wise if I wanted to. Dolan might have, but he didn't. And I guess +even Mr. Barter thought the thing would pass over." + +"What thing?" asked Dick. "You mean the series of deaths?" + +"That's it. They were mighty queer." + +"I told 'em that," said Billee. "I used to work here myself years +ago," he added. "I thought maybe, after all these years, the bad luck +might have passed. But after what happened to you----" + +"Just what did happen?" asked Bud. "We want to get down to brass tacks +on this thing if we can." + +"'Twon't take long to tell you," said Sam. "As I mentioned, I agreed +with Mr. Barter to stay on here and look after what few cattle remained +until the new owner--that's your dad," and he looked at Bud--"could +come along and take possession. + +"Well, I was left pretty much alone here, but I didn't mind that, for +I'm used to rustling for myself. Mr. Barter left when he got his +money, I s'pose, and the cattle wasn't much trouble. There's only a +small herd left, and I didn't bother much with 'em--just rode out now +and then to see they wasn't being run off. Which they wasn't. But +this morning I thought I'd ride to the far end of the range to see if +there was any fences needed fixing, so's I could tell the new owner. + +"I was riding along when, all of a sudden, my horse began acting queer. +Then, 'fore I knew it, he just sort of crumpled up and I just had time +to jump or he'd have fallen with me under him. And as I went down I +began to feel sort of queer myself. One of the last things I remember +seeing in the distance was that old man riding along. Then I went down +and out. + +"That's all I remember, but I must have had sense enough to start +either to walk or crawl back here, and evidently I arrived, for you +found me. That's all I know." + +"But what knocked you out?" excitedly cried Bud. "And what killed your +horse?" + +"You can search me!" was the frank answer. "I didn't look the horse +over after he died, to see what bit him. As for me, I don't know what +ailed me." + +"Maybe the old man shot you and the horse," suggested Nort. + +"I wouldn't swear the horse hasn't a bullet in him, for I didn't +examine him," stated Sam. "But I didn't hear any gun, and I know I got +no holes in me." + +"Then it was bad water!" said Snake. + +"What's that?" Sam inquired, not comprehending. + +"You and your horse must 'a' drunk from some poisoned spring," went on +Snake, explaining how this theory had been advanced among his +companions to account for the mysterious deaths at Dot and Dash. + +"Bad water; eh?" murmured Sam. "Well, I certainly did take a drink at +a spring, and so did the horse. But it's a spring I always have +patronized, so to speak, and it's mighty queer if it would be all right +yesterday and poison to-day. Mighty queer!" + +"The old man----" began Nort. + +"He wasn't nowhere near the spring," interrupted Sam. "I don't believe +you got the right dope." + +"Well, there's something queer around here, that's sure," declared Bud +Merkel, "and we're here to find out what it is! We'll be glad to have +you stay and help us solve the mystery. We need some ranch hands and +I'd be glad to take you on." + +"Thanks. I've got to stay, anyhow, a few days until I get to feeling +more like myself. After that we'll talk business. But I warn you it's +dangerous here." + +"We knew that before we came," said Bud, quietly. + +Much puzzled, and not a little alarmed over the strange story, the +members of the outfit from Diamond X now began putting things to rights +about the ranch house in preparation to taking over Dot and Dash. +While Snake and Yellin' Kid began to repair the corral fence, Bud, his +cousins and Old Billee brought their food and supplies into the ranch +house and began to arrange for supper, since it was now late afternoon. +A look in the bunkhouse showed it to be clean and in good shape. + +"I'll take charge out there, with Kid, Snake and this new hand," said +Old Billee, referring to Sam Tarbell who had been put in a bunk the +better to regain his strength. "You boys'll stay here," and he +indicated the ranch house. + +"It might be a good idea to divide our force up that way," agreed Bud. +"Then, in case the jinx comes it won't get all of us at once." + +"According to the stories," said Billee, "nothing ever occurs inside. +It's all out of doors. Well, we'll see what happens." + +In spite of the sinister cloud of fear that hung over the place, the +adventurers managed to make a good meal, and when the horses had been +turned into the repaired corral preparations were made for the night. +Both parties--the one in the bunkhouse and the boys in the main +building--decided to keep watch all night. + +But their precautions were not needed. Nothing happened. The sun rose +bright and warm over Dot and Dash next morning and Sam Tarbell said he +felt like a new man after his sleep. + +"The first thing to do," decided Bud after matters had been talked over +at the breakfast table, "is to have a sort of round-up. I want to see +just how many head of cattle are left, and what the chances are for +getting more. Also we want to give the whole ranch the once-over." + +"That's right," agreed the veteran Billee. + +"Shall we all go on the round-up?" asked Dick. + +"No," said Bud after a moment of thought, "we'll have to leave some one +here in charge. But in time each one of us must know all there is to +know about Dot and Dash--I mean just how it's laid out, where the +water-holes are, what shape the fences are in and all that. It will +take a little time, but this first round-up will tell us some things we +ought to know." + +"The boy's right!" fairly shouted Yellin' Kid. + +Accordingly, when it was decided to leave Snake, Nort and the still +somewhat invalid Sam at the ranch house, the others started out. + +Nort made the best of being obliged to stay. The choice had fallen to +him by lot, as it was decided this was the fairest way of making a +division of forces, since other things were equal. + +"But you got to tell me everything that happens when you get back!" +Nort stipulated to his brother and Bud as they rode away. + +"Sure!" they promised. + +The three who were left in charge of the ranch buildings watched the +others ride off over the hills and then, as there was plenty to do in +cleaning up the place, and getting it ready for a number of new hands +that must be hired, the two from Diamond X got busy. Sam was able to +help with light work. + +It was while Nort was busy making a checkup of the household articles +on hand that he heard the sound of a horse out near the corral, and, +going to the door, saw dismounting, the same old man to whom Sam had +called attention the night before. + +"Howdy, stranger!" the ancient one greeted Nort, cheerfully. + +"How are you?" responded the boy, courteously. "Are you looking for +some one?" + +"Yes," was the answer. "I'm looking for the boss. I want to warn him +and all with him to get away from here as quick as they can! You don't +know the danger you are in. You had better leave quick!" And then, +though it seemed to take from the force of his words, the old man +strode over to the water pail and took a long drink. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE QUEER OLD MAN + +Nort was doing some quick thinking. And the burden of his thoughts was +to this effect: + +"Bud and Dick have ridden off to see if they can solve the mystery, but +along comes this queer old man to me, and maybe he holds the key to +open the lock. It would be just my good luck!" + +So it was with a feeling of elation, rather than otherwise, that Nort +watched the aged stranger finish his drink and then come back to where +the boy stood near the ranch house. Snake and Sam were in the bunk +house. + +"Why should we go away from here?" asked Nort, trying to speak easily +and naturally. "And what is the danger?" + +"Are you the boss?" was the quick retort. + +"No, but the boss is my cousin, and he and I, with my brother, are +going to run this ranch." + +"You'd better run away before you try to run it!" chuckled the old man +with what seemed to be sinister humor. "But you can't say I didn't +warn you." + +"Warn us of what?" asked Nort, a bit sharply. "What do you mean by +coming here trying to scare me?" + +"I'm not trying to scare you, my boy, I'm just trying to warn you. +Those here before you wouldn't listen to me, and what happened to them? +They died, that's what happened. Now I'm offering you a chance for +your life and it seems to rile you." + +"Oh, no, I'm not mad," and Nort smiled a little. "But I would like to +know what you are driving at. Before we came here we heard stories +about the danger of Dot and Dash, but no one knew just what the danger +was. Now you seem to----" + +"Oh, no, I don't, young man!" interrupted the stranger, running his +skinny hands through his straggly, white hair. "I don't know what +caused all those deaths any more than you do. But I do know if those +who are gone--I mean the humans now and not the cattle--I mean if they +had taken my Elixer they'd be alive to-day. There she is--Elixer of +Life!" and from what seemed to be one of many pockets in his loose coat +he pulled out a bottle of dark liquid. Before Nort had a chance to +make reply the stranger, holding up the bottle and affectionately +patting it from time to time, went on with: + +"There she is! Elixer of Life! Made from roots, berries and herbs I +gathered myself. Compounded in a secret manner after a recipe given me +by an old Indian. It soothes the nerves, strengthens the muscles, +clears the brain and prolongs life. Only a dollar a bottle and I can +let you have as many as you like. Guaranteed to act as specified and +harmless enough so you can give it to babies! There you are--the +Elixer of Life!" It was so labeled--spelled with an e instead of i, +and as the old man insisted this was right the boys let it go at that. +So the stuff remained "elixer" to the end of the chapter. + +He produced another bottle from somewhere in the recesses of his long +coat and, holding the two phials aloft, advanced upon Nort with a +strange light shining in his eyes. + +From a distance it must have looked to an observer as if the old man +was approaching the boy to hurl the bottles at him with evil intent, +for they were high in the air, and over Nort's head. And Snake Purdee +must have taken this view of it, for, a moment later, standing in the +door of the bunkhouse, the cowboy drew his gun, aimed it at the aged +stranger and cried: + +"Stand still or I'll bore you!" + +The command was so threatening and Snake was in such a good position to +shoot that, for a moment, Nort feared a bullet would end the matter. +But the old man wheeled about, took in the situation at a glance and +mildly said, as he lowered the bottles: + +"No harm intended at all. I'm only trying to save this young man's +life. You've got no call to shoot me." + +"Oh," exclaimed Snake rather lamely, seeing how the matter stood. +"Well, I don't just like your attitude, and----" + +"He's only selling a patent medicine," broke in Nort with a smile. +"It's the Elixer of Life." + +"I make it myself, from roots, berries and herbs," eagerly went on the +old man. "Only a dollar a bottle or six for five dollars. If them as +were here before you had taken it they'd be alive to-day. But they +were scoffers. They spurned me and look what happened to them." + +"I've seen you before, old man!" said Sam and there was something +menacing in his tone. "I've seen you around this ranch a lot, and I've +heard some say you was always around when something happened--I mean +when men and cattle were found dead. I saw you just before my own +horse died and I passed out and now I want you to explain. I've got +you now!" + +He made a grab for the old man, who did not seek to elude Sam, but +stood quietly while the cowboy held one arm and took out a gun with +which he covered the inventor of the Elixer. + +"Now, son," said the old man, soothingly, "don't get excited. I +haven't done any harm and I don't intend to. It's true you've seen me +around this ranch a lot--I live a few miles from here back in the +woods. And I've been around when there's been deaths. But I was +trying to stop death--not bring it about. Only I was always too late. +They never would listen to me--them cowboys. And I was around when I +saw your horse go down. I rode back, later, thinking I could sell you +a bottle of my Life Elixer before you passed away, but I got there too +late. I saw that you had expired so I went on." + +"I'm a pretty live man for a dead one!" chuckled Sam. "But what's your +game, anyhow?" + +He had released his hold of the aged one and had put his gun back in +the holster as Snake had done. And then Nort made, unseen by the +stranger, a motion to his two companions which served to explain +matters. Nort made a circular motion with one finger up near his head +as though to indicate wheels going around. + +"Oh!" softly murmured Snake, understandingly, and he was echoed by Sam +with: + +"I'm wise!" + +While, as the aged one again raised his Elixer bottles on high Nort +with his lips only said the words: + +"The poor old man's a bit cracked!" + +And so it seemed. He was one of the many harmless but well-meaning +"herb doctors" to be found in every community. He had a firm faith in +his own concoction. + +"Be warned in time, gentlemen," he went on, still offering the Elixer +to Nort. "You are alive now, but you may be dead to-morrow. This will +save you. One dollar a bottle or six for five." + +He now held the two bottles in one hand while, with the other, he went +searching through his coat for more. But Nort stopped him with a +gesture. + +"Two are enough for now," he said, soothingly, handing over a two +dollar bill. "But can you tell us anything about the causes for the +deaths that have taken place on Dot and Dash ranch?" + +"Yes, young man, I can," was the firm answer as the bill was tucked +away inside the hat band, "I know all about those deaths. They were +caused by a failure to heed my warnings and take this Elixer of Life! + +"Be warned in time, gentlemen," went on the old man as he moved over to +his horse. "There are three of you, and you have only bought two +bottles. At least each one should have his own. I may not be back +here and----" + +"Oh, shucks! Gimme a bottle!" ejaculated Snake. "And see if you can't +tell us what killed these folks and the cattle." + +"I can tell you--yes--certainly!" was the quick retort as another +bottle of the dark liquid was produced and another dollar added to the +hat band bank. + +"What was it then?" asked Snake, eagerly, while Nort and Sam waited for +the answer. + +"The hand of fate!" was the solemn answer. "But now you are safe. You +have the Elixer of Life and so death cannot harm you. I bid you good +day!" + +Before they could stop him, even had they been so inclined, which they +were not, the old man left Nort and his chums holding their bottles of +Elixer and rode away on his sorry looking nag, crooning something into +his ample beard. + +"Well, what do you make of that?" asked Snake when the stranger--they +had not thought to ask his name--was beyond hearing. + +"He's just a harmless crank," said Nort. "An old herb doctor." + +"That's what I think," chimed in Sam. "Though at first I was a bit +suspicious of him. But I guess he doesn't mean anything. And he don't +know anything about the deaths here." + +"If he does he isn't telling," decided Nort. + +"Well," said Snake slowly, "I'm not superstitious, but as long as I +bought this stuff I might as well sample it." + +He pulled the cork from the bottle, and was about to take a drink when +Nort, with a quick motion, knocked the flask down, almost sending it to +the ground. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +DEAD CATTLE + +"What's the idea?" spluttered Snake, for he had his mouth set for a +drink, and did not appear to like being balked. + +"Better wait until you find out what's in the bottle before you sample +it," advised Nort. + +"Why, didn't the old gazaboo tell us what it was--Elixer of Life? Some +sort of tonic, I reckon, and, believe me, boy, I need something right +now!" + +"What you need is grub!" broke in Sam. "I'm in the same boat. I'm +getting my appetite back," he added with a look at Nort, whose turn it +was to get the dinner. + +"Well, maybe this will give me an appetite for baked beans," suggested +Snake. + +"More likely to take your appetite away," went on Nort. "This may be a +good, safe stomach medicine, and, again, it may be deadly poison. I +want it analyzed by a chemist before I take any of it. And, even then, +I don't believe I'll try any though it may be safe. I don't need it." + +"Poison; eh?" mused Snake. "Do you think----" + +"No, I don't think this harmless, crack-brained old man had anything to +do with the deaths that are said to have taken place at Dot and Dash," +interrupted Nort, guessing at Snake's implied question. "But a crank +is a dangerous man to have mix your drinks. He may have brewed this +from honest herbs, or it may be an extract of toadstools. I'm going +slow at it." + +"Well, I guess I'd better, too," agreed Snake, ruefully, "I'm glad you +didn't let me sample it, Nort." + +"It's better to be sure than sorry," said the boy. "Is there a chemist +in Los Pompan," and he nodded in the direction of the town that lay +nearest to the ranch. + +"I don't believe there is," Sam answered. "But there's a doctor and +maybe he can tell whether this stuff is safe or not," and he gazed at +one of the Elixer bottles he had picked up off the bench where Nort had +set them. + +"Safe or dangerous, we don't need it," went on the boy. "I only bought +it to lead the old man on. But we didn't get much out of him." + +"No," assented Snake. "His answers were crazy enough. Guess we'll +have to wait until Billee and the others come back to find out what's +the real secret of Death Valley." + +"Maybe we won't then," suggested Sam, in a low voice. + +"Do you mean they won't come back?" asked Nort with a sudden increase +in his heart beats. + +"Oh, _some_ of 'em are bound to come back," was the not very cheering +reply. "The deaths ain't wholesale like that. And maybe nothing won't +happen to any of 'em," which was sufficiently clear and hopeful if not +very grammatical. "But, even if they all come back, which is more than +likely," went on the most recent foreman of Dot and Dash, "that ain't +saying they'll find out the secret." + +"No, I suppose not," agreed Nort. "Well, we'll hope for the best." + +They resumed their labors of getting the group of ranch buildings in +shipshape against the return of Bud and the others. Sam had agreed to +stay for a while to aid in the check-over and as soon as possible, as +Nort knew, Mr. Merkel intended to add to his cattle already on the +ranch, and hire more men to look after them. + +"I wish we'd found out that old geezer's name and more about him before +we let him vamoose," said Snake as he worked away with Nort. + +"Yes," agreed the boy, "but so much was happening, and he was so queer, +that I forgot about it." + +"Guess we all did. Well, we can pick him up again when we need him--if +we ever do," chuckled Snake. "I mean if the doctor says this here +Elixer is any good." + +"If there isn't any harm in it that's the most I expect," came from +Nort. "As for finding the old man----" + +"He's an eel, I tell you!" broke in Sam. "I've seen him more then +once, riding along, that is some time ago, 'fore I was knocked out. +But when I tried to come up to him he'd vanish. And to look at it you +wouldn't think that cayuse of his was any quicker'n a snail!" + +"He must have some hiding place," suggested Snake. + +"Maybe," admitted Sam. "But I don't like that _hombre_ and you hear +what I'm tellin' you!" + +Dinner was served, and eaten with hearty appetites in spite of what had +happened and what might take place later. Then more work was done +about the place, and as the afternoon waned Nort began to get rather +anxious for the return of those who had gone on the round-up. + +It was not a round-up in the real sense of the word--but merely a +riding around of the place to size it up--to ascertain the number of +head of cattle on the ranch, to find out the location of water holes, +the best pasture, look to the condition of the fences and such matters +as that. + +"And I wish, while they were at it, they'd get a Chink cook," said Nort +to whom had fallen the task of washing the dishes. "Any chance of +getting a yellow man in Los Pompon?" he asked Sam. + +"Oh, sure, I should think so. If you can get him to stay." + +"Why wouldn't he stay?" Nort wanted to know. And then he remembered +and added: "You mean on account of possible deaths?" + +"Sure! That's it. Them Chinks is powerful leery about anything like +that. But maybe we can get one fresh smuggled over from Mexico and he +won't be so particular." + +"That's right," agreed Nort as he recalled how desperately eager the +Celestials were to be smuggled into the United States. + +It was getting dusk, and the three were a bit anxious as they prepared +the evening meal, for, as yet, the