"It's a case of the hunters being hunted," Jack declared.
"And we'll have to stand our ground and trust to our revolvers. Maybe he won't attack us," Bob advised.
The big cat did not yell again and they were beginning to hope that it had passed them by after all, when Bob saw a thick clump of bushes, about thirty feet from where they stood, move and a pair of yellow eyes peered out at them. He nudged Jack and pointed.
"Shall we shoot?" Jack whispered.
"Not yet. Let's see what it's going to do."
The eyes remained motionless for a couple of minutes then disappeared.
"Guess he thought he better hadn't," Jack whispered.
"Listen," Bob ordered.
They could just catch the soft rustle of a bush now and then.
"He's creeping around to our right," Bob whispered.
"We ought to have shot when we had the chance."
"Maybe, but I reckon we'll have another."
"But that was a peach of a shot," Jack insisted.
"There he is again."
This time the eyes looked out from a clump not over twelve feet away and Bob whispered:
"Now let him have it."
But he spoke too late. An angry snarl came from the beast and the huge cat seemed to literally rise in the air and sail toward them.
Bob's gun spoke while the cat was still in the air but he knew that he had missed.
"Duck," he shouted as he sprang to one side.
Jack endeavored to obey but, in stepping back, his heel caught on a root and he bent down on his back and the lion landed fairly on top of him. Bob's heart seemed to leap into his throat as he saw his brother go down, and, without an instant hesitation he sprang forward. Boy and beast were rolling over and over on the ground first one on top and then the other. He saw at first glance, that Jack had a hold on the cat's neck with both hands and was keeping its jaws away from his throat by main strength. So fast were; they moving that he did not dare to fire for fear of hitting Jack, but he knew that he must do something at once or the boy would be clawed to death even though he succeeded in escaping the jaws.
With Bob to think was to act and it was probably not more than ten seconds from the time the cat jumped before he had a hold of his tail and was pulling for all he was worth. At the first tug the big cat uttered an angry snarl and Bob shouted:
"Push him off."
But either Jack did not hear or he was afraid to let go his hold for the pull did not budge the animal in the least. But it did stop the rolling and the beast, as though wondering what had attacked him from the rear, wrenched its head away and turned its eyes on Bob who still was pulling on the tail. With another angry snarl it tore itself from Jack's body and turned to attack its new enemy. But Bob had a grip of death on that tail and as the cat turned he too spun around so that the cat's head was away from him. But he knew that is was only a question of seconds when the mighty cat would wrench the tail from his grasp in one of his lunges. If only he had his gun in one hand but he had slipped it into his pocket when he had grabbed hold of the tail and he did not dare reach for it. His fingers seemed to be getting numb so tightly did he have to cling and he felt that they were slipping in spite of his strongest efforts.
Then, just as he knew that the cat was winning a shot rang out and the struggle was over. Shot through the head the cat fell over on one side, clawed frantically for a moment and then was still.
"Some shot," Bob gasped.
"And some pussy cat," Jack added as he gazed at the huge animal.
"Are you hurt?"
"Guess I got a few scratches but they don't amount to much," Jack replied.
Suddenly, to Bob's amazement, Jack burst out laughing.
"What's funny," he demanded.
"Honestly, Bob, if you could have seen yourself dancing about holding on to that fellow's tail, you wouldn't have to ask. It was better than a circus though I didn't think of it at the time."
"But your pants are torn to ribbons, boy. Are you sure you're not injured?"
Investigations showed that Jack's legs were scratched in several places but the scratches were not deep and, although a couple of them were bleeding rather freely, he insisted that it was nothing.
"It's a lucky thing you had on heavy breeches or you'd have been torn up for fair."
"I've heard of mountain lions but I never knew they came that large," Jack declared. "I'll bet he's all of seven feet from his nose to the tip of his tail. I'd sure like to have him stuffed."
"I thought a few minutes ago that he was going to have you stuffed inside of him," Bob said with a shudder. "That sure was one close call. Deliver me from any more of them."
"The call or the lion?"
"Either or both," Bob assured him.
"Well, come on, we can't wait here all day," Jack said.
"Think you're able to go on?"
"I know it. Anyhow we can't give up now."
A few minutes later they reached the top of the ridge and there they almost at once discovered signs that told them that, instead of going down the other side, Royce had turned to the right.
"Where do you suppose he's heading for?" Jack asked.
"Search me. All I know is he's on his way."
For some time their way led along the top of the ridge and Bob had just glanced at his watch and was about to tell Jack, who was a few feet ahead, that it was four o'clock, when he turned and held up his hand as a signal for silence.
"What is it?" he asked as soon as he had come up to him.
"I think he's just ahead of us. I saw a man a minute ago just beyond that big tree."
"Only one?"
"That's all I saw. Of course, there might have been someone ahead of him."
"Think he saw you?"
"I'm sure he didn't."
"That's good. Now to keep him in sight without letting him know it."
They advanced now with extreme caution, stopping every few minutes to listen and nearly every time they could hear the cracking of brush or the rattle of stones as their quarry pushed on in advance of them. Now and then they caught sight of him and once Jack was sure he saw two men.
