h a burst of furious yells Snake and Kid
led a charge against the foremost of the sheepmen and turned them back.

They could not stand the withering fire that was poured in on them and
they wheeled their plunging horses in the swirling stream and made for
the opposite shore whence they had come.

"Hurray!" cried Bud as he saw this.

"We've got 'em on the run!" shouted Nort.

Just then Dick rode back to join the fray, having bound up his wounded
hand as best he could unaided.

"What's doing?" he asked.

For answer his brother and cousin pointed to the retreating Greasers.

"Good!" exclaimed Dick. "Do you think they'll come back?" he asked.

"No telling," remarked Bud.

"I don't believe we'll have gotten rid of them so easily," was Nort's
opinion.

There was some confusion now amid the ranks of the sheep men. Those
who were wounded were being cared for, and they all gathered around
what had been their central camp fire.

"They're debating whether to give up or not," was Snake's view of it.

And if this was the subject of the talk it ended in a decision not to
give up the fight. For presently another attempt was made to cross the
creek. This time the Greasers divided forces, separating about a
quarter of a mile, and thus necessitating a division in the ranks of
the cowboys. This, of course, made the odds against the Diamond X
outfit rather heavier.

But again the Greasers were repulsed, with several wounded, though the
same might be said of Old Billee's forces. Again the sheep men
withdrew across the creek.

Again was there a conference, and then the same tactics were tried as
at first--the main body came directly across the stream.

But now a new element entered into the battle. For, no sooner had the
fight started for the third time than some of the Mexicans began
driving into the water, at a point perhaps half a mile from the fray, a
flock of sheep.

"Look at that!" cried Yellin' Kid.

It was evident that something must be done. It called for another
division of the defending force, now somewhat reduced in numbers
because of injuries. But the crossing of the sheep had to be stopped,
as well as the passage of the armed men.

And, after a hard struggle, this was accomplished. The sheep were the
easier driven back, for the animals were soon frightened and thrown
into confusion. But the Mexicans themselves were desperate, and some
of them even succeeded in reaching the opposite shore, setti