, do you surrender?"

Unwittingly Hawkins lowered his gun on which was the flag of truce.
There was a sudden report, and a spurt of dust arose at the agent's
feet.

"There's our answer!" Delton yelled, and slammed down the window.

Hawkins wasted no time in returning to the waiting boys.

"That's that," he said grimly, and he removed the handkerchief from his
gun. "We got to go after them. Kid, where's Billee Dobb resting?"

"Over there behind that bend. Want me to go over and see how he's
makin' out?"

"Yes. In the meantime, where's that meat and bread you brought, Nort?
Everybody grab some. Got water over there for Billee, Kid?"

"Yep; Dick's got a canteen full, and he's got Billee's shoulder tied up
with his shirt. We can't do anything more for him 'til we get home."

"I hate to think of Billee lying out there hurt," Bud said a trifle
sadly. "Think we all better go over and see him?"

"No, I don't," Hawkins said decidedly. "The Kid knows what he's
talking about, and if he says we can't do anything more for Billee,
there's no use tracking over there and getting him excited. Here, now,
everybody get some of the food Nort brought."

"Not so hungry," Bud said, looking longingly toward the window where
they had last seen Delton.

"Eat anyway, Bud. You'll need it. And stop worrying about Billee.
I'm sure he'll make out all right."

On his way to the injured man the Kid brought some of the bread and
meat for Dick. The others, though they protested they weren't hungry,
ate as much as Nort carried. All felt better after this refreshment.

Within five minutes the Kid was back.

"Better!" he called as he came up. "Dick says he's getting along O. K.
Took some of the food and wanted to know if he could be shifted to
where he could see the fireworks. He's quiet now, though. Dick's
afraid he'll start a hemorrhage if he moves around much."

"He might, too," Bud agreed. "It's best to keep him as quiet as
possible. Well--when do we start?"

Hawkins had been standing by the side of his pony. Now he mounted and
faced the house.

"We start now!" he said. "First we have to decide how to close in. I
think Nort and I had better come in from the left. Kid, you and Bud
get around to the extreme right. In that way we can cover the whole
ground. Nort and I will start first, and try to make the door.

"When I shoot, you start, Kid. If we can get into the house, the rest
is easy. I know that bunch.