"He"s in with a bunch of Greasers!" cried Snake Purdee.
"And look who one of "em is!" added Nort. "It"s the _spy_!"
Without doubt one of the approaching party was the same Mexican who had so airily bidden our friends "_adios_," on the occasion of his first visit.
"Well, what do you know about that!" exclaimed Bud.
"What do you reckon the professor is doing, or was doing, over there?"
asked Nort.
No one answered him, but Bud turned toward Old Billee.
The veteran cow puncher had spoken of "suspicions." Bud wondered if they were along a line that might connect with the professor. But if Old Billee had anything to say he was keeping it to himself. Though there was a quizzical look on his face as he observed the approaching horseman, of whom Professor Wright appeared to form the nucleus.
"If those fellows think they can cover up their game by getting one of our friends to accompany them, they"ve got another guess coming," said Bud grimly.
"That"s right--don"t let "em cross!" cried d.i.c.k.
But the "spy," as he was called for want of a better name, and his Mexican companions, seemed to have no intentions of fording Spur Creek which, though rather wide, was not very deep in some places. Reining in their horses when yet several hundred feet from the southern bank of the stream, the Mexicans halted, and the one who had ridden up alone several days before, waved his hand toward the waiting cowboys, and then motioned to the professor as if saying:
"There are your friends."
As a matter of fact that is what he did say, for Professor Wright said so when, a little later, he had urged his horse across the creek, and had joined the boy ranchers and their friends.
Watching the scientist cross the stream, the Mexicans stood for a moment, rather picturesque figures on the southern bank and then, when the "spy" had again lighted a cigaret, and waved his hand as if in mocking farewell, the band rode off.
It was a very silent contingent from Diamond X that watched the lone approach of Professor Wright. The scientist seemed worn to weariness, and looked worried as he smiled at his acquaintances and said:
"Well, here I am."
"So we see," observed Billee Dobb, dryly, not to say sarcastically.
"Where have you been?" asked Bud.
"Did they capture you and hold you for ransom?" Nort wanted to know.
"What happened?" asked d.i.c.k.
"With my usual stupidity I became lost again," explained Professor Wright. "I have been out looking around, "prospecting," I believe it is called, seeking a new deposit of fossil bones. I wandered farther than I intended, and got across the creek. I found I was on the wrong trail, and that there was nothing much of interest there, so I turned to come back. But I must have turned the wrong way, and have gone south instead of north, for I began to note signs that I was approaching the Mexican border.
"I started back then, when these gentlemen overtook me. They were very kind and when I told them where I wanted to go they agreed to accompany me."
"Pa.s.sing over for the time being the use of the word "gentlemen," and realizing that you probably don"t know them as well as we do, I"d like to ask if they said why they were coming this way?" asked Billee.
"No, they didn"t, and I didn"t ask them," replied the professor. "They just seemed to be riding for pleasure."
"Pleasure of their own kind," chuckled Snake.
"Did you see anything of sheep in your wanderings?" asked Yellin" Kid.
The professor thought for a moment before replying. He was always careful to give a correct and exact answer to a question.
"I saw no sheep," he declared.
"That"s queer," murmured Billee. "From what news we have it"s practically certain they"re going to try to rush sheep in here soon, and yet they aren"t in sight."
Then Bud bethought himself of something.
"Did you _smell_ any sheep, Professor?" the boy asked.
Again the scientist thought before answering.
"Yes, I _smelled_ sheep very strongly, though I saw none," he said. "I distinctly remember the smell of sheep, for it brought back to my mind my youthful days when I used to go to the county fair. I _smelled_ sheep all right."
"That"s more like it!" cried Yellin" Kid.
"Where were they?" asked Billee eagerly.
"That is more than I can say," answered the professor. "We were in a hilly section, when those gentlemen overtook me and kindly offered to escort me here, and it was when the wind blew that I smelled sheep most strongly."
"In what direction was the wind?" asked Nort, for he thought he might get a clue in this way, as he realized the scientist was likely to have noticed natural effects like wind or rain.
"The wind--ah, yes--the wind was blowing from the south," said Professor Wright, after thinking it over for a moment.
"Well, that"s where I"d expect "em to be," declared Old Billee.
"They"re probably working their way up slowly. Did you see anything else suspicious, Professor--or smell anything?"
"Suspicious!" exclaimed the college man. "What do you mean? Is there anything suspicious in the smell of sheep--or the sight of them, for that matter?"
"I guess you don"t understand," spoke Bud. "You have probably been so busy with your research work that you haven"t had a chance to hear the news about the opening of the new range land, and the danger of sheep coming in."
"I heard something of this--and the theft of your father"s papers--the night I arrived, and caused you so much trouble," the professor admitted. "But, truth to tell, it slipped my mind, and I gave no further thought to it. So you fear the advent of sheep; do you? Are they likely to spread some disease among your cattle?"
"Disease? They"ll drive the cattle away!" cried Old Billee, and then it was briefly explained to the professor what a menace the sheep were, though very necessary in their own station of life.
"I"m sorry I didn"t observe more closely," said Professor Wright. "As I told you, my mind was filled with thoughts of new fossil deposits I might discover, and I wandered too far. Then these gentlemen found me and showed me the way back."
"They were glad enough of the excuse," murmured Nort.
"Excuse for what?" the scientist wanted to know.
"Excuse for getting back here to have a peep at us," answered Bud.
"They wanted to see if we were still on guard," and he explained about the "fort."
"Well, they found us here and waiting," commented d.i.c.k grimly.
Professor Wright consented to stay for lunch at the outpost of Diamond X, but declined an invitation to remain over night, saying he must get back to his colleagues who would be wondering over his long absence.
"Are you sure you can find your way back to your camp?" asked Bud, for the scientists were established not far from Mr. Merkel"s ranch houses.