ad had built up a fire, mainly for the reason that he
wanted to keep his prisoner well in sight all the time. Butler knew
that the man was a tough customer and that were he to get free it
would be a sad night for Tad Butler, and so, too, perhaps, for the
rest of the party.

The prisoner had nothing to say, nor did Butler seek to draw the fellow
into conversation. But the man was watching every move of the young
rider who had so cleverly outwitted and captured him. The mountaineer
now believed more firmly than before that these two young men were
carrying out the orders of Captain Billy McKay of the Texas Rangers.
He swore to be revenged on every man of them when once he had gained
his freedom. At present that hour of revenge was a long way off.

Suddenly a loud "Yip! Yip! Yahee!" sounded off on the plain. Tad
smiled broadly.

"That's Stacy Brown, I'll wager my hat. I'll bet Ned is scolding him,
too."

Ned was. He was at that instant threatening to break Chunky's head
if he opened his mouth again before they reached the camping place.
Shortly after that Butler's keen ears caught the sound of hoofbeats.
He stepped back into the shadows, the prisoner eyeing him inquiringly.
Tad did not take the trouble to explain. Let the prisoner think what
he might. Then the party rode in in single file. Tad was not in sight.
He was hiding in the bushes.

Professor Zepplin pulled up short when his glances finally came to rest
on the bound form of the mountaineer; Stacy Brown's eyes grew large
and Walter Perkins gasped.

CHAPTER VI

THE CAMP IN AN UPROAR

"Tad! Where is Tad? What does this mean?" demanded the professor.

"Hullo, boys," cried Butler stepping out into the light. "Did you
think that was myself tied up there?"

Chunky, in the excitement of the moment, forgot to tell Tad that he
had stopped another bullet out on the plain.

"What do you think of our prisoner, Professor?"

"Tad, will you be good enough to explain what this means?"

"Yes, sir. To be brief that's the fellow who shot at us. He tried to
kill us both up here in the mountains."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"I guess I ought to know," grinned Rector, "He jumped me, tied me to
a tree, then was about to blow my head off when Tad appeared just in
time to save my precious life."

By this time Stacy had slipped from his saddle and striding over to
the prisoner stood looking down at him. "So, you're the fellow who
potted me tw