"I don't know what to think."
"The horse-thieves might easily have come this way," said the senator's
son. "They would be more apt to go away from the ranch than towards it."
"Maybe they stopped here during the big blow," said Phil.
"I think you are right, for here are marks where the animals were tied
to trees," went on Dave. "I wonder--well, I declare!"
Dave stopped short and picked up a bit of a leather halter lying on the
ground. It was of curious Mexican design, having a light leather thong
entwined in a dark one.
"I don't know that I have ever seen a halter like that before," mused
Roger, as he took the bit of halter from Dave, and then passed it to
Phil.
"I have," answered Dave.
"So have I!" cried the shipowner's son. "Link Merwell's horse had one
on, the day we met on the trail!"
"Just what I was going to say," added Dave. "I noticed it particularly."
"Then this must belong to Link," came from the senator's son.
"Perhaps not," answered Dave, slowly. "There may be other such halters
around. We'll have to give Link the benefit of the doubt, you know."
"See here!" burst out Phil. "You may think as you please, but I have
always thought that Link had something to do with the taking of our
horses."
"Do you think he would deliberately steal six horses, Phil?"
"Well, maybe not deliberately steal them, but--but--I think he took
them, anyhow.
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