w against the distant
timber was real enough, however! There was no mistaking that! The log
stable was on fire!

The horse fought the bit as Young Pete reined him into the timber.

Pete could see no men against the glow of the burning building, but he
knew that they were there somewhere, bushed in the brush and waiting.
Within a few hundred yards of the cabin he was startled by the flat
crack of a rifle. He felt frightened and the blood sang in his ears.
But he could not turn back now! His pop might be besieged in the
cabin, alone and fighting a cowardly bunch of cow-punchers who dare not
face him in the open day. But what if his pop were not there? The
thought struck him cold. What would he do if he made a run for the
cabin and found it locked and no one there? All at once Pete realized
that it was _his_ home and _his_ stock and hay that were in danger.
Was he not a partner in pop's homestead? Then a thin red flash from
the cabin window told him that Annersley was there. Following the
flash came the rip and roar of the old rifle. Concealed in the timber,
Pete could see the flames licking up the stable. Presently a long
tongue of yellow shot up the haystack. "The doggone snakes done fired
our hay!" he cried, and his voice caught in a sob. This was too much.
Hay was a precious commodity in the high country. Pete yanked out his
carbine, loosed a shot at nothing in particular, and rode for the cabin
on the run. "We're coming pop," he yelled, followed by his shrill
"Yip! Yip! We're all here!"

Several of the outlying cow-punchers saw the big bay rear and stop at
the cabin as Young Pete flung out of the saddle and pounded on the
door. "It's me, pop! It's Pete! Lemme in!"

Annersley's heart sank. Why had the boy come? How did he know? How
had he managed to get away?

He flung open the door and dragged Pete in.

"What you doin' here?" he challenged.

"I done lost my hat," gasped Pete. "I--I was lookin' for it."

"Your hat? You gone loco? Git in there and lay down!" And though it
was dark in the cabin Young Pete knew that his pop had gestured toward
the bed. Annersley had never spoken in that tone before, and Young
Pete resented it.

Pete was easily led, but mighty hard to drive.

"Nothin' doin'!" said Pete. "You can't boss me 'round like that! You
said we was pardners, and that we was both boss. I knowed they was
comin' and I fanned it up here to tell you. I reckon we kin lick the
h