olling R. So
far they had thieved at their leisure and with impunity. The element of
risk had been discounted until they no longer considered it at all,
except when they were actually within the Rolling R Boundaries. Now, in
the heat of the day, they slept as was their habit. Even the herder was
probably dozing in the saddle and leaving watchfulness to his cow-pony.
Certainly he did not give any sign that he saw the airplane as it glided
silently over so that they could come back from the south.

"What I want, Bland, is to scare these horses back toward home," Johnny
said. "We'll come at 'em first from the south, and if they don't run
straight, we'll have to circle round till they do. But I want to come
within shooting distance of them hombres under the trees. See? So fly as
low as yuh dare, when we come back."

Bland threw on the motor, circled and came volplaning back. He did not
complain; he left that for times when he was not flying. Johnny braced
himself, rifle ready. He was sorry then that he was not an expert shot;
but he hoped that luck would be with him and make up for what he lacked
in skill.

The horses stampeded, carrying the herder with them. They ran north, in a
panic that would keep them going for some time. As they raced clattering
past the camp, Johnny saw four men rise up hastily, their faces turned up
to the sky. He leaned, took what aim was possible, and fired four shots
as the plane swept over.

He did not hit any one, so far as he could see, but he saw them duck and
run close to the tree trunks, which gave him some satisfaction. Moreover,
they were afoot. Not a single horse remained within sight or hearing of
that camp.

Johnny did not go back for another try at them, though he was tempted to
land and fight it out with them. There was Mary V to think of, and there
were the horses. They went on, shying off from the fleeing animals lest
they drive them back instead of forward. Bland spiraled upward, waiting
to see what Johnny wanted next. Whatever it might be, Bland would do
it--with two guns and a headstrong young man just behind him.

The thrum of the motor stuttered a little on the last upward turn. Bland
straightened out the plane, fussed with the spark and the gas, banked
cautiously around and headed for home. Like a heart that skips a beat now
and then, an odd little pause, scarcely to be distinguished except when
the ear has become accustomed to the rhythm of perfect firing, manifested