"Seems to me we must be getting pretty near over to The Crotch," Bob said in a low voice about half an hour after they first saw Royce.
"Can't be very far from here. But listen. They've turned off to the left."
A moment later they struck a narrow but well defined path, which was remarkably smooth considering the locality.
"I say, Bob, we never thought to give the signal when we struck them," Jack said as they started along the path.
"Well, what do you know about that. Guess you'd better give it now, but I have no idea any of them are near enough to hear you."
Jack was an excellent imitator and the hoot hoot which he gave utterance to was realistic enough to deceive anyone. They listened but no answer came.
"Well, I didn't expect any," Bob said as they started on again. "I doubt if they're within five miles of here."
"Where do you suppose this path comes from?" Jack asked.
"I wonder, but just now I'm more concerned about where it goes to," Bob replied.
"It looks as though it was used a lot anyhow."
"It sure does but it's certain that no cattle have been driven over it."
Although the trail was smooth it was very crooked winding in and out among the trees and large rocks and they had to proceed with great care for fear of running into the men they were following for, of course, they had no way of knowing when they might stop for a rest.
Once they made a sharp turn in the trail and drew back just in time to avoid discovery by Royce and another man who were sitting on a log, apparently resting. They were talking in low tones as though they feared someone might be following them, and the boys, crouching in the bushes, were unable to hear what they were saying.
"You don't think they saw us, do you, Bob?" Jack whispered.
"No, but it kind of looks as though they thought someone was on their trail they are talking so low."
"Probably they just get that way being hunted most of the time as they are."
"Maybe."
It was about ten minutes later when they heard the man, who was with Royce, say:
"Wall, I reckon we'd better be hikin'. Red'll be on tender hooks till we get thar."
"How much farther is it?" they heard Royce ask.
"Not more'n two miles," the man replied.
"The trail's getting warm," Bob whispered as they started again as soon as they felt sure that they were out of sight.
"They won't stop to rest again, I reckon," Jack said.
"No, but we want to be mighty careful and not spill the beans now we're so close. If we muss things this time we may never get another chance."
"But I wish some of the boys were here. Wonder where they are."
"Goodness knows. But I doubt if they're very near."
While talking they were stealing silently along the narrow trail careful not to get too near but never letting the men get entirely out of hearing. They had gone perhaps a mile when the trail ran into a much wider one coming from the north and meeting it at nearly right angles.
"They've driven cattle along here all right," Jack declared as soon as he saw it."
"I'll say they have and, boy, we're on the way to his cache sure as little green apples give small boys the tummie ache," Bob declared.
"Looks like it and, from what that fellow said, it can't be a great way off."
"I reckon it's near enough so that some of his gang's apt to wander out this way most anytime."
"Meaning that from now on we want to be doubly careful."
"Meaning exactly that."
"Careful's my middle name from now on," Jack assured him.
"But what I can't make out is why we haven't crossed the Crotch trail before this, Bob mused.
"But we've made so many turns that like as not we've been going parallel with it a good part of the time," Jack suggested.
"You must be right, I reckon," Bob agreed.
They were going down hill now in a direction, so nearly as they could judge, away from the ranch. Huge trees, growing so closely together that their branches interlocked, lined both sides of the trail which except for the large and small rocks which were numerous, had been worn smooth by the passage of many cattle.
"I'd sure like to know where this trail starts," Bob declared a few minutes later.
"Well, the beginning of it must be mighty well hidden wherever it is or someone would have picked it up long before this. It's plain enough along here," Jack declared.
Bob was about to say something when they heard someone coming toward them.
"Quick, behind a tree," he ordered.
Two men were coming along the trail and, in another minute, they would have met. They were talking loudly enough so that the boys had no trouble in hearing them but, to their disappointment, they were speaking Spanish.
"Did you get any of it?" Jack asked as soon as they were out of hearing.
"Not very much but I heard one of them say something about a girl and, while I'm not certain, I think he was explaining to the other fellow that Hains would probably keep the girl for awhile and try to make some money out of her."
"You think he won't do as he agreed?"
"Why should he? Honor means nothing to him."
"I suppose not. I never did think much of this 'honor among thieves' stuff," Jack declared soberly.
"I was afraid of it. He's got a bad eye, that Hains," Bob said as he came out from behind the tree.
"How about waiting till after dark before we get any nearer?" Jack proposed. "It looks as though we've got to spend the night here in the woods anyhow and we're apt to run into some of those fellows any time now, and if they should catch us the fat would be in the fire for sure."
"I reckon you're right and it won't be very long to wait as it's beginning to thicken up a bit now. Gee, but some chow would go good about now."
"You said a mouthful but cheer up, we'll be hungrier than this before we get a chance to eat I reckon."
"You're a cheerful beggar," Bob grinned as he looked about for a good place to wait. "Let's get over behind that clump of trees. No one'll be apt to see us there."
They were hardly settled when they heard the two men coming back and they thanked their lucky stars, as Jack put it, that they had not kept on the trail. But they got no further information for the men did not speak a word as they went past. Slowly the shadows deepened and soon the moon peeped over the tree tops.
"She's going to be pretty near full tonight," Bob declared as he rose to stretch his legs.
"Wonder if it'll be a help or a hindrance to us," Jack mused.
