de his heart
jump. It was a man, and he was riding Chet's horse!

CHAPTER III.

A Dangerous Situation

It was not possible for Allen Winthrop to make any mistake regarding the
animal the man on the mountain trail was riding. Too often had he ridden
on Rush's back, and too well did he know the sturdy little horse's
characteristics.

But the man was a stranger to the young ranchman, and he could not even
remember having seen the rascal's face before.

"Stop!" called out Allen, as he struck Lilly to urge her on. "Stop! Do
you hear me?"

The man caught the words and wheeled about quickly. He was evidently
much disturbed by the encounter. He had been looking ahead, and had
known nothing of Allen's approach.

"Stop, do you hear?" repeated Allen.

"Wot do yer want?" was the surly response, but the speaker did not draw
rein in the least.

"I want you to stop!" exclaimed Allen, growing excited. "That horse
belongs to my brother!"

"Reckon you air mistaken, stranger," was the cool reply. "This air hoss
is mine."

This unexpected reply staggered Allen. He had expected the man to either
show fight or take to his heels. It was plainly evident that the fellow
intended, if possible, to bluff him off.

"Your horse? Not much! Whoa, Rush, old boy!"

Commanded by that familiar tongue, the horse came to a halt that was so
sudden it nearly pitched the rider out of his saddle. He muttered
something under his breath, straightened up and gave the reins a vicious
yank that made Rush rear up in resentment.

"See here, youngster, keep your parley to yourself!" howled the man,
scowling at Allen.

"I will--after you get down and turn that nag over to me," rejoined
Allen, as coolly as he could, although he was in an exceedingly high
state of suppressed excitement.

"And whyfore should I turn him over to you, seein' as how he belongs to
me?" growled the man, as brazenly as he could.

"You stole that horse from our barn not four hours ago," retorted Allen.
"I will waste no more words with you. Get down or take the
consequences."

As he concluded the youth unslung his rifle in a suggestive manner. He
had lived out in those wilds long enough to know that to trifle in such
a case as this would be sheer foolishness.

"You're a hot-headed youngster, tew say the least," was the reply, and
as he spoke the man scowled more viciously than ever. The sight of the
ready rifle in Allen's hands was not at all to his liking. He mad