pick up
the revolver or the bowie knife. The rifle was the evidence that he
wanted to take with him. Then they gathered their prisoner up. He
proved a heavy burden, though fortunately the distance was short to
the fork where Tad had decided to carry the man. The fellow had
nothing to say, but the expression in his eyes made up for what his
lips did not utter. The two boys were glad enough when finally they
reached their destination and dropped their burden, though none too
gently at that.

"Now what?" demanded Ned.

"I want you to hurry over to where the ponies are tethered, then ride
to the outfit. Tell them to pack up and move over here at once."

"Give me a signal before you come into the gulch here. I'll answer it
if all is right. Then you may come in without fear."

"What are you going to do?"

"I am going to stay here to keep our friend company. He might get
lonesome if we were to leave him alone," chuckled Tad. "Get back as
soon as you can. I'll have a fire built, then we'll get supper. Did
you know this fellow took another shot at Chunky?"

"No. Was that what he shot at?"

"That was it."

"I hope he didn't hit him."

"I guess not."

"Chunky seems to be getting more than his share of lead to-day,"
answered Rector with a chuckle. "Serves him right. It'll teach him
to be more prudent."

"I don't think you are exactly in the position to say much yourself,"
replied Tad, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

Ned flushed to the roots of his hair.

"For goodness' sake, don't tell the crowd how I got jumped on. I am as
easy as a baby. I'll never call myself a mountaineer again."

"Never mind. You showed your grit at any rate. You didn't appear to
be the least bit scared."

"I wasn't. But honest, Tad, now that I've had time to think it all
over, I'm scared stiff right this minute. I believe he would have
shot me."

"There is no doubt of it in my mind. So he thinks we are Rangers?"

"Who are the Rangers, anyway?"

"The Rangers are a body of men who did much toward clearing this state
of the bad men that infested it for a long time."

"They don't seem to have got them all," replied Rector.

"No, there are some near the border still. The Rangers are a sort of
police who range over the state wherever their services may be needed.
I understand they are paid by the state. I guess there are not many
of them left. The necessity for Rangers is not what it was a few
years ago."

"