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"More than likely Link Merwell got them to do it," answered Roger. "It would be of a piece with his meanness." "I believe they were brought over by that Hank Snogger," said the shipowner's son. "Yes, but I think Snogger is in some way under Link's thumb," put in Dave. "Anyway, the two seem to have a good deal in common." "Well, it was a mean piece of business," said Belle.
Leaving the vicinity of the bridge, the party continued on the way to the railroad station. The train was not yet in, but it soon arrived and on it came the man Mr. Endicott wished to see. From the train also stepped Hank Snogger. The ranch hand had evidently been to a barber in the city, for he was shaven and his hair was closely trimmed. "He looks like quite a different person," remarked Belle.
"We ain't on very good terms any more, otherwise I'd give you a knock-down to him," went on the cowboy. "I don't know that I care for an introduction," answered Dave. "He doesn't look like a person I'd want for a friend he looks rather dissipated." "He was a good man when he worked for Mr. Endicott. But he's not so good since he went over to Merwell." There the talk about Hank Snogger ended.
"You brought those fellows over here you take 'em away an' mighty quick, too," said Sid Todd to Hank Snogger. And he gave the other cowboy such a black look that Snogger sneaked out of the house in a hurry. Outside, the three men were surrounded by a dozen of the Endicott hands, and they were forced to mount their horses and ride away; and that was the last seen of them for the time being.
"Snogger used to work for us, but Mr. Merwell hired him away." "That wasn't a very nice thing to do," was Roger's comment. "If it had been done openly it would not have been so bad," said Mr. Endicott. "But it was done secretly, and Snogger was gone almost before I knew it. He was a valuable man and I felt his loss keenly." "I suppose Mr. Merwell offered him more wages," said Phil.
Dunston Porter arrived, and listened to the many tales the young folks had to tell. "Well, you certainly have crowded things," he declared. "I wish I had been on that hunt." Belle was going East with Laura and Jessie, and Snogger accompanied the boys and Mr. Porter. All received a warm send-off at the railroad station.
You haven't any idea how that fellow hates me." "Hum!" mused Sid Todd. "Well, maybe, but I thought it must be the hoss-thieves." "Why would horse-thieves want to hurt our horses?" "They wouldn't want to do that, but they might be thinking our horses would fall and throw us. But I see that reasoning is weak. Maybe it was young Merwell and Hank Snogger.
"He always wore his hair long and straggly before." "Yes, and he wasn't any too clean," answered Dave. "Now he is well washed and brushed." Hank Snogger walked around the station on an errand, and then came up to where a horse was waiting for him. As he did this he passed quite close to the boys and girls and gave the former a cold stare.
And he started to sing in a heavy, liquor-laden voice. "You shut up or git out!" cried Sid Todd, striding forward. "They don't mean no harm," put in Hank Snogger, but he did not speak in positive tones. "You keep out of this, Snogger," answered Todd, coldly. "Those men have got to behave themselves or git out. I said it, an' I mean it." "That's right put 'em out!" shouted several.
He sent Hank Snogger out to look for him." "Then Link didn't come back this afternoon?" said Dave, quickly. "No, he's been out since early morning. You met him, eh?" "Yes, but that was about the middle of the forenoon. He was over in the woods." "It was such a blow the old man is worried, thinking Link might have got caught under a tree in the woods, or something like that. There's your trail.
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