prospectors, as they might be +called, had not returned. Nort was going to suggest that perhaps it +might be well to ride out and see if his brother and the others were in +sight when the clatter of horses' feet was heard and into the ranch +yard came riding the cavalcade. + +A quick count showed not one missing, and it was with a relieved heart +that Nort greeted Bud and Dick. + +"Anything happen?" asked Snake. + +"Nary a thing!" boomed out Yellin' Kid. "It was as peaceful as a +Sunday school picnic. But this is sure some dandy ranch." + +"That's right!" chimed in Bud. "We didn't have time to go all over +it," he went on to those who had been left behind. "But we saw enough +to convince us that dad made no mistake in buying it--that is if we can +clear out the jinx." + +"But you didn't see any signs of him--or it?" asked Nort. + +"Who?" inquired Dick. + +"I mean the jinx." + +"No, not a thing. Didn't even see a dead calf, and, as we know, +they're common enough on a ranch. Everything was lovely." + +"It sure is a good buy," went on Bud. "Of course it's a bit run down, +and the fences here and there need mending. But there's plenty of +water and what cattle there are seem to be in good shape. When we buy +a few more herds, and hire some more men to help us, we'll be sitting +pretty." + +"Then we didn't need to do so much worrying?" questioned Nort. + +"Seems not." + +"And that warning was all tommyrot!" added Dick with a laugh. "Hello, +what's this?" and he picked up one of the bottles of Elixer, for by +this time the whole party was in the ranch house, and saw the three +flasks on the table. + +"Stuff your brother bought to save lives!" chuckled Snake, and the +story was told. + +"An old man, half crazy; eh?" mused Billee as he listened. "Who is he +and what about him?" + +"Doesn't seem to amount to much, really," stated Nort. "But I thought +we'd better have this stuff analyzed." + +"Sure!" assented Billee, and, taking the three bottles he locked them +in a wall cupboard and put the key in his pocket. + +There was much to talk about at Dot and Dash that night. Nort related +the coming and going of the vender of Life's Elixer, and on their part +Bud and Dick told of the scenes about the ranch, and added to their +first statements that it was an ideal place to raise cattle. + +"And there weren't any signs of sudden deaths?" asked Nort. + +"Nary a one. It's a shame to call this Death Valley," declared Bud. + +The week that followed was a busy one and there was plenty of work for +all hands, including Sam Tarbell who, when he found that there was no +sudden passing away of any of his new friends or the remaining cattle, +decided to stay and work for Dot and Dash. + +A careful examination was made in the vicinity where Sam had "keeled +over," as he expressed it, and where his horse had died. Nothing +suspicious was discovered, however, and there was no way to account for +the strange happening. The animal appeared to have died a natural +death. + +"Of course," Sam said, "my pony might of dropped dead from heart +disease, and when he fell I was throwed off and hit my head on a rock. +That's what might have knocked me out." + +"It's very possible," agreed Bud. + +Arrangements were under way for the purchase of two herds from ranchmen +in the adjoining county, and several more cowboys had been engaged +when, like a clap of thunder out of a clear sky, it happened. + +Bud, Nort and Dick were riding over to the south end of the ranch one +day, to inspect the present herd, with a view to shifting it, when Nort +pointed to what looked like several dark bowlders on a distant, grassy +slope. + +"What are those?" he asked. "Big stones?" + +"Stones?" queried Bud and, a moment later, he exclaimed, "Those are +dead cattle! Boys, I guess the jinx has come back!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +INTO SMUGGLERS' GLEN + +"Hop to it, boys!" cried Nort, as he dug his spurs lightly against the +sides of his pony. The spurs were blunt ones, for Mr. Merkel insisted +that his men treat their horses kindly, and the spurs were such in name +only. However, even these gentle ticklers indicated to Nort's animal +the need of haste and it leaped ahead. + +"Come on!" echoed Dick, following his brother's example and guiding his +animal toward those silent forms on the grassy hillside. + +Bud, however, held his animal back and shouted to his cousins: + +"Hold on a minute! Don't be rash! Hold on!" + +Nort pulled his pony back so suddenly that the creature reared high in +the air. Some time ago Nort would have been unseated by such a trick, +but now he stuck to the saddle like a burr to a cow's tail. + +"What's the matter?" Nort shot back over his shoulder. + +"Don't you want to find out what killed those cattle?" asked Dick, +riding back to join his cousin. + +"Sure!" Bud replied. "But I don't want to keel over myself. There +must be something there that killed those cows, that is if they're +dead. And what killed them may kill us, if we go too close, just as it +has killed others and nearly did for Sam." + +"Those cows are dead all right," declared Nort who, now that his pony +was quiet, had taken a pair of field glasses from the case slung at his +shoulder and was examining the silent forms. "They're as dead as a +last year's sunflower." + +"But maybe Bud's right about wanting to be careful before we go any +closer," suggested Dick. "You know Uncle Henry warned us not to run +our necks in any noose." + +"But we got to find out what killed these cows, so we'll know how to +guard the others against the same danger," declared Nort. "And if it +was poison water they drank, or maybe poison grass they ate, why, we +don't want our other animals to do the same thing, or get any poison +water ourselves." + +"No," agreed Bud, who, having taken the glasses from his cousin, was +now making a careful observation, "we don't want to drink any poison +water or have cattle eat any poison grass, if there are such things on +the ranch. But we can stop a bullet just as easy as a cow can and with +just the same bad results for us." + +"Bullet?" questioned Nort, wonderingly. + +"Do you think those cows were shot?" asked Dick. + +"They might have been." + +"Who'd do such a thing?" demanded Nort. + +"If it was done at all--which I'm not saying for a fact--it probably +was done by the same man, or men, who have been doing the other +killings in Death Valley." + +"But what in the world for?" exclaimed Dick. + +"Search me!" answered Bud. + +"The other cows weren't shot!" asserted Nort. "Sam's horse that died +wasn't shot, and no bullet nipped him or even creased him." + +"No," agreed Bud. "I guess I'm out when it comes to guessing those +cows were shot. But let's wait a bit before we go any closer. We +can't do those dead cows any good and it may save our lives." + +Though their curiosity made them eager and anxious, the boy ranchers +held themselves in check and while riding slowly around on their ponies +kept a keen watch of the territory surrounding the grazing herd and the +motionless forms of the dead cows. + +But when nearly half an hour had passed, and there was no sign of any +human enemy, and when nothing suspicious had been observed, Bud gave +the signal to ride on to come closer to the scene of the mystery. +During the wait the living members of the herd had exhibited no signs +of uneasiness. They wandered around, grazed, ambled here and there, +some coming close to look at the boy riders. They behaved like any +normal herd of cows. Some of the calves showed their playfulness in +kicking up their heels and darting hither and yon, while some of the +young bulls engaged in head-butting contests. + +"Whatever happened," said Bud as he and his cousins rode nearer, +"didn't scare the whole herd. Death must have come silently, and in +the night." + +"Silently, I grant you, but not necessarily in the night," spoke Dick. +"It could happen any time, as it did to Sam. That was in the daytime." + +"You're right," Bud admitted. "It sure is mighty queer. But maybe we +can find out, now that it has happened almost under our noses as you +might say." + +This section of Dot and Dash ranch consisted of diversified country. +There was a wooded portion, with a small stream running through it, and +in the distance were rolling hills and dales. It was ideal cow country +and the herbage was succulent and rich. + +Near the place where the five dead cows were stretched out was the +beginning of a long, narrow defile, or gorge which ran back into the +hills. Some of these hills were quite high and were covered with a +growth of timber. Others consisted of big rocks piled in fantastic +fashion as though there had been a volcanic eruption some time when the +world was young. Between the hills were small valleys here and there, +which made fine, sheltered places for the grazing of cows. + +Having satisfied themselves that there was no lurking enemy waiting to +attack them, the three young men rode up to the cows. The ponies +showed no signs of fear on approaching the dead bodies, as some Eastern +horses might have done. A cow pony has no nerves. He gets used to so +many queer sights and happenings that even an auto rearing up on its +front wheels and running backward while a cow turned somersaults on the +fender would not cause a pony to turn his head. + +The boys dismounted, pulled the reins of their animals over their heads +as an intimation to the creatures not to stray and then made their way +toward the cows. + +"They're sure dead all right," remarked Bud, prodding the one nearest +him with his foot. + +"Have you just found it out?" asked Nort. + +"No, but I remember what happened to Sam, and I was thinking maybe they +might be only stunned, or something like that. But they're dead." + +"And not long, either," added Dick, noting the fresh and limp condition +of the bodies. "This didn't happen later than last night or early this +morning." + +"Guess you're right," admitted Bud. "Yes, they're dead sure enough." + +"And a total loss," came from Dick. "Can't even sell the fresh beef in +Los Pompan. We wouldn't dare, not knowing whether the cows died from +poison or not." + +"No," agreed Bud. "And it can't be anything but poison of some sort, +for I'm sure they weren't struck by lightning." + +"There was no storm last night," declared Nort. + +As Dick had said, the cows were a total loss, or nearly so, for it +would hardly pay to have a skinner come out to flay off the hides of +such a small number. Often when a cow or steer is killed by accident +the carcass is fit to eat and there is fresh beef on the ranch or the +carcass may be sold to the nearest butcher. But in this case it would +have been dangerous and foolish to use this cow meat for food. + +"Nothing to do but bury 'em and forget it, I guess," sighed Dick. "But +it's quite a loss." + +"It sure is," remarked Bud. "But we're not going to bury 'em right +away--at least not all of 'em, and we're not going to forget it." + +"No, I didn't mean just that," went on Dick. "We've got to get to the +bottom of this. But why not bury the bodies, Bud?" + +"Oh, that will have to be done, of course. But I mean to have some +sort of a doctor come out here and look at these cows, or at one of +them. Maybe he can tell what killed 'em." + +"Good idea," said Nort. "There may be a horse doctor in town." + +"I think there is," spoke Bud. "And we'll see if he can tell us +anything about what that Life Elixer is composed of. I'd like to have +that analyzed." + +"Do you think that, or the queer old man, had anything to do with the +death of these cows?" Dick wanted to know. + +"There's no telling. I'm not going to pass up anything until I find +out there's nothing in it!" retorted Bud. "Dot and Dash isn't going to +ruin if I can help it!" + +"That's the idea!" echoed his cousins. + +They rode about the place but could discover nothing wrong. The cows +seemed to have dropped in their tracks, dying without a struggle, +though the ground around them was considerably cut up by their hooves, +as though the animals had "milled" restlessly before death overtook +them. + +The remaining and live members of the herd showed no uneasiness and no +signs of having been injured or disturbed as far as the boys could see +by riding among them. + +They rode over to the stream, which the ponies showed an anxious desire +to drink from, but as Dick was riding his horse toward the clear water, +evidently to let the animal plunge its nose in, Bud cried: + +"Do you think it's safe?" + +"Why not?" Dick asked, momentarily pulling his pony back, and it was +not easy, for the creature was thirsty. + +"Maybe this is the poison water the cows drank." + +"Running water like this couldn't very well be poisoned," declared +Dick. "A stagnant pool or a water hole might be, but not this. And +horses won't touch bad water. Watch mine." + +The pony fairly got beyond control, now, in its mad desire to quench +its thirst and was soon drinking greedily, an example followed by the +other two. + +"Yes, I guess this water's all right," Bud finally admitted. "As you +say, a horse won't touch bad water. I'm going to sample some myself." + +This he did, and he and his cousins found the stream sweet and +refreshing. There was no taint to it and they drank their fill as did +their ponies. + +"Well, what next?" asked Nort, as he sat easily in the saddle, while he +watched the water dribbling from the champing jaws of his steed. +"Shall we go back and get that horse doctor, and then bury the dead +cows?" + +"Not yet," answered Bud. "I want to ride up that defile and see what's +at the other end." He indicated a long, narrow valley leading up into +the wooded and rocky hills. + +"What's the idea?" asked Dick. + +"Oh, just a notion," Bud replied. "That would make a good hiding place +for rustlers," he added. + +"It's dark, and silent and secret enough," agreed Dick as they turned +their horses into the defile. "Regular smugglers' glen!" and he +chuckled at his suggestion. + +"We can call it that," assented Bud. "Come on, then, let's see what +we'll find in Smugglers' Glen." + +They rode on into the narrow, sinister valley, all unaware what they +would discover there. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE ELIXER CAVE + +"Nifty hiding place--this," remarked Dick as the three rode side by +side up "Smugglers' Glen," as they had jokingly named the defile. + +"Sure is," agreed Bud. + +"A man, or a band of men, if they wanted to, could hole up in here for +the winter, slip out when they liked and raid a ranch, and get back +again without any one being much the wiser," suggested Nort. + +"Let's hope that doesn't happen," remarked Bud. "But it's just as well +to know about this place. Some of our cows might wander up in here +and, not finding them on the range, we'd think the rustlers had paid us +a visit." + +"That's right," came from Nort. + +"Maybe rustlers have used this for a hiding place," was Dick's nest +remark. + +"Smugglers' Glen or Rustlers' Glen--it's about the same," commented +Bud. "If those fellows we fought last year, who were running the +Chinks over the Mexican border, had known of this glen they'd have used +it." + +"That's the truth for you," agreed Dick. "And, speaking of Chinks, +when are we going to get that Celestial cook we talked of?" + +"I expect he'll be back at the ranch when we get there," was Bud's +reply. "Fellow in Los Pompan promised to ship me out a good one." + +"I won't be sorry!" chuckled Nort. "I'm tired of cooking and washing +dishes." + +The boys and their older companions had taken turns with the not very +agreeable duties of housekeeping on the ranch. Old Billee Dobb was an +experienced cook and Snake often said the old puncher could make beans +taste like roast turkey. But Billee drew the line at washing dishes. +Said he couldn't see any sense in cleaning plates only to muss 'em all +up again. So when it came his turn to cook somebody else had to do the +cleaning. + +Talking of various matters, speculating on the mystery at Dot and Dash, +and wondering what had caused the latest deaths, the boys rode on and +on up into the depths of the glen. As they went on, the little valley +seemed to shrink in width until it was barely wide enough for the three +of them to ride abreast. On either side the grim, rocky hills, studded +here and there with trees and bushes, rose high above their heads. Now +and then they came upon a little stream meandering its way down the +defile. Here and there it dropped over a ledge of rocks, making a +pleasant, if miniature, waterfall. + +Aside from the clatter of their horses' feet, the occasional fall of a +dead branch or the rattle of loose stones and the tinkle of the stream, +the only sounds were those of the boys' voices. + +"This place sort of gives me the creeps!" remarked Nort with a little +shiver and a backward glance. "We might as well have called it a +Pirate Den as what we did." + +"It is sort of dismal," assented Bud. "But I guess we aren't going to +find out anything here, so we might as well turn back in a little +while." + +"Say after the next turn," suggested Dick, indicating a place where the +defile swung around a shoulder of bare rock. + +"Suits me," came from Bud. + +They reached the big rock, swung around the narrowest section of the +defile they had yet encountered and, a moment later, made a discovery +which filled them with surprise. + +Burrowing into the side of the gorge, just beyond the sharp turn, was a +cave with an arched opening. At first glance it looked as if it had +been cut by the hand of man, but it evidently had been made by the +erosion of water through many centuries. + +"Jumping flapjacks!" cried Nort, pointing to the cave. "Do you see +that?" + +"Why not?" chuckled his brother. "It's big enough to be seen." + +"But did you know it was there?" + +"I didn't," put in Bud. "Though that's nothing, for this is the first +time we've ever been here. But dad said this was a wilder and +different country than back home, and caves aren't anything unusual." + +"No," assented Nort, "and I s'pose I might have expected to find one or +more in these hills. But it sort of startled me. Wonder if there's +anything in it?" + +"Meaning bears, wildcats or other such varmints?" inquired Dick with a +laugh. + +"Yes," said Nort. "Or maybe rustlers might have hung out in there." + +"The only way to find out is to go in and have a look," suggested Bud. +And, urging on their steeds, which they had, involuntarily, pulled to a +halt, they were soon at the cave entrance. It was big enough to give +passage to a man on horseback--at least for a little distance within, +but the boys did not think it would be safe to guide their ponies into +the cavern. They were not certain of the footing. + +Dismounting, then, at the opening, and tethering their horses, the +three boys entered the dark hole, not without some trepidation. For it +was very dark; the outside light, which was not strong on account of +the darkness of the defile, only penetrating a short distance inside +the cavern. + +Their footsteps echoed eerily as they advanced, and the state of their +nerves can be judged when Dick and Nort jumped and exclaimed aloud as +Bud took out a flashlight and suddenly switched on the current, sending +a brilliant, though small, shaft of illumination down the stretches of +blackness. + +"Did I scare you?" chuckled young Merkel. + +"A little," Dick admitted. "I didn't know you had a lantern with you." + +"Oh, I generally carry a small pocket torch," Bud replied. "Never can +tell when you'll be caught out after dark." + +The flashlight showed the cavern to be hewn out of solid rock, though +how high the roof was, or how wide the walls from side to side, they +could not judge, for their light was not powerful enough to penetrate. +But the cave was, evidently, a big one. + +Suddenly, as they walked along, Bud became aware of a growing sheen of +light ahead of them. At first he thought it was but the reflection of +his own torch on what might be crystals in the cave's sides or roof. +But as they walked on the glow increased. + +Nort and Dick also noticed it, and Nort exclaimed: + +"Guess this is more of a tunnel than a cave. I see daylight ahead." + +"'Tisn't daylight--too red for that," objected Bud. "Looks more like a +fire." + +And, a moment later, as they rounded a turn, they saw that the light +was caused by a fire. It was a fire blazing on the floor of the +cavern. Over the fire, suspended on a tripod, was a black kettle, a +veritable witch-caldron and, bending over it, if not a witch, was a +good imitation of one. For it was the figure of an old man--a man with +long, straggling white hair and a flowing white beard, as the flames +revealed. It was the same old man who had called at the ranch with his +sinister warning when he sold the Elixer of Life. + +"Look!" murmured Bud, but he need not have said this. His two cousins +were looking with all the power of their staring eyes. + +"It--it's him!" murmured Nort, and the others knew what he meant. + +"But what's he doing?" whispered Dick. + +There was hardly need to ask that question. Undoubtedly