"Come with me!" cried old Benson. "Be quick, or it will be too late!"

He led the way to the wood where the horses were tethered, and the
captain, Joe, and Darry came close behind him.

Hardly had they gotten away from the guards when the whole camp was in
alarm.

"What's the trouble?" demanded Matt Gilroy, leaping to his feet and
catching up his rifle.

"The prisoners have escaped!" answered one of the guards. "We were
attacked by some men from behind. There they go!"

"Stop!" roared the leader of the desperadoes, and raised his rifle. But
before he could take aim our friends were behind the shelter of the
trees.

It took but a few seconds to loosen the horses, and as the captain and
the two boys had long since relieved themselves of their bonds they were
soon in the saddle and following the old scout, who seemed to know the
way perfectly, despite the darkness.

"It was lucky you came up, Benson!" cried Joe, as they dashed along.

"Wait, we are not yet out of this trouble," answered Benson. "Hark! they
are following!"

He was right. Gilroy and several of his men had rushed to their horses,
and were now coming along the forest trail at a good rate of speed.

But their horses were no better than the animals our friends rode, so
the desperadoes did not succeed in cutting down the distance between the
two parties, and at last gave up the chase.

"It has been a most stirring adventure from start to finish," said
Captain Moore after each had told his story. "And it brings to an end
this outing. I must now get to the fort without delay."

"And I am perfectly willing to go along," said Darry. "There is no fun
in hunting in a country where the desperadoes are so thick."

"This will open Colonel Fairfield's eyes," went on the young officer. "I
shouldn't be surprised if he organized another expedition against
Gilroy's gang and didn't let up on them until they were all either in
prison or shot down."

"It's what they deserve," came from old Benson. "I'll go on such a hunt
with pleasure."

Our friends continued in the saddle all night and until ten o'clock the
next morning. Then, tired and hot, they went into camp by a cooling
stream. Here they went fishing, and soon caught enough fish for dinner,
after which they took a nap lasting several hours.

"And now for the fort!" cried Captain Moore; "and the sooner we get
there the better."

The nap had done the boys a world of good, and as they rode along their
sp