g me at that station in
Oklahoma, eh?"

As Megget recognized the brothers his face grew terrible to see,
and, summoning all his strength, he leaped to his feet.

But Lawrence had tied his ankles so tight he could not keep his
balance, and the raider pitched forward while Mr. Wilder and the
others rushed in to make sure he did not harm the boys.

At the sight of the men he thought burned, the leader of the
raiders lay trembling like a leaf.

"You see you can't raid the Half-Moon herd with impunity,"
exclaimed Mr. Wilder sternly. "Come on, boys, let's go outside.
These men are not pleasant companions." And turning on his heel,
he led the way from the mine.

Appointing Pete, Sandy and two others to stand guard to make sure
none of the prisoners broke their bonds, Mr. Wilder ordered the
others to turn in.

Some time it took them to get to sleep, but when they did they
slept soundly, and it was broad daylight when they awoke.

After a hearty breakfast, they were discussing the best way to get
their prisoners to Tolopah when a body of horsemen galloped into
the valley.

For the moment the ranchmen and cowboys thought they were partners
of the raiders and quickly they sprang for their guns. But the
next minute their alarm vanished.

"It's Shorty Jenks and the sheriff of Tolopah!" yelled Skinny. And
such, indeed, it proved to be, together with a score of deputies.

Hearty were the greetings exchanged by the sheriffs and the ranch
owners, and the former were elated when they learned of the
successful round-up of the cattle thieves.

Deeming it unwise to start to drive out the cattle so late In the
day, they whiled away the time exploring the mine, where, to the
delight of the boys, they were able to dig out several small pieces
of almost pure silver ore.

Without adventure the day passed and at dawn the next morning the
start was made.

The prisoners, their legs tied together under their ponies and
guarded by the deputies, led the procession, followed by the
sheriffs, the ranch owners and the lads. Behind them the cowboys
drove the cattle.

Able to travel faster than the steers, Mr. Wilder ordered his men
to drive to the pool, picking up the fifty head on the way, after
which he told them to come to the ranch for a jollification in
honor of the capture.

Reaching the plains In good season, the ranchmen and the boys
separated from the sheriffs and, urging their ponies, arrived at
the home in time for d