the old man +was brewing something in the kettle over the fire. There was a +peculiar odor in the air, not unpleasant, but rather overpowering. + +"He's making that stuff he bottles and sells," went on Dick. "The +Elixer. And maybe----" + +He did not finish the sentence. Either the cautious talk of the boy +ranchers, or some noise they made carried to the sharp ears of the old +man. + +He started back, out of the circle of light cast by the fire under the +kettle. He seemed to be alarmed. + +"Who's there?" he cried. + +The boys did not answer. They did not know what to do. It was all so +strange and startling. + +A moment later the queer hermit, for such he seemed to be, had snatched +the kettle off the chain by which it was suspended. With a quick +motion of his foot he scattered the embers of the fire so that +immediate section of the cave was obscured by smoke and fantastic +shadows. Then the old man ran back into the darkness of the far +reaches of the cavern and disappeared from view. + +"There he goes!" cried Nort. There was no longer need of whispering. + +"After him!" cried Dick. + +"No! Don't go!" exclaimed Bud. "You don't know what he was doing, +what he may be up to nor where he's gone. It isn't safe!" + +This last was so evident that Nort and Dick at once agreed to the +proposition and halted. But Dick added: + +"We don't know, for sure what he was doing, but I can pretty near +guess!" + +"What?" asked Bud. + +"He was brewing stuff to poison our cattle. He's the fellow that's +been doing it. He's the cause of all the trouble at Dot and Dash. We +ought to have him arrested, and we've got good proof against him!" + +"What proof?" Bud asked. + +"The bottles of stuff he sold us. Lucky we didn't take any of it! +It's poison, sure! Come on, let's get back and then send word to the +sheriff to come and arrest this old man." + +It seemed to be good advice and the best thing to do under the +circumstances, whether or not Dick's theory would be borne out by facts. + +"We'll go back and have that Elixer analyzed," said Bud as he swung +around with his cousins and began the retreat. "I meant to have it +done before but there's so doggoned much to do here it slipped my mind. +But I'll have it looked after now." + +It did not take the three long to emerge from "Elixer Cave," as they +named the place where they had seen the hermit over his brew. Their +horses were patiently waiting and in a little while the boys were +within sight of the ranch house. + +But something seemed to be going on there. Snake, Billee and Yellin' +Kid were standing near the cook house, whence came a series of wild, +yipping yells. + +"What's the matter?" cried Bud as he rode up to the group of cowboys. +"Who's doing all that yelling?" + +"Fah Moo!" answered Old Billee Dobb. + +"Who in the world is Fah Moo?" + +"The new Chinese cook that come out from town soon after you boys left." + +"But what's the matter with him?" asked Dick. "Doesn't he like it here +that he's taking on like this?" + +"Maybe he's singing for joy," suggested Nort as a louder series of +yelping cries came from the cookhouse. + +"More like he's in pain," remarked Snake Purdee. "I'm mighty glad I +didn't drink any of it." + +"Any of what?" asked Bud, wonderingly. + +"That Elixer of Life the old gazaboo sold for a dollar a chunk. There +was three bottles of it, you know." + +"Yes, I know," assented Bud with growing uneasiness. + +"Well," went on Snake, "you know I started to take a swig from the +bottle I bought, but Nort wouldn't let me. Then Old Billee locked the +three bottles in a cupboard." + +"That's right," assented Bud. + +"Well," resumed the cowboy, "we discovered, a little while ago, and +soon after Fah Moo arrived to take charge of the kitchen, we discovered +that those three bottles were gone. We found 'em in the new cook's +department and the last one was empty." + +"You mean he drunk all that Elixer?" cried Dick. + +"Onless he used it for bathin', which I doubt!" chuckled Snake. "He +must have been nosing around, discovered where the stuff was hid and he +drunk every last drop. That's what makes him sing so, or +cry--whichever way you take it." + +"He's poisoned!" cried Bud, no less excited, now, than were his two +cousins. "Poor Fah Moo is poisoned. We just discovered some of our +cattle dead over on the south range. And we found a cave where the old +man brews that Elixer. It's poison, sure. I guess it's all up with +the Chink, but we'll try to get a doctor to save him. I'll 'phone in +to town!" + +Bud disappeared into the ranch house while the cowboys looked at each +other's startled faces, and, meanwhile, Fah Moo continued to yelp, yap +and yip in his high, falsetto voice. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +FRIGHTENED HORSES + +Bud Merkel lost no time in getting connected, through the telephone, +with the only physician in Los Pompan. Old Doc Taylor, the medical man +was called, though he was not very old. It was more a term of +affection. + +"Our Chink cook is poisoned!" Bud explained. "Can you come out quick?" + +"_Pronto!_" was the illuminating reply and then there was nothing to do +save wait for Dr. Taylor's arrival. + +"He's got a flivver," announced Snake who, with Yellin' Kid, had paid +more than one visit to town since arriving at Dot and Dash, thereby +learning considerable about the place and its inhabitants. "It won't +take long for the doc to get here." + +"But can't we do anything, meanwhile, for that poor Chink?" asked Nort. + +"Guess there isn't much hope for him if he drank all that stuff," +remarked Bud in gloomy tones. "Though we might try to help him get it +out of his stomach." + +"How you goin' to do that?" Snake demanded. + +"By giving him an emetic," Bud answered. "Mustard and water's good, +I've heard. Come on--we got to try something," and he turned to his +cousins as the most likely ones to be of service. + +They found poor Fah Moo rushing around the somewhat narrow confines of +his kitchen. The Chinese was still yelling and holding both yellow +hands across the pit of his stomach. On a table, amid pots, pans and +dishes, were the three bottles of the Elixer of Life. Two were +completely emptied and the third had but a little fluid remaining in it. + +"You drink all that?" asked Bud, pointing to the three bottles when he +could get Fah Moo's attention for a moment. + +"Can do! Dlink lot--chop-chop!" was the groaning answer the import of +it being that he had taken the stuff quickly. + +"Whew!" murmured Nort. "Guess there's no hope for him." + +"There may be," said Dick. "Sometimes an overdose of poison is its own +antidote. He may have taken so much that he'll be sick and that would +be the best thing for him." + +"He sure took an overdose," declared Bud. "See if you can find some +mustard, you fellows. I'll put on a kettle of water to boil. The +mustard ought to be mixed with warm water to make it work." + +The boys bustled about, Fah Moo, meanwhile, rushing around, clutching +his stomach and howling at the top of his voice. Billee and his +companions looked in now and then to ask if they could help, or to +offer suggestions, more or less useless, but their services were not +required. Indeed there was room for no more first-aiders in the small +kitchen. + +In due time the water was warm, the mustard had been found and a big +dose mixed. Then came the difficulty of administering it to the +Chinese cook, and a great difficulty it was. As soon as he got the +idea that he was to be made to drink something more, and when he had +sight of the unappetizing yellow mixture of warm water and mustard in a +big bowl, the cook revolted. He retreated into a corner, pulled a +chair in front of him and yelled: + +"No can do! No can do!" + +"But you've got to do!" insisted Bud. "It's the only way to save your +life! Drink it!" + +"No can dlink! Fah Moo dlink chop-chop--plenty--no can do!" + +And that was all there was to it. He yipped and yapped, clutched his +stomach but would not come out of his corner nor touch the emetic. The +boys were in despair, and their comrades were of no help, Snake even +suggesting that it served the Chink right for taking the stuff. But +just when it seemed that Fah Moo would raise the roof with his yells, +Dr. Taylor arrived in his rattling flivver and took charge of the case. + +"What did he take?" was his first question. + +"Poison!" chorused the whole Diamond X outfit. + +"All right, but what kind? I can't tell what to give him to counteract +it until I know what poison it was," said the medical man. + +"Here's the dope!" announced Yellin' Kid, handing over the bottle +containing what was left of the Elixer. + +Dr. Taylor smelled it, tipped the flask to get a little of the mixture +on his finger and then, gingerly, applied the digit to his tongue. He +waited for any possible reaction, and then took a larger taste of the +stuff. Then a slow smile spread over his face as he indulged in even a +bigger "swig," as Snake called it. + +"This stuff isn't poison," he said, setting the bottle back on the +table. "If this is all the Chink drank he won't die." + +"Not if he took three bottles of it?" asked Bud. + +"Not if he took a dozen. It may make him mighty sick, but he won't die +this trip." + +"What is that stuff?" asked Nort. + +"Sarsaparilla!" was the chuckling answer. "Nothing but good, +old-fashioned sarsaparilla soda pop with the pop left out. It's as +flat as ditch water. Where'd you get it?" + +"Bought it from an old geezer who said it was Elixer of Life," Snake +informed the doctor. + +"You mean old Tosh?" + +"Don't know what his name is," Bud said, "but he's an old man and he +has a place back here in a cave. We caught him, a little while ago, +brewing the stuff. Just before that we found some of our cattle dead +and we sort of jumped to the conclusion that he'd poisoned the animals. +Then, when we got here and found the Chink taking on so, and discovered +the three bottles in his kitchen, empty, we thought he was poisoned." + +"Not a bit of it!" chuckled Dr. Taylor. "A barrel of that wouldn't +poison anybody, though, as I said, it would make them ill and give +considerable pain. Elixer of Life! Ha! Ha!" + +"Do you know this old man--what did you say his name was?" asked Dick. + +"Old Tosh he calls himself. Might better be _Bosh_! No, I don't know +him--never saw him as far as I know. But a lot of fools in Los Pompan +have bought his dope, and it made some of them sick. That's how I +happened to know what it was soon as I tasted it. I've seen samples in +the homes of folks who called me in to treat them for stomach pains. +Almost always it was because they had taken too much of this Tosh +elixer. I've sampled dozens of bottles of it. He puts it out under +all sorts of names--makes the labels himself, I guess. So I didn't +recognize his concoction here until I sampled it," and the medical man +waved his hands at the three bottles. "So that's that. Fah Moo won't +die." + +"He'll wreck our nerves, though, if he keeps this yelling up!" +complained Bud. "Can't you give him something?" + +"Yes, I can relieve him," chuckled the doctor. "Mustard and water; +eh?" he went on as he saw the mixture. "Good enough but you have to +swallow too much of it to be effective. I've got something that will +do the work." + +He produced a couple of capsules, which after much urging, the Chinese +was induced to swallow when told they would save his life. Then he was +led outside and far away by Snake and Yellin' Kid. In a short time Fah +Moo was a very sick Celestial, but after that he grew rapidly better +and came creeping back to the kitchen, somewhat pale, wan and drawn, +but no longer yipping, yelling and yapping. + +"Can do now," he said, meaning that he could proceed with his work, +which he did, when he had formally been engaged by Bud who was +virtually head of the new ranch. + +"Well, I guess that's all there is to this case," remarked the doctor +as he repacked his black bag. "There was no danger. He would have +gotten over it in time, anyhow." + +"So the Elixer is only sarsaparilla; is it?" asked Bud. + +"That's about all. Just a sort of root beer mixture of herbs and barks +the old man concocts. Harmless enough. It hasn't even the virtues of +soda water, for that has carbonic acid gas in it and that's beneficial +at times. So he calls it Life's Elixer; does he?" + +"He does," assented Bud. + +"And he stung me for a dollar!" sighed Snake. "Wait till I get hold of +him! Did I hear you boys say you caught him in a cave?" + +"We didn't catch him--he vamoosed as soon as he heard us," reported +Bud. "But we saw him boiling the stuff. Only we thought it was +poison, on account of the dead cows." + +"That's so--you did mention dead cows!" exclaimed Billee. "So Death +Valley is livin' up to its name. Let's have the yarn, boys." + +Bud and his cousins explained what they had discovered and the older +cowboys looked anxious. Dr. Taylor listened attentively. + +"I don't believe old Tosh had any hand in it," he said. "He bears the +name of being a harmless crank, always imagining every one is going to +die who doesn't take his herb medicine." + +"I wonder if you could tell what those cows died of?" asked Bud. + +"I could take a look at 'em," said the medical man, "but unless signs +of the poison--granting that it was poison--were very plain, I could +not say what kind was used. It would require an autopsy and a chemical +analysis. I'm not equipped for such work." + +"Well, would you mind having a look at the bodies?" asked Bud. "I know +it isn't in your line----" + +"Oh, I don't mind," said Dr. Taylor, good-naturedly. "Anything to +oblige. I'll run out and go over the matter with you to-morrow. I've +got to get back to town now. Not that my practice is so large," and he +laughed, "but I've got to look after it. Your Chink cook will be all +right in a little while," and he hurried off in his flivver, promising +to return next day. + +"How'd Fah Moo get the Elixer?" asked Bud when matters had somewhat +quieted down and the Celestial was busy in the kitchen. + +"Oh, I reckon he was snoopin' around and found where I hid the stuff in +the cupboard," Billee answered. "If he's going to be our regular +kitchen canary, Bud, I'll have to keep things better hid." + +"I guess he's had his lesson," said young Merkel. "And I guess he'll +be our permanent pot wrestler from now on. I left word for a man in +Los Pompan to send me the first one he could get hold of, and Fah Moo +is the result." + +"And I'm glad he's here!" voiced Dick. "I'm sick and tired of giving +the dishes their bath." The others felt the same about it, so Fah Moo +became a fixture at Dot and Dash. + +Billee and the others were surprised at the news the boys brought back +from their little expedition. The finding of the cave was not +considered remarkable, as Billee said there were many such about the +neighborhood. + +"And it wasn't strange that old Tosh, if that's his name, skipped out +when he saw you," went on the veteran puncher. "Likely he thought you +were coming to steal his Elixer secrets. So I guess we don't need to +worry about him." + +"Probably not," assented Bud and his cousins. "But," added Mr. +Merkel's son, "it will be necessary to give some attention to the +deaths of the cows." + +"You're right there!" declared Billee. "Looks like the same old +trouble was starting up again." + +However the mystery was not solved by Dr. Taylor who came to the ranch +next day. He looked at the dead cows, but beyond saying that they had +undoubtedly died from some sort of poison he could give no opinion. +And, because of the hot weather, it was not considered wise to cut up +any of the bodies to send the inner organs away for a laboratory test. + +"We'll have to solve the problem some other way," Bud said. + +So the unfortunate cows were buried and then, resolving not to be +frightened in their operations by this streak of bad luck, the boys +carried out Mr. Merkel's ideas by completing the purchase of several +score more head of choice animals and hiring additional cowboys to help +with the work at Dot and Dash. + +The new ranch was, by this time, quite an establishment, and though +many croakers in Los Pompan predicted failure for it, as those who had +gone before failed, Bud and his chums went on with their heads high and +their hearts strong. + +Fences were repaired, the herds were put out to graze, arrangements +were made to ship away cattle at the most advantageous times and the +work of Dot and Dash was now in full swing. Meanwhile nothing more had +been seen or heard of the old hermit, as the boys called Tosh. + +Bud and his cousins paid another visit to the Elixer Cave, as they +christened it, but aside from the ashes of the fire they found nothing. +The cavern was too big for them to explore completely in the limited +time at their disposal, though they resolved, after the fall round-up, +to investigate it fully. + +Fah Moo fitted well into the routine at Dot and Dash. He was a good +cook and was popular with the punchers for that reason. But he was +cured of any "snooping" habits he may have had. He would not touch a +bottle of any liquid, no matter how openly it was left around. Two or +three times some of the cowboys, having heard the story, laid traps for +the Chinese. But he blandly passed them by, murmuring: + +"No can do!" + +Mr. Merkel had been informed of the progress of affairs and though he +expressed a little anxiety because of the fact that those five cattle +had been found dead, he added that the animals might have eaten some +poison weed which the others in the herd did not get at. And as since +then nothing had happened, he expressed the hope that nothing would, +and that his wisdom in buying Dot and Dash at a bargain would be +demonstrated. + +So matters went along for a few weeks. Every one was busy, things +looked favorable for a good season and Bud and his cousins were getting +ready to laugh at themselves for thinking there was a jinx. + +But one afternoon, when the three had ridden over to mend a broken +fence, and when they were returning home, as they passed the entrance +to what they still called Smugglers' Glen, Dick's horse suddenly +started, reared and then, after a fit of trembling, as though in fear, +made a mad dash across the range. An instant later the steeds of the +other boys did the same and three frightened horses were soon carrying +their puzzled riders over the hills. