" when a shot
rang out.

"Well!" gasped he, while the two girls trembled with fear.

"That sounded from Top Notch. It's either Simms and his party, or those
rascals. In either case, it won't be cowardly in us to hide behind a
clump of pines and await developments," suggested the rancher.

Mr. Brewster stationed Eleanor behind a close growth of young pine and
handed her a small rifle. Barbara was hidden deeper in the forest, and
then he and Jeb took their places behind a bowlder whence they could
watch the up-trail. With a revolver ready in each hand, they waited
anxiously.

But his wise precautions were unnecessary this time, for Bill soon rode
up, calling loudly as he came. Sam Brewster sighed with relief to find a
group of Oak Creek's leading citizens with the Sheriff.

"Bill, did you-all shoot, a time back?" queried Mr. Brewster the moment
the posse came up.

Bill laughed. "Ah'll explain in a minute. You-all see it wa'r this way:
After you-all left for home, yesterday, it wa'r found how some low-down
sneaks got wind of this claim and planned to ride up at once. It looked
a lot like claim-jumpin', so we-all got together mighty quick and rode
after them to spare the Lord any trouble in judgin' 'em. Also, we-all
reckoned to save your party any nonsense over the gold, 'specially as
thar wa'r four gals in it."

"But three rascals got a lead on you," interrupted Sam.

"Yeh, three are at large somewhere, Ah reckon; but two of the worst ones
out of that five are back yonder. Hank Johnson and his jail-bird pal are
down on Four Mile Blaze. When we get the other three, we'll rid Oak
Crick of five of its worst citizens."

"Rattle-Snake Mike came up with us, Bill. We rode up the Indian
Trail--that's how we got here so soon. But Mike went on to the cave with
Polly and her friend. They'll guard their claim, all right, unless those
three interfere," said Mr. Brewster, with an anxious note in his voice.

"Ah reckon we'd better make for that cave, then! Thar may be some work
cut out fer us thar," whispered Bill, seeing the two city girls now
ride out from cover and come over to join the group.

"Where's Mrs. Brewster?" asked Eleanor, anxiously.

"This is Bill's party--they left Oak Creek last night," explained Mr.
Brewster.

"Then where is Simms and your wife?" asked Barbara.

"You see it will take the others much longer to ride up from Lone Pine
than it took us to climb the trappers' trail, so they can't possibly
ar