Again the detective dropped to his hands and knees, Jet following his
example.

Silently and cautiously they crept across the opening; but just as they
were half way it seemed to Jet as if a solid sheet of fire lighted up
the clearing, and the reports which followed were almost deafening.

The enemy had expected exactly the move which was being made, and were
counting on killing their foes.

Fortunately the bullets had passed over the heads of the two reclining
figures, and Jet was about to leap to his feet when Harvey said sternly:

"Stay where you are, and give them a dose!"

At the same instant he began firing his revolver, aiming at the place
from which the flash of weapons had been seen.

Jet did as he was bidden until his weapon was emptied, and then he saw
Harvey leap to his feet and run at full speed diagonally across the
opening.

He did the same, loading the weapon as he went, and just as both
reached the fringe of foliage the detective fell before the fire of
those in the woods.

"Are you hurt?" Jet whispered as he knelt by the side of his friend
regardless of the danger.

"They have put a bullet through my leg, and I reckon that does me up."

"Let me try to get you back."

"It can't be done, my boy. Remember what I told you, and start at
once."

"But I don't want to leave you here?"

"You must; our only hope is that you can reach a telegraph station.
Run the best you know how while I give them something to occupy their
attention."

Jet hesitated no longer.

It seemed cruel to desert a wounded friend; but the order had been
given, and he could not refuse to obey it.

Harvey discharged his weapon rapidly, and the boy ran at full speed in
the opposite direction fearing he would never again see in life the man
who had promised to befriend him.

CHAPTER XII

THE ENCOUNTER

Jet was now traveling over a country with which he was not familiar,
and to continue on would be to take great chances of losing his way, at
least during the hours of darkness.

It was necessary, therefore, or at least he thought so, to get into
that section of the woods over which he had previously journeyed.

To do this he was forced to make a half circle around the building, and
as he ran, keeping at about the same distance from the house as he and
Harvey had gained, the sounds of the conflict could be distinctly heard.

Judging from the noise, one would say at least half a dozen men were
engaged, and