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +BUD DISAPPEARS + +Excellent riders as were the boy ranchers, it took them some little +time and effort to calm their ponies and bring the frightened animals +to an easy canter which gave Bud and his cousins a chance to consider +the matter. + +"Whew!" exclaimed the ranchman's son as he eased up on the reins and +patted the neck of his mount. "That was some dash!" + +"Not much _dot_ about it!" chuckled Nort. + +"For a pun like that you ought to be forced to drink a bottle or two of +Tosh Elixer!" retorted Bud. "How about it, Dick?" + +"I'm with you! That was rotten--not much _dot_--I suppose that's a +play on the word _doubt_--not much _dot_ about it--that _dash_! Oh, +somebody hold me!" and he shook his fist at his brother. + +"I was thinking we'd soon need somebody to hold our horses," said Nort, +not a little pleased at his own joking words, however nonsensical his +two companions thought them. "What happened?" + +"That's what I want to know," chimed in Bud. "All of a sudden my pinto +here started off as if there was a race." + +"Same with me," went on Dick. + +"Something must have frightened the ponies," said Nort. + +"Yes, and we've got to find out what it was," declared Bud. "Come on +back." He wheeled his mount as he spoke. + +"Maybe we can't get 'em back," suggested Dick. + +"Well, at the place where they begin to balk we'll know the trouble +started," suggested the ranchman's son. "And we'll know we have to +look for the trouble right there." + +"What do you reckon it could have been to make them bolt so suddenly?" +Dick wanted to know. + +"Skunks, maybe," was the thought Nort offered. + +"Not many skunks in this neighborhood, thank goodness," said Bud. "I +wouldn't say there aren't any, but I've never heard of them." + +"Or smelled them," added Nort. + +"That's right--smelled 'em, either, and, what's more, I don't want to! +No, I don't believe it was skunks." + +"Rattlesnakes, maybe," was Dick's next contribution. "Horses are +afraid of rattlers all right." + +"Yes, and with good reason," Bud said, "though I don't know as I ever +heard of a horse dying from a side-winder's bite. It may happen, but, +personally, I can't prove it. All the same I don't believe it was +rattlers, though there are plenty in this region." + +"Why couldn't it have been snakes?" asked Dick. + +"Well, if any rattlers had sounded their warning, and they always do +rattle before they strike, we would have heard them as well as the +horses would, and I didn't hear anything." + +"No, I didn't, either," Dick and Nort admitted in turn. "But what was +it, then?" Nort asked. + +"It was something the horses smelled!" declared Bud with conviction. +"They got a whiff of something they didn't like and they lit out like +all possessed." + +"Do you mean a bear?" asked Dick. + +"Bear what?" came from Bud who had urged his pony somewhat ahead of the +mounts of his cousins. + +"Did the horses smell a bear, do you think?" went on Dick. "You know a +bear, even a tame circus one, will set a cow pony off quicker than +anything else." + +"Yes," agreed Bud. "But I hardly think this was a bear. There are +probably some back in the woods and hills, but they don't very often +venture into the open, especially at this time of year. And if it had +been a bear I think I would have winded him." + +"I don't know about that," came from Nort. "You know a horse, and +almost any other animal, has a keener sense of smell than most humans. +The horses might have smelled something we didn't." + +"That's true enough," assented Bud. "But the fact of the matter is I +noticed a queer sort of smell just before the horses bolted. It wasn't +very strong, and was more like perfume than anything else. In fact I +thought it might be some sort of flower or perhaps an herb the ponies +stepped on and crushed. I was just going to mention it to you fellows +when the rush began and I had my hands full, same as you did. Either +of you notice any smell?" + +Nort and Dick had to confess that they had not, but Dick added: + +"You've lived out of doors more than we have, Bud, and you got a better +nose--I mean for smelling, not for shape!" he added as Bud's hand went +to his olfactory organ. "So you might have caught a whiff of something +we didn't." + +"There's something in that, though I don't like to boast," said Bud. +"I'm pretty sure that's what it was--a queer smell the ponies didn't +like, and feared, and so they ran away from it." + +"But what kind of a smell could it be?" asked Dick. + +"Maybe we'll find out when we get back to where the thing +happened--that is if the ponies will go back," spoke Bud. + +However there seemed to be no trouble on this score, for, as the boys +came nearer and nearer to the place whence the animals had started on +their dash, there was no sign of fear or nervousness. The steeds +trotted on as they had done over any other stretch of the range, and +the deepest breathing of which the boys were capable betrayed to their +alert noses not the slightest taint in the air. + +"This is mighty queer!" murmured Bud as he guided his mount to and fro +around the locality. "Mighty queer!" + +"It's almost as if we had dreamed it," remarked Nort. + +"It was no dream the way I had to pull my horse back!" declared Dick, +and the others agreed with him. + +"Well, I guess we'll have to give it up and put it down as part of the +unsolved mystery of Dot and Dash," said Bud as he wheeled his horse +around and headed for the ranch house. + +"Unless you want to take a ride up there again," suggested Nort. + +"Where do you mean?" + +Nort pointed to the defile--that gulch which the boys had named +Smugglers' Glen--and added: + +"We might catch the old man in Elixer Cave." + +"What good would that do?" asked Dick. "You don't imagine he had +anything to do with scaring our horses; do you?" + +"Not exactly," replied his brother. "But, seeing we're so near the +place, I thought we might give it the once over." + +"Not much point to it," said Bud. "There's nothing to be learned up +there. No, I guess it was some sort of queer weed or flower I smelled +and which also frightened the ponies. I wish I knew more about botany. +I might find out what it was," and he looked at the trampled grass over +which they were now riding. But it gave no clew. + +"If there's a weed, the mere smell of which causes a horse to bolt," +said Nort, "it may be the thing that's causing the cattle to die. +Maybe it's the poison weed that caused so many deaths here." + +"I can't believe anything as strange as that," declared Bud. "But +after we get things running well I'm going to have a doctor, or a +chemist or somebody who knows about such things come out here and look +the place over. We've got to get to the bottom of this puzzle." + +His cousins agreed with him. However there was nothing they could do +at present. So they rode back to the ranch where they told their +strange experience, and suggested to Billee, Snake and the other +cowboys that it would be well for them to be on the watch, to find out +if any strange weed or flower growing in Death Valley was responsible +for the sinister manifestations. + +"It may be a new brand of loco weed," suggested Yellin' Kid in his big +voice. "Some of that's deadly." + +"To eat, yes, but not to smell," Bud reminded him. "But you may be +right at that. Keep your eyes open, boys." + +"Loco weed!" exclaimed Billee. "I've had experience with that--I mean +some ponies I once owned went crazy from it. It sure is queer stuff." +He referred to a species of bean plant, growing in some sections of the +west. Horses and cattle who inadvertently eat this weed with their +other fodder run madly about as if insane and often have to be shot. +Sometimes loco weed is powerful enough to kill, it is said by some, +though there is a doubt on this point. But none of the cowboys had +ever heard of the odor from loco weed doing any damage. + +The incident of the ponies running away was soon forgotten in the rush +and detail of work that soon piled up at Dot and Dash ranch. More +cattle were put out to graze, to thus fatten up for market. More hands +were hired and the place soon was almost as busy, big and important as +the boys' ranch in Happy Valley, or the original one at Diamond X. + +There was one thing Bud and his cousins noticed and spoke of, however, +and this was that all their cowboys came from distant places, with the +exception of Billee, Kid and Snake. All the hands hired gave their +addresses as of ranches far removed from Death Valley. And though when +they first started business the boy ranchers had endeavored to hire +hands in Los Pompan, they were not successful. + +"Why don't you want to sign on with us?" Bud asked more than one. + +"Oh, well, I don't have nothin' against you, personal, boss," would be +the answer, "but I don't jest like that locality." + +Then Bud and his cousins knew that the sinister reputation of Dot and +Dash was at the bottom of the refusal. + +But enough men from other places were hired to run the ranch, and +matters were shaping themselves nicely. Bud sent word home that in +spite of the sensational stories, and the one or two strange happenings +the boys had themselves experienced, it looked as if the proposition +would be a successful and paying one. Fah Moo was a jewel of a cook +and there was soon established quite a happy little family at Dot and +Dash. + +Then, without warning, another blow fell. + +It was decided that some of the original herd, purchased with the +ranch, could now be sold, as cattle on the hoof were bringing good +prices. And, talking it over one night, Bud and his chums planned to +cut out a number of fat steers and ship them away. + +"I'll ride over to that range in the morning," Bud told his cousins at +the conclusion of the conference, "and give the bunch the once-over. +Then you two can do the cutting out for I've got to go to town the next +few days to sign up some papers for dad. So I'll leave the shipment to +you." + +"It will be our first from here," said Dick. + +"Yes," agreed his brother. "And I hope they don't die before we get +'em to the loading chutes." + +"Not much danger, I guess," Bud remarked. "This jinx seems to be +passing us up. Guess it got tired of the way we came back at it. +Well, I'll go over the first thing in the morning and next day you can +begin to round up and cut out." + +"When'll you be back?" Nort asked his cousin when Bud slung his leg +over the saddle next morning. The two Shannon boys were to be busy at +some duties about the ranch during their cousin's absence. + +"Oh, I'll be back by noon," was the answer. + +So Bud rode away, singing the Cowboy's Lament, and idly flipping the +end of his lariat. + +Noon came almost before Nort and Dick realized it, so busy were they, +and when Fah Moo cried: "Klum an' glit it!" which was the signal for +dinner, Nort exclaimed: + +"Bud isn't back yet!" + +"No," said Dick. "Maybe he found the herd farther off than he counted +on. But he'll be along before we finish." + +However, Bud did not show up, and when all the cowboys had eaten, and +the afternoon began to wane without the return of the ranch owner's +son, his cousins looked at each other with anxious faces. + +"Where do you reckon he is?" asked Dick. + +"That's hard to say, but----" + +"Say, let's ride out that way!" interrupted Dick. "We've finished here +and----" + +He did not complete the sentence, but his brother knew what was +implied. Accordingly a little later, saying nothing to the other +hands, the two saddled their ponies and started out on the trail to +that part of the ranch situated near Smugglers' Glen, where the +original bunch of cattle were grazing. + +"I don't like this disappearance on Bud's part," said Nort, as they +rode along. + +"Is it a disappearance?" asked Dick, pointedly. + +"What else is it? He hasn't come back." + +To this Dick returned no answer, but there were anxious looks on the +faces of the boy ranchers as they urged their ponies forward. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE SEARCH + +Pleasant enough it was, riding over the sunlit, undulating broad +stretches of the range, and Dick and Nort would have thoroughly enjoyed +it had it not been for the nature of their errand. Had Bud been with +them they would probably have "whooped it up" with joyous, care-free +exuberance. But now they were rather solemn, not to say glum. + +Dick, noticing that his brother rode along with his eyes bent on the +ground just ahead of the pony, inquired: + +"What are you looking for--lost something?" + +"No. But I was thinking about the possibility of poison weed and I +thought maybe I could spot it before anything happened." + +"I don't take much stock in that poison weed theory," said Dick. + +"No? What do you think caused the deaths?" + +"Hanged if I know! I'm more concerned, right now, with finding out +what's keeping Bud away." + +"Well, that's why I was sort of looking for this weed--if there is such +a thing." + +"You thought maybe he'd been overcome by it?" + +"Somewhat--like Sam Tarbell was overcome, you know." + +"There's a possibility of that," admitted Dick, with an anxious air. +"But we ought to meet him soon." + +However they rode on for several miles, and though they strained their +eyes for a sight of their returning cousin, they did not glimpse him. +It was getting dusk when they came within view of the original herd +which had been purchased with the ranch. The cattle were quietly +feeding, chewing cuds or roaming about as suited each individual taste. +But there was no sight of Bud. + +"Something must have happened to him!" said Nort, voicing not only his +own fear but that of his brother. "He doesn't seem to be around here. +Something sure has happened!" + +"I'm beginning to fear so," admitted Dick. "He might have had a +tumble, or his pony might, and gotten a broken leg from it--I mean Bud +might." + +"He could manage to sit on his horse with a broken leg--that is some +kinds of broken legs," Nort pointed out. + +"He couldn't get back up in the saddle if he fell off and broke his +leg," objected Dick. "Gosh! I wish we'd find him." + +They topped a little rise, which gave them a good view of the +surrounding territory, and eagerly scanned the vista. There seemed to +be nothing but cattle in sight, but a few moments after reaching the +little hill summit Dick exclaimed: + +"There's a pony!" + +Excitedly he pointed to it, and a moment later Nort had taken his field +glasses from their case and was focusing on the animal. After what +seemed like a long time, but which, really, was only a few seconds, +Nort cried: + +"That's Bud's horse all right!" + +"Do you see Bud?" anxiously inquired Dick. + +"No, he doesn't seem to be in sight. But let's ride over there." + +They urged their ponies forward at top speed but as they drew near +Bud's favorite mount, which he had brought with him from Diamond X, the +steed perversely kicked up his heels, wheeled about and was away on a +fast trot. + +"He must have lost his bridle, or else the reins are caught up on the +saddle horn!" cried Dick as he and his brother took after the runaway. +For a Western horse, in almost all cases, will stand still if the reins +are dropped over his head to the ground. Of course there are +exceptions, but Bud's mount was well trained in this habit. +Consequently when Nort and Dick saw the animal running from them they +realized that one of two things must have happened. A horse cannot run +far with the bridle reins dangling in front of him. He is very likely +to step on them and trip himself up. But nothing like this happened +with Star, which was the name of Bud's pony. He ran on easily. + +"Have to rope him, I guess!" cried Nort, who was a little in advance of +his brother. + +"Go to it! We got to find out what's wrong!" + +There was an exciting race for a few minutes but in the end Nort and +his trusty lariat won. The coils settled over the head of the runaway +and he was gently brought to a halt. Once caught he was tractable +enough. It was as though he had wanted to show off. + +"Bridle's gone; eh?" remarked Dick as he cantered up alongside his +brother and the captured horse. "That looks bad." + +"Unless Bud took it off himself, to let his pony graze in more comfort." + +"He wouldn't do that without hobbling him, and look--there's his rope." +Dick pointed to the coils on the saddle horn. + +"Then what happened? Is there any----" + +Nort did not like to use the word "blood," but that is what he implied. +And his brother knew the thought--that Bud might have been shot by some +rustlers or roving desperados and so had been dropped from the saddle. +But there were no evidences of foul play, and no signs of a struggle. +No marks showed on the pony, either. + +"Well, this sure is a mystery!" exclaimed Nort when the casual +examination, was over. "What has become of Bud?" + +"That's what I'd like to know," echoed Dick. "What's the next move?" + +"Better go back and tell some of the boys. We'll have to organize a +search." + +"Guess that's the only thing to do," admitted Dick. "Gosh! The jinx +was only on a vacation. Now it's back in full force." + +"Oh, I wouldn't go thinking the worst--not yet a while," urged Nort as +they started back for the ranch, leading Bud's mount by a rope around +his neck. "Something might have given Bud a fall and his pony might +have run away. Then Bud may have met some cowboys who loaned him a +mount to get back on. He may be back at the ranch when we get there." + +But Dick shook his head over this theory. + +"If Bud had ridden back on a borrowed horse we'd have seen him, sure!" +he declared. "We came the same trail he'd have used." + +Truth to tell Nort did not think much of his own reasoning, but he put +it forward as the best under the circumstances. There was clearly only +one thing to do, and that was to acquaint the cowboys with the mystery +of Bud's disappearance as soon as possible, and get a search under way. + +There was plenty of excitement at Dot and Dash when, in the shadows of +the coming night, Nort and Dick galloped into the yard and shouted the +news. They knew, without asking, that Bud had not returned in their +absence, so Yellin' Kid did not have to shout: + +"He isn't here!" + +"Then we've got to find him!" was Billee's conclusion after hearing the +brothers' story. "Come on, boys! We've got to search for Bud!" + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +BUD'S STRANGE TALE + +Darkness, which shrouded Death Valley shortly after the search started, +was a severe handicap. Even the most skillful followers of a trail, +and there were several such among the cow punchers, could do little in +the night. Still they rode out in various directions from the Dot and +Dash ranch house--big, stern-faced men, with lariat and gun ready and +determined looks in their eyes. + +Though some of the cowboys had only been associated with Bud Merkel +during the short time of their hire, they had come to admire the boy +rancher who treated them as his father would have done, with fairness +and kindness. + +"If any doggoned rustlers have been playing tricks with Bud," voiced +Yellin' Kid as he rode off with Nort, Dick and Billee, "they had better +make their wills. I'm after 'em, boy, I'm tellin' you!" and he shouted +this information to the silent night. + +So they rode forth into the blackness. The Shannon brothers, with +Yellin' Kid and Old Billee Dobb, made up one party. Snake Purdee with +Sam Tarbell headed another, and the various new cow punchers, including +one or two who had recently been sent by Mr. Merkel from Diamond X, +took up such trail as there was. + +At best it was only a series of faint clews that led toward Bud. It +was known in what direction he had started that morning, and the +finding of his horse near the original herd, and not far from the +Smugglers' Glen, gave color to the theory that he had carried out his +intention of getting information about the cattle he wanted to ship +away. That was as far as clews went. + +What had happened to the young man, how he came off his horse, how the +pony's bridle was missing--all these were points to be cleared up by +the searchers. And it was not easy in the night. + +"We can't do much till morning," said Billee Dobb when he and his +companions had circled around the wondering cattle of the original +herd, without getting any nearer to the solution of the mystery. +"Something's happened to Bud to put him out of business." + +"Out of business!" exclaimed Nort. "Do you mean----" + +"I mean only temporary!" Billee made haste to add. "Bud's in some sort +of condition where he can't come back to us or send word. I don't +really think anything could have happened to him--I mean anything +serious." + +"I hope not," murmured Dick, while Nort echoed the wish. + +However, as the hours of the night passed, and searching as best they +could by the glimmer of flashlights, stopping to shout Bud's name now +and then, they did not find the missing young rancher. + +"It's getting daylight," remarked Yellin' Kid in lower tones than he +was wont to use. Perhaps the strange hush which always precedes the +dawn, or perhaps the sorrow that pervaded all hearts on account of +Bud's absence had an influence on Kid and he was more solemn. + +"Yes, soon be time to eat," agreed Old Billee. "We'll have to go back, +though. Didn't bring no grub with us." + +This was true enough. When the search started no one thought it would +last very long. There was no idea that the searchers would be out all +night. Yet such was the case. + +"Yes, we'll have to go back and then start out again after we eat," +assented Nort. + +They rode along for a time in silence. Slowly the light in the east +grew. More and more rosy it appeared, now with golden streaks. +Morning was about to break forth in all its glory. + +"I wonder if he could have had anything to do with it?" spoke Nort +suddenly, and apparently asking himself the question. + +"Who?" inquired Dick a bit sharply. "What do you mean?" + +"I mean the old Elixer peddler." + +"Tosh?" + +"Yes." + +"How could he have anything to do with Bud staying away all night?" + +"That's it. I don't know. I'm just wondering. Tosh is a queer old +crank, you know, and he may have met Bud and tried to sell him some +more of the stuff that Fah Moo got sick on." + +"Well, there'd be no harm in that," remarked Billee. "Old Tosh +probably tries to sell everybody he meets some of his dope, on the plea +that it'll save them from the fate that overtakes so many in Death +Valley. No harm in that. Poor, old crank!" + +"No harm in trying to sell--no," assented Nort. "But if Bud didn't buy +any bottles of the stuff--and he wouldn't be likely to--Tosh might have +got mad and kicked up a row. There might have been a fight and----" + +"Oh, I don't think so!" interrupted Dick. "That's a little too far +fetched." + +"Well, almost anything might have happened," argued Nort. "But I wish +we'd find him!" + +The others heartily echoed the thought. They were nearing, now, the +entrance to the defile, or Smugglers' Glen. The sun was just peeping +up above the line of round hills which represented the horizon. A new +day was being born, but to those from Dot and Dash ranch it was not a +joyful day--or it would not be if the mystery over Bud remained +unsolved. + +"I wonder if, by any chance, he could be up in there," mused Nort. + +"Where?" asked Dick, who was gazing off across the range, his eyes +intently focused on a small, moving object that did not seem to be +either a cow or a horse. + +"Up there where we found old Tosh making the witches' broth," and Nort +looked closely at his brother to see what was attracting his attention. +"I mean in Smugglers' Glen," went on Nort, for Dick had not turned. +"What you looking at?" suddenly demanded Nort. + +"Why, I thought--I saw--" Dick was speaking in a preoccupied manner, +his gaze still fixed on that small, dark object. + +Then, so suddenly that it startled all of them, as they sat on their +mounts, with back turned toward the defile, there came from the glen a +noise. It was a noise of stones rattling one against the other. + +Like a flash all turned from observing the object that had caught +Dick's eyes, and the reason for the stone-rattling noise was explained. +It was caused by some one walking unsteadily out of the defile, and the +person who was walking was--Bud Merkel! + +For a moment the searchers could scarcely believe that they really saw +the missing youth. But as he came nearer it was only too evident. + +"Bud!" cried Nort and Dick in a duet as they spurred their horses +forward. "Bud!" + +"By gosh! 