he cabin, gun
in hand. His call had aroused Joe and Darry, and they were pulling on
their clothing with all speed.

"Something is wrong!" exclaimed Joe.

"It must be those desperadoes," responded his cousin.

The boys were not yet dressed, when they heard a clatter of hoofs and a
shot, followed by another.

Then they came out, rifles in hand, to find Leeson reloading near the
stable.

"Those desperadoes have been here!" exclaimed the old trapper. "They ran
off with your hosses, consarn 'em!"

"Went off with the horses?" repeated Darry. "Did you shoot at them?"

"I did, but the light's against me, and I don't reckon as how I hit
anything." Hank Leeson meditated for a moment. "I've half a mind ter do
it--yes, I have!" he muttered.

"Do what?" asked Joe.

"Go after 'em on my mare. Would you be afraid to stay here alone if I
went?"

"No; go ahead!" cried both boys.

"We'll keep watch while you are away," continued Joe.

"If you can get the horses back it will be a great favor," said Darry.
"The three are worth over five hundred dollars."

Without further words, Hank Leeson dashed into the stable, untied his
mare and mounted her. Rifle over shoulder and pistol in hand, he dashed
away on the back trail, whence the desperadoes had disappeared. Soon he
was swallowed up in the darkness, although they heard the hoofbeats of
Nancy for several minutes after.

"This is the worst yet," was Joe's comment, when they were alone.
"Those fellows are as daring as they are rascally. I never dreamed they
would come up in that fashion. I wonder what they would have done if
Leeson hadn't woke up?"

"Perhaps we would all have been murdered," answered his cousin with a
shudder. "What shall we do, now we are dressed?"

"That depends upon how long Leeson remains away. I move we remain on
guard--one at the front of the cabin and the other at the rear. If we
keep our eyes peeled they can't come very close, even though it is
dark."

"All right, Joe. Keep your rifle handy."

"Don't fear about that, Darry."

They were soon on guard, the one on the doorstep and the other near the
lean-to, on a stump. Thus an hour dragged by. To both it was an
unusually long while.

"I don't see a thing," said Darry, coming to where his cousin rested.

"Nor I, and I'm getting sleepy. I hardly think Leeson will be back until
morning."

"Just what I was thinking. Let us take turns at watching. The one on
duty can walk around the cabin now and