not hear.

"We've got to be on our guard," Snake had added, and so, while Bud, Nort
and Dick would have been willing to slump down almost anywhere, and camp
as soon as they found water, this secluded site was selected.

The wisdom of this was now apparent, since, had there been no natural
shelter available, several casualties might have resulted from the
opening of a fusillade at dawn.

As it was, however, so quickly had the cowboys (and with them I now
include Buck Tooth) taken to shelter, that, aside from a few minor wounds
on the part of two or three, no one was badly hit.

"What's it all about?" called Bud from behind his sheltering stone to
Snake. Bud's gun was hot, for he had emptied the magazine, and with
little effect, as was afterward learned.

"Who's attacking us?" added Nort. He, as had Dick, had also fired
rapidly and with equal non-effect.

"Search me," succinctly replied Snake. "All I know is that there's
somebody out there anxious to fill us full of lead--more anxious than I
am to be filled," he added grimly. "Lay low everybody!" he shouted, as
another burst of firing succeeded the calm that had followed the first
attack.

Bullets "zinged" in amid the rocks, striking the hard stone with vicious
"pings!" and leaving grim, gray marks on the boulders; marks that would
have brought spots of vital redness had they found a human target.

Bud refilled the magazine of his gun, and started a return fire when
Snake threw a piece of stone that fell near the boy rancher, thus
attracting his attention. There was little use in shouting above the
din. A voice could be heard only in the lulls of shooting.

"What's the matter?" yelled Bud, scarcely making himself heard.

Snake motioned for him to cease firing, an example followed by Nort and
Dick. As for the older cowboys they had wisely witheld their fire.

Explanation was made by Snake a moment later when he crawled over to Bud,
keeping well hidden amid the rocks, and speaking in his ear, though
yelling at the top of his voice as he did so, said:

"What's the use of shootin' when you can't see your mark? Save your
powder and lead!"

It was good advice. Bud could not help but laugh at the conclusion of
Snake's advice. For the cowboy had started to give it in tones that
Yellin' Kid might have been proud to own. This was necessary because
those in ambush were firing in full force it seemed. But they stopped
suddenly, in the midst of Snake's rema