'Tis him!" roared Yellin' Kid. + +"But he's 'bout done up!" commented Billee Dobb as he, with Kid, urged +his pony forward. "What happened?" + +It was obvious that something serious had taken place. Bud was hardly +able to walk, and was supporting himself by leaning on a tree branch as +a sort of cane or crutch. But his face brightened in the rising sun as +he beheld his friends coming toward him. + +"What happened?" called Dick, as he dismounted beside his cousin. + +"It's a strange story," said Bud in a weak voice. "I've been +practically kidnaped and put under the spell of some sort of poison +gas." + +"Kidnaped!" cried Snake. + +"Poison gas!" echoed Billee. + +"Who did it?" demanded Nort. + +"Rustlers, I reckon," said Bud as he sank down on a bowlder and drank +greedily from the canteen Dick offered. "I was surprised by a crowd of +men back there," and he nodded back up the gulch. "They shot some sort +of vapor at me that knocked me out, and I've been a prisoner ever +since. I just managed to get away." + +"Tell us about it!" cried Nort. + +"And we'll go back there and clean those fellows out!" shouted Yellin' +Kid, reaching for his gun. + +He would have put his threat into execution, too, but Bud restrained +him with a gesture as he said: + +"It's no use!" + +"Why not? Did you shoot 'em up?" asked Snake, with the beginning of a +delighted grin. + +"No," Bud replied. "But they aren't there now. They lit out. That's +how I could get away." + +"Say, there's more to this than you're telling us!" said Nort. + +"Go ahead. Spill the whole yarn--that is if you're able," begged Dick. + +"Oh, yes, I feel better now. Give me a little more water and I'll tell +you what happened to me." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +THE AVENGERS + +Bud Merkel took a long drink, shook his head several times as though to +clear his brain of some benumbing influence and began his story. + +"I guess you all know," he said, "how I started over here yesterday to +size up our stock to get ready for the first shipment to go from Dot +and Dash under the new ownership." His hearers nodded. By this time +several other cowboys from the other searching parties had arrived to +hear the good news of the finding of Bud. + +"Well," went on the young rancher, "I got to the range all right, +looked the herd over and found there were more steers ready to ship +than we had counted on," and he looked toward his cousins. "Then I +thought I'd spend the rest of the morning in exploring Smugglers' Glen. +I wanted to see if I could find out where the old Elixer man +disappeared to that time he ran away from us," and again he looked at +Nort and Dick. The story of the herb doctor was known to most of the +cowboys. + +"I rode on up into the gulch," continued Bud, "and when I got close to +the cave I slid off my horse, for his feet made so much noise on the +rocks that I thought if the old man was in the cavern he'd take warning +and skip out before I could catch him at work. That's what I wanted to +do--see old Tosh at work brewing his stuff. And I wanted to find if +there was another entrance or exit from the cavern. I didn't know but +what, in case of a big blizzard, we might not shelter some of our stock +in the cave if we could open it up more." + +"That wouldn't be a bad idea," commented Nort. + +"Well, anyhow," resumed Bud, "I got off my pony, tied him to a tree and +went on up the glen afoot. I was almost at the cave when, all of a +sudden, two or three men came out. They seemed quite surprised to see +me, and I certainly was to see them. They weren't any of our men, and +they hadn't any right on our range, any more than Old Tosh has, but I +guess no one minds him. + +"I thought, of course, that these fellows were rustlers--they were +rough and tough enough looking to be almost anything. But before I +could say or do anything, one of them set down what looked like a tank +containing carbonic acid gas, like they use at drug store soda water +fountains. I wondered whether these fellows were going into the game +of putting pop in the Tosh Elixer, when, all at once I felt sort of +queer. I tried to fight off the sensation, but I kept getting weaker +until I just crumpled up in a heap. + +"I thought of all sorts of things--the stories Billee had told about +the sudden deaths here, how Sam Tarbell was overcome and his horse +killed and then, just as if I was in a dream, I felt some of those men +pick me up and carry me into the cave." + +"The darned hijackers!" cried Yellin' Kid. + +"Can't we do something to 'em?" demanded Snake angrily. + +"Wait," cautioned Bud. "I haven't finished. The men picked me up. I +was so weak and knocked out by that peculiar smell, whatever it was, +that I couldn't do anything. It was, as I said, just like being in a +dream. They laid me down on a pile of bags, or something. It was +dark, but they had some lanterns. My eyes were half open so I could +see a little. Then they tied me up and after that I don't remember +much. I have a hazy recollection, just as you'd have from trying to +remember a half-forgotten dream, a recollection of seeing the men +moving about the cave, digging out rocks, hammering and crushing them. +For a time I thought they might be going to wall up the entrance and +bury me there alive. + +"Then I must have gone to sleep, or lost consciousness, for everything +faded away and the next thing I knew I woke up. It was dark and quiet +around me and I began to move my arms and legs. I had been tied up +pretty tight, but the knots seemed to be looser now and I managed to +work some of them off so I could free myself. + +"Then I got up, found a flashlight in my pocket--luckily the men hadn't +searched me--and I managed to make my way out of the cave. So here I +am--that's all there is to it." + +"Well, that's good and plenty!" cried Nort. + +"Didn't you stop to see if those men were still there, and what they +were doing?" asked Dick. + +"No, I didn't feel able," Bud answered wearily. "All I wanted to do +was get out, find my horse and ride back to the ranch. But where is +Star?" the young rancher suddenly asked, looking around. + +"He's safe in the corral," Dick answered. "We found him wandering +around without his bridle on when we went to look for you late +yesterday afternoon." + +"He must have pulled away from the tree where I had him tied and yanked +the bridle off that way," Bud said. + +"Horses an' bridles ain't much account now!" declared Billee. "The +main thing is about these darn varmints that treated Bud so. Who do +you think they were--I mean what sort of scamps?" asked the old ranch +hand, and he fingered his gun, which several other cowboys were doing. + +"I think they were cattle rustlers," answered Bud, who seemed to be +feeling better each moment. "They must have been hiding in the cave +waiting for a chance to drive off some of our stock, when their plans +were spoiled by my happening along." + +"That's probably it," agreed Nort. "But what about that soda water +cylinder you say they shot at you?" + +"I wouldn't call it soda water," stated Bud with a grim smile. "But it +contained some sort of gas and they must have shot it at me for it +knocked me out." + +"How was it they could turn a stream of poison gas, or at least +knock-out gas, on you, Bud, and not suffer from it themselves?" asked +Dick. + +"The wind was blowing straight from them to me, down the glen," was the +reply. "The breeze carried the stuff to me and it didn't bother them +at all for it floated right from them." + +"Just like gas in the war," stated Snake, who had fought in France, as +had several of the other husky cowboys. "That's probably what it was, +too, some kind of gas they used in the war. It comes in tanks, and the +Germans used to lay a shallow trench full of these cylinders, with the +openings in 'em pointed our way. Then they'd open a faucet, let the +gas out and the wind would blow it right in our faces. If we didn't +put on gas masks it was bye-bye for us." + +"But," exclaimed Nort, "Bud wasn't killed." + +"No," agreed Snake with a grim smile, "and we're darn glad he wasn't. +Like as not they didn't use strong gas on him. There's lots of kinds +of gas, you know. I took some once to have a tooth yanked out and I +laughed to beat the band. Even in war all the gas wasn't sure death. +There was a kind that made you cry like you'd lost your best girl." + +"That's the explanation then," decided Nort. "These fellows--call 'em +rustlers for the time being--have got hold of some kind of knock-out +gas and they used it on Bud." + +"I sure was knocked out," murmured the young rancher. + +"But what's their game?" asked Yellin' Kid in no gentle tones. "If +they're rustlers why did they just hold Bud a prisoner a while and then +light out and not take any stock?" + +"They probably figgered the game was up," suggested Snake, "and wanted +to make their get-away. Anyhow they didn't get no stock." + +"Are you sure of that?" asked Bud. + +By this time nearly all the other members of the searching parties had +been gathered near Smugglers' Glen, the more distant ones having been +signaled to by shots previously agreed upon. And from the leaders of +these squads it was learned that no raid had been made during the +night. The whole range had been pretty well covered. + +"Well, that's good," said Bud when the welcome news had been conveyed +to him. + +"Do you think these rustlers were responsible for the deaths here in +this valley?" asked Nort. "Have they been setting off this gas--or +some even worse--and killing cattle, men and horses?" + +Billee Dobb shook his head. + +"Death Valley got its name a long while back," he said. "Long before +these fellers could have been operating. This is some new dodge, take +my word for it." + +"It's a queer way to rustle cattle--kill 'em with gas," said Yellin' +Kid. + +"Oh, they keep the gas for humans that might try to catch 'em, I +guess," Billee went on. "That's just something to cover their +operations. And it doesn't solve the other deaths that took place +here." + +"You say you saw those men digging away in the cave, cracking rocks and +the like of that?" asked Snake. + +"That's what I think I saw," spoke Bud. "Of course I don't know _what_ +I really saw and what I may have _dreamed_, half unconscious as I was. +But it's easy to find out if any digging has been done in the cave. We +can take another trip back there and----" + +"That's just what we'll do!" cried Nort + +"And we'll catch these fellows an' string 'em up!" cried Sam Tarbell. +"They killed my best horse and I'm going to have revenge on 'em. Are +you with me, boys?" + +"Sure!" cried half a score of cowboys, their hands going to their guns. + +"We'll revenge Bud, too!" exclaimed Dick. + +"That's the talk!" shouted Yellin' Kid. "Let's get at these _hombres_ +an' chase 'em out of the country!" + +Eager and excited, angry, and justly so, the crowd was ready for +anything. They would have rushed at once into the defile but that +Billee Dobb held up a restraining hand. + +"We want to go at this thing calm and cautious like," he said. "We +want either to catch these scamps or drive 'em out. At the same time +we want to find out what their game is." + +"That's right," agreed Bud. "The more I think of it the more I'm sure +I didn't _dream_ I saw 'em digging something out of the sides of the +cave. They _really did it_." + +"Diamonds, maybe!" exclaimed Snake, eagerly. + +"Be yourself, boy!" chuckled Yellin' Kid. "Diamonds don't grow out +here." + +"All right--have it your way," mildly assented Snake. + +"So it would be a good thing to see what these birds were up to," went +on Bud. "I'm still so sort of knocked out that I can't do much. I've +got to get back and rest up. But if you boys want to go back up there +and see what you can find, and do, I'm willing." + +"We sure will!" cried the crowd as one man. + +"Let Billee be the leader," suggested Bud. + +And in a few minutes the avengers had formed a sort of plan of battle +or attack which, they hoped, would solve some of the mystery of Death +Valley. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +DRIVEN BACK + +Bud was to go back to the ranch with some of the cowboys and remain +there while the main body of punchers moved up into the glen to +capture, if possible, the mysterious men with their more mysterious +tank of strange gas. And, after a second consideration of the affair +in hand, it was decided that it would be best if the main body of +avengers could have one of Fah Moo's hot breakfasts before starting in +on what might be a strenuous day's work. + +"But if we all go in," objected Nort when this plan was outlined, +"those fellows up in the glen may escape, if they haven't already +skipped away to stay." + +"I've thought of that," stated Old Billee who was sort of +commander-in-chief. "We'll send some scouts up to watch and see what +happens. Who'll volunteer?" + +There was no lack on this score, for though the men were all tired from +the night's vigil, on edge from lack of sleep and hungry into the +bargain, Billee had three times as many as he needed for scouts. + +Cow-punchers are "he-men," and little things like loss of sleep and +delay in getting breakfast do not bother them. It was arranged that +when the main body returned, after a session with the Chinese cook, +they would bring a "snack" for the scout volunteers. + +"And some hot coffee in thermos bottles," added Bud, who knew how that +would be appreciated. "We have some thermos bottles at the ranch. I +only hope I'll feel able to come back and help fight." + +"Do you think there'll be a fight?" asked Yellin' Kid, eagerly. + +"It's likely," said Billee. + +"Whoop-ee!" roared the loud-voiced one and his joyous sentiment was +echoed on all sides. Bud looked a little glum that he could not be "in +on the fun," as he called it later. But he was more done up than he +imagined, for he had gone through a strenuous time, though he had not +actually been mistreated. + +So while some of the cowboys more recently engaged were sent into the +glen as scouts, the main body, with Bud riding on a spare horse which +had been brought along for just such an eventuality, went back to the +ranch. + +There things soon began to "hum," as Nort and Dick expressed it. They +had had experience before with desperate and unscrupulous men who, as +rustlers, or otherwise, had endeavored to make trouble for the boy +ranchers. And the young managers of Dot and Dash did not shrink from +the coming conflict. + +"Can do--sure!" was the bland reply of Fah Moo when asked if he could +get breakfast for the bunch in a hurry. "Sure can do!" + +And he did. + +Guns were looked to, extra ammunition was packed, hurried snatches of +food were the order of the day, and when baskets of grub had been +packed for the scouts left on guard, once more the cavalcade started +off. + +On the way to Smugglers' Glen a sort of campaign was outlined and +agreed upon. It was decided to advance on foot against the men in the +cave, for the defile was so narrow, and the footing so uncertain +because of loose rocks, large and small, that horses would be a +disadvantage rather than a help in case of a fight. + +"We'll leave the ponies at the entrance, same as Bud did his," +suggested Old Billee. + +"All alone?" asked Nort. "Some of those fellows may sneak up in our +rear and make off with our mounts." + +"They won't be unguarded," declared Billee, who was too old a fighter +to make the mistake of leaving his rear open to attack. "I'll have a +couple of the hands stay with the horses." + +"Not me you won't!" shouted Yellin' Kid. "Me, I'm goin' to _fight_! +I'm not goin' to be nurse-maid for a lot of cow ponies!" + +"Me either!" declared Snake. + +"Order in the ranks!" snapped Billee with blazing eyes. "I'm in charge +here, by the instructions of the boss, and I won't have anybody saying +what they will and won't do! You heard me!" + +He was as different from the usual mild Old Billee Dobb as chalk is +from cheese. He was in his element and he knew it. + +"No offense, chief," said Yellin' Kid, humbly and in subdued tones. +"But I do want to get a shot at these fellers!" + +"I wonder if Del Pinzo can be back of this gang?" mused Nort as he rode +beside his brother toward the glen. + +"I wouldn't put it past him," answered Dick. "But I thought he was in +jail." + +"They don't seem to make, out here, the kind of jails that will keep +Del Pinzo behind the bars," commented Nort. "If he's around these +diggings he'd be the very one to engineer some dirty trick." + +"Speaking of diggings," went on Dick, "what do you reckon it was Bud +saw those fellows digging out of the sides of the cave?" + +"Give it up, for the time being. We'll find out when we get inside. +But in spite of the fact that Bud thinks he saw some queer operations +he may have dreamed it all--after that gas attack, you know." + +"Yea, I guess so. It's queer all around. Fancy rustlers being so up +to date as to use the tactics of chemical warfare." + +"There's been a lot of strange things since the Big War," stated Nort. +"Maybe some of these rustlers were in the chemical division of the +A.E.F. and learned tricks there of how to make and send out of +cylinders gas that would knock a man out but not kill him." + +"That's possible. But what about the horses, cattle and men who were +killed here in Death Valley? I mean years ago, the way Billee tells +it. Did these fellows have anything to do with that?" + +"Hard to say, but I don't believe so." + +"Then what did?" + +"That's what we've got to find out after we get through with this gang." + +The avengers urged their ponies ahead at a fast clip and the sun was +still far from the meridian when they came in sight of the entrance to +the defile. Dark and sinister it loomed in contrast to the brightness +of the day. What secrets did it hold? + +"I wonder if Old Tosh is up there, helping the rustlers?" mused Dick as +Billee got ready to call a halt and deploy his forces. + +"Don't believe that old yarb doctor does any more harm than giving +Chinks the stomach-ache," chuckled Nort. "But he may have rented that +cave to those fellows." + +"Nervy of him, considering that the cave is on Dot and Dash land," said +Dick. + +It did not take long to get ready for the attack. Billee named the men +he wanted to remain as a rear guard in charge of the horses, and they +accepted the detail in as cheerful spirits as possible. To the relief +of Yellin' Kid and Snake Purdee, they were not compelled to remain thus +inactive. + +"Though you fellows may have a fight on your hands," Billee said to the +horse guard as he posted them, "these fellows may dash out after we +rouse 'em, and it'll be up to you to deal with 'em." + +"We'll do that all right, boss," chuckled a big, lanky puncher, one of +the new hands hired. + +With Nort and Dick at his side, Billee Dobb led the way up into the +dark defile. Every man had his gun out and was eager-eyed for what +might happen next. + +"Don't make any more noise than you can help," cautioned Billee to the +men back of him. "We want to surprise these _hombres_ if we can." + +On and on they went, over big and little bowlders, up into the glen +where the frowning, towering walls looked down on them. The passage +became narrower. They were now approaching the cave. + +"Steady, boys!" called Billee as they rounded a turn and came within +view of the dark entrance to the cavern. + +It was a tense moment. Some of the men carried a gun in either hand. +Nort and Dick had one each, and Billee was armed likewise. A little +wind began blowing down the gulch in the faces of the attackers. It +seemed to bring with it a slight mist. + +"Gettin' foggy," commented Snake. "I wonder----" + +Then he began to cough and choke. So did Nort, Dick and Old Billee. +The white mist came floating nearer. + +"Look out, boys!" suddenly shouted Yellin' Kid. "It's a gas attack, +same as in the war. Look out!" + +A moment later the party was sneezing, coughing and gasping for breath +as the faint white mist, blown by the wind, enveloped them. It caused +a terrible, gripping sensation, a constriction of the throat muscles so +that breathing was difficult. + +"They've got us!" yelled Billee. "We can't fight poison gas! Back up, +boys! We've got to run!" + +It was impossible to advance in the face of this mysterious surprise +attack and the avengers were driven back. Gasping, and trying to keep +from collapsing under the afflicting sensation, the Dot and Dash men +were forced to retreat from their unseen foes. