with
your teeth."

I raised my head to get the direction, and then, with a violent twist
of my body, I started toward him; but being bound fast I could not guide
myself, and I rolled off the ledge. The bank there was pretty steep,
and, unable to stop, I kept on like a barrel going down-bill. The
thought of rolling into the spring filled me with horror. Suddenly I
bumped hard into something that checked me. It was a log of firewood,
and in one end stuck the big knife which Herky-Jerky used to cut meat.

Instantly I conceived the idea of cutting my bonds with this knife. But
how was I to set about it?

"Dick, here's a knife. How'll I get to it so as to free myself?"

"Easy as pie," replied he, eagerly. "The sharp edge points down. You
hitch yourself this way--That's it---good!"

What Dick called easy as pie was the hardest work I ever did. I lay flat
on my back, bound hand and foot, and it was necessary to jerk my body
along the log till my hands should be under the knife. I lifted my legs
and edged along inch by inch.

"Fine work, Ken! Now you're right! Turn on your side! Be careful you
don't loosen the knife!"

Not only were my wrists bound, but the lasso had been wrapped round my
elbows, holding them close to my body. Turning on my side, I found that
I could not reach the knife--not by several inches. This was a bitter
disappointment. I strained and heaved. In my effort to lift my body
sidewise I pressed my face into the gravel. "Hurry, Ken, hurry!" cried
Dick. "Somebody's coming!"

Thus urged, I grew desperate. In my struggle I discovered that it was
possible to edge up on the log and stick there. I glued myself to that
log. By dint of great exertion I brought the tight cord against the
blade. It parted with a little snap, my elbows dropped free. Raising
my wrists, I sawed quickly through the bonds. I cut myself, the blood
flowed, but that was no matter. Jerking the knife from the log, I
severed the ropes round my ankles and leaped up.

"Hurry, boy!" cried Dick, with a sharp note of alarm.

I ran to where he lay, and attacked the heavy halter with which he
had been secured. I had cut half through the knots when a shrill cry
arrested me. It was the Mexican's voice.

"Head him off! He's after your gun!" yelled Dick.

The sight of Greaser running toward the cave put me into a frenzy.
Dropping the knife, I darted to where my rifle leaned across my saddle.
But I saw the Mexican would beat me to it. Checking