as a panther, he leaped over
the intervening space.

He had covered half the distance when the sentry heard him and sprang to
his feet. For the fraction of a second he stood, petrified with surprise
and fright. Then he reached for his carbine, but as though realizing
that he could not level it in time, he abandoned that idea and snatched
at his knife. And just then Bert launched himself on him like a
thunderbolt.

Down they went fighting like wildcats. They rolled over and over.
Bert's hands were on the rascal's throat and he could not utter a cry.
But his knife was out and upraised to strike, when Tom, who with Melton
had rushed from the bushes the moment the clash had come, grasped the
uplifted hand and wrenched it until the knife fell to the ground.
Another instant, and the scoundrel, bound with his own belt and gagged
with a portion of the serape torn from his shoulders, was sitting huddled
up on the ground, with his back against the stump, while baffled rage and
hate glowed from his wicked eyes.

"Good work, my boy, good work," said Melton, as he grasped Bert's hand
warmly. "You tackled that fellow like a ton of brick. I never saw a
prettier rough house than that was for a minute. Now get your breath
back while I try to get this fellow to listen to reason. I know this
breed of cattle pretty well and I have a hunch that it won't be long
before we understand each other."

He drew out his bowie knife and felt its edge, while the prisoner looked
on with a growing terror in his eyes.

Melton reached down and grabbing the fellow by the collar jerked him to
his feet.

"Now, listen," he said, in the mongrel blending of English and Mexican
that is understood on both sides of the border. "You're going to be a
dead man in one minute if you don't tell me the truth. Sabe?"

Melton's eyes were like two lambent flames, and as the fellow looked into
them, he wilted like a rag. He nodded his head eagerly as a sign that he
would tell all he knew.

"I guessed as much," said Melton, grimly, as he turned to the boys.
"These dogs would betray their own brother to save their miserable
carcass. Untie that gag, and I'll turn him inside out until I get from
him all he knows."

He placed the point of his bowie at the brigand's throat, and held it
there while the boys removed the gag.

"One yip from you, and this knife goes in up to the hilt," said Melton.
"Now tell me how far away your camp is from here."

"About