Gh the clear air, the wonderful

Ds, aside from those made by the cattle themselves, being the unearthly
yells and howls of the coyotes. In less than three days the bunch of
cattle was safely delivered at the yards, where the responsibility of
Bud and his companions ended, the buyer taking charge of them for
shipment. "Did you get the rustlers, Dad?" asked Bud as he and his
cousins, with Dirk and Chot, rode up to the ranch buildings after their
successful trip. "No," answered Mr. Merkel, who was out waiting for his
son and the others. "They got clean away." "Did you see who they were?"
asked Dirk. "Well, I have my suspicions," answered the ranchman. "And
I'm not through yet. How'd you make out, boys?" They told him of the
night scare and Dick's narrow escape, and the eyes of Bud's father
glinted in anger. "Up to tricks like that, are they?" he exclaimed.
"Well, I'd like to catch 'em at it!" "Do you know what I think?"
exclaimed Bud with energy. "Well, son, I can't say I do," spoke his
father. "You generally skip around so like a Jack rabbit, it's hard
telling where you are. But shoot! What's your trouble?" "My trouble is,"
said Bud slowly, "that I don't know enough about those professors and
their gang!" "The professors!" exclaimed Nort and Dick. "That's what I
said," went on Bud. "I think their pretended search for something is
only a bluff. They're high-grade cattle rustlers, that's what I think!"
No one said anything for a few moments, and then Mr. Merkel remarked:
"Well, maybe you're right, Bud. Stranger things have happened. It might
pay us to trail these fellows. Certainly there was something queer about
them." "Mighty queer," agreed Bud. "I began to suspect them after they
tried to lasso Dick." "Do you think one of those men--Professor Wright
or Professor Blair--tried to snake me off?" asked Dic