a wonder when it comes to planning or
fighting. An' lucky,--well, I reckon!"

Hopalong ran forward for a short distance and slid down the steep bank
of a narrow arroyo and waited, the repeater thrust out through the dense
fringe of grass and shrubs which bordered the edge. When settled to his
complete satisfaction and certain that he was effectually screened from
the sight of any one in front of him, he arose on his toes and looked
around for his companion, and laughed. Mr. Connors was bending very
dejectedly apparently over his prostrate horse, but in reality was
swearing heartily at the ignorant quadruped because it strove with might
and main to get its master's foot off its head so it could arise. The
man in the arroyo turned again and watched the hills and it was not
long before he saw two Indians burst into view over the crest and gallop
towards his friend. They were not to be blamed because they did not
know the pursued had joined a friend, for the second trail was yet some
distance in front of them.

"Pair of budding warriors, all right; an' awful important. Somebody must
'a' told _them_ they had brains," Mr. Cassidy muttered. "They're just
at the age when they knows it all an' have to go 'round raising hell all
the time. Wonder when they jumped the reservation."

The Indians, seeing Mr. Connors arguing with his prostrate horse, and
taking it for granted that he was not stopping for pleasure or to view
the scenery, let out a yell and dashed ahead at grater speed, at the
same time separating so as to encircle him and attack him front and rear
at the same time. They had a great amount of respect for cowboys.

This manoeuvre was entirely unexpected and clashed violently with Mr.
Cassidy's plan of procedure, so two irate punchers swore heartily at
their rank stupidity in not counting on it. Of course everybody that
knew anything at all about such warfare knew that they would do just
such a thing, which made it all the more bitter. But Red had cultivated
the habit of thinking quickly and he saw at once that the remedy
lay with him; he astonished the exultant savages by straddling his
disgruntled horse as it scrambled to its feet and galloping away from
them, bearing slightly to the south, because he wished to lure his
pursuers to ride closer to his anxious and eager friend.

This action was a success, for the yelling warriors, slowing perceptibly
because of their natural astonishment at the resurrection and speed