Part 50 (1/2)

”Why don't you finish him off, Puller?” came from the negro. ”Ain't n.o.body else around.”

”You're a fine rascal!” burst out d.i.c.k. ”If you touch me, there is going to be trouble.”

”I reckon you'll come with me,” said the white man harshly. ”We ain't goin' to run no risks, understand? If you put anybody on our trail--”

He did not finish. ”Face around there!” he ordered.

”See here, do you think you are treating me fairly?” asked d.i.c.k. He wished to gain time, so that he could think matters over and decide what was best to do.

”I won't parley the question,” growled the man. ”Face around and do it quick, if you want to save your hide.”

There was no help for it, and d.i.c.k faced around. As he did so, he caught the sounds of hoof strokes at a distance. Puller and Water-melon Pete did not appear to notice them.

”Wait a minute, I dropped something,” said the eldest Rover, and slid to the ground. He pre-tended to search around. ”Got a light?”

”What did you drop?”

”Something valuable,” said d.i.c.k, but did not add that it was only a harness buckle. He was straining his ears and heard the hoof strokes coming closer.

”Well, hurry up and find it. We are not going to stay here until the sun comes up,” growled Puller.

A moment later, the sounds of horses approaching could be heard plainly. d.i.c.k began to cough loudly, but the ears of the negro could not be deceived.

”Listen!” he said warningly. ”Hosses comin', suah as yo' is boahn!”

”Horses?” cried the white man. ”Then we had better make tracks.”

”Who is there?” cried d.i.c.k at the top of his voice. If they were enemies, he knew he could be no worse off.

”Shut your mouth!” howled the white man.

”Hullo!” was the answering call, and in a moment several men dashed up, all heavily armed, and accompanied by James Monday and Fred Garrison.

”Help!” called out d.i.c.k. ”Don't let them get away!”

”They are not going to catch me!” growled Puller, and struck his horse in the side. The animal bounded forward and was followed by that on which the negro was riding. Scarcely had this been done when a shot rang out and the negro fell from his saddle to the ground.

”Halt, in the name of the law!” cried James Monday to Puller, but the man paid no attention. Several shots were fired at him, but soon the gloom of early morning hid him from view.

”I'm more than glad that you have come,” cried d.i.c.k to the government official and Fred. ”How did you get here so quickly?”

”It was mostly luck,” answered the detective. ”Garrison delivered the message to just the right party and I ran into the crowd just coming away from the town. We have got nine men here, and all willing to do their utmost to round up that Red Rock ranch gang.”

It was soon learned that Watermelon Pete had been hit in the thigh.

The wound was not a fatal one, but it was destined to put the rascal in the hospital for some time to come.

”You must follow that fellow who got away, and at once,” said d.i.c.k to James Monday, and then he told of what had happened during the night and of where Sack Todd and his confederates were located.

Leaving his tired horse behind him, the eldest Rover mounted the animal Watermelon Pete had been riding, and the whole party, minus the negro, who was left to take care of himself for the time being, started for the rendezvous of the counterfeiters.

”If you do any shooting, be careful and don't hit my brother Sam,”