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +GAS MASKS + +"Hold on!" yelled Snake Purdee as he swung around a ledge at the edge +of the narrow entrance to Smugglers' Glen and made a grab at Nort who +was running as fast as he could under the weakening influence of the +gas. "It's all right here--the wind will blow the stuff to the east. +Swing around here, everybody!" and he indicated a niche to the west of +the entrance. + +Nort stopped, his brain dully comprehending what Snake meant. Then the +others in the wild, frightened retreat sensed what the words were +intended to convey and, one after another, they gathered there in +comparative safety with Snake, Nort and Dick. + +"Whew!" gasped Billee Dobb whose age was telling on him, not only in +the rapid, forced retreat, but in the effect of the gas. "That was +tough! But what makes you think we'll be safe here, Snake?" + +"On account of the wind blowing the gas away from us. Look, there it +floats to the east. We're safe here. I didn't get nearly gassed in +the war for nothing. We're safe here till the wind shifts and it won't +do that right away." + +"What about the horses?" gasped Dick, taking deep breaths to rid +himself of the gas already breathed. + +"They're all right--they're up wind, too!" shouted Yellin' Kid, whose +lungs did not seem to have suffered much. + +This was true enough. The ponies, with the guard of cowboys, were to +the west of the gorge entrance and, as Snake had been quick to observe, +the strange, white mist which had so mysteriously floated out of the +cave toward the avengers, was drifting, now, out of the mouth of the +defile and off to the east. + +"If any of the cattle get in the path of that they'll be killed!" +exclaimed Dick, noting how the mist clung to the ground and rolled +along as fog sometimes does when the clouds are low. + +"The bunch isn't down there," said Billee. + +"And I don't know as that gas is so very deadly after all," stated +Snake, breathing deep after a few cautious inhalations to make sure the +air was clear. + +"Then what'd you run for?" Yellin' Kid wanted to know. + +"Because I wasn't sure of what sort of stuff it was. There's lots of +kinds of gas, you know. We had one kind in the war that would just +knock a man out for a few hours. I reckon that's the kind they shot at +Bud and the kind they just now loosed at us. But I wasn't takin' any +chances!" + +"I should say not!" cried Billee Dobb. "But now we're out of danger +for a while, what's to be done next?" + +Nort had the answer ready in a moment. + +"Gas masks!" he exclaimed. + +"Gas masks?" echoed Billee. + +"Sure! I get you!" cried Snake. "That's the ticket! Gas masks! Same +as we used in war when the Germans let their gas loose. Why didn't I +think of it before?" + +"There's been so much happening!" remarked Dick, "that it's a wonder we +thought of half we did. But gas masks would be just what is needed +here. Only where are we going to get them?" + +Up spoke one of the new cowboys to observe: + +"There's a branch of the American Legion in Los Pompan. I belong to it +and so do some of the other boys. 'Tain't much of a branch, but they +got some war relics hangin' around the meetin' room, and I seen some +gas masks there the last time I was in. I reckon we can borrow them +without any trouble." + +"Golly! That's the cheese!" cried Nort. + +"But are the masks any good?" Dick asked. "If they're relics of the +war they're likely to be old and no good. And a gas mask that won't +keep gas out is worse than none at all." + +"You're right there!" exclaimed Sim Roller, who had proposed the +matter. "Some of the masks are the same as the boys used in France. +But others are new ones they got from the gov'ment lately to decorate +the meetin' room. I reckon they'd be fresh, with charcoal in and +everything needed." + +"Will you see if you can get some for us?" asked Billee, who was in +charge during the forced absence of Bud. + +"Sure!" + +"Good!" cried Nort. "Then we'll come back and have another go at these +fellows!" + +"Yes, it will need another go," remarked Billee, looking at the +entrance to the defile out of which a faint mist was still floating. +"We don't dare go back at 'em now, unprotected. They're regular +devils, that's what they are! Devils!" + +"Wonder what their game is?" mused Dick as he and his brother, with the +other cowboys, moved to where their horses were picketed in charge of +the guard. + +"They want to keep us out of that glen," suggested Nort. + +"But why?" went on Dick. + +"So they can poison more cattle and bust up this ranch and rustle what +stock they don't kill," was what Nort answered. + +"It doesn't seem reasonable that they'd poison cattle," and Dick shook +his head. "What good would dead ones be to them? They can't be sold, +and it wouldn't pay to kill 'em just for the hides." + +"No, that's so," admitted Nort. "But they evidently want to keep us +out of that glen, and drive us away from the ranch if possible, so they +can have it for themselves." + +"Part of that seems like to be true," spoke Billee, taking a part in +the discussion. "But this isn't the first time there have been queer +doings at Dot and Dash. Years ago I'm pretty sure there was no band of +devils up here with cylinders of gas. This is something new." + +"Tell me, Billee," resumed Nort, "on what sections of the ranch did +most of the deaths occur--I mean when you worked here?" + +"Well," and the veteran scratched his head reflectively, "as near as I +can remember they was all somewhere near this glen, come to think of +it." + +"And this is where Sam Tarbell's horse was killed and where Sam was +knocked out--near this glen; wasn't it?" went on Nort. + +"That's true enough." + +"And it's from this glen that Bud got his dose of poison gas and where, +just now, we got ours; isn't it?" + +"Sure," Billee was forced to say. + +"Well, then," went on Nort, "isn't it reasonable to suppose that this +band--or some bunch like it--has been doing this right along?" + +Here Billee shook his head. + +"You can't make me believe," he said, "that this gang, or one like it, +has been doin' this gas business all along. In the first place the +earliest, mysterious death on Dot and Dash took place many years ago, +before poison gas in war was thought of. I won't deny that this bunch +back there," and he nodded in the direction of Smugglers' Glen, "I +won't deny but what they may be usin' war gas. But it wasn't so years +ago.". + +"Then it looks," spoke Dick, "as if these men had some object in +keeping us out of the glen." + +"That's it!" cried Billee. "There's something up there they don't want +us to find out." + +"Maybe it's the secret Old Tosh has of makin' sarsaparilla," said Snake. + +"No," objected Dick, "I don't believe the old man is mixed up in this +at all. He was in the cave, that's sure, but I think this bunch of +rascals with their poison gas have deposed him and taken possession for +their own ends." + +"And what those ends are it's for us to find out," suggested Nort. + +"Sure!" cried his companions. + +"We'll get gas masks and make another attack!" added Snake. + +"I wonder what we'll find?" mused Dick. + +"Bud could have told if they hadn't knocked him out," suggested Nort. +"He says he saw them pounding rocks and digging in the sides of the +cave. They were after something besides cattle, that's sure." + +"Diamonds!" some one said. + +"That's been mentioned before," remarked Dick. "It is out of the +question, I think, but it may be something always associated with +diamonds." + +"What's that?" exclaimed several. + +"Gold, maybe," was the quick answer, and into the eyes of every man +there came a sudden, new gleam. + +"By golly!" cried Yellin' Kid in his loudest tones, "I'll bet you're +right! There's a gold mine in that cave and those fellers want to keep +it for themselves! Whoopee! Let's get them there gas masks and rustle +the whole bunch over the border. Then we'll have the gold for +ourselves! Come on!" + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +GLITTERING YELLOW + +Such excitement followed the Kid's outburst that the very horses seemed +imbued with it. The cowboys, keeping well out of the way of that +floating, white cloud of gas--more or less poisonous, it was not to be +doubted--had mounted their animals and were on their way, by a +roundabout trail, to the ranch house. + +"Gold!" muttered Snake. "Do you really think there's gold in that +cave?" + +"It would not be beyond the bounds of possibility," Dick replied. "I'm +not a geologist, and I don't know anything about mining. But the west +is the home of gold, and so is Mexico. We're not far from Mexico. +What's to prevent a ledge or seam of gold from running up into these +hills, or small mountains, and cropping out in that cave? What's to +prevent?" + +"Nothing!" came from Billee, a new light in his eyes. + +"It would be very natural, I think," added Nort. + +"That would account for what Bud saw--the men picking away at the stone +sides of the cave," went on Dick. "And the roof and sides are of +rock--that my brother and I saw." + +"Then we're on the right track!" cried Snake joyfully. "I been tryin' +to figger out what all this meant, but I see it now. The other poison +attacks, where cattle and men died, didn't have nothin' to do with the +gas we just now ran away from. Somebody else must have been the blame +of that, or maybe it wasn't poison gas at all--might 'a' been just bad +water or loco-weed. But this is different." + +"Yes," agreed Nort, "this is different. We know, positively, that this +gas attack was launched by men." + +"Men who want to keep us out of that cave 'cause it's full of gold!" +murmured Old Billee. "Boys, for once I see daylight ahead of me! I'm +goin' to turn miner! I'm through nursin' cattle! I'm goin' to dig +gold and retire rich! By golly, I am!" + +"You better wait until we see the color of pay dirt!" chuckled Snake. + +"And until we get those fellows out!" added another cowboy. + +"Oh, we'll git them out soon as we have them gas masks!" declared +Billee, who seldom had shown such enthusiasm. "By golly, at last I see +daylight! I'll soon lay this on the shelf," and he patted his old +lariat. + +"I hope he isn't disappointed," murmured Dick to his brother. + +"Do you really believe there's a chance of finding gold in that cave?" +Nort asked in a low voice. + +"I really do. Why else would those fellows want to keep us out? It +can't be that it's a mere cattle-rustling game." + +"No," admitted Nort, "I don't believe it's that. But--gold! Seems +sort of far-fetched." + +"Well, maybe I'm wrong," went on Dick. "But we'll soon find out, if +those gas masks are any good." + +On the way back to the circle of ranch buildings a close lookout was +kept for any sign of intruders on the range of Dot and Dash. But no +strangers were seen, nor did a casual survey of the various herds +scattered over the plains disclose any casualties. + +"I guess everything that happens takes place around Smugglers' Gulch," +observed Dick. + +"Seems so," admitted his brother. + +No one had suffered any serious results from the gas attack. It had +been discovered so quickly, and the retreat had been made so promptly, +thanks to Snake's vigilance, that aside from a little irritation of +their mouths and throats the attackers were not injured. The +irritation soon passed away and was about gone when they neared the +ranch. + +"They were just teasing us that time," decided Snake. "The next time +they'll shoot some real nasty gas at us." + +"And that's the time we'll be ready with the masks," declared Nort. + +Bud Merkel was as excited as either of his cousins when he heard the +news. He declared no better plan could be devised than going against +the unknown cave dwellers with gas masks and a telephone message was +soon on the way, asking the commander of the Los Pompan branch of the +American Legion for the loan of as many of the protectors as were +needed. + +In due time word came back that the Dot and Dash ranchers were quite +welcome to the masks. Snake and Kid, as experts in their use, and as +judges of the best ones to bring back, were sent as a committee into +town to get the life-saving apparatus. + +It was next day, when the gas masks had been tried on by the cowboys +who were to use them, and plans were being talked over for a second +attack, that Nort suggested: + +"Maybe we ought to try these masks before we use them. They may be +defective in spite of the fact that they look all right." + +"Not a bad idea," agreed Bud. "But we haven't any poison gas to try +'em with." + +"If we could go in a room filled with ammonia, or some such vapor as +that, we could soon tell if the masks were any good," Dick suggested. + +Dr. Taylor was communicated with and agreed to supply from his somewhat +limited laboratory sufficient fumes to make a sure test of the masks. +He came out to the ranch, a small room was set aside for the experiment +and into this vile chamber the men went one at a time, each one wearing +the mask that was designed to protect him in the coming fight. + +With the exception of one or two of the affairs, each one was gas proof +and the defective ones were quickly replaced with good ones. So that +in a comparatively short time the avengers were once more ready to make +the attack. + +Much the same tactics were observed as on the former occasion. The +horses were left well out of reach of any clouds of vapor that might +float from the ravine, and the guards were instructed to deploy their +reserve cavalry to east or west, according to the direction of the +wind, in case gas was noted coming out of the defile. + +"Well, I reckon we're all ready," observed Old Billee on a certain +morning a few days after the first failure. "How about it, Bud?" + +"All set," answered the ranch owner's son, for he had recovered from +the gas he had inhaled and was quite fit again. "Let's go!" he cried. + +The cavalcade moved forward, and when within about the same distance as +before from the defile, the horses were led aside, the guard posted and +the men again advanced up the gorge. + +"Don't make any more noise than you can help," warned Bud, as one of +the men rattled some of the loose stones. + +"Oh, I think they know we're coming," said Dick. + +"You do? How?" + +"Well, naturally they have scouts posted. We'd do the same if we were +in their position. They know we're coming, all right." + +"Perhaps so," Bud admitted. "Well, everybody have his mask ready to +slip on as soon as gas is smelled." + +"What if they use a kind we can't smell until it's too late?" asked +Dick. + +"Well, that's a chance we have to take," said Bud with a shrug of his +shoulders. + +"I think I shall smell it all right," Snake interjected. "I was pretty +good at that sort of thing in the war. The officers said I had a +mighty good nose--for smelling I mean," he made haste to add for fear +his pals would accuse him of personal vanity. "In some of the trenches +they used rats and canary birds to give warning of gas. But I was the +official smeller for my bunch, and I got so I was pretty good at it if +I do say it myself." + +"Then we'll make you the advance guard," decided Bud, and so it was +arranged. + +Up the gulch they marched, with guns and gas masks ready, and once +more, as on the former occasion, they were just within sight of the +cave when Snake cried: + +"Gas! Gas!" + +At once each man donned his protector, and then, looking like +prehistoric monsters the crowd, led by Bud, Nort, Dick and Old Billee +rushed to the attack. The same white wisps of vapor floated down into +the faces of the avengers, but there was no turning back now. There +was no choking or gasping. The gas masks were a perfect protection. + +Dick's surmise that the advancing party was being spied on seemed to be +correct, since before they reached the cave shots came from the cavern, +and there was the vicious whine and ping of bullets. One or two of the +cowboys were hit, one seriously, and then the avengers began shooting +on their own account. + +Bud gave the signal for a rush attack and eagerly he and his comrades +sprang forward. They passed a little trench near the mouth of the +cave. In this shallow ditch were several iron cylinders from holes of +which was pouring a white vapor. This was the gas, how deadly could +only be surmised for the masks kept all fumes and effects of it from +the attackers. + +There was a current of air from the cave blowing down the defile and +this carried the fumes away from the hidden men and into the ranks of +the attackers. This direction of the wind explained why no gas masks +were needed by the foe. The wind was their protection. And the fact +that they wore no masks was soon demonstrated. + +For as the attackers swept on and up to the cave they dislodged several +of the first line fighters of their foes--rough, ugly-looking men who +sprang up from amid the rocks and, after firing their last shots, +turned and ran into the cavern. Not one wore a mask. + +In a few minutes the attackers were safely back of the gas-emitting +cylinders and could take off their masks for the wind carried the fumes +away from them. Yanking his protector off, Bud shouted: + +"Into the cave after them!" + +The rush was made. A sight was had of a crowd of men retreating into +the black depths of the cavern. The cowboys fired at them and were +shot at in turn, Nort receiving a nasty scratch from a bullet along his +shoulder, and his brother stopping a lead slug in the fleshy part of +his thigh. Bud was nipped on the hand and several of the other cowboys +were more or less painfully injured. + +Some damage was inflicted on the foe, for there were yells of pain from +several and one man was seen to fall. He was quickly picked up by his +pals, however, and carried into the far end of the cave. + +Then, when it grew dark as the daylight faded, a short distance beyond +the entrance, Bud called a halt on further pursuit. + +"No use going back there when we don't know what's beyond," he said. +"We've driven 'em out, and we can have a look, now, and see what secret +they have been guarding." + +When Snake and Kid, again donning their masks, had shut off the flow of +gas from the cylinders, a precaution taken against a possible change of +wind, flashlights were produced and a close inspection of the cave was +begun. It was evident that the men who had been in it, and who had +relied on gas to keep intruders out, had made their escape through some +rear exit, or they might still be hiding in the depths of the cavern. + +Extra powerful portable electric torches had been brought by the +exploring party and these were turned, now, on different parts of the +rocky walls and roof of the cave. Bud showed where he had been held a +prisoner, and it did not take long to find places where digging had +been going on. + +As the lights flashed over the rough, rocky walls, there were reflected +back glistening yellow slivers of illumination. + +"Look!" cried Dick, pointing. "There it is! Gold!" + +"Gold! Gold!" came in joyful shouts from the exulting cowboys. "We've +found a gold mine!" + +And truly it seemed so. