ses, in case they should
need them suddenly, the cowboys close-hobbled them on a plateau to
which Lawrence guided them and then followed him to the ledge.

No need was there for the tree that marked the mine to be pointed
out to them, for as the men looked down each one saw it.

To the east and to the west the ledge commanded a view of the
trails, and as they gazed along them, the owner of the Half-Moon
exclaimed:

"I don't wonder no one can surprise Megget with such a lookout.
Why, it's practically impossible to approach without being seen by
a man on guard."

"The only time is at night," returned Lawrence. "And, thanks to
the loneliness of the place and the stories of ghosts, no one has
ever tried to pass through or even come in at night while I've been
with the gang."

"Don't start talking about ghosts or you'll get us all nervous,"
said Mr. Wilder, fearing the effect on his men. "Now that we've
seen where the mine is, suppose you take us where you think we had
better wait till we make the round-up."

"That's right here," rejoined Lawrence. "We can see Megget and the
others when they arrive by being here."

"True enough, but how about the guard they send up?"

"There won't be any to-night, don't worry about that. They'll be
too busy celebrating your supposed loss in the fire last night."

This grim reminder of their escape caused all of the ranchers to
smile, and without further objection the men made themselves
comfortable while they waited the arrival of the raiders.

Huddled together, the boys sat where they could watch the trail.

Of a sudden Tom grabbed his brother by the arm and pointed to where
several specks were moving.

In silence they watched as more and more came into view, and then
Larry cried out:

"Here they come!"

Eager with excitement, the others crowded forward to catch a
glimpse of the men who had caused them so much trouble.

"Keep down!" snapped Lawrence. "Vasquez has an eye like a hawk."

No second warning did the cowboys need, and dropping flat on their
stomachs, they watched the raiders draw nearer and nearer.

Because of the cattle, their approach was slow, and it was fully an
hour after the chums had sighted them before they reached the
valley.

"That's Vasquez and Gus in the lead," announced the man who had
forsaken his life of wrong-doing. And as the other raiders rode
into sheltered grazing ground he mentioned them by name.

"There are only nineteen of the