o make the start instantly, if his comrade
but gave the word.

Frank glanced around him a little uncertainly.

"I've got a good notion to try it," he muttered as if talking to
himself.

"What's that you say, Frank?" asked his companion, who had caught the
words, and did not know what to make of them.

"I didn't tell you, Bob," Frank remarked; "but during the night I
thought I heard a voice calling far away yonder. And somehow it struck
me at the time that there was a familiar cowboy yell about it."

"Old Hank Coombs, perhaps, Frank?" suggested the other lad, quickly.

"That was on my mind, Bob. You know history often repeats itself. Once
before, just when we seemed to need Hank the worst way, he came riding
along as if he had heard us call. And I was wondering whether he might
not be somewhere around here right now."

"That would be just prime, if only we could get in touch with him," Bob
declared. "And, as your father wouldn't send Hank alone, there'd be one
more cowboy along. That would make a party of four. Why, those three
rascals would just shrivel, and throw up the sponge, if they saw us
break in on 'em. But Frank, how about making the old range call?"

"D'ye know, I was just thinking it might do to try it," remarked the
other.

"Then start in and give the whoop," Bob observed. "No harm done anyhow;
even if they hear it up there. And while you're doing all that, I'll
just drop on one knee here, and cover the crack in the wall. Suppose one
of the lot should try and come out while we were off our guard. I'll
make him surrender quicker than he can say 'Jack Robinson'!"

Presently there sounded upon the morning air the clear "cooee" of the
range, particularly well known to every cowboy who had worked at Circle
Ranch. Frank and Bob listened eagerly to learn whether there would come
any response. If not, then they must take up the task of climbing that
singular crevice by themselves; and finding out how affairs stood above.

Their suspense was short-lived, for quickly there floated to their
waiting ears a responsive call. Turning toward the quarter from whence
it seemed to come they saw a hat waving.

"It's Old Hank, sure it is!" exclaimed Bob, with a thrill of delight;
for the burden of going up against three desperate characters was more
than boy nature could stand without more or less uneasiness.

"That's Chesty with him," announced Frank, as two figures were
discovered coming toward them. "Why, if we'