kened
his pace and in a moment saw the cause of the commotion.

"Billee Dobb!" he exclaimed. "Golly, I'm glad to see you moving again!
How did you get over here?"

"Dick and Yellin' Kid carried me," the veteran rancher answered with a
smile. "Like a silly baby! They jest lifted me up an' brung me along.
Said I had to see the last act, anyway."

"How are you feeling?" Hawkins asked anxiously. "I wanted to go to you
soon as I heard about it, but I couldn't, Billee."

"Sure, I know you couldn't. I was all right. Dick stayed by me until
I had to threaten him with a six-gun to get him to help you people.
Why, I'm feelin' O. K. now. Jest got me in the shoulder. Laid me out
for a spell--I ain't as young as I was--why, I remember the time when I
got an arrow full in the side--didn't phase me none--went right on and
got the guy that shot it--I was a man in them days--I remember----"

"Now, Billee, take it easy," Bud said gently. "Tell us all about it
later. You got lots of time. Thirsty?"

"A leettle," the rancher replied with a sigh. Bud leaned over and held
his canteen to the other's lips. Billee took a long drink and sighed
again. "Tired," he said weakly. "Want to sleep."

He lay back on the blanket. Bud drew the edges over him and motioned
the others away. "Let him sleep. Best thing in the world for him.
We'll take him back later. I don't want to move him until that wound
gets good and quiet."

"What about these others?" Nort inquired. "We want to get them out of
the way. There are five men who can't walk. Then there's two more who
managed to get out without being burned. They're here too. We've got
to get them all back some way. Can't walk them, and we haven't enough
horses. What do you think, Mr. Hawkins?"

"Let me see," the agent said. "It is a problem, Nort. Bud, have you a
suggestion? The sooner we can get the bunch to town the quicker we'll
get something hot to eat. And a little sleep wouldn't harm us any.
Think of anything, Bud?"

"Well, if--" The boy stopped and listened intently. In the distance
he heard the sounds of horses. Then as they approached nearer the
creaking noise of a wagon traveling fast came to him. The next moment
all heard a voice yelling:

"Get along there, boys! Watch it--watch it! Pete, you spavin-back
cayuse, come out of that! Quit side-steppin'! At a baby--now yore
goin'! Out of that hole! Out of it! Pete! Pete! You dog-eared
knock-kneed b