"What papers?"
"Your deeds and documents that give you the right to land on this sideof Spur Creek. If there's a legal question the sheep men may try tojump some of your claims."
"Oh, I guess not," said Mr. Merkel easily. "My papers are all in mysafe, and I can prove title by them easily enough. But, gentlemen,what are we going to do? That's the question now. What are wegoing----"
Mr. Merkel never finished that sentence. For he was interrupted by afusillade of shots just outside--shots in the night.
An instant later every man in the conference room, and the boy ranchersincluded, had leaped to his feet, and many hands sought the "guns" thatwere within easy reach.
"Some of your cowboys disporting themselves?" asked Mr. Ogden of theowner of Diamond X.
Mr. Merkel shook his head.
"Nothing like that," he remarked.
Some one yelled--there were more shots and then the voice of SlimDegnan, foreman of the ranch, was heard shouting:
"Get after 'em, boys! Head 'em off!"
"It's a stampede!" yelled Bud. "Come on, fellows!"