ubtedly saved Stubbs'
life, for it attracted the attention of the enemy for a brief moment; and
in that moment, Anthony Stubbs, still unaware of the danger that
confronted him, dashed head first into his would-be slayer.

So great was the force of the impact that both were hurled to the ground.
With rare presence of mind, Stubbs, recovering his breath before his
unexpected opponent realized what had happened, reached out and procured
the other's revolver and hurled it aside.

Then he attempted to get to his feet, but at this point the other came
back to life and seized him by the legs.

"Hey! Leggo my legs!" shouted Stubbs.

The other held him tightly.

"Let me up!" cried Stubbs again.

Still the other clung fast, while Stubbs raised a cry for help.

At this juncture Hal reached the combatants. He was about to lend a hand,
when he saw that Stubbs' opponent was unarmed, and drew back.

Stubbs did not see him, and apparently believing that he was to get no
help, he turned to give battle. He kicked out with his left foot and the
foot came free. He followed suit with the right foot and felt it strike
something soft. At the same moment there came a cry of pain from Stubbs'
opponent and the grasp upon his other leg relaxed.

Quickly the little man leaped to his feet and darted toward the spot
where he had thrown the revolver. He snatched it up and leveled it at his
adversary.

"Hands up there!" he called.

There came a choking cry from the queer figure and the long arms were
raised high in the air.

"Good for you, Stubbs!" cried Hal at this juncture.

Stubbs gazed about sharply.

"About time you were getting here," he said. "I had a terrible fight with
this fellow."

CHAPTER VI.

A STRANGE ENCOUNTER.

Hal laughed aloud.

"Terrible fight, eh?" he exclaimed. "Of course you did. What else could
you do? You had to fight. Pretty lucky, Stubbs."

"Lucky!" echoed Stubbs. "What do you mean, lucky? If you had been here
in time to see me tackle this fellow you would have known what a hard
time I had."

"I saw you," replied Hal. "You can put down your gun, now. I'll take care
of this fellow."

He leveled his own revolver at the queer-looking creature before him and
Stubbs placed his newly-acquired revolver in his coat pocket.

Hal motioned to his prisoner to approach. The latter did so with an ugly
scowl on his face. He seemed not to have the slightest fear and came up
to the lad unflinchingly.

"