afoot or on horses.

Progress through water is always slow. If you have ever tried to run
while wading in a millpond or at the stream adjacent to the "old
swimming hole," you realize what I mean. It is easier to swim than to
run through water, even where it is not very deep. The same holds true
for horses. And to attempt to swim was out of the question, for the
Greasers, as they must keep their guns out of water.

The only thing for them to do was to start their horses across, with
the men in the saddles. And the Mexicans probably knew, from a test,
that the water was not deep enough to sweep the animals off their legs.

So then, with the handicap of rushing water against them, the horses
could not make much progress, and, while crossing, the enemy force
would be subject to the fire of the boy ranchers and the cowboys from
Diamond X ranch.

"Well, boys, I guess we'll have to let 'em have it," said Billee
regretfully as he saw the advancing sheep men. Nearly all the Greaser
force was concentrated on crossing Spur Creek, only a few being left in
charge of the animals. "But shoot at the horses first," advised
Billee. "I hate to do it, but it's better to have the killing of a
horse on your mind than the murder of a man. Though this isn't
murder--defending your property against a band of thieves. So shoot at
the horses first!"

This, cruel as it may sound, had to be done. It was a case of the
lives of the animals or the lives of our friends. For it could not be
doubted that, once the Mexicans had gained a footing on the northern
side of the stream, they would drive the defenders away--shooting to
kill if need be--and then the way would be clear for bringing over the
sheep.

Several shots rang out from the ranks of the cowboys, and there was a
wild flurry and scramble among the horses in the stream. Two of them
were hit and spilled their riders into the creek. But these men
grasped the tail of other horses and kept on.

"They aren't going to give up easy," murmured Dick.

"But it's up to us to make 'em," said Bud fiercely. "If they get over
it will be all up with us, for they're twice as many as we are."

"They shan't get over!" declared Nort. And it was with the same spirit
that the intrepid Frenchman muttered:

"They shall not pass!"

If the boy ranchers and their comrades hoped to escape scathless they
were painfully disappointed. For though the sheep herders were under
the handicap of havin