they had to move from one spot to another, to
keep out of the drippings.

While this was going on Gaff Caven was working at the handkerchief
that bound his wrists and soon had it loose. Pat Malone also liberated
himself. Caven winked suggestively at his confederate.

"Watch me," he whispered. "When I give the signal we'll knock 'em both
down and run for it."

"But the pistol--" began Malone.

"I'll take care of that."

In moving around the old barn Caven spotted a club and moved close to
it. Suddenly he snatched the weapon up and hit Bill Badger on the arm
with it. The pistol flew into a corner and went off, sending a bullet
into a board.

"Run!" yelled Caven, and leaped for the open doorway. Malone came beside
him, and both ran off through the rain as fast as their legs could carry
them.

Joe was startled and made after the pair. But at a groan from Bill
Badger he paused.

"Are you badly hurt?" he asked.

"He gave me a stiff crack on the arm," growled the young westerner.

Joe ran for the corner and caught up the pistol. Then he leaped for the
open doorway.

"Stop, both of you!" he called out. "Stop, or I'll fire!"

"Don't you dare!" shrieked Pat Malone, and ran faster than ever, behind
the nearest of the trees. Joe aimed the weapon, but before he could pull
the trigger both of the bad men were out of sight.

"Go after them, if you want to," said Bill Badger. "I'll go too."

"You are not badly hurt?" queried our hero, sympathetically.

"No, but if I catch that fellow I'll give it to him good," grumbled the
young westerner.

Both now left the barn and made after Caven and Malone. Once they caught
sight of the rascals, moving in the direction of the railroad tracks.

"They are going to catch a train if they can!" cried our hero. "I hear
one coming."

"It's a freight most likely," was Bill Badger's answer.

He was right, and soon the long line of freight cars hove into sight
around a bend and on an upgrade. Far in the distance they beheld Caven
and Malone scooting for the train with all speed.

"They are going to make it," sighed Joe. "Too bad!"

They continued to run, but before they could get anywhere near the
tracks they saw Caven leap for the train and get between two of the
cars. Then Malone got aboard also, and the freight train passed out of
sight through the cut.

"That ends the chase," said Joe, halting. "They were slick to get away."

"If we only knew where they would get off we co