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +FALSE SECURITY + +Only those, probably very few of you, who have ever taken part in a +gold rush can understand and appreciate the wild excitement that +prevailed when the flashing lights revealed the rock of the cave to be +seamed and studded with yellow veins and patches. It aroused even the +most lethargic of the cowboys. And, truth to tell, none of them were +very strongly of that type. They were accustomed to live amid +excitement of one kind or another, and this was but a new sort. + +"Gold! Gold!" was the exulting murmur on all sides. + +"There's enough here to make us all rich!" cried Yellin' Kid, his loud +voice echoing through the cavern. + +"No more ridin' fence for me!" cried Snake. + +"Me, I'm going to have one of them pianos that plays itself!" declared +Billee, whose soul, hitherto, had been obliged to get its feast of +music from a mouth organ. + +"And look where them hombres have been takin' out our gold!" exclaimed +Yellin' Kid as he flashed his light on a wall where, unmistakably, +excavating had been going on. There were signs of new digging in the +rock and dirt of the cave's sides and the ground beneath showed a +litter of debris. + +"You ought to make 'em pay for all they took out!" declared Snake to +Bud. + +"Maybe it would be a good idea to catch 'em first," suggested Dick, +quietly. + +"Well, that's so. We'll do that after we have begun to dig out the +gold," decided the cowboy. "Oh, boy! Look at the yaller stuff!" and +he picked up what seemed to be a nugget of great value. It was of +gleaming yellow and heavy in his hand. + +The boy ranchers were no whit less excited than their older companions. +But perhaps the finding of the gold mine, in which, knowing Mr. +Merkel's generosity, the cowboys believed they all would share, meant +more to the older men than it did to the boys. The latter were, in a +sense, owners of the ranch and were not doomed to days and nights of +hard work on the range. There was a brighter future before them, +because of their advantageous position, than there was ahead of Billee +and the others. Up to now the old cowboys had seen nothing but a hard +life (though there were enjoyable spots here and there) and they +counted on dying with their boots on, not from violence, perhaps, so +much as from wearing out at their labors. Now they saw a chance of +getting rich quickly, or, if not exactly rich, at least of gaining a +competence. + +No wonder they were excited. + +"Boy howdy! I can't hardly believe it!" shouted Yellin' Kid. "First +time I was ever on a ranch that developed gold!" + +"It's the first for me, too," said Bud. + +"What's the best thing to do?" asked Nort, of no one in particular. + +"Hadn't the boss better file a claim of discovery?" suggested a cowboy +who said he had once lived in California. + +"He don't need to file nothin'!" declared Billee. "This gold is found +on Mr. Merkel's land. Everything on the land is hissen. He can work +the gold mine same as he can his cattle ranges." + +That seemed to be the consensus of opinion and it was decided that all +remaining to be done was to inform Bud's father of the discovery, start +to work the claim and take the profit. + +"And clean out them rascals!" added Billee. + +"Oh, sure!" agreed Bud. "It's queer, though," he went on as he flashed +his light about the cave, "that if gold has been here since the +beginning, as it must have, that the secret of it only just now got +out. And if the gang that's been working this mine has been shooting +out poison gas to keep people away from here, why didn't some rumor of +this gold strike filter out before?" + +"There's something wrong," declared Billee. "I don't believe the +deaths that took place in this here valley, from the time I knowed +about 'em, had anything to do with this gold cave. I'm sure they +didn't. And, what's more, this claim has only been worked recent like. +You can tell that by the fresh marks of the digging." + +This was plain to all, and the more they thought of it the more of a +puzzle it was. Clearly poison gas, if such it was, had only recently +been used to guard the approach to the cave. What, then, was the +explanation of the former mysterious deaths? + +But the boys and their friends were so excited over the discovery of +the yellow metal that they gave little heed to this phase of the +matter. All the talk had to do with getting out the ore and finding +how much it assayed to the ton. + +"But we can't let the cattle business slide; can we?" asked Dick, as he +and most of the others prepared to depart. A guard was to be left in +the cave, and sufficient food and supplies would be sent them to enable +them to remain on constant duty. + +"Oh, no, we won't give up the cattle business," decided Bud. "We'll +work that and the mine, too." + +Mr. Merkel was duly astonished when, that night, his son succeeded in +getting in touch with him over the long-distance telephone from Los +Pompan. Bud found a booth to talk from which insured his conversation +not being broadcast in the town. If news of the gold strike got out it +might mean a rush. Not that any land around the gulch or cave could be +preempted by others, for it was all on Mr. Merkel's ranch. But not +everybody would respect his property rights and there might be trouble. + +"Are you sure it's gold, son?" asked the ranchman over the wire. + +"Why of course it is, Dad. What else could it be?" + +"I don't know. But I'm going to make sure before I start a torch-light +procession. I'll send you out a good mining man. Don't do anything +until he arrives, and keep your shirts on--all of you." + +"All right, Dad. I know what you mean. We won't broadcast it." + +"Better not. There might be a slip-up, you know." + +"I don't see how there can be, but we'll keep it mum." + +Busy days followed at Dot and Dash. While the cattle business was not +passed up, Bud and his cousins devoted all their time to the discovery +in the cave, and let the new cowboys attend to the shipping and care of +the cattle. Some of the yellow ore was dug out and taken to the ranch +house to await the arrival of the mining expert. Meanwhile it was +carefully guarded. + +Covering several days a careful exploration of the cave had been made +without discovering any of the enemy. There were several exits from +the cavern, and it was surmised that the "gas gang," as they were +dubbed, had escaped by one of these. + +"But as long as they're gone, we haven't anything to worry about," said +Bud. "We're sitting pretty now." + +"Nothing to worry about," added Nort. + +"And I guess we won't find any more dead cattle," said Dick. "It must +have been some of the gas they were experimenting with that killed the +cows and Sam's horse." + +"Sure!" assented Bud. + +Thus were the boys lulled into a false security, and their fond dreams +were not shattered for several days. It was on the afternoon of the +day before the mine expert was to arrive that Bud, Nort and Dick, +riding toward the cave to find out how matters were progressing there, +saw, on a hillside some distance away from the glen, a number of +motionless lumps. + +"Looks like some of the steers from the main herd had strayed and were +taking a siesta," suggested Nort. + +"Yes," admitted Bud, slowly. "But I wonder----" + +Suddenly he put spurs to his pony and dashed toward the dark objects. +His cousins followed and as they got near enough they saw that the +cows, far from taking a siesta, were in their last sleep. + +"They're dead!" exclaimed Bud. "Dead same as the others were--from +gas, or something. Boys, that gang is back again!" + +"Then it's all up with the men on guard at the mine!" cried Nort. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +TO THE RESCUE + +There was no use wasting any time or sympathy over the dead cattle. +They were dead beyond a doubt, a fact which was easily proved. And +yet, as before, there was not a sign of anything that showed how they +had met their death. The bodies lay in a natural position, as though +the animals had been overcome when grazing and had sunk gently down. +Or as if they had succumbed to some gentle poison that brought a +painless death. + +"Well, if this isn't the limit!" cried Bud while his cousins looked at +him and at each other with wonder on their faces. + +"Of all the rotten things to do!" snapped out Nort. "To kill these +poor cattle! Why doesn't that gang fight like men if they want to give +battle--not spray their dirty poison gas around dumb beasts?" + +"It is pretty rotten," agreed Dick. + +Bud was carefully scanning the ground in the vicinity of the dead +cattle, at the same time cautiously sniffing the air to detect any +possible taint. But he seemed to discover nothing. Dick and Nort +followed his example, but were unable to come upon any clew. + +However, not far from where the half dozen valuable animals had dropped +dead there was a little crack or rift in the earth. It was a sort of +opening between two long ridges of rocks, there being an outcropping of +stone at this point. It was part of the two ridges which, suddenly +rising higher, formed the walls of Smugglers' Glen farther to the +south. Dick was the first to notice it. + +"See anything there?" asked Bud, noting that his cousin was bending +over the cleft in the surface. + +"No, I can't see anything and I can't smell anything," he added, as he +bent closer. + +"But I can hear something!" added Nort. + +"Hear something?" questioned Bud. + +"Yes, the sound of running water down there. Listen!" + +He bent with his ear over the crack in the rocks. And in the silence, +broken only by the slight movements of their ponies, from which they +had dismounted, the boys heard the murmur as of water flowing along far +under ground. + +"I'm afraid that doesn't mean anything," said Bud when he had signified +that he, too, heard the ripple. "Dad said there were a lot of +underground streams around here. This one must come from the little +brook that flows through Smugglers' Glen. It takes a dip down under +the rocks and comes to the surface again farther on." + +"I guess you're right," admitted Dick. "It doesn't mean anything. But +I didn't know there was underground water in this section." + +"Oh, yes, plenty of it," Bud added. "I've seen other places with rock +fissures like this where you could hear water bubbling along beneath +the surface." + +"Then this goes into the discard," spoke Nort, meaning that it was +useless to form any theory about the mysterious deaths if it was to be +based on the underground streams. + +"But we'd better get on to the cave mine!" cried Bud. "If those +fellows are at their poison gas game again, it's likely that Sam +Tarbell and the fellows we left on guard are in as bad shape as these +cows. Darn the luck, anyhow!" + +"That's what I say!" chimed in Nort as the three hastened to where they +had left their ponies. "Just as we thought we were sitting pretty, +with nothing to worry about, along comes this! Wonder how they worked +the game, anyhow?" + +"They must have got back in the cave--probably from the end where they +ran out the time we chased 'em with our gas masks on," said Dick. +"They sneaked up on our fellows, let loose a cloud of gas, put them out +of business and then came down here to kill the cows." + +"But that's what I can't understand," said Bud. "Why should they go to +the trouble of killing cows? Cows can't spy on those gold mine +jumpers. Cows can't get out any gold. It's all so useless, this +killing of our beasts." + +"I guess they're just natural devils as Billee claims," suggested Nort. +"But we'll pay 'em back!" + +"You bet we will!" exclaimed Bud. "And now to the rescue! We've got +to save Sam and his crowd if we can!" + +They galloped their ponies in the direction of the Glen, and reached +the opening to the sinister defile in record time. Nor did they stop +to dismount. Rough as was the way, they rode their mounts up the +valley until they came within sight of the cave. Nor were they +stopped, and they detected no gas, though they were on the alert for it. + +"Maybe it's a false alarm," suggested Nort. "Maybe our fellows didn't +suffer from a gas attack after all." + +"Well, the cows certainly did!" exclaimed his brother. + +However their worst fears were realized when, as they flung themselves +off their horses at the mouth of the cave they saw, just within, the +prostrate forms of Sam Tarbell and his companion guards. Stark and +silent the men lay there. + +"We're too late!" muttered Bud sorrowfully. + +"They're all dead!" echoed Nort. + +"This is Death Valley sure enough!" came gloomily from Dick. + +There was a movement within the cave. There sounded the rattling +echoes of dislodged stones. + +"Some one's coming!" murmured Bud, drawing his gun. + +A moment later there emerged from the cavern the form of Old Tosh. He +did not appear surprised to see the boys, nor to note the prostrate +forms of the men. In one hand he held a bottle of his Elixer and +waving it over his head he cried: + +"I'm just in time! Come on, boys, help me! We'll save 'em yet!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +TESTING THE GOLD MINE + +Any suspicions which the boy ranchers held against the old man vanished +quickly as they saw the eagerness with which he went to work to save, +if possible, the men on guard at the cave gold mine. Bud and his +cousins had, naturally, held back a little against approaching the +stark, prostrate forms too closely. They were still young enough to +be, at a time like this, unduly impressed by death. + +But Old Tosh, as he was generally called, went at the business as if he +were a doctor intent on saving lives in desperate danger. He opened a +bottle of his Elixer, and, though the boys thought it pitifully weak +stuff for the occasion, he appeared to have unbounded faith in it. +Raising the head of Sam Tarbell, the old man placed the bottle to the +silent lips, tipped it up and managed to force a little into the cow +puncher's mouth. + +"Come on, you boys!" Tosh called to Nort, Dick and Bud. "You got to +help. I can't do this all alone. I'm just in time. I knew this would +happen. They're on the verge of death but I'll save them." + +"I'm afraid you're too late," said Bud. + +"No, I'm not. These men are alive yet. All they need is a little +stimulant to bring 'em around. They didn't get much of a dose of the +poison gas. If they had, not even my Elixer could save 'em. But it +can now. Come on, there's another bottle in my coat pocket. Reach it +out and get busy, boys!" + +Bud made a jump to do as directed. And as he was taking the second +bottle from the old man's coat, while Tosh was still administering the +medicine to Sam, Bud could not help wondering whether the queer hermit +had anything to do with loosing the flood of gas against the mine +guards. It was no time, now, however, to make such an inquiry. + +Bud and his cousins gave Ned Frosh and Bill Dungan each some of the +Elixer, raising the men's heads and forcing the liquid between their +lips as they had seen Tosh do. As for the hermit, he went from Sam to +a puncher who rejoiced in the name of Slippery Mike, giving him a good +dose. + +And then, strange as it may see, each of the four guards revived, +opened his eyes and sat up. They had dazed looks on their faces, but +were unharmed. + +"What happened?" asked Bud of Sam, who was the leader in charge of the +force guarding the gold mine. "Did those fellows come back and shoot +gas at you?" + +"I don't rightly know what did happen," Sam answered. "If those +fellows came back we didn't see 'em. But there was sure some gas, for +it hit us all of a sudden and keeled us over before we knew it. How +did you get here, and what's he doing here?" Sam pointed at the old +man. + +"He got here soon after we did," Nort explained. "And I guess it's +lucky he did. That stuff he gave you brought you fellows back to life." + +"It's strong enough to make a mud turtle race with a jack rabbit!" +chuckled Slippery Mike. "But it isn't bad, at that. If I could have +another swig of it----" + +Old Tosh hospitably held out the bottle. + +"'Twon't hurt you," he said. "It's Life's Elixer." + +"But how'd you know we was knocked out?" asked Sam when each of the +guards had taken some more of the medicine. "It only happened a little +while ago." + +"And we only came a little while ago," said Dick. "We were out on the +range and we saw some dead cattle. Right away we jumped to the +conclusion that you had been poisoned with gas same as the steers. So +we came here and found you stretched out. Then along came Mr. Tosh and +he did the right thing, it seems." + +"Did you know this had happened?" asked Bud of the old man. + +"What, that these men had been gassed? No, I wasn't aware of it," +answered the hermit. "I came back here to see if those men had gone +away from my cave--the cave where they drove me out. I wanted to use +it again, for there's no better place for brewing my Elixer. I went in +the cave from the other end, and when I got here I saw you men +stretched out. I knew what had happened, right away." + +"But did you see any of those rustlers, holdup men, or whatever they +are, with their gas cylinders?" asked Bud. + +"No, I didn't," was the reply. "I don't know anything about gas +cylinders. The poison gas doesn't come in cylinders. It comes out----" + +"Oh, yes, it does come in cylinders, and it comes out of them," +interrupted Bud. "We have some of the cylinders that we captured when +we drove the men out of the gold mine." + +"Gold mine?" excitedly cried the old man. "Where's a gold mine?" + +"In that cave," and Bud pointed to it. "The cave where we saw you +brewing your pot of herbs. Didn't you know there was gold there?" + +Old Tosh shook his head. + +"I don't take much stock in gold," he said. "But I liked that cave +because it was so sheltered. Only, sometimes, I couldn't stay in it on +account of the gas." + +"That's the gas we mean," explained Nort. "The poison gas these men +sprayed out of cylinders to keep us away so we wouldn't find there was +gold in the cave. But we got gas masks and drove 'em out." + +Again Old Tosh shook his head. + +"I don't know anything about gas in cylinders," he said. "But then I +been away a long time, in another county, getting different kinds of +herbs. My Elixer is better than ever now and stronger." + +"I'll say it's strong!" declared Slippery Mike. + +"So I came back to see if I could use my cave," went on Old Tosh. "Now +about this gas----" + +But he was not allowed to go on, for Bud, seeing the effect of the +Elixer on Sam and his companions had a new thought. + +"Will that save the dead steers--I mean the steers that seem to be +dead?" he asked the hermit. "There's half a dozen of 'em out on the +hill, and----" + +"No," replied Tosh, "this stuff won't bring the dead back to life. It +will only revive where a spark of life remains. And, in any case, it +isn't effective on animals. It is only for humans." + +"Then our steers are dead," sighed Dick. + +"Guess that's a foregone conclusion," agreed Nort. "But what do you +think of him, anyhow?" he asked Bud in a whisper, indicating Tosh. + +"You mean do I have any suspicions against him?" + +"Yes. Do you think he may have gotten hold of a cylinder of the poison +gas and sprayed it on these men so as to get a chance to use his Elixer +to revive them?" + +Before Bud could answer there was a noise as of men and horses coming +up the defile, and, thinking it was some of the former gang returning, +guns were whipped out. But they were not needed. Two mild-mannered +and inoffensive appearing men rode into sight. They had the look of +college professors. Behind them rode Billee Dobb. + +"Hello, boys!" greeted Billee, all unaware of the recent sensational +happenings. "Here's the mine experts your dad sent out to look over +our gold prospects, Bud. They're going to test the quality of the ore, +and see how much it assays to the ton. That's the right way to express +it; ain't it?" He turned to the older of the two men. + +"That is perfectly correct, Mr. Dobb. And if you will show us the mine +we can soon tell you, approximately, how valuable it is." + +"It's in that cave. You'll find lots of gold there. And the first lot +that comes to me is goin' to be spent for a self-playin' piano. But +what happened here?" Billee asked, for he was now aware that something +unusual had taken place. + +"The darn scoundrels!" he exclaimed when he had been told of the death +of the cattle and the plight of the men. "So they come back; did they? +Well, we'll soon have a big force here takin' out gold and we'll keep +better guard." + +Meanwhile the mining experts went into the cavern to test the gold mine. