s with me, in case there should be a
general fight. I know you would need all the fellows."

"Well, but, dog-gone you, you ought to have taken some one," said Ted.
"How did you know but the old man and the jockey were not dangerous
fellows? Men in their business are generally bad actors when it comes to
a scrimmage."

"Oh, I thought I could handle them," laughed Kit. "And I could, too,
only I got careless, and let that jockey get the drop on me. The old man
knuckled under gracefully when I presented my card."

"Did you get the old man after you were shot?"

"Yes. You see, this was how it was: I got sight of them a short ways
ahead of me. They were evidently saving their horses, for they were
traveling slowly."

"Didn't they get next that they were being followed?"

"I don't think so. They saw only one rider, and I suppose they thought
that if they were pursued at all it would be by several men, and they
were confident that with their horses they could run away from anything
we had except Hatrack."

"It's a wonder they didn't light out quick."

"I think they figured to save their horses until they were sure they
were being followed."

"Then what happened?"

"I saw them look back at me several times, but they did not hit up their
speed any."

"Were you fogging along pretty fast?"

"Not so very. You see, I didn't want them to think that I was on their
trail. I went just fast enough to overtake them gradually. If they had
got on to me they would have been out of sight before I could gather up
my reins."

"Foxy Kit," said Stella.

"And they let you come right up with them?" asked Ted.

"Yep. I was right up on them before they got on to me."

"They recognized you, eh?"

"They did when I was about twenty feet away. Then I heard the old man
holler, 'It's one o' them dern broncho boys.'"

"And then what?"

"Well, you see, I didn't have my gun out, and, as he says that, the
jockey pulls and fires one shot, which landed in my arm. Then, before I
can reach around and get my gun out with my left hand, he gets away. But
the action was too quick for the old man, and he sat still until I had
him covered, when I had sent a couple of balls after the jock to make
him hit up the pace a bit."

"The old man was easy, eh?"

"Easiest kind. But he might have got away from me if he had the nerve."

"Well, Kit, you did a great stunt. I'm mighty glad you landed the old
coot. But I don't know what to do with him now th