. Now is the time. You've come to the end."

"Oh, I don't know," said Ted coolly. "I'm a long ways from a dead one
yet. Be careful what you do. This six-shooter of mine is mighty
sensitive on the trigger."

He heard a soft, swishing noise behind him, and knew that Bud was
lowering the rope again. As he thrust his gun forward into the face of
Shan Rhue, the bully backed away a few feet.

At that moment the rope swung down in front of his face, and, hastily
putting his revolver into his pocket, Ted grasped it and went sailing up
into the air hand over hand, assisted by Bud and Carl, who were pulling
on the rope for all they were worth.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

THE ALTERED BRAND.

As Ted went up into the air, Shan Rhue shouted a command, and the white
men in the Hole in the Wall ran to him.

"That boy must not get to the top," he shouted. "I want him."

"What will we do?" asked one of them.

"Here, Sol Flatbush, you are the best shot of us all. See if you can't
bring him down. But don't shoot him. I need him for other things. Shoot
the rope in two."

This was easier said than done, for the rope was so high that it was
almost out of the light cast by the fires.

Flatbush was, indeed, a splendid shot, and he fired twice at the rope
with his revolver, but missed each time on account of the uncertain
light and the swaying motion of the rope.

"Give me my rifle," he called, and one of the men fetched it for him.

Ted was within fifteen feet of the top when Flatbush, leaning against
the opposite wall, took deliberate aim and fired.

At the second shot Ted, who was aware that some one was trying to cut
the rope, felt it vibrate suddenly beneath his hand.

Before the last thread was severed he reached up and began to climb,
hand over hand. In a few seconds he was at the top, and the boys were
helping him over the edge.

For a moment or two he could say nothing; he could only listen to the
yells of rage and disappointment below. Now he was surrounded by his
friends, and Stella was free. Away on a mountain peak a light flared
up.

"What does that mean?" asked Stella, pointing to it.

"It is the signal that the Indians have gone on the warpath," said Ted.
"The sergeant was right. It is up to us now to do stunts."

"In what way?" asked Stella.

"We must keep those Indians and renegades confined in the Hole in the
Wall. If we can keep them there until the arrival of the troops we can
end the uprising without s