Shortly after daylight twenty well-armed stage-drivers, stock-tenders and ranchmen were galloping in the direction of the dug-out.

Of course I went along with the party, notwithstanding I was very tired and had had hardly any rest at all.

We had a brisk ride, and arrived in the immediate vicinity of the thieves' rendezvous at about ten o'clock in the morning.

We approached the dug-out cautiously, but upon getting in close proximity to it we could discover no horses in sight.

We could see the door of the dug-out standing wide open, and we then marched up to the place.