h of lightning having disclosed the man kn

words. He, too, during the momentary illuminat

of the crouching mountaineer, both going down in a

ce, he sprang to them, and, grabbing Tad by the heels, drew him from beneath the bodies of the desper

low's chin, jerking his head violently backwards. So sudden was the jolt that the lad dis

sible. Yet he had sustained a jolt so severe that, for the time being, he f

Rector had begun. In a moment more the guide had thrown several strands of tough rawhide la

thinking himself of Tad, whom in the excitement of conflict he

Are you a

s that he had heard him distinctly, though

he boy until his teeth chattered. Tad gulped and bega

de, rising after having completed

n a minute. Is there

ait a minute; I'll bring him aro

ase itself. Lige brought his brawny hand down with a resounding whack, squarely betw

nding his voice under the guide's

sting his companion to his feet, and supporting him, for Tad was still a b

at has h

as the latter roughly jerked the capt

e sharply. "I hear them in the bushes

hich ones they

rously, neither of the animal

ushes, where they could hear him coaxing the little animals to him

" asked Tad, leaning ag

are worth having," added Ned, realizing that he was placing the others ahead of hi

one of the ponies and take him back to camp. I suppose you know wha

aving caught one, I can't say that I do," con

Lige significantly. "We must be getting back now. Master Tad, y

Ned Rector bringing up the rear, that he might keep a wary eye on their prisoner on their way back to camp. Ned was armed with a club, a sto

ng their way cautiously over the rocky way, for trail t

t they were coming, which was answered with a sl

to a distant roar and

quickly as possible

el, and in a few moments ha

fter the sudden departure of his tent the Professor had taken refuge in one of

of the ponies. Chunky averred that all the stock had run away. Still there seemed nothing left for the two to do except remain where they we

ey observed the figure of a

ofessor in puzzled accents. "A man tied to

mas smil

tting upon his horse in his bedraggled, torn

g eyes. "What is the meaning of all this disturbance? First, my tent goes up into the air; then

a thief-"

walking away with Jo-Jo and Texas. I ran after and caught up wit

added the guide. "He caught the fellow and handled him as well as a man could have done until

d slipped fr

a thief, you

s,

rised. I should like t

re of the torches, still leaving his arms bound, and tak

Professor sternly, peering down in

as no r

n't he tal

n't no use in asking him questions. He knows we've caugh

lty? You refer to imp

ain't wh

ty do you refer?" in

replied the guide, grimly. "But, of course, it's

? We will turn him over to the officers of the law, and let them dis

where are we going to f

seem to be nume

ye, sir. It's sixty miles, and more, to a

ainly

w into our own hands, sometimes. We have to be officers

to do, regrettable as it may seem," decid

s,

ut with the admonitio

lau

that," he retorted, h

ner was liberated. No sooner was this done than

im!" roa

he ground. Lige jerked the fellow to his feet and stood him against a tree, the thief bec

, if you want to," grinne

m," urged th

off so easy. I've got you marked. I'll find out what your brand is, then I'll tell the sheriff to be on the lookout for you. No

t of camp. The boys shouted derisively as they heard him f

ck to bed?" asked Tad, after

ollowed you," rep

e mistaken. Did you

, Mr. T

e shook

I think you must be

with quic

s," insisted Ned. "I did not

I saw him running after you," urged Prof

es at once. The b

g fagots from the fire, they lined up, standing with anxious faces, awaiting the dire

e in a calm voice. "Which way

ctly remember having seen him run obliquely to the

ay?" asked L

f it now. But, if he went that way, he didn't

e, less than ten rods away?

underst

that drops down a clear

impres

e fell over th