"Hard to tell that when we don't know what we're going to be up against."
Another half hour passed and Bob again stood up.
"I reckon it's about as dark as it's going to get," he said.
"All right, let's go."
Keeping close together they walked slowly along the trail stopping every few minutes to listen. They were still going down hill and in places the descent was almost steep. They had covered about two hundred rods when they heard the murmur of voices.
"We're about there, I reckon," Bob whispered.
"It would seem so," Jack agreed.
"Suppose you stay here while I creep up and see what I can find out," Bob suggested.
"Nothing doing," Jack promptly vetoed the suggestion. "We stick together tonight. I can keep as still as you can and if we once got separated goodness knows what might happen."
"You're right. We'd better keep together, but we've got to be mighty careful. He had me once and it wasn't a pleasant experience let me tell you."
As they crept softly along the sound of the voices became clearer and soon they knew that they were only a few yards away. It was a wild place with the lofty hills, covered with the thick forest, rising on all sides, making a sort of natural amphitheatre. Regarding the size of the camp they could only guess but they were sure it was not very large as there seemed but little space between the hills. They could hear the men talking but, although they listened for some time, they could only catch a word now and then and were unable to get the drift of the conversation.
"We've got to get nearer," Bob whispered softly.
"Think it's safe?" Jack asked.
"Nothing's safe here, but we must take a chance."
They had left the trail fifty feet back thinking it safer to be in the thick woods where they could find concealment behind the trees. They could plainly see the light from the big camp fire through the trees although it did not light up the forest for any distance and, moving foot by foot and feeling their way with the utmost caution, they finally crouched behind a large spruce not more than a dozen feet from the clearing. There were, however, several other trees between them and the camp so that they could only catch a glimpse now and then of the men as they moved about. But they did not dare to risk getting nearer. In a moment after they had gained their position they heard a man speak and now they could plainly hear what he was saying. Both recognized Hains' voice.
"So yer tried ter double cross me."
"Call it that if you like," Royce's voice replied.
"What else can yer call it?"
"Well, the kid licked me and I was helpless."
"Yer ought ter be shot for letting a kid like that get the best of yer. D'yer call yerself a man?"
"I do not, but not because of that."
"Wall, I reckon yer know what we do ter traiters, don't yer?"
"I don't care what you do to me just so you let the girl go," Royce replied shortly.
"But I ain't a goin' ter let her go, not till Stebbins pays a good big ransom fer her."
"But you gave your word."
"An' I tuk it back. Had my fingers crossed when I made that bargain," the man sneered.
"Then you're a bigger scoundrel than I thought."
"Yer better keep a civil tongue in yer mouth or it'll be the worse fer yer. I'm boss here an' what I say goes. Yer ain't in no position ter call me any names an' yer might git me mad an' when I git mad I'm a holy terror let me tell yer. But s'pose I give yer another chance ter stay with us?"
For a moment Royce hesitated as though considering the proposition and the boys strained their ears to catch his answer.
"You mean it?" he finally asked.
"Mebby."
"I'll accept on condition that you let the girl go," Royce said quickly.
"Yer're in no position ter make conditions," Hains snapped. "I want a plain yes or no."
"Yes, then."
Had they been mistaken in Royce's loyalty? It seemed so and, for an instant Bob condemned him bitterly, but the thought then struck him that it might be he was playing a deeper game, and he decided that he would withhold judgment until he was sure.
"All right, we'll consider yer' case an' let yer know in the mornin', meanwhile yer're a prisoner an' if yer try ter git away or anything yer'll get a hunk o' lead an' no questions asked. Git me?"
"I get you," Royce answered shortly.
Hains then called two of his men and the boys heard him give them orders to guard Royce during the night.
"An' if he gits away yer know what'll happen ter yer," he concluded.
They could hear the two men leading Royce away, and Bob wondered whether or not the man deserved the fate that had overtaken him. He wished that he could get a better view of the place so as to be able to make some plan but knew it would be too dangerous to get any nearer while the men were moving about. Snatches of singing in a subdued tone reached them from time to time, and they could tell by the sounds that a number were playing cards close by the fire. How long would it be before they would settle down for the night? Bob wondered after an hour had passed.
"It's about time to make a move, isn't it?"
Another hour had passed when Jack asked the question. They had crept back about fifty feet after the first hour had passed and they had learned nothing more, knowing that they would be safer and that the time would pass quicker if they could talk to each other.
"It's only ten o'clock," Bob replied after a glance at his watch. "I don't think we'd better do a thing till after twelve, and goodness knows what we're going to do then.'"
It was true they had been able to make no definite plan as they knew so little regarding the situation. That Sue was a prisoner was certain but as to whether she was guarded or simply tied they could only guess. It was fairly certain that at least one man would keep awake in order to be sure that Royce did not get away. They would take no chances in that direction after Hains' threat.
"Gee, but it don't seem as though I could wait two hours longer," Jack whispered.
"I know it's hard but I reckon we can stick it out if it's best," Bob encouraged him. "You know it's better to play it as safe as we can as much more than our own safety depends on us."
"You bet we'll do our best," Jack agreed.
