ot an overly brave fellow, and while the boy before him was young, yet he realised that Ralph could shoot as well as many a

sorry that the affair had taken such an acute turn. His caution was unnecessary, for Ralph had no int

ught him to an abrupt halt. "You're carrying matters with a

t his brother would be tremendously angry with him over the hasty threat he had made. Yet he f

d. "It's Ralph's first big game, and of course he feels mighty proud of it. A

e half-breed in good humour, but he was mistaken. Stiger glanced fr

e me to give it up," he muttered. "Put

deer, first," sa

won't put it down. I'm not afr

m. "You shall put it down, Hank Stiger. Y

the half-breed, in a rage. "I won't sta

mals last year. Now you want to steal my deer, but you s

ers had gone too far for either of them to back down. Dan was slow to make up

from the half-breed. He spoke in a brusque mann

better no

't dare to

ather could have had you shot down for a horse-thief, had he wanted to d

t to the earth. "But remember, I say I shot that deer and that he is mine. Some day you'll rue your work here, mark my words!" And with an

until they were certain that he had gone too far to turn and fire at

triumphantly. "There is my bullet,

But, even so, we have made an enemy of Stiger for life.

r. Do you believe he'll come

nywhere about. There is a tree branch. You can tie the game to that, and we can both pull it down the

ek. The bottom was sandy, and the water made the load slip along readily. The lads had just cros

n. "A shot from the hou

ted, not wishing to leave his game again, but then, as his brother disappeared into the belt of timber hiding the cab

direction and another. Mr. Radbury was tall and thin, and constant exposure to the sun had browned him considerably. A glance

adly. "I am happy to see yo

what's the trouble? Has anything ha

ross the river, and half a dozen at the big tree ford, all Comanches, and sev

he could go any further Ralph appeared. The tale about the deer and H

her?" questioned the youngest Radb

are intimate friends, and if the Indians are going on the war-path again, the half-breed may direct an attack upon us. It was a gre

alph and Dan to watch around the cabin and the cattle shelter. At the shelter were several cows, used for m

is father had left. "If those Indians should take it into their

o it," returned his brother. "I suppose

shelter. This was in plain view of the cabin and could readily be covered from two firi

arauders had been around during the absence of Ralph and himself. The gate to the cattle enclo

ol of water surrounded by mesquite-trees and bushes. This pool could be seen only from the back of the sh

the bushes close to the pool. There wa

no wild turkeys down there, and I know it. Father was righ

Indians know that they were discovered and probably make them hasten their plans. So instead of running he took his time

Comanches are on the war-path!" he exclaimed. "Bar up the windows, and I

saw more

down by th

ow that you

pistols, several in number, including a "hoss" nearly two

fire a

you can watch for father from the doorway, and if you see h