For some reason both boys drew a long breath of relief when the high ground beyond was reached. The strain was gone, and now, by contrast, the road looked as bright to them as if the sun was about to rise.
"Come to think of it, we may as well take it easy," remarked Paul. "It isn't likely that Dottery will care to make a move before daylight."
"Yes; but if we get there sooner, we'll have a chance to rest up a bit, and we need that, and so do the horses."
"I didn't think of that. Well, forward we go."
An hour passed and then another. Soon after Chet gave a joyous cry.
"There are Dottery's outbuildings! We'll soon be there now!"
"Right you are, Chet. I wonder----" Paul stopped short. "Oh, look over there!" he cried.
He pointed to a barn not a great distance back from the road.
The door of the structure was open and within flashed the light of a lantern.
"Dottery must be up, or else----" began Chet.
Both boys uttered the word simultaneously. Could it be possible that the thieves were raiding their nearest neighbor?
"Wait. Let us dismount and investigate," whispered Paul. "Don't do anything rash," this as Chet started to run toward the barn.
Thus cautioned, the younger boy paused. The horses were tied up behind some brush, and, guns in hand, the pair crept across the road and over a wire fence into the field.
Hardly had they advanced a dozen steps when three men came out of the barn, leading four horses. They made for an opening in the fence not a rod from where the boys flung themselves flat on the grass.
From the description they had received, the lads made up their minds that the men were Saul Mangle, Darry Nodley, and Jeff Jones.
Chet and Paul could hardly suppress their excitement as they saw the horse thieves move toward the opening in the fence. Chet drew up his gun and pointed it at the leader.
"Don't fire! Wait!" cautioned Paul. "There are three of them, remember."
"I wonder where Dottery is?" questioned the younger boy, with his hand still on the trigger.
"We ought to arouse him. Run, Paul, while I keep watch."
"I will, but don't do anything rash during my absence," replied Paul Winthrop.
He sneaked along in the tall grass until the outbuildings were left a hundred feet and sped like a deer toward the ranch home, showing dimly in the grim shadows ahead.