"And no wonder Sam and Dick were made prisoners," added Fred.
"I hope the rascals don't do them harm," said Tom. "If I thought that, I'd be for moving on the ranch without delay."
"I think your brothers will be safe enough for the time being," came from James Monday. "I am sorry that you let that dolt get away from you."
"If we had thought it of such importance, we should certainly have kept him a prisoner," replied Songbird.
"I was watching my chance to get into the ranch house unobserved," continued the government official. "That shot rather floored me. But I am going to get in, some way," he added with determination.
"Listen, I think I hear somebody coming!" cried Songbird.
"Let us get to the side of the road," said James Monday.
They did as advised, the boys mounting their horses and the government official donning his wig and false beard and taking Sam's steed. Soon they were stationed behind a pile of rocks.
"It's a wagon that is coming!" said Tom a minute later. "I can hear the wheels scraping on the rocks."
