l, letting go at the same
time a rattling fire.

"Y-e-e-e-o-w!"

As they swept down toward the spot where Tad was sitting on his pony,
the cowboys swung into line six abreast, thus filling the street from
curb to curb.

This time, however, instead of shooting into the air, they lowered the
muzzles of their revolvers, sending volley after volley into the street
ahead of them, the leaden missiles viciously kicking up the dirt into
miniature clouds, like those from heavy drops of rain in advance of a
thunder squall.

Tad's pony began to show signs of nervousness.

"Whoa!" commanded the boy sharply, tightening his rein and pressing his
knees firmly against the animal's sides. The prancing pony was quickly
mastered by its rider, though it continued to shake its head in emphatic
protest.

"Out of the way, you tenderfoot!" yelled a cowman, espying the boy and
pony directly in his path.

Tad Butler did not move.

"Y-e-e-e-o-w!" shrieked the band in a series of shrill cries.

When they saw that the boy was holding his ground so calmly, their
revolvers began to bark spitefully, flicking up a semicircle of dust
about the pony's feet, causing the little animal to prance and rear into
the air.

At this Tad's jaws set stubbornly, his lips pressing themselves firmly
together. The boy brought his quirt down sharply on the pony's flank, at
the same time pressing the pointless rowels of his spurs against the
sides of the frightened animal.

Though Tad determinedly held his mount in its place, he was no longer
able to check its rearing and plunging, for the wiry little animal was
wholly unused to such treatment. Besides, a volley of revolver bullets
about its feet would disturb the steadiest horse.

Two cowboys on his side of the street had driven their mounts toward the
lad with a yell. Tad did not wholly divine their purpose, though he knew
that their intent was to frighten him into giving them the street. He
felt instinctively that if he should refuse to do so, some sort of
violence would be visited upon him.

It followed a moment later.

Observing that the boy had no intention of giving way to them, the two
cowboys held their course, their eyes fixed on the offending tenderfoot
until finally only a few rods separated them.

Suddenly, both men pulled their mounts sharply to the right, and,
digging in the spurs, plunged straight for Tad.

"So that's their game, is it?" thought the boy.

They were going to run him