rode slowly down the bank.

"They don't see us yet," said Rand. "Wait until they get about half way
here, and then yell for help with all your might."

The horsemen rode slowly toward them, and as they reached a point a few
yards distant both Rand and Jack let a high boyish scream with all their
strength:

"Robbers! Thieves! Help! This way."

[Illustration: THEY RODE STRAIGHT FOR THE BOYS.]

At the same moment the three strangers caught sight of the two queer
figures tied to the trees and pulled up a moment. With the first yell, Rae
and Dublin came running around the sod house with their guns leveled,
cursing the boys and commanding silence. At the same moment they caught
sight of the strange horsemen. They turned at once and ran back for the
shack just as the horsemen seemed to comprehend the situation. There was a
sharp bugle call, and the three put spur to their horses, and with
carbines in rest came on at a hard gallop. They had to come round a little
bend in the creek which delayed them a little, then they rode straight for
the boys.

"Don't mind us," cried Rand, "get that gang before they get away. They've
been raiding the camp."

Two of the men turned and rode around the sod house while the other with a
spring from his mount and with a couple of slashes of a big wood knife cut
their bonds, and remounting, followed his comrades without asking a
question.

The boys followed as rapidly as possible, and when they came into view of
the camp a curious and lively scene met their gaze. Dublin and Rae had
gotten the Indians out of the shack and at the point of their guns had
herded them toward the boat into which they were tumbling as fast as they
could. The horsemen were riding toward the struggling crowd crying out to
them to halt. As they rode near, Dublin and Rae turned and deliberately
fired at the men, whose carbines at once cracked in reply. The last of the
Indians who had not yet gotten into the boat pitched forward on the bank,
and jumping over him, Dublin and Rae gave the boat a push out into the
middle of the stream, sprang aboard and dropped into the bottom of the
craft, which at once began to drift down with the current. As nothing was
in sight above the gunwale except the Indians the horsemen did not fire
again. As the batteau drifted around the point, Monkey Rae, who had been
the first to get aboard and conceal himself, rose, and putting his fingers
to his nose, shouted back some insulting epithet