, and realized that the game was up. They emptied
their pistols and then flung themselves upon their horses and galloped
off, secure for the time from further pursuit.

The conductor, still pale and shaken from excitement, gave the signal.
There was a scramble to get aboard, the whistle tooted and the train
once more got under way.

In the Pullman there was a wild turmoil, as the relieved passengers
crowded around the boys and wrung their hands in congratulation. They
couldn't say enough in praise of the courage and presence of mind that
had turned the tables so swiftly and gallantly. The spoils were retrieