he Kid said grimly. "The only way we'll get those
skunks out of their hole is to pull them out!"

Hawkins shrugged his shoulders and prepared to set out. They all
walked to the edge of the trees, and just as the sun burst forth in all
its glory Hawkins started across the open space toward the ranch house.

The boys watched him with anxious eyes. Would he cross safely, or
would he be shot down like a dog? There was no sign from the ranch
house. All activity had ceased as though the occupants had been frozen
into stillness. Nearer and nearer walked the agent, head up, the gun
with the handkerchief tied on it held in front of him. Still there was
no sign of life inside the house. When the agent reached within ten
feet of the place, the boys saw him stop and look closely at the quiet
house.

"Hey, you!" he yelled.

"Nervy guy," the Kid commented, "He might easily get creased, standin'
there yellin'. Me, I wouldn't put it past that bunch!"

Suddenly a window flew up and a head poked out. It was a stranger,
none of the boys ever having seen the fellow before.

"What do you want?" the man demanded in a truculent tone.

"I call upon you to surrender, in the name of the law!" said Hawkins.

"You what?" Without waiting for an answer, the head drew in but the
window remained open. In a moment the head reappeared.

"What are you talking about? Why should we surrender?"

"You're under arrest for smuggling, and for assault and battery with
intent to kill!"

"You don't say!" The head popped in. Then in a moment----

"Who are you--John Law?"

"I happen to be a federal agent. But I'm not here to give you my
history. Do you surrender?" The boys could hear the sting in the
agent's words.

"Wait a minute." Once more the head disappeared. This time it stayed
back for some minutes. The watching boys were moving uneasily.
Finally another came to the window--it was Delton. The agent gave no
sign that he knew him.

"Want to speak to me?" asked Delton, an imperious note in his voice.

"Makes no difference who I speak to. I want to know if you'll
surrender, and give yourselves over to the law."

"What for?"

"You know well enough! Smuggling, and shooting!"

"It was that bird's own fault that he got shot. What's he want to come
sneaking around for? Serves him right! As for smuggling, who said we
were smugglers?"

"Never mind about that." The agent was speaking quickly now. "I ask
you once more