vy blow across the mouth, cutting his
lips and making his ears ring.

"Shut up, you young jackanapes!" commanded the man. "I'll hurt her and
you, too, if I like."

"And Captain Dan Rugley won't rest till he sees you well punished if you
harm her," mumbled Pratt.

Pete struck at him again. Pratt dodged back. And at that moment Frances
disappeared!

The man had only had his eyes off her for half a minute. He gasped, his
jaw dropped, and his bloodshot eyes roved all about, trying to discover
Frances' whereabouts.

He had not realized that, despite her fear, the girl of the ranges had
had her limbs drawn up and her muscles taut ready for a spring.

His attention given for the moment to Pratt Sanderson, Frances had risen
and dodged behind the bole of the tree against which she was leaning, a
carefully watched prisoner.

She would never have escaped so easily had it been Ratty in charge; for
his mental processes were quicker than those of Pete.

Flitting from tree to tree, keeping one or more of the big trunks
between her and Pete's roving eyes while still he was speechless, she
was traveling farther and farther from the camp.

She might have set forth running almost at once, and so escaped. But she
could not leave Pratt to the heavy hand of Pete. Nor could she abandon
Molly.

Frances, therefore, began encircling the opening where the fire burned;
but she kept well out of Pete's sight.

She heard him utter a bellow which would have done credit to a mad
steer. That came when he saw Pratt was about to escape, too.

The young fellow was creeping away, stooping and on tiptoe. Pete uttered
a frightful imprecation and sprang after him with his rifle clubbed and
raised above his head.

"Stand where you are!" he commanded, "or I'll bat your foolish head in!"

And he looked enraged enough to do it. Pratt dared not move farther; he
crouched in terror, expecting the blow.

He had bravely assailed Pete with his tongue when Frances seemed in
danger; but the girl had escaped now and Pratt hoped she was each minute
putting rods between this place and herself.

Pete suddenly dropped his rifle and sprang at the young man. Pratt's
throat was in the vicelike grip of Pete on the instant. Both his wrists
were seized by the man's other hand.

Such feeble struggles as Pratt made were abortive. His breath was shut
off and he felt his senses leaving him.

But as his eyes rolled up there was a crash in the brush and a pony
dash