matter to seek shelter with a broncho fourteen and a
half hands high in the particular part of the ranch where Jack and Jim
happened to be at this moment. There were no trees, no underbush of any
kind. The trees that are usually found near the beds of streams in the
western country, were on the far side of Rainbow Creek. There was no
time to wade across. Jack dropped her reins, hoping her pony would
wander quietly away. She bent forward and ran as swiftly and silently as
possible toward the straggling rail fence. Then she lay down in the
short brown grass, as motionless as a frightened partridge who tries to
make the hunter believe he is a part of the still landscape. Jim Colter
crawled after Jack, bringing with him his long rope.

A few minutes later a man's figure rose up from the screen of sage
bushes on the Norton ranch and the sun glinted on a bright red head. The
boy swung his hat in the air once, twice, three times. Then he repeated
the signal.

Jim crept through the fence like an eel. Without making the least sound
that could be heard by the fellow, whose back was turned to him, Jim got
within thirty feet of his enemy.

Jack wondered what on the face of the earth Jim intended to do. Then her
eyes widened with surprise and with laughter. There was a swish, a
streak through the air, as Jim's lariat uncoiled. Hearing the noise the
boy turned and the rope caught him around the waist, pinning his arms
securely to his side. He was lassoed as safely as any wild pony.

Jim then calmly started to walk back toward the rail fence that divided
the two ranches. He seemed blissfully indifferent to the fact that he
dragged an angry and sputtering young man at the end of his rope. Dan
Norton, Jr., was a heavy, stocky fellow, with a good deal of brute
strength, but Jim Colter was long and lean, with muscles of steel.
Besides, as Dan threw his resisting strength against that of his
opponent, the rope tightened about him and cut more deeply into his
flesh. He kicked viciously like an unruly colt, but Jim did not
condescend to look behind him; his victim was kicking nothing but air,
as Jim was ten yards in front.

"What are you doing? Where are you going?" Dan shouted, almost choking
with rage.

Jack rose up from behind the shield of the fence. The sight of Jim and
his prize was too beautiful, and Jack felt that she was being repaid for
many of the cruel tricks that Dan and his father had played on her since
she was a littl