ed into the open. It was Molly and her mistress was astride her.

Frances had lost her hat; her hair had become loosened and was tossed
about her pale face. But her eyes glowed with the light of determination
and she spurred the pony directly at the two struggling figures in the
middle of the hollow.

"I'm coming, Pratt!" she cried. "Hold on!"

CHAPTER XXIV

A GOOD DEAL OF EXCITEMENT

Pete twisted himself around to look over his shoulder, but still kept
his clutch on the breathless young man. However, Pratt feebly dragged
his wrists out of the man's grasp.

Frances was riding the pinto directly at them. Under her skillful
guidance the pony's off shoulder must collide with Pete, unless the man
dropped Pratt entirely and sprang aside.

The man did this, uttering a yell of anger. Pratt staggered the other
way and Frances brought Molly to a standstill directly between the two.

"You let him alone!" the girl commanded, gazing indignantly at the
rascally man. "Oh! you shall be paid in full for all you have done this
day. When Captain Rugley hears of this.

"Quick, Pratt!" she shrieked. "That rifle!"

Pete was bent over reaching for the weapon. Frances jerked Molly around,
but she could not drive the pony against the man in time to topple him
over before his wicked fingers closed on the barrel of the gun.

It was Pratt who made the attack in this emergency. He had played on the
Amarillo High football eleven and he knew how to "tackle."

Before Pete could rise up with the recovered weapon in his grasp Pratt
had him around the legs. The man staggered forward, trying to kick away
the young fellow; but Pratt clung to him, and his antagonist finally
fell upon his knees.

Quick as a flash Pratt sprang astride his bowed back. He kicked Pete's
braced arms out from under him and the man fell forward, screaming and
threatening the most awful punishment for his young antagonist.

Frances could not get into the melee with Molly. The two rolled over and
over on the ground and suddenly Pete gave vent to a shriek of pain. He
had rolled on his back into the fire!

"Quick, Pratt!" begged Frances. "Get away from him! He will do you some
dreadful harm!"

She believed Pete would, too. As Pratt leaped aside, the man bounded up
from the bed of hot coals, his shirt afire, and he unable to reach it
with his beating hands!

Pratt ran to Frances' side. She pulled Molly's head around and the pony
trotted across the clearing,