By half past ten all was quiet about the camp save for the gentle whinnie of a horse or the sound of stamping hoofs as they moved about. The fire was dying down as they could now barely see it through the trees, and about eleven the moon passed under a cloud, drawing a pall of intense blackness over the forest. It was so dark that they could barely see each other's form although they were sitting so close together that their shoulders almost touched.
"Think it's lucky or unlucky about the moon?" Jack asked.
"Can't tell a thing about it. You see it may be a big help to us and then, on the other hand, it may be just the opposite. If we only knew just where she is I'd say it was a good thing but we don't and what I'm afraid of is that it's going to be a hard job to locate her now that we can't see anything."
"But if we can't see them it's some comfort to know that they can't see us either."
"But we mustn't lose sight of the fact that they have all the advantage in that they know where they're at and we don't."
"That's so," Jack agreed. "But it'll make it easier to get away after we get her," he added hopefully.
"You said it," Bob encouraged him.
For another hour they waited, now talking in whispers and then watching the sky hardly knowing whether they hoped the moon would reappear or stay hidden. But it remained clouded over and there was a feeling in the air accompanied by a soft sighing of the trees which they knew indicated rain.
"It's twelve o'clock," Bob whispered.
"Then let's go."
"I wish, Jack, that you'd stay here and let me go alone," Bob said anxiously.
"I thought we'd settled that question some time ago. We stick together tonight."
"But——"
"There are no more buts now than there were then. Come on, let's go."
Had it not been for Bob's keen sense of direction they might have started in the wrong direction as they had nothing else to guide them. Even as it was Bob was not quite sure that he was right until he saw through the trees the dull glow of the dying camp fire. Foot by foot they crept on hardly daring to draw a full breath and stopping every two or three feet to listen.
Soon they could hear the deep breathing of sleeping men and now and then a loud snore caused an impatient movement on the part of some more silent sleeper. Presently they were on the edge of the clearing and, although the embers of the fire were barely glowing, they could distinguish, on the opposite side, what seemed to be several good sized tents. So near as they were able to judge they were some thirty feet away and Bob drew Jack back as he whispered:
"We'll have to get around on the other side. She's probably in one of the tents. You saw them, didn't you?"
"I saw something that I thought might be tents but it was too dark to be sure."
"They were tents all right," Bob assured him.
Very slowly and carefully they picked their way foot by foot keeping as near the clearing as they dared. They knew that men accustomed to the life which they led were usually light sleepers and that even the breaking of a stick might be enough to give the alarm. The growth was very thick all about the camp and, short as the distance was, it was after one o'clock when they reached the side on which the tents were pitched.
"Now our ears are about the only things we've got to depend on," Bob whispered as he strained his to catch the slightest sound.
"Lucky they're good ones," Jack whispered bade. "What are we going to do now?"
"There's only one thing we can do so far's I can see, and that is to get up close to the tents and listen. We can't go prowling around promiscuously you know."
"I know, but——"
"I'm in hopes that we can tell the difference between her breathing and the others," Bob explained.
"If she's asleep."
"Here's hoping."
Inch by inch they edged nearer until they were lying on the ground close behind one of the tents. At first they could hear nothing but after awhile the faint, but deep breathing which betokens the sound sleeper came to their ears. Listening with ears strained to the utmost Bob soon convinced himself that there were several men in that tent and, hoping that Hains had had the decency to at least give her a tent by herself, he nudged Jack and they began to squirm towards the next one which was only a few feet away.
Here the results were the same. There was no doubt that the tent was filled with men and they moved to the next. They had just reached it when a piercing shriek broke the stillness of the night.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE ROUND UP.
The shriek came from the tent directly in front of them and for a second Bob's heart seemed to stop beating. That it was Sue there could be no doubt. Jack started up but Bob caught him by the arm and dragged him back.
"S-s—s-h," he whispered. "Wait a minute."
"But——"
"Quiet."
Just then the sound of a man's voice, from around in front of the tent was heard.
"What in Sam Hill's the matter wid yer?"
For a moment there was no reply then they heard Sue's voice say:
"I guess I had the nightmare."
"What's the matter?"
This was Hains' voice and came from the tent to their right.
"'S allright," they heard the man, who had spoken first, reply, "Gal had a nightmare, that's all."
"She'd better not have 'em any more," they heard Hains growl and then all was still again.
Bob gave Jack's arm a pull, a signal which he understood, and they backed slowly into the forest until they were thirty or more feet from the tent.
"We've found her at any rate," Jack whispered.
"But we haven't got her out yet, not by a long shot."
"Long shot is right," Jack agreed. "What's the next move?"
"We've got to wait till everyone gets to sleep again in the first place. That yell must have woke them all up."
"It was loud enough to wake the dead pretty near," Jack agreed.
"Looks as though they had posted a guard in front of her tent," Bob suggested.
"No doubt of it. Think we can get the jump on him?"
"Too risky."
"Then what?"
"Well, I'm not sure, of course, but it sounded to me as though she was pretty close to the back of the tent and I think our best bet is to get up as close as we can and try to attract her attention. She probably won't go to sleep for some time after that scare and we ought to make her hear without disturbing the guard. He's apt to be asleep anyhow, especially if she's tied and I reckon there's not much doubt about that."
