"It is a matter that concerns your husband very seriously."
"Tell me about it, please?" said Mrs. Simms anxiously.
"Have you anyone that you could send to Forsythe at once with an urgent message for your husband?" he asked.
"There is no one. The herders would not dare to leave their flocks--that is not until the sheep were safe in their corral to-night."
"That will be too late. I"ll have to go myself. Have you a spare pony that I could ride!"
"Of course. That is if you can rope one out of the pen and saddle it yourself."
"Certainly. I can do that," said the boy quickly. "But I shall probably ride him pretty hard and fast. I do not think Mr. Simms will object when he learns my reasons."
"Is it so serious as that?"
"It seems so to me. Last night while lost in the mountains I overheard some men plotting against your husband. They said he was expecting a large number of sheep that were being brought in on a drive."
"Yes, that is true."
"They were planning to attack the herd, to stampede it and kill all the animals they could----"
"Is it possible?" demanded the woman, growing pale.
"They mean it, too. I think I will get the pony and start now,"
decided Tad, rising.
"You are a brave boy," exclaimed the banker"s wife, laying an impulsive hand on Tad"s shoulder. "I wish you did not have to go. You are tired out now. I can see that."
"I"ll be all right when I get in the saddle again," he smiled. "Thank you just as much."
"You shall not leave this house until you have had your breakfast.
What can I be thinking of?" announced Mrs. Simms. "You are doing us all a very great service and I am not even thoughtful enough to offer you something to eat though you are half starved."
"I had better not spare the time to sit down," objected Tad. "I must be going if you will show me the way."
"Not until you have eaten."
"Then, will you please make me some sandwiches? I can eat them in the saddle, and I shall get along very nicely until I get to town. I"ll eat enough to make up for lost time when I get at it," he laughed.
He was out of the house and running toward the corral, to which Mrs. Simms had directed him. Tad hunted about until he found a rope; then going to the enclosure scanned the ponies critically.
"I think I"ll take that roan," he decided. "Looks as if he had some life in him."
The roan had plenty, as Tad soon learned. However, after a lively little battle he succeeded in getting the animal from the enclosure and saddling and bridling him.
Tad could find no spurs, but he helped himself to a crop which he found in the stable, though, from what he had been able to observe, the pony would require little urging to make him go at a good speed.
Mrs. Simms was outside when Tad rode up. She had prepared a lunch for him, placing it in a little leather bag with a strap attached for fastening the package over his shoulder.
"Please say nothing about what I have told you," urged Tad. "I don"t want them to know we understand their plans. That is the only way Mr. Simms will be able to catch them."
"Of course, I shall not mention it. Good-bye and good luck."
Tad mounted his broncho and was off, head-ding directly for the town of Forsythe.
CHAPTER XII
A TIMELY WARNING
Arriving in the little town about noon, Tad dashed up the street toward Mr. Simms" bank. Tethering his broncho to the post, he entered the bank, and in his anxiety, pushed open the door of Mr. Simms" private office without ceremony.
Here, as we already know, were Mr. Simms, Luke Larue and Ned, all eagerly discussing Tad"s mysterious disappearance. For a moment not one of those in the office spoke a word. Tad stood before them, his clothes hanging in ribbons, his face scratched and torn, the dust and grime of the plains fairly ground into his face, hands and neck.
Luke Larue, of course, did not know the lad, but the keen eyes of the banker lighted up with recognition.
"Master Ned," he said. "I think if this young man were washed and dressed up, you might recognize in him the friend you are looking for."
"Tad!" exclaimed the boy, springing forward, excitedly grasping the hands of the freckle-faced boy.
"h.e.l.lo, Ned. What you doing here?"
"Looking for you. They"re all upset back at the camp. We thought the bear had gotten you."
"No, I got the bear. A two-legged bear nearly got me later on. I"ll tell you all about it later. I want to see Mr. Simms now."
"Master Tad, I don"t know where you have been, but you certainly look used up. This is the foreman of my ranch, Mr. Luke Larue," said the banker.
With a quiet smile on the face of each, man and boy shook hands.
"Heard about you," greeted Luke. "Heard you was a tenderfoot. Don"t look like it."
"Neither do I feel like it. Feel as if I"d been put through an ore mill or something that would grind equally fine. When do you expect the sheep?"
The foreman shot a keen glance at him.
"To-day or to-morrow. Why?"
"Because there is trouble ahead for you when they get here."
"What do you mean?"
"What is this you say?" demanded Mr. Simms.
"That is what I have come here to tell you about. There is a plan on foot to ride down your sheep when they get here."