At last, one day when searching the open country with my field-glasses, I was gratified and at the same time alarmed to see three or four men driving a considerable herd of cattle in the direction, and on exactly the same trail as before taken by the rustlers.

Convinced that all was not right, and quite realizing that there was the prospect of serious trouble for myself, I lit out for them, keeping as well under cover as possible, till, on mounting a small tree-covered knoll, I found myself directly overlooking their camp.

There were the cattle, from four to five hundred, and there the men, preparing their mid-day meal, four of them in all, and all strangers to me.

It was necessary at all costs to know who they were, so I was obliged to disclose myself by going into their camp.

The number of saddle horses they had with them led me to think that they were not real professional cattle thieves.