CHAPTER XVIII.
OUT IN THE WIND AND RAIN "Dave, what do you suppose those six horses were worth ?" questioned Phil, as the two youths hurried along the back trail on a dog-trot,--the same dog-trot they used when on a cross-country run at Oak Hall.
"At least two thousand dollars, Phil," was the reply.

"The horse I used was a dandy, and so was that Belle had--and yours was a good one, too." "What do you suppose those horse-thieves will do with them ?" "Drive them a long distance, hide them for a while, and then, when they get the chance, sell them.

Of course they don't expect to get full value for them, but they'll get a neat sum." "You don't suppose this can be a trick of Link Merwell's ?" "I thought of that, but I don't think so.

Taking a horse in this section of the country is a serious business.

Why, they used to hang horse-thieves, and even now a ranchman wouldn't hesitate to shoot at a fellow who had his horse and was making off with it.