"There'll be less when we git through with them."

"You bet."

"Boss Simms will be mad. He'll be ripping, when we clean him out."

Two of the men rose at the big fellow's direction and stalked off
into the bushes to attend to their ponies, which the lad could hear
stirring restlessly, but could not see.

"Simms!" breathed Tad. "What does this mean? Those men are up to
some mischief. I know it. I must find out what it is they are
planning to do."

Tad learned a few moments later, but in his attempts to overhear
what the plans of these strange men were, he nearly lost his own
life.



CHAPTER VIII

INTO THE ENEMY'S CAMP

"Has Simms been warned that he'd better keep them out of this here
territory?" asked one.

"Yes."

"Who told him?"