"Good plan," Jack whispered enthusiastically. "How soon can we try it?"
"I'd say in about a half hour."
The half hour passed after what seemed a long time and Bob whispered that it was time to make the attempt.
"But wait a minute," he ordered, and Jack knew that he was breathing a prayer and his own heart echoed the silent petition. A few minutes more and they were again lying close behind the tent. A slight but distinct sound soon convinced them that the girl was not asleep but was moving as though to ease her cramped limbs.
Raising the side of the tent a few inches Bob trust his face beneath it and whispered faintly.
"Sue."
The moving stopped, but there was no answer.
"Sue," he whispered, this time a trifle louder.
"Who is it?"
The reply was so low that he barely caught the words.
"It's Bob," he whispered back.
"Thank God!"
There was a volume of relief in the words and both boys knew how great must have been her fear.
"Are you tied?" Bob asked.
"Yes."
"Both hands and feet?"
"Yes."
"Can you get your hands back close to the side of the tent?"
"I'll try. Wait a minute."
He got his knife ready and soon he felt her hands as she pushed them behind her, and in another minute they were free.
"Now hand me the knife and I'll free my feet," she whispered with a deep sigh of relief. "Wait a minute till I get the circulation started and I'll be with you."
"What's the matter in thar? Having another night horse?"
The boys held their breath as they heard the guard push aside the flap of the tent. Were they to fail just when success seemed assured?
"I-I guess not," they heard Sue say.
"Thought I heard you whisperin'."
"If your hands and feet were tied as tight as mine I reckon you'd do more than whisper," she told him.
"It's too bad, but I don't dare do nuthin'."
"Reckon I can stand it," they heard her tell him.
"Reckon yer'll have ter."
The man went out and the boys could hear her sigh of relief. For some moments they waited not daring to whisper again and then a slight movement from inside the tent warned them that she was edging closer to the wall of the tent. Bob slipped the guy rope from one of the pegs and, in another minute she was on the outside.
Without even a whisper they crept noiselessly back into the forest until they felt that they were safe.
"How'd you ever find me?" Sue whispered as she leaned back against a tree.
In a few words Bob told her how they had stumbled onto the trail and had followed Royce and the other man to the cache.
"Is Royce here?" she asked in surprise.
"Yes, he's here."
"But I thought—" she began, but Bob interrupted her.
"Just a minute and you'll understand."
"And you mean that he said he'd stay with that gang?" she asked after he had told her about the bargain Hains had made.
"That's what he said, but I honestly believe he had a motive back of it. You see, he probably thought it was the only way he could help you."
"And you say they're holding him prisoner now?"
"Yes."
"Then we've got to rescue him."
"I wish we could but I'm afraid it's impossible," Bob told her sadly.
"Why is it?" she asked.
"Because two of the men are guarding him and Hains threatened them if they let him get away."
"But when they find I've escaped they'll most likely kill him," she insisted.
Neither of the boys had any answer to this and, after a moment's wait she continued:
"Couldn't we do it the same as you did for me?"
"I don't see how," Jack spoke for the first time since they had mentioned Royce. "You see if they've got him in one of the tents it's dead certain that he isn't there alone and we couldn't make him know that we're here without telling some of the gang at the same time."
"Jack's right," Bob declared. "I'd risk most anything to get him out of their clutches but that wouldn't be a risk, it'd be a dead sure thing."
"But it's awful when he gave himself up to save me," Sue moaned.
"I know it is," Bob agreed, "but it seems to me the best thing we can do for him is to get back as soon as we can and bring the boys in here."
"But you'll never be able to find your way back home in this darkness," she objected.
"Gracious, I never thought of that, and we're a long way from home too," Bob sighed.
"And it would be worse than useless to try and find our way back tonight," Jack added.
"Then what can we do?" Sue asked.
"I think we'd better get a little farther away from here the first thing," Bob advised. "You see that fellow may miss you most any time and he'll raise the camp when he does."
He had hardly spoken when they heard a shout from the direction of the tent.
"The gal's gone," a man cried and a moment later there was a perfect bedlam of shouts as they evidently realized that someone must have helped her escape.
"Keep close together and make as little noise as possible," Bob ordered as he sprang to his feet.
He had little idea in which direction he ought to go, but his one thought was to avoid the trail and to put much distance between them and the camp as possible. The moon was still hidden, although the rain had held off, and they were obliged to go slowly to avoid running into the trees. From the sounds behind them they knew that the outlaws were already scattering to take up the search and Bob blamed himself that they had waited so long.
Fifteen minutes passed and they could hear men on both sides of them as they beat the woods and several times flashes of light told them that some, at least, of the outlaws had electric flashlights. It was only a question of time, Bob thought, when they would be caught and he shuddered to think what would become of them. But he did not lose heart, instead he urged the others to greater speed although he knew that they were going about as fast as was possible.
"Don't get separated whatever you do," he cautioned.
"You can't lose us," Sue panted close at his heels.
"'And Jack came tumbling after'," Jack added cheerful even in the face of danger.
"Do you know which way we're going?" Sue asked a few minutes later.
"I'm pretty certain that we're going in the opposite direction from the ranch."
