"It's foolhardy, Allen," urged Chet. "What could one fellow do against two or more? They would knock you over at the first chance."
"I won't give them the first chance," grimly replied Allen, as he ran for his rifle. "As they used to say when father was young, I'll shoot first and talk afterward."
"Can't two of us ride on the mare?" asked Paul. "I am not so very heavy."
The older brother shook his head.
"It can t be done, Paul; not with her all tired out after her morning's jaunt. No, I'll go alone. Perhaps the trail will lead past some other ranch and then I'll call on the neighbors for help."
"Can you follow the trail?"
"I reckon I can; leastwise I can try. I won't lose it unless they take to the rocks and leave the river entirely, and it ain't likely they'll do that."
Chet and Paul shook their heads. To them it seemed dangerous, and so it was. But it was no use arguing with Allen when he had once made up his mind, so they let him have his own way.
Three minutes later Allen was off on the trail of the horse thieves.
