baseball diamond they had played
their positions in brilliant fashion, and on the football gridiron they
had added to their laurels. When Bert had been chosen to go to the
Olympic games abroad, his "pals" had gone with him and exulted in his
glorious victory, when, in the Marathon race, he had beaten the crack
runners of the world. Nor were they to be denied, when his duty as
wireless operator had carried him over the Pacific to meet with thrilling
experiences among the yellow men of Asia. In every time of storm and
stress they had stood with him shoulder to shoulder, and faced life and
death with eyes wide open and unafraid. They were worthy lieutenants of
a brave and intrepid leader.

For, that he was their leader, they themselves would have been the first
to admit, although he would have modestly disclaimed it. He never
asserted leadership, but it sought him out of its own accord. He had the
instinct, the initiative, the quick decision, the magnetic personality
that marks the born captain. It was not merely that he was endowed with
strength of muscle and fleetness of foot and power of endurance that
placed him in a class by himself. He might have had all these, and still
been only a superb specimen of the "human animal." But, above and
controlling these qualities, was the indomitable will, the unflinching
courage, the gallant audacity that made him the idol of his comrades.

The college year just ended had been a notable one, marked by victories
on track and field. Together with the high rank he had reached and held
in his studies, with which, unlike many athletes, he never allowed sport
to interfere, it had taxed him heavily in mind and body. And it was with
unfeigned delight that he now looked forward to a long season of
recreation and adventure on the ranch in Montana, toward which he and
his friends were speeding.

Mr. Melton, the owner of the ranch, was a Western cattleman of the old
type, now rapidly disappearing. Bluff, rough and ready, generous and
courageous, his sterling qualities had won the admiration and affection
of the boys from the date of their first meeting the year before.

That meeting had taken place under extraordinary circumstances. The
"Three Guardsmen"--so called in joke, because they were always
together--journeying to the opening of the Panama Canal had found
themselves on the same train with Melton, as it wound its way through
Central Mexico. A broken trestle had made it necessary for