he one who was fleeing. Whatever "the paper"
meant, it was the nucleus of the plot, it appeared, and Hiram purposed
to have it.

But, grasping frantically for a stirrup, then sprawling along the neck
of the nearest horse, the man yelled to the animal, and it leaped away
with him through the trees.

Hiram whirled back, beaten in that direction, and made for the other,
who was on his feet and also running toward the two remaining mounts.
The third man still lay inert.

Hiram started running for the second escaping man, but suddenly his
knees refused to hold his legs to their accustomed task. Blindness was
coming upon him, but he continued to grope toward the horses. Then
again came the sounds of rapidly thundering hoofs. Hiram Hooker sighed
weakly and placed both hands to his breast, which seemed weighted with
some heavy object, or bound about tightly with a rope. His hands came
away red and wet He wilted in his tracks, sighed again, and seemed to
drift placidly into a deep, soothing sleep.

Then a noise partially awoke him. His senses swam, and he thought he
heard himself laughing crazily, but could not make sure whether he was
laughing or only had imagined it. A man was reeling toward the
remaining horse, both hands to his head, and he looked so helpless and
befuddled that Hiram laughed again--or thought he did. The man groaned
and mumbled, then fell flat on his face, as a baby falls in an
unchecked collapse. A little while he lay there, then struggled to his
feet again, and tottered toward the horse, who seemed to be neighing
shrilly for the mates that had deserted him.

Why, that was what Hiram had heard, he reasoned. He had not been
laughing at all. A long space of semiconsciousness. Then came the
dull thunder of hoofs once more. Hiram half raised his body on an
elbow. There lay Jerkline Jo, stiff and immovable in her yellow
oilskins. There was no one else about. Save himself, of course, but
he was so sleepy.

He fell back with a crash.

CHAPTER XXVIII

FOUR-UP FOR HELP

Bound and helpless, Jerkline Jo Modock lay on the ground and listened
to the sounds of the battle raging around her. She knew that her hero
from Wild-cat Hill had come with his terrorizing panther scream, and
she heard curses and thudding clubs, then popping revolver shots.

She was struggling desperately to free herself of her bonds, but she
only wearied herself and accomplished nothing. With her teeth she
chew