ing lazily into the air.

Scrambling through the fence, Alex set off on a bee-line for the train,
whistling a brisk march.

Five minutes later the whistler paused in the middle of a note and spun
sharply about. The color left his bronzed face. A mile to the rear, on
the other side of the fence, a horseman was following him at full speed.
A glance at the white-faced pony told it was Munson, and turning, Alex
was off, running with every ounce of his remaining energy.

The thud of the hoofs gained rapidly.

Closer they came, and Alex headed off farther from the fence. Perhaps
he'll be afraid to put the horse at the wire, he thought hopefully. He
glanced back. The cowman was wheeling off for the jump.

In despair Alex looked over the long mile still separating him from the
train, and again over his shoulder. Would the horse make it? He slightly
slowed his steps as the animal made the rush.

It went over like a bird.

Gritting his teeth, Alex dashed straight back for the fence. "I'll make
him jump his head off before he gets me, anyway," he said grimly.
Flogging the pony, the cowman endeavored to head the boy off, but Alex
reached the wire, and dove safely through. Scrambling to his feet, he was
on again, this time keeping closer to the fence.

It was as the pony drew up abreast fifty feet distant, and while the
train was still a good mile away, that the idea of signalling for help on
the fence-wire occurred to Alex. He acted immediately. Catching up a
good-sized stone, he ran forward, and on the topmost wire, near one of
the posts, pounded with all his might the telegraph dot letters "_Oh! Oh!
Orr! Orr!_"

Munson had pulled up as Alex ran for the fence. When the boy began
pounding the wire he at once recognized its purpose, and sprang from his
horse, drawing his pistol.

Instantly Alex darted on, carrying the stone. The cowman ran after. But
the man was slow on his feet, and despite his fatigue, Alex drew away
from him.

"Stop, or I'll shoot!" cried the cow-puncher. "_Pull up! I will!_"

"Go ahead, and they'll hear you at the train!" called Alex, though
secretly trembling. The cowman hesitated, then returned the revolver to
its holster, and ran back for his horse. Immediately Alex was again at
the wire, pounding out, "_Oh! Oh! Orr! Orr!_"

The cowman was again up with him, and once more he ran on, gazing
anxiously toward the train for signs of commotion to show his appeal had
been heard.

For some distance