ming too close for
comfort.

Paz and his followers were evidently taken by surprise, and for a
moment did not return the fire. Then, as it increased the Indians
turned and began fleeing up the trail they had just descended, taking
Rosemary and Floyd with them. Evidently they not only thought there
might be danger in making a stand against the intrepid Americans, but
perhaps they reasoned that they had captives too valuable to risk
losing in another pitched fight.

At any rate Paz gave the orders to retreat, and his men obeyed.
Rosemary and Floyd saw what was happening. Helpless, they were carried
away into the mountains.

True it was United States territory, but for all the good that did the
captives, it might as well have been Mexico. There were no troops or
other help at hand.

Paz rode on ahead, and directly behind him came his more trusted
followers surrounding Rosemary and Floyd.

Suddenly Paz and his lieutenants (if such they might be called) in the
lead, were thrown back in confusion as shots rang out, and Floyd and
his sister had a glimpse of some cowboys riding down the trail, as if
to give battle.

"Hurray! Now we're all right. This is a rescue! The troopers are
coming!" shouted Floyd.

But though the valiant cowboys made a brave stand they were too few to
cope with the Indians. It developed, later, that they were a stray
band who had been told of the trouble by the lone cowboy who was riding
after the troops. The band of punchers, resolving to do their best,
had spurred to the fight, but were overwhelmed.

Two were killed and another wounded. And this youth--he was but that
in years--managed to break through the first line of Indians like a
football player with the ball smashing the interference of the opposing
team.

Right to the side of Rosemary and Floyd he galloped, and then the girl
had a flash of inspiration. Quickly she managed to take from her
pocket a notebook, and, one of the ropes coming loose from her hand,
she was able to scribble on a torn out page this message:

"Get word to my uncle, Henry Merkel, Diamond X Ranch, that Floyd and I
are taken. Ask him to send help."

She rolled this into a ball, and as the cowboy lurched past her she
thrust it into his hand.

"Ride! Ride away!" Rosemary fairly shouted in his ear, for there was
so much noise of shooting and yelling that she had to cry loudly to
make herself understood.

"I'm going to stay and fight!" cried the yout