rd--arm yourselves!"

"Goin' arter 'em, lad?"

"Yes; don't lose a minute!"

All hands hastily got aboard the stage.

Jack mounted the seat and sent her rushing out.

As soon as she reached the street Jack sent her flying in pursuit of the
fugitives.

The bandits soon saw her chasing them.

CHAPTER XVIII.
IN DEAD MAN'S GULCH.

The sun was gleaming down brightly as the cavalcade of bandits went
thundering out of Husking Valley chased by the electric stage.

A cloud of dust was kicked up by the horses' hoofs which almost obscured
the riders from view.

Jack steered the machine with the greatest precision, and Fritz came
through the forward door and joined him.

"How did Wood Hite get free to escape?" asked the inventor.

"Ach, he didn'd got free, His hants vos died behint his beck yet,"
replied Fritz. "Me and Dim vos sittin' oud here, vaitin' tet hear yer
sicknal. Puddy soon ve hear somepody behint dot stages, und see Vood
Hite had got oud der beck door. He vas runnin' avay. Ve runt afder him.
But vhen ve got down der streed, ve don'd see nodding ohf him. He
ditsappeared."

"Couldn't you find him?"

"Nein. Ve ditn'd couldt seen vhere he vented."

"I'm sorry, for I wished to put him behind the bars!"

"Nefer mindt," said Fritz. "Ve mebbe caughted more ohf dem."

"I hope so. Anyway, we are pretty close to them now."

"So dey gotted der money from der pank?"

"Jesse rode into the building on horseback and looted it single-handed."

"Dot son-ohf-a-sea-ghooks vos got blenty spunks alretty!"

"Too much for the safety of the public. I'd sooner arrest him
individually than his whole gang put together."

"Dot vould preak dem up!"

"That's just my impression."

In a few moments the town was left behind and the horse-men galloped out
into the open country over a rocky tract.

There the horses had an advantage over the Terror, as they could pick
their way over the rough ground.

A fearful jolting and rattling of the stage ensued, and Jack was forced
to slacken speed.

That gave the fugitives an advantage.

They quickly gained a long lead, for Jack had to zigzag the Terror in
and out among the stones.

She kept falling farther and still further behind.

Some distance beyond the rocky place Jack caught view of a prairie
covered with brush and long dry grass.

It renewed his hope, and he remarked confidentially:

"Once we reach that place we'll soon catch up to them."

"I don't tink so," ans