CHAPTER VIII

A QUEER NOISE


The Curlytops looked at the ranch foreman as he said this. Uncle
Frank looked at him, too. The foreman stood twirling his big hat
around in his hand. Teddy looked at the big revolver--"gun" the
cowboys called it--which dangled from Jim Mason's belt.

"Bad news, is it?" asked Uncle Frank. "I'm sorry to hear that. I
hope none of the boys is sick. Nobody been shot, has there, during
the celebration?"

"Oh, no, the boys are all right," answered the foreman. "But it's
bad news about some of your ponies--a lot of them you had out on
grass over there," and he pointed to the west--just where Ted and
Janet could not see.

"Bad news about the ponies?" repeated Uncle Frank. "Well, now, I'm
sorry to hear that. Some of 'em sick?"

"Not as I know of," replied Jim. "But a lot of 'em have been taken
away--stolen, I guess I'd better call it."

"A lot of my ponies stolen?" cried Uncle Frank, jumping up from his
chair. "That is bad news! When did it happen? Why don't you get the
cowboys together and chase after the men who took the ponies?"

"Well, I would have done that if I knew where to go," said the