accompanied
by one or more of the regulars.

In a few minutes all had left the place, except McKay, Tad and Stacy.
These waited for the better part of half an hour.

"Now forward and no loud talking, boys," the captain directed, touching
his pony's sides with the spurs. "Be ready to obey orders quickly.
And, Brown, no more imitations on your part. This is serious business.
A slip and you're likely to stop a bullet 'most any time."

The three men started away, with the captain in the lead. They
traveled all of two miles when McKay called a halt.

"Butler, you will go to the right, straight ahead. Stop after you
have gone about a quarter of a mile as nearly as you can judge. When
you hear an owl hoot, move slowly forward. Don't use your gun, no
matter what happens, unless some one shoots at you. Even then don't
shoot unless you have to. But let no one get past you. We hope to
get those fellows in a pocket and hold them up without any shooting.
But we may have to waste some powder. Do you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"You are not afraid?"

"I am not."

"I thought you wouldn't be."

"Where do I go?" asked Stacy apprehensively.

"You will remain with me. I'll take care of you. All right, Butler."

Tad without another word rode away. Finally after having gone what
he thought was the proper distance, he halted and sat his pony silently,
head bent forward listening for the signal. It came at last, sounding
faint and far away. The boy smiled, shook out his reins and the pony
moved forward almost as silently as the boy could have done himself.
The night was dark, but Tad was able to make out objects with more or
less distinctness. He used his eyes and ears to good purpose. Once
Tad thought he heard a twig snap a short distance ahead of him. He
halted abruptly and sat steadily for fully ten minutes. There being
no further sounds he moved forward again.

It was a trying situation for a boy. Tad Butler felt the thrill of
the moment, but he was unafraid. It is doubtful if Tad ever had
realized a sense of fear, though he was far from being foolhardy,
nor was there the faintest trace of bravado about him. He was simply
a steady nerved, brave lad who would do his duty as he saw it no
matter how great the obstacles or how imminent the peril.

The boy had gone forward for some thirty minutes when all at once his
quick ears caught a peculiar, low whistle some distance ahead. Tad
with ready resourceful