the woman.

He saw by her nervous manner that she was smothering a feeling of
intense agitation.

Whether it came from her aversion of the officer, or because her sons
were around, Jack could not judge.

"That's a mighty queer wagon you've got there," she remarked presently,
as she pointed at the Terror.

"Yes," replied Jack. "It is designed to run down your sons."

She started, and a tigerish look flashed from her eyes.

"So you are leagued against them, too, eh!" she hissed.

"Yes. I am here to capture them if I can."

"But you will never succeed."

"That remains to be seen."

At this moment Timberlake rushed out.

He was terribly excited.

A smothered cry of alarm escaped Mrs. Samuels.

"I've seen them!" gasped the officer.

"Where?" demanded Jack, quickly.

"Both were here. She warned them. They got down in the cellar. I found a
tunnel there, leading over to that timber. They had gone through.
Jesse's horse, Siroc, and Frank's horse, Jim Malone, must have been
tethered there, for they mounted and dashed away."

"Get aboard, and we'll chase them."

"You shall not go!" hissed the woman.

She slammed the door shut, and put her back against it, a look of fierce
determination upon her face.

It was clear that she designed to delay them so as to give her fugitive
sons as long a lead as possible.

Jack saw through her scheme.

"Get away from there! he cried, sternly.

"You can't leave this house!" she shrieked.

"I see through your plan."

"Stand back, or I'll brain you with this!"

She had been holding her hand behind her back.

As she now brought it into view, they saw that she held a hatchet with a
keen, glittering edge.

"This way, Mr. Wright!" cried Timberlake.

And he dove headfirst through a window.

Jack started to follow him, when the woman rushed after him with the
hatchet upraised.

There was no such emotion as fear in the mother of the Missouri bandits,
and she had bred her ferocity and evil will into her two detestable
children.

Jack's life was in danger, for she could have dealt him a death blow
with the weapon before he could get out the window after the sheriff.

He therefore turned upon her.

The young inventor was noted for his enormous strength.

Avoiding an ugly blow she aimed at his head by nimbly leaping aside, he
seized the hatchet before she could raise it again and made an effort to
take it away from her.

She was wonderfully strong in her single ar