brink of the ravine, however, and lying close, they gave back shot
for shot, quickly but steadily. Finally a lull came, and Alex rose
exultingly on an elbow and shouted below, "Come on, you cowards! Come--"

From behind one of the bridge pillars leaped a flame, and with a sharp
intake of breath Alex slipped sideways. But as Wilson and Jack sprang to
his side he again rose. "It's nothing," he declared. "Just a graze inside
the arm."

The quiet continuing, the others insisted on removing Alex's coat, and
feeling, found the shirt-sleeve wet. "Tie a handkerchief round it," Alex
directed. "There. That's all right.

"That's what I get for allowing myself to be carried away, isn't it?" he
added as Wilson and Jack helped him into his coat. "I didn't realize
how--"

All three snatched up their weapons and spun about.

A tall stooped figure was standing within a few feet of them.

"Surrender!" cried Wilson. "_Quick, or I'll--_"

"It me, Little Hawk," said a quiet voice. "Why shoot?"

With a common cry of joy the boys sprang forward, and quickly explained
the situation. The Indian grunted. "Not K. & Z. man," he said. "Bad
cowboy, miner, gambler, from Yellow Creek. Makeum big bet K. & Z. win,
come burn bridge, makeum win. Little Hawk hearum talk, come follow,
hearum fight, come quick.

"Thinkum big fight. Only three boy fight, eh?" he added in surprise.

Alex had been considering. "Look here, Little Hawk," he suggested, "you
ride back to the construction-train and give the alarm, will you? I think
we have these fellows scared now, and can hold them till help comes. And
none of us could ride that pony of yours."

"I findum nother hoss--cowboy hoss," said the Indian, pointing the way he
had come. "You go, takeum, Little Hawk stay fight."

Alex thought a minute. "No; I'd rather stick, and see the thing through,
now," he declared.

"Me too," said Jack promptly.

"Same here," Wilson agreed.

"It's up to you, then, Little Hawk.

"Say, hold on!" Alex interrupted as the Indian turned away. "Boys, how
about Little Hawk taking our prisoner back with him on the other horse?
The folks at the train might get some information out of him.

"Could you take him, Little Hawk?" he asked.

The redskin grunted assent. "Tieum to saddle," he said.

"I'll go and show him where the rascal is," volunteered Wilson.

A few minutes later, with the boys' prisoner trailing behind, securely
bound to the saddle of the wandering horse he had