tance and even
gaining.

"Stick to it, old boy!" Bud exhorted his bronco. "We're as good as
they are, any day! Can't last forever! Wow!" Another bullet sang
through the air. "That was a close one. If I had a gun you wouldn't
be so free with your lead. All I've got to depend on is what's under
me. But you'll do, old boy, you'll do! Step on it!"

Across the open prairie flew the chase, Bud in the lead about five
hundred yards. His pony was tiring now, the breath was coming in short
gasps. Bud consoled himself with the thought that his followers'
mounts were probably in worse case.

"Just a little more, bronc!" he coaxed. "Soon be home!
At-a-baby--yo-yo-yo!" He kept in cadence with his pony's gallop, and
it seemed to him that she responded with a further burst of speed. He
looked back again. Certainly he was increasing the distance between
himself and his pursuers! They appeared a greater distance from him
than when they had started. Now the country they were passing through
assumed a familiar aspect, but Bud was too excited to notice it until
he reached the water hole.

"Luck!" he exulted. "I headed in the right direction. Don't think
I'll be followed much beyond this. Let's see--" He turned in his
saddle. To his surprise there was no one in sight.

"Made it! Bronc, old boy, I offer you my sincere thanks! No, don't
slow down just yet. A little more--" He kept up his fast pace until
he was well beyond the water hole, then, with a final look behind him,
he pulled down to a walk.

"Guess we're O.K. now. What a chase! Say, bronc, it's too bad we
didn't have a movie camera somewhere around. Hero being chased by the
villains. Bang--bang--another Indian bit the dust! Anyway, I'm glad
we're out of _that_ mess. What was the idea of the whole thing, anyhow?

"Don't see what they wanted with me. And 'to-morrow night'! Evidently
they figure on some sort of dirty work. Now that they know I've heard
part of their plans they may not pull anything."

Off in the distance Bud could now see the buildings of Shooting Star.
As he rode up, the Kid was nailing a board to the lower part of the
ranch house, and had his back to Bud. He turned swiftly as he heard
the hoof-beats of Bud's horse.

"Come in--come in!" he called. "Have a good trip? How are all the
babies--and Aunt Sarah? You must be plumb worn out, ridin' all the way
from Arken-saw on a hot day like this."

"Quit your kidding," Bud ans