Part 18 (1/2)

”It's o back Perhaps he's in trouble”

CHAPTER XVI

CAPTAIN MOORE'S ADVENTURE

In the er at hand, Captain Moore pursued his way up the other branch of the water-course Here the underbrush was even more dense than where the boys were, and consequently he did not think it strange that he heard nothing of his brother and his cousin

The fact that he stirred up no ga down so before he went back

Suddenly he espied so in the patch of wood ahead of him

Rifle in hand, he moved cautiously in the direction

As he did this, a ht and followed him as silently as a shadow

The man was Gus Fetter The desperado was fully ar arained, Captain Moore paused to locate the object he had seen

But before he could do this, he was caught frorasp

”Fetter!” he ejaculated, as he caught sight of the desperado

”Up with your hands, Captain Moore!” growled the rascal savagely ”Up, I say! I've got the drop on you!”

Fetter had thrown the captain's rifle to the ground, and now stood upon it In his hands he held his oeapon, and thethat discretion was the better part of valor, Captain Moore threw up his hands prorinned wickedly

”Where did you come from, Fetter?” demanded the captain

”Fro a United States arot a score to settle with you, captain Don't forget that”

”Are the rest of the gang around?”

”They are”

Following his last words, Gus Fetter gave a long, clear whistle, followed by two shorter ones At once an answer came back from the woods, and in a few seconds Matt Gilroy appeared

”Hullo, so you've got hiood haul How are you, Captain Moore? Delighted to see lad toofficer, trying to keep cool, although he realized that he was in a dangerous situation

”Well, you're honest about it, anyway,” said Gilroy with a brutal laugh