"Then perhaps we'd better turn off to the left," Jack suggested.
"Too risky," Bob advised. "We'd be almost sure to run into one of those fellows. I think we'd better keep on even if we are going away from the ranch."
"I think so too," Sue said and added: "We seem to be distancing them."
Bob had begun to feel a bit easier as he had noticed that the sounds made by their enemies were farther off than when they had started and, for the first time he really dared hope that they would get away. Then suddenly there was a crashing of underbrush just to their right and, almost before they had time to think, a beam of light struck Bob square in the face and the form of Red Hains loomed up behind it.
"So it's you, eh?" he growled as he took a step forward.
Bob afterward declared that had he stopped to think he would never have dared attempt what he did. As the man stepped forward it happened that the boy was standing on a bit of a knoll and, almost without thinking, he lunged forward dashing his fist with all his strength into the man's face. The action was so sudden and entirely unexpected that the man had no time to protect himself and the blow caught him fairly on the point of the chin. He went over backward without a sound save the crackling of the brush as he struck the ground, the torch falling from his hand as he fell. The light was switched on and Jack quickly sprang forward and grabbed it up.
"Get your gun on him, Bob," he cried.
Bob already had his automatic out but there was no use for it. Hains lay like one dead.
"A knock out clean's a whistle," Jack declared as he bent over the man.
"What a peach of a punch," Sue gasped.
"Let's beat it before he wakes up," Bob advised.
"It's too bad we haven't got something to tie him with," Jack declared.
"What's the matter with a handkerchief?" Sue suggested.
"Better than nothing. Roll him over, Jack, and I'll tie his hands behind him. I can do it so that it'll take him a while to get free."
He worked quickly and in a few seconds the man's hands were as securely bound as was possible under the circumstances.
"Now gag him," Sue ordered.
This was done with Jack's handkerchief and they again set off convinced that it would be some time at least before he would be able to follow them.
"It's a lucky thing for us that he was alone," Jack declared a few minutes later as they stopped to listen.
No sound, save the rustle of the branches as they swayed in the light breeze came to them and they concluded that the men must have given up the search. They went on for another half hour, during which time they heard no sound from their pursuers, and Bob suggested that they stay where they were until it began to get light.
"I think we'll be able to get our bearings as soon as it is light and there's no use in getting any farther away than we have to."
"Second the motion," Jack said throwing himself on the ground.
"I don't believe it's going to rain after all," Bob declared as he too sank down by his side.
"What time is it?" Sue asked.
"Half past two."
"Then it'll begin to lighten up in about an hour."
"I reckon," Jack agreed.
"Do you suppose there's any chance that Royce got away in the confusion?" Sue asked.
"He might have," Bob replied, but in his heart he doubted it greatly. He had heard Hains when he told the men to guard him and he knew that they feared him.
They had been there about half an hour, at times whispering and again dozing for a few minutes, when Sue's quick ears caught a sound which escaped the boys.
"Someone or something is coming this way," she whispered.
"I didn't hear anything," Bob said as he drew the revolver from his pocket resolved to take no chances.
"Listen a minute and you will," Sue told him.
"I hear it," Jack declared just then.
"I'll bet it's Hains," Bob said as he got to his feet. "Let's keep perfectly still and maybe he'll go by without spotting us."
It was soon evident that the man or animal was coming directly toward them and soon Bob changed his opinion as to its identity. Hains would never make so much noise in passing through the woods, even if he was hunting no one. This must be either a stray steer or a man unused to the forest, for he was making, as Jack whispered, more noise than a train of cars.
Bob knew that he was only a few feet away when he flashed the light, which Hains had dropped, and at the same time ordered whoever it was to stop.
"Oh, it's he," Sue cried joyfully as she jumped for the man.
"Royce, sure as guns," Jack added.
"Good boy." Bob shoved the revolver back in his pocket and then they were all trying to shake hands with him at the same time.
"Now tell us all about it," Sue ordered when the first greetings were over.
"But first tell us if you think they're after you," Bob said. "Safety first, you know."
"I think they've given it up," he told them. "They almost had me a dozen times, but I managed to slip them and I haven't heard a thing for the last half hour."
"But how did you get away?" Sue demanded impatiently.
"Well, they had me tied, that is my hands were tied behind my back, but I'm pretty good when it comes to getting ropes loose, and I had very little trouble in fixing it so that I could slip the knot any time I wanted to."
"Didn't they tie your feet?" Sue asked as he paused.
"No, I guess they thought I wouldn't go very far with my hands tied, and with two men standing guard over me. Well, I was in a tent with four or five of them and was sound asleep when someone shouted that you had got away. Maybe I wasn't glad. The men all jumped up and rushed out of the tent, all but one, and as soon as they were gone I jumped him. It was darker'n pitch in the tent and I don't know where I hit him, but it must have been in a pretty good place, because he dropped like a log and I beat it. He must have come to pretty soon, though, for they were after me in almost no time and how I ever got away I don't know."
"Did you know that we were following you?" Bob asked.
"I didn't till we were almost to the camp. Then I looked back just as we made a sharp turn in the trail and saw you. Then I knew that you were watching while Hains was talking to me there because I saw that bush move. I 'spect you thought I'd turned yellow again, but I figured it was the only way I'd stand even a chance to help her."
