ouldered figure on horseback scrambling from the creek-bottom,
leading the ponies of the two would-be wreckers, and the second cowman
running toward him.

"It's Little Hawk!" Alex exclaimed.

The cowboy reached the Indian, sprang at him, there was a terrific
scrimmage, and the white man sprang from the melee with the bridle of one
of the ponies, leaped into the saddle, and was off across the prairie in
a whirl of dust.

So interested had Alex been in the second conflict that momentarily he
had forgotten the man on the ground before him. He was reminded by
suddenly finding himself sprawling upon his back, and regaining his feet,
found their prisoner also racing off at top speed. The oiler darted
after, but quickly gave it up. He was no match for the light-footed
cowman.

Seeing the pistol still in Alex's hand, he cried, "Shoot! Shoot him!"

Alex raised the revolver, faltered, and lowered it. "No. I can't," he
said.

"I can!" The oiler darted back and wrested it from Alex's hand. As he
whirled about to fire, Alex grasped his arm. "No! Wait! Look!" he
exclaimed. "The Indian is after him!"

Turning, the oiler saw the Indian, with his own and one of the other
ponies, storming across the ground in pursuit of the runner. Silently
they watched.

As he heard the pounding hoofs behind him, the fleeing cowboy glanced
about, and set on at greater speed than ever. Quickly, however, the
horses cut down the distance between them.

The Indian leaned toward the second pony, took something from the
saddle-horn, and began to adjust it on his arm.

"He's going to lassoo him!" said Alex breathlessly.

Nearer drew the Indian to the fleeing man, and hand and lassoo went into
the air and began to weave circles. Tensely the two on the embankment
watched.

Closer the horses drew. Wider the circle of the lassoo extended.

Suddenly it leaped through the air like a great snake. The runner saw the
shadow of it, and with a cry that they heard, half turned and threw out
his arms to ward it off. The loop was too large, the cowman missed it,
and as the Indian pulled up in a cloud of dust, he whipped in the slack,
and the noose tightened fairly about the renegade's waist. An instant
after, however, the second pony, plunging ahead of the Indian's, threw
the rider forward, slackening the lariat. In a twinkle the cowman had
loosened the noose, and was wriggling out of it. He had freed one foot
before the Indian had recovered himself. Then w