their bows.'
'Want us alive,' Sudden explained. 'I'm bettin' they didn't savvy we'd got our guns.'
'Well, they know now,' Sandy said, 'though there's some it won't interest no more.'
He nodded grimly at the plain before them, where the bodies of seven men and as many horses could be seen. Even as they looked, one of the former rose, and crouching, ran towards his friends. Sandy's rifle cracked and the runner reeled and fell.
'Been watchin' that jasper,' the marksman said callously. 'Had a notion I on'y got his bronc.'
The incident evoked howls of rage from the Comanches, with threatening gestures, but the warriors kept their distance. They had been taught a sharp lesson and had no wish for another. Carol, crouching tiredly behind a boulder, called a question, and Sandy cursed the country, the Indians, and lastly, himself.
'Wouldn't yu fancy a fella might have brains enough to hop off an' fill a canteen at the first stream, huh?' he queried savagely.
'Why, no, when two minutes' delay could mean life or death,' his friend consoled.
He went over to the girl and explained the position, concluding with the droll little smile which, even in the direst danger, he was able to summon. 'yu see, we left in just a suspicion o' haste. Still, Sandy might have . .
She would not have that. 'He had enough to think of, and I ought not to have said anything. Do you think the redskins will attack again?'
Sandy's voice answered the question. 'Hi, Jim, they're limn' up ; looks like they aim to have another try.'
In fact, the long line was moving forward again but this time it extended farther--yards separating the riders. Also, they were moving slowly, the ponies gradually gathering pace for the final dash. This made the task of the defenders more difficult, for instead of firing into a mass, they had to place every shot.
'No use waitin' till they're near,' Sudden said. 'Pick yore man an' let fly soon as he's in range.'
'I'm takin' that jigger on the pinto,' Sandy said, and pulled the trigger. 'Cuss the luck,' he added, as the horse went down, and its rider, after rolling on the ground, arose and shook a vengeful fist.
Sudden toppled a tall warrior from his seat and then an amazing change came over the scene. From somewhere be-' hind the attacking line rang out a volley of rifle-fire which sent half a dozen ponies careering across the plain masterless. The Comanches, taken utterly by surprise, scattered and fled, hotly pursued by the newcomers, who wore the garb of white men. Sandy swung his hat and whooped.
'It'll be the boys, Jim ; they've found us at last,' he cried. 'Why for yu lookin' as if yu'd lost a dollar?'
'If that's the outfit, the S E has been takin' on hands--there was a dozen of 'em,' Sudden replied. 'Ever hear o' the steak that fell outa the frying-pan?' Before the boy could reply, the rescuers came racing back,and their leader, reining in, pushed up the brim of his battered sombrero and disclosed the malevolent face of Navajo. He grinned evilly as he recognized the men to whose aid he had come.
'Well, well, see who's here,' he drawled. 'Sandy, his sidekick, an' '--his triumphant eyes travelled to the girl--'that must be Eden's gal. Shore was lucky for yu-all that we took a fancy to see what mischief this red scum was up to.'
'We're obliged to yu,' Sudden said shortly.
'Oh, yeah,' the ruffian sneered. 'But seein' we're Rogue's men yu'll have to thank him in person. I'm bettin' * he'll be main pleased to see yu.'
The covert intimation that they were prisoners was no more than Sudden expected. For a moment he did not reply ; he was studying their new captors. Two of them he had seen at the outlaw hide-out, though he did not know their names ; the rest were strangers.
'I was wantin' a word with Rogue anyway,' Sudden said.
'Good, then we'll be movin'--I reckon them 'paints has got their needin's,' Navajo returned. His eyes narrowed. 'There's on'y one point: yu boys must be tired ; guess we'll carry yore guns for yu.'
Sudden laughed scornfully. 'yu don't guess very good,' he retorted. 'If yu want our weapons yu'll have to buy 'em an' the price will be high. Sabe?'
Navajo did. The cowboy had rested his rifle against a rock and now stood with hands hovering over the butts of his revolvers, his slitted eyes boring into those of the other. The half-breed hesitated ; he had seen those long, nervous fingers at work before. It was twelve men against two, but ... His glance went to the plain, still dotted with brown bodies. His shoulders shrugged submission.
'yu an' yore men lead the way--we'll follow,' Sudden said. 'At the first sign of funny business, yu'll take a header into hell, Navajo.'
The man scowled, but made no reply. He realized that the prisoners would be of no use dead, and he was not sure of his leader's attitude towards them ; Rogue did not confide in him. So, when they set out, he and his ruffians went first, followed by Sudden and Sandy with the girl riding between them. Carol, who had not heard all that passed, was curious.
'Who are these men?' she asked.
'Some of Rogue's Riders an' they are takin' us to their chief,' Sudden told her. 'We ain't out o' the wood yet.'
'Rogue?' she cried in amazement. 'But he's a Texan outlaw. What is he doing so far north?'
'He followed us--it was his gang stampeded the herd.'
'Well, at least they are white--not savages.'
Luckily she did not see the look her companions exchanged ; it would not have added to her comfort.
Two hours of slow but arduous riding, owing to the difficult nature of the trail, brought them to the outlaws' camp pitched in a glade on the bank of a stream and shadowed by tall pines. A small fire, near which lay cooking utensils, a little heap of stores covered by a slicker, saddles carelessly thrown down, picketed ponies, and the absence of any shelter, denoted the temporary nature of the halting-place. Around a spread blanket four men were playing cards, while another paced slowly to and fro. He looked up as Navajo rode in.
'Get any buffalo?' he asked.
'Never seed hide nor hair o' one,' the half-breed replied. 'The boys'll have to pull their belts in to-night. Allasame, we had good huntin'.'
Rogue's eyes widened when he saw the last three of the party. 'How come?' he asked sharply.
Sullenly the man recounted the circumstances. His coup was not being received with the enthusiasm he had looked for. His chief heard him with an expressionless face until he came to the weapon incident, and then he said :
'So Jim didn't wanta part with his guns, huh?'
The jeer in his voice stung the half-breed. 'It would have meant a battle ; I reckon I played it right,' he retorted angrily. 'yu played it safe, anyway,' came the sneer. 'Awright, I'll talk to Jim now--alone.'
'yu ain't overlookin' what this means, Rogue?' the other urged. 'That's Carol Eden there, an' her dad'll turn over the whole herd to git her back. Why, it's a pat hand. But mebbe this is what yu bin plannin'? Mebbe Jim an' Sandy was fetchin' her in when the Injuns'
His leader's cold gaze stopped him. 'Mebbe yu'll mind yore own business, Navajo,' he said. 'When I want yore advice I'll shorely ask for it. Tell Jim I'm waitin'.'
The scowling half-breed slouched to where the girl and her companions were standing, and gave the message. His leeringeyes swept over Carol and brought the hot blood to her cheeks. Sudden saw the look and said sternly:
'If any guy gets fresh, Sandy, shoot him.'
When he had gone, the girl turned to her companion and said quietly, 'What is going to happen?'
'I dunno,' the young man told her. 'Jim'll get us out ; he's a wizard, that fella.'
'You seem to think a great deal of him,' she said.
'I think more of him than anyone else in the world--but wo,' he added hastily.
'Your father and mother?' she suggested.
Sandy shook his head. 'Dad, yes, but I can scarcely remember my mother.'
She did not pursue the inquiry. There was a 'warmth in his eyes which stirred her pulses despite the danger which threatened them.
Sudden found the outlaw sitting on a fallen tree at the edge of the camp. He greeted the young man with a hard smile. He seemed to have aged, the lines in his face were deeper, and he looked haggard. Sudden sat down