"Just what I thought," Bob assured him.
"Do you know where we are?" Royce asked.
"No, haven't an idea, but I think we can find the way out as soon as it gets light," Bob told him.
"Well, if you take my advice we'll keep going right now. They'll be after us again as soon as day breaks."
"All right, come on. It'll begin to get light most any time now, but be careful and don't get separated," Bob cautioned as he started off.
The first hint of the coming dawn stole over the forest soon after they set out and it was not long before they were able to see for several feet ahead.
"That's East over there," Bob pointed as he stopped and he looked about him, "and that's the way we want to go, but it'll take us right back toward that camp."
"Then I guess we'll have to make a wide circle," Jack said.
"And you're guessing just about right," Bob assured him.
"Do you have any idea as to how far we are from the foot of the hills?" Royce asked.
"Not much, but it's a long way all right, especially on an empty stomach," Bob answered.
"Empty stomach," Jack echoed. "Gee, I could eat raw sidewinder and think it was a fried trout."
"It's too bad," Sue consoled them. "I had some supper last night, so I'm not quite starved, but you must be empty clear down to your toes."
While they had been talking they had been pushing their way toward the South, making as good time as possible. Another hour and the sun was up over the tops of the trees and it began to warm up, although the night had not been cold. Bob had nothing but the sun to guide him, but he was an expert when it came to finding his way through the trackless forest and he had little fear of not being able to find his way out provided their strength held out. That was his main source for worry now. Tramping through the dense woods when one has not eaten for twenty-four hours is no joke and he was beginning to feel a bit weak and he knew that Jack was no stronger than he.
He was leading the way some feet in advance of the others when, suddenly, he drew his revolver and fired.
"Here's some breakfast for us," he cried as he plunged forward and picked up a large rabbit "It'll be a bit flat without salt, but it'll give us strength," he told them.
Fortunately he had a box of matches and they were not long in finding a good place for a fire close by a small stream. There was plenty of dead wood about and while Bob dressed the animal Jack started the fire going and in less than fifteen minutes the rabbit was roasting.
"Wish I had a hook and line," Jack said as he felt through his pockets. "I'll bet there are trout in that brook."
But none of them had so much as a pin and they were forced to give up their hope of trout.
"I suppose it's pretty risky building a fire, but without it I don't believe we'd have strength enough to get out," Bob said as he turned the rabbit.
The meal was, as Bob had predicted, somewhat flat, but there is nothing like real hunger to make a meal taste right and there was not a trace of anything but the bones left when they had finished.
"Never cared much for rabbit before but that certainly did hit the right spot," Jack declared.
"Now we want to make as good time as we can," Bob said as they were ready to start once more. "It's more than likely that they've seen the smoke from our fire and are on our trail."
Much strengthened by the meal they set out with renewed courage and, stopping only when if was necessary for a breathing spell, they kept on hour after hour. Bob was afraid that Sue would not be able to keep up the pace but, to his surprise, she seemed absolutely tireless and often urged them to greater speed. If was shortly after noon when they came to a trail, and halted for a rest.
"Why, this is the trail to The Owl's Head," Sue declared as they were about to start again.
"Are you sure?" Bob asked.
"Sure is right. See that big tree right there? Well you look on the other side of it and you'll find my initials, S.B., cut in the bark about four feet from the ground."
"Right you are," Jack announced a moment later. "It's S.B. all right."
"Then you ought to know about how far we are from the edge of the woods," Bob said.
"It's about three miles from here to the foot of the hills," she told them.
"That's good news," Bob assured her. "I really didn't think we were so near out."
"An' yer not quite as near as yer think."
They all jumped at the sound of the voice which came from a thicket a little to their right, and their hearts sank as six men, headed by Red Hains, stepped out into the trail. Every man carried a revolver in his hand and Bob realized at once that resistance would be useless.
"It'll be some time afore yer out o' the woods, I reckon," Hains sneered.
"Perhaps not so long as you think."
The last words came from the other side of the trail and Sue's heart leaped for joy as she recognized her father's voice.
"We've got ever one of you covered and the first man that makes a move will never make another."
As he spoke, Jeb, followed by nearly all the men on the Lazy S., stepped out from the bushes and at least one gun covered each of the outlaws.
"Frisk 'em, Slim," Jeb ordered after he had told them to throw their guns on the ground.
The surprise was complete and the outlaws made no resistance.
"My baby!" There were tears in Jeb's eyes as he took Sue in his arms, and Bob noticed that his eyes were not the only wet ones.
The stories were soon told and more tears rolled down Jeb's cheeks as he grasped the boys by the hand. Royce, too, came in for his full share of praise and it was a happy crowd that, shortly after, started down the trail.
They found the horses at the foot of the hills and the boys, together with Jeb, Sue and Royce, set off at once for the ranch, leaving the rest to bring in the captured gang.
Charlie had a big meal ready for them almost as soon as they arrived, and how they did eat.
"But it's got nothing on that rabbit," Jack declared as he passed his plate for his third helping of chicken.
CHAPTER XIV.