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +A STRANGE DISCOVERY + +Billee Dobb, having listened to the stories of Bud and his cousins, and +the tale told by Sam and his pals, shook his head dubiously. + +"I can't figger it all out," he said. "But you sure done a noble job, +Tosh, and we thank you for it. Can you tell us anything about those +rascals with their tanks of gas?" + +"I don't know nothin' about gas tanks," said the old man. "But more +than once I've warned you men about----" + +What the warning was he did not get a chance to explain, for at that +moment Professor Dodson, the mine expert, with his assistant, Professor +Snath, emerged from the interior of the cave, into whose black depths +they had disappeared some time ago, while Bud and the others were +talking. + +"By golly!" exclaimed Billee, suddenly changing the subject. "They got +their report ready pretty quick. I reckon the gold's so thick in there +they don't need to make much of a test. Whoopee! I'll soon have my +self-playin' piano!" He was as eager and excited as a boy. Indeed Bud +and his cousins were not a little excited as they looked at the two +scientists who came out carrying specimens of ore which they had +knocked off the walls of the cave with their peculiar hammers. + +"Didn't take you long," commented Bud. + +"No, this was an easy problem," answered Professor Dodson. "We don't +even need an assay to determine our findings." + +"By golly! What do you know about that?" cried Billee. "About how +many dollars will she run to the ton?" he asked. "I only want to know +_about_," he stipulated. "I won't pin you down by five or ten dollars, +'cause I think that wouldn't be fair. But roughly about how much do +you think our mine will assay to the ton?" + +"How much what?" asked Professor Dodson with a peculiar smile. "How +much what to the ton?" + +"How much gold, of course!" exclaimed Billee. "What else? Gold's what +we want; ain't it?" and he chuckled as he turned to his friends. + +"Sure--gold!" was the murmur. + +"Then I'm sorry to have to tell you that there is not one ounce of gold +in any number of tons of ore and rock in that cave!" was the unexpected +and startling answer. "There isn't any gold at all." + +"No gold!" cried Bud. + +"No gold!" echoed his cousins. + +"No--no--gold!" faltered Billee Dobb, his jaw falling. He saw his +self-playing piano fading back into the dim vista of his dreams. + +"No gold," repeated Professor Dodson. "What we have here," and he +indicated the ore specimens held by himself and Professor Snath, "is a +selected lot of samples of iron sulphid. It is a yellow ore that looks +very much like gold, but which has none of the properties of real gold. +In fact it is so often mistaken for the valuable metal that it has come +to be called 'Fools' Gold.' I am sorry, but such is the case. I shall +so report to Mr. Merkel, who engaged me to come out here after hearing +his son's account." + +"Fools' gold!" murmured Bud. "Well, it fooled us all right." + +"Yes, and it fooled those other fellows," said Nort. "The men with the +gas cylinders," he added. + +As the two professors looked a little puzzled, Dick explained: + +"There were some men hiding in this cave who must have thought, the +same as we did, that it contained gold. They drove out Mr. Tosh, who +used the cavern to brew his medicine. Then they drove us out. They +used tanks of some poison gas, or at least gas that made a man +unconscious. We had to put on gas masks, the kind used in the war, to +fight 'em. But we drove 'em out." + +"And a lot of good it did us," said Bud gloomingly, "if there isn't any +gold in there." + +"No, the evidence is too plain to be mistaken," said Professor Snath. +"It does not even require a laboratory test to prove that the cave is +rich in iron sulphid, but not gold." + +"Maybe it will turn out to be an iron mine instead of a gold mine!" put +in Billee, with new hope showing on his face. "Iron's valuable. Not +worth as much as gold, of course, but a good iron mine--say, boys, +maybe I'll get that self-playin' piano yet." + +But again his hopes were dashed. + +"It wouldn't pay to work this section even for iron," said Professor +Dodson, and his assistant nodded his agreement. + +"Well, then," remarked Nort, "we'll have to keep on raising cattle." + +"But we can't do that if these fellows are going to let loose a flood +of poison gas and kill them off every now and then!" bitterly cried +Bud. "We're beat either way you look at it. Just as you said, Billee, +this is Death Valley." + +"Tell me more about this!" suddenly suggested the older scientist. +"What is all this about poison gas in tanks killing cattle?" + +"I can tell you!" came from Old Tosh. "I know all about it but nobody +would ever listen to me. They said I was crazy. But I know! Look +here!" + +He pointed to a crack, or fissure in the rocky floor of the glen, not +far from the cave entrance. It was just such a crack as Bud and his +cousins had noticed one day near the place where they had found some +dead cattle. + +"Listen to that! It's rising!" cried Old Tosh, bending over the crack. + +The two professors, the boy ranchers and some of the punchers leaned +over and listened. From somewhere down in the depths of the earth came +the rustle and swish of running water. + +"An underground stream," said Professor Dodson. "They are not uncommon +in this region. But----" + +Suddenly he started back and withdrew his face quickly from above the +crack in the earth. + +"Hurry away from here!" he cried. "The gas is rising. I begin to +understand now. It is the secret you have been trying to solve. Hurry +away! It may not be deadly, but it will overcome all of us in a short +time." + +He ran down the defile, away from the long fissure, followed by the +others, Billee and his men driving the ponies before them. Professor +Dodson had made a strange discovery, after Old Tosh had put him on the +track of it. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE END OF DEATH VALLEY + +Hurrying along, some of the men in their saddles, others stumbling on +foot, not having taken the time to mount, the whole party rushed out of +the defile. It was not until they had reached open country, some +distance removed from the entrance to Smugglers' Glen, that the older +scientist thought it safe to call a halt. And he did not do this until +he had looked around, with his assistant, to make sure there were no +earth fissures near, and had also ascertained the direction of the +wind. He tested the air by breathing deeply of it and said: + +"We're safe for a time. But there's no telling how long. This is a +most remarkable natural phenomenon--one of the most remarkable I have +ever happened upon." + +"Very remarkable," agreed Professor Snath. + +"But what's it all about?" asked Bud. "We've seen those earth cracks +before." + +"And near the place where there were dead cattle," added Nort. + +"We heard running water down below, too," was Dick's contribution to +the general information. + +"Those cracks go down to the bed of an underground stream," explained +Professor Dodson. "The subterranean river, brook or whatever it is, +must flow a long distance under this ranch," and he looked over the +expanse of valley, hill and plain. "Now an ordinary underground stream +is not dangerous. In fact where it comes to the surface, as many do, +it provides valuable water. But the stream below here is impregnated +with a deadly gas." He gave it a long Latin name. "At least if it is +not always deadly," he went on, "and it may not be so at all times, +owing to dilution, it is risky to breathe it. I think that is the +explanation of the deaths of your cattle," he said to Bud. "And you +men who were rendered unconscious," he indicated Sam and his guards, +"you must have breathed a modified form of the gas." + +"But those fellows had gas in tanks!" cried Nort. + +"No question about that!" added Billee. "Did they bottle up this stuff +you gave such a long name to, Professor, and shoot it out at us?" + +"No," was the answer. "I am inclined to think these unknown men used a +very different kind of gas against you--probably a comparatively +harmless vapor discovered during the war activities. I think there are +two puzzles here and that they are both in the way, now, of being +solved." + +"It looks so," murmured Bud. "But how is the poison gas generated and +how does it come up out of cracks in the earth to kill cattle and knock +out our men?" + +"The explanation is probably very simple," said the scientist. "There +must be, somewhere near the head of the defile we just left, a deposit +of the mineral or ore from which this gas I speak of is generated. It +is somewhat like carbon monoxide, but more powerful even in the open +air." + +"Water, flowing over a bed of this mineral, liberates the gas in the +form of an almost invisible vapor. It is swept forward in a cloud by +the wind, some of it is carried along above the course of the +underground stream, and as soon as it reaches an opening in the earth, +like a fissure crack in the rock or ground, the gas rises and whoever +breathes it dies or is rendered unconscious for a time, according to +the strength of the vapor. At one time the underground stream may be +strongly impregnated with the dissolved chemicals that generate the +gas. At another time the emanations may be comparatively weak. That, +I think, is the explanation of happenings here in Death Valley, as you +call it." + +"Then the men who thought they had a gold mine in the cave had nothing +to do with killing the cattle?" asked Nort. + +"I can't say for sure, but I think not," the professor replied. "I am +inclined to believe that they got these tanks of gas to use in driving +away any who might try to get at their secret--a useless secret as it +proves now. But the accidental deaths, both of cattle and men, from +the underground gas must have been going on here a long time," the +scientist suggested. + +"They have!" declared Old Billee. "Several years back. That's why I +quit here. But we didn't know what the cause was. Some said poisoned +water, others poison loco-weed. Some said it was the souls of Indians +who were driven out of this valley years ago." + +"And all the while it was just a natural gas liberated by an +underground stream running over a bed of chemicals," stated Bud. + +"That's what I think," said Professor Dodson. "It remains to be proved +conclusively, but that is what I think will be found." + +"Then this means the end of Death Valley," went on Bud, gloomily. "We +can't afford to stay here and raise cattle to be killed off by gas." + +"No," agreed Professor Dodson. "But do not form a hasty decision. +Science can do much these days. It may be possible to neutralize this +gas and so make your ranch safe. In that case it will be the end of +Death Valley but in a better way. It will be Life Valley then." + +"Do you think it can be done?" eagerly Bud asked. + +"I don't know. But it's worth trying. You say you have gas masks? +They will be needed I think." + +"Plenty of 'em!" cried Bud. "Come on back to the ranch where we still +have them. We may win yet!" he said to his cousins. "If the gold mine +peters out, as it has done, we'll get rich raising cattle in one of the +best valleys of the west--providing the poison gas can be done away +with." + +"There's always an _if_ in the road," murmured Nort. + +But when, a little later, the scientists, the boy ranchers and some of +the men, wearing gas masks, penetrated to the far end of the defile, +they found conditions which were distinctly encouraging. Professor +Dodson located the mass of mineral which, when wet, gave off the vapor +that caused death or disablement according to its strength. + +"All that needs to be done," he said, indicating the stream which ran +for some distance in the open before plunging underground, "is to build +a small dam, change the course of this little river and send it down +_outside_ the defile, instead of _through_ it. Keep this stream +entirely in the open and you will do away with the poison gas. It is +really a not very difficult problem in engineering and irrigation. It +will not cost much to do this." + +"Then it's going to be done, and it means the end of Death Valley +forever!" cried Bud. "I mean a happy ending," he added. "For we'll do +away with all danger." + +"Thanks to you gentlemen and to Old Tosh," said Nort. "For he helped, +didn't he?" + +"Indeed he did," agreed Professor Snath. + +"And when the course of the stream is changed," went on his chief, +"there is no reason why the old herb doctor cannot resume work in his +cave if he wants to. It will be safe then." + +"Guess he'll be glad to hear that!" chuckled Nort. "He's been like a +lost dog these last few weeks. Then those fellows, with their gas +tanks, didn't have anything to do with killing our cattle?" he +suggested. + +"Not a thing," declared Professor Dodson. "It was a war against nature +you were fighting." + +"We've only just begun to fight her!" cried Bud. + +Mr. Merkel was not much disappointed when he learned that the cave mine +had petered out. + +"I never took much stock in it," he told his son over the telephone. +"But I'm glad you've solved the mystery of Death Valley. I'll send +some engineers over, we'll change the course of that stream and go in +for cattle raising. That's our business, anyhow, not mining." + +In a few weeks the dam was constructed, the stream, where it ran in the +open, was shifted several hundred feet and there was no longer any +danger of it dissolving the chemicals and carrying the deadly gas +underground, to send it up out of fissures to the detriment of man and +beast. While the work was going on, all cattle were removed from the +vicinity of the defile, which was found to be the only danger spot on +Dot and Dash. + +The boys recalled the time when, in riding over the range, their horses +had taken such a sudden fright. They could not determine whether at +that time some poison gas might have seeped out, alarming the sensitive +beasts, or whether it was something like a snake which might have +startled the ponies. It was one of the things that remained unsolved, +but it was a minor phase of the main problem which had been brought to +a successful conclusion. + +And so, in this comparatively simple manner, was the mystery solved and +an end put to Death Valley, though it retained that name for many years. + +Some time after all danger was removed, when cattle roamed freely over +the range, as near the defile as they cared to go, and when Old Tosh +was again allowed to brew his Elixer in the cave, a man was arrested in +Los Pompan for horse stealing. He was convicted and it developed he +was one of the men who had used the poison gas tanks against the boy +ranchers. He was one of a gang. + +They had nothing to do with and knew nothing of the emanations of +natural gas in Death Valley. They had heard the sinister reputation of +the place, but that did not keep them out, and they discovered the cave +and at once jumped to the conclusion that it contained gold. They +frightened away Old Tosh and when Bud stumbled on their operations they +adopted the sinister form of defense they used later. One of the men +in the gang had served in the chemical warfare division of the A.E.F. +overseas. He was an expert chemist and developed a gas that would +knock a man out but not kill him. Thus Bud was made a prisoner, +escaping when the men left him for a time. + +The gang had taken considerable of the yellow ore out of the cave, and, +doubtless after the battle in which they were worsted, they discovered +it to be valueless. So they had no reason to return to the territory. +The gang dispersed. None of them, it appeared, had ever suffered from +the effects of the natural gas. + +Soon after the course of the stream was changed, Dot and Dash ranch was +a busy place. Several new herds were bought and pastured and more men +were hired. There was no trouble, now, in getting men from near by, +for the story of the passing of the menacing gas was told all over. + +Old Tosh was kept busy making his Elixer, for though the men knew it +was comparatively useless as a medicine, some of them thought it did +them good, and they rather liked the root beer taste it had. + +"Why don't you put your full name on your labels?" asked Nort of the +queer old codger one day, when the boys were visiting him in his, or, +rather, their cave, which he had fitted up to live in while he did his +brewing. "You just call it 'Tosh Elixer.'" + +"That's enough for a name," he chuckled. "But my first name, if you +want to know it is Simon. I don't fancy it so I seldom use it." + +"Simon Tosh!" murmured Bud. "S.T. Why," he cried, "those were the +initials signed to that warning we received while we were on our way +here. Did you come to our camp and leave that note?" + +"Yes, I did," was the answer. "I heard a new crowd was coming to Death +Valley and I thought I'd save their lives if I could warn them not to +come. I knew there was something with a queer smell, coming out of the +earth, that killed men, horses and cattle. But I couldn't find out +what it was. But I knew enough to get out of my cave and the glen when +I caught the first whiff of the queer perfume. It didn't get me." + +"No, but it did for enough poor fellows, and for too many of our stock +before we found out what it was," said Nort. + +"I never could understand, though," said Mr. Tosh, after he had +identified the two warning notes which Bud produced from his wallet, "I +never could understand why the gas came at some times and not at +others. You never knew when to look for it." + +"Professor Dodson explained that," stated Bud. "It was due to the +height of the underground stream, and also the stream in the open. At +low water there wasn't enough fluid to cover the bed of chemicals, and +so no gas was generated. When the water rose, the gas was given off." + +"Science is wonderful," murmured the old man. + +The boys left him brewing his kettle of herbs. He insisted on giving +them a bottle of the Elixer though he knew they would not swallow any +of it. + +"Give it to Fah Moo," suggested Mr. Tosh. "But tell him not to drink +it all at once." + +"We will," promised Dick with a chuckle. + +The boys rode home over the rolling plains, dotted with cattle. No +longer need they look for lifeless forms. Death Valley, as such, was +no longer in existence. + +"And we'll make almost as much money out of stock raising as if we had +a gold mine," said Nort. + +"Surest thing you know!" agreed Bad. + +They put their horses in the corral and went in to supper. + +"Smells good--whatever Fah Moo is cooking!" commented Dick. "What is +it, Fah?" he asked as the Chinese cook came shuffling in. + +"Melican man tulky," was the smiling answer. + +"American turkey, what does he mean?" asked Nort. + +"Roast pork and apple sauce," chuckled Bud, and he was right. + +"Here, Fah," said Dick, handing the cook the bottle of Elixer. "Tosh +sent this to you." + +The celestial gave one look at the flask, raised his hands to cover his +mouth and ran from the room, squeaking in his falsetto voice: + +"No can do! No can do!" + +"He'll never open another bottle here as long as he lives!" chuckled +Bud. + +And then, as the sun began to sink behind the western hills and from +the various stations on the ranch the cowboys filed in to supper, the +boys gathered at the table for the bountiful meal and were very happy. +They had solved the poison mystery and made Death Valley a place of +life. + + + + +THE END + + + + + + +THE BOY RANCHERS SERIES + +By WILLARD F. BAKER + +_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. Jacket in full colors_ + + +_Stories of the great west, with cattle ranches as a setting, related +in such a style as to captivate the hearts of all boys._ + + +1. THE BOY RANCHERS + +_or Solving the Mystery at Diamond X_. Two eastern boys visit their +cousin. They become involved in an exciting mystery. + +2. THE BOY RANCHERS IN CAMP + +_or the Water Fight at Diamond X_. Returning for a visit, the two +eastern lads learn, with delight, that they are to become boy ranchers. + +3. THE BOY RANCHERS ON THE TRAIL + +_or The Diamond X After Cattle Rustlers_. Our boy heroes take the +trail after Del Pinzo and his outlaws. + +4. THE BOY RANCHERS AMONG THE INDIANS + +_or Trailing the Yaquis_. Rosemary and Floyd are captured by the Yaqui +Indians but the boy ranchers trailed them into the mountains and +effected the rescue. + +5. THE BOY RANCHERS AT SPUR CREEK + +_or Fighting the Sheep Herders_. Dangerous struggle against +desperadoes for land rights brings out heroic adventures. + +6. THE BOY RANCHERS IN THE DESERT + +_or Diamond X and the Lost Mine_. One night a strange old miner almost +dead from hunger and hardship arrived at the bunk house. The boys +cared for him and he told them of the lost desert mine. + +7. THE BOY RANCHERS ON ROARING RIVER + +_or Diamond X and the Chinese Smugglers_. The boy ranchers help +capture Delton's gang who were engaged in smuggling Chinese across the +border. + +8. THE BOY RANCHERS IN DEATH VALLEY + +_or Diamond X and the Poison Mystery_. The Boy Ranchers track +Mysterious Death into his cave. + + +CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers, New York + + +THE BOMBA BOOKS + +By ROY ROCKWOOD + +_12mo. Cloth. Illustrated. With colored jacket._ + + +_Bomba lived far back in the jungles of the Amazon, with a +half-demented naturalist who told the lad nothing of his past. The +jungle boy was a lover of birds, and hunted animals with a bow and +arrow and his trusty machete. He had a primitive education in some +things, and his daring adventures will be followed with breathless +interest by thousands._ + + + +1. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY + _or The Old Naturalist's Secret_ + +2. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY AT THE MOVING MOUNTAIN + _or The Mystery of the Caves of Fire_ + +3. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY AT THE GIANT CATARACT + _or Chief Nasconora and His Captives_ + +4. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY ON JAGUAR ISLAND + _or Adrift on the River of Mystery_ + +5. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY IN THE ABANDONED CITY + _or A Treasure Ten Thousand Years Old_ + +6. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY ON TERROR TRAIL + _or The Mysterious Men from the Sky_ + +7. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY IN THE SWAMP OF DEATH + _or The Sacred Alligators of Abarago_ + +8. BOMBA THE JUNGLE BOY AMONG THE SLAVES + _or Daring Adventures in the Valley of Skulls_ + + +CUPPLES & LEON COMPANY, Publishers, New York + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Ranchers in Death Valley, by +Willard F. Baker + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY RANCHERS IN DEATH VALLEY *** + +***** This file should be named 27097.txt or 27097.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/7/0/9/27097/ + +Produced by Al Haines + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/27097.zip b/27097.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cd99aaa --- /dev/null +++ b/27097.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6205f50 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #27097 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/27097) |