Allen said nothing, having passed into one of the sleeping rooms. He began to rummage around the apartment, into the closet and the trunks.
"What's up?" questioned his two brothers in a breath.
"Yes, every dollar is gone!" groaned Allen.
He referred to three bags which had contained silver and gold to the amount of seven hundred dollars--the Winthrop savings for several years.
Paul and Chet gave a groan. Something like a lump arose in the throat of the younger youth, but he cleared it away with a cough.
"The mean, contemptible scoundrels!" burst out Paul. "We must get after them somehow!"
"I'll go after them," replied Allen, with swift determination. "Give me my rifle. I already have my pistol."
"You are not going alone, are you?" demanded Paul.
"I'll have to. There is only my mare to be had."
"It's foolhardy, Allen," urged Chet. "What could one fellow do against two or more? They would knock you over at the first chance."
"I won't give them the first chance," grimly replied Allen, as he ran for his rifle. "As they used to say when father was young, I'll shoot first and talk afterward."
"Can't two of us ride on the mare?" asked Paul. "I am not so very heavy."
"It can't be done, Paul; not with her all tired out after her morning's jaunt. No, I'll go alone. Perhaps the trail will lead past some other ranch and then I'll call on the neighbors for help."
"I reckon I can; leastwise I can try. I won't lose it unless they take to the rocks and leave the river entirely, and it ain't likely they'll do that."
Chet and Paul shook their heads. To them it seemed dangerous, and so it was. But it was no use arguing with Allen when he had once made up his mind, so they let him have his own way.
Three minutes later Allen was off on the trail of the horse thieves.
Although Allen Winthrop was but a young man in years, yet the fact that he had had the care of the family on his shoulders since the death of his parents had tended to make him older in experience and give him the courage to face whatever arose before him in the path of duty.
He was four years older than Chet and two years the senior of Paul, and the others had always looked upon him as a guiding spirit in all undertakings.
Consequently but little was said by way of opposition when Allen determined to go after the thieves alone, but nevertheless the hearts of both the younger brothers were filled with anxiety when they saw Allen disappear on the back of his mare up the trail that led to the southwest.