CONCLUSION.
They had been sitting on the porch after the meal for some two hours talking over the last adventure, which had resulted so happily, when Sue cried:
"Here they come."
The boys, headed by Slats and Slim, were just turning in at the gate and a few minutes later they had herded the gang of outlaws in front of the porch. They were a sullen and dejected looking lot, all except Red Hains, whose face still bore a defiant air.
"What'll we do with these birds, Jeb?" Slats called out.
"Give 'em a necktie party," one of the boys called out.
"That's what," another agreed.
"No, we won't do that," Jeb declared as he stepped off the porch. "They deserve it no doubt, that is to say, some of them do, but it's for the law to decide, not us. I've phoned to town and the sheriff'll be out here with some of his men as soon's he can make it. Ought to be in an hour or so. So you'd better take them down to the corral and let two or three of the boys stand guard over them. But play it safe."
"Yer'er a shoutin' we'll play it safe," Slats assured him. "Right about face. Now hep up thar an' no turnin' of eyes," he ordered the prisoners.
As they turned away Bob glanced at his brother with a questioning look in his eyes. He was not quite sure but he fancied that he had detected a look of satisfaction flash over the face of Red Hains when Jeb announced that the sheriff would soon be there, and he wondered if Jack had noticed it.
Jack looked puzzled as though he was uncertain what Bob was trying to ask and the latter shook his head slightly as if to say that it did not matter. But it so happened that, a few minutes later, they were alone on the porch and he was quick to ask:
"What did you mean, Bob?"
"Did you see Red's face when Jeb said that Skeets would be out soon?"
"No, why?"
"Maybe it was my imagination, but I fancied he seemed mighty pleased at the idea, and I wondered if you noticed it."
"Sorry, but I must have been looking somewhere else."
"Probably if doesn't matter but——"
"You mean——?"
"Well, you know Jeb's opinion regarding the sheriff."
"Sure, and you think that Red thinks that he'll give them a chance to get away."
"Something like that."
"Then we'd better speak to Jeb about it, don't you think?"
"I suppose so, but I don't know as it'll do any good. There's nothing definite against him, you know."
"And I reckon it's too late now anyhow, for there he comes if I'm not mistaken," Jack said pointing toward the gate.
Six horsemen were riding in through the gate and, as they swept up in front of the porch, Jeb came out through the door.
"Skeets isn't with them," Jack had whispered to Bob just before the men drew their horses to a halt.
"Hello, boys. Where's Skeets?" Jeb greeted them.
A tall lanky man with a fierce looking black mustache acted as spokesman.
"That prutty hard ter say right now. Yer see Skeets he resigned his job's soon's he got yer telephone message an' the last seen o' him he was makin' tracks for the railroad station."
"You mean he's gone?" Jeb asked.
"I reckon."
"Then I guess there's not much doubt but that he was in cahoots with Red."
"That's how we figger it."
"Then who's sheriff?"
"I reckon I'm it fer the time bein' seein' how I was first deputy."
"And I don't know of a man I'd rather see have the job," Jeb declared as he held out his hand.
"You said something," one of the man declared.
"They don't make 'em better'n Jake Grubb," another added.
The new sheriff seemed much embarrassed at those eulogies and muttered about the job being pushed on to him, then, turning to Jeb, he said:
"I reckon you know thar's a reward o' $2,000 fer the capture o' Red Hains."
"Sure, I know it," Jeb replied.
"Well, who gits it?"
"Bob and Jack Lakewood," a voice sang out from behind them.
It was Slats Magee who made the statement. He had come up from the corral and had heard the sheriff ask the question.
"Not much," Bob spoke up quickly. "We didn't catch him."
"Who did then?" Slats demanded.
"I guess you had as much to do with if as anyone," Bob laughed.
"Wal, it goes ter some o' yer crowd," the sheriff said to Jeb. "I reckon yer can fight that out among yerselves. I've got ter get a hustle on if I'm goin' ter git that gang in the jail afore dark. Come on, boys, let's go."
Bob knew, a few moments later, when the outlaws were led out of the corral, that he had been right. If ever a man's face expressed despair it was Red Hains' when he found that Skeets was not with the men who had come to take them to the jail.
"He was counting on Skeets to let him get away all right," he told Jack after they had gone.
"Now about that reward," Slats said as they stood by the corral gate.
"It goes to you fellows," Bob told him in a decided tone.
"Not so you'd notice if," Slim declared and his statement was applauded by all the hands including Jeb and Sue. "Yer see, if it hadn't been fer you two boys we'd never have got 'em," Slim explained.
"But we didn't catch them: they caught us," Bob insisted. Then, seeing that they were determined, he said: "I'll tell you what we'll do. We'll take the money and get the best radio outfit we can buy for the ranch and what's left over will be used as a fund for us all, to get anything that we all can enjoy. All in favor say aye."
After a little hesitation and talking among themselves it was decided to do as Bob had suggested and he was appointed a committee of one to purchase the outfit.
"They're a great bunch of fellows," Bob whispered to Jack as they walked back to the house.
"The best ever," Jack agreed.
They learned the next day that the outlaws were lodged safely in jail and the entire district for miles around breathed easier.
THE END.