home town in Missouri, he was possessed of many tricks that had proved useful to

ed, piercing voice, intended to confuse h

k slightly arched. In this position he ran on hands and feet like a

well outside the ring. In an instant the leader's fellows had dropped on him and the four men

ying, running on his toes and seeking to

amp in search of the one who had caused so much disturbance. It had all happened

f. "Catch him. No, shoot!

re i

bushes, fan everything.

up. Do yo

N

ucked and, turning sharply to the left, skulked through the trees. By the flic

ut. Ther

e, wh

nies. Give it to

want to kill the bronchs? Get after him. What are

pink him," yelle

. Not a shot in that

uf

t a glimpse o

to try it,"

d not belong to him. He knew his life was at stake and that having overhea

n ground," gasped the boy, tugging desperately at the s

esisted all

ed him. Every second was precious now. He was thankful that the men had removed nei

t sure. With a yell of defiance he leaped into the saddle and d

rang away through the forest, putting the lad in imm

Give it to him now, but don't hit the rest of th

e outlaw cowboys that he did not. They discovered his whereabouts sooner than he had hoped they might. It

der to fire, the men raised their weapons, taki

of the fleeing boy, as the ground was slop

in a chance shot. No, s

pon their backs, spurred the bronchos into a run. They were in hot pursuit of the lad

et that there could be no trouble about their keeping on the

more familiar with mountain riding that he felt sure they would eventually

en I'll try to get away from th

actics. Just what these should be he did not know. He would either be shot or c

He was determined above all, to defeat the desperate purpos

d one of the pursuers. "I ca

ar him snort,"

g on his own account in a minute," snarl

we shoo

nge full of lead. We'll be up with him in a few minutes now and there'll

whoever he is. T

ce anyhow. He won't have a chance to

g up on him,

ellowed t

did not slacken its

mmand, but still with

or we

to be swept off by limbs, and, again, were they to fire on him as they had threatened, there was a much better

the battle of the mountaineers, when the Pony Riders were in the Rocky Mounta

se of elation possessed him. He felt strong and resourceful-h

!" commanded the

obeyed i

ling fire in the directio

Will yo

still p

e mo

d again, two

ge crashing to the ground. His rap

set up a ye

He's down! W

im anot

an should not escape they

awn revolvers, ready to shoot

om his pony and

lay dying

," said Bluff, his f

was no sign. He had