way for me,"
said the astonished youth; "I supposed, all the time, that it was my
uncle. Where have you been since?"

"I started for camp to tell the boys, and was on my way when I met these
confounded cattle. I didn't want them to get too fur off, as none of the
fellows 'peared to be after them. I was trying to round them up, when
this little affair took place."

"But, Ballyhoo, why didn't you let the cattle go and make all haste
after help."

"Who wants help?"

"The folks in the house; do you suppose I would have ventured out as I
did, if they were not in instant need of it?"

Evidently the Texan found it hard to understand the extremity of Captain
Shirril and his family.

"There are three of 'em there and each has a gun; I don't see why you
need worry, 'cause the varmints can't get at 'em and they'll clear out
in the morning."

"That might be, but uncle says they will set fire to the cabin, unless
they are driven off."

"I didn't think of _that_," replied Gleeson, who still could not feel
the alarm of his young friend; "the cabin has been purty well dried up
by the drought of the last few months. I thought the varmints were after
the cattle, and," he added, again peering through the gloom after the
herd, which had run so far that they were not only out of sight but
beyond hearing, "they stand a show of making a good haul. But," he
continued more savagely, "they will find a little trouble in getting
off with them. There's too many for us to lose without a big fight."

"It doesn't make any difference if the whole herd is stampeded, we must
hurry to the aid of the folks in the cabin."

"Being as them sentiments are the captain's," said Ballyhoo, "why, I'm
agreeable to doing as him and you wish. So jump up here behind me, and
we'll go to camp."

"I can walk."

"Up with you!" commanded the Texan. "I shouldn't wonder if some more of
the varmints will be on hand afore long, to attend the obsequies of
their champion runner."

Avon obeyed, and the laden mustang struck off to the northward, at an
easy gait.

CHAPTER XV.

VANISHED.

It was a startling sight, when Captain Shirril, stretched at full length
on the roof of his cabin, gazed in front of him and saw the head and
shoulders of a Comanche Indian slowly rise to view at the corner of the
eaves.

He could not doubt its meaning: the assailants were bent on burning the
structure, and were willing to face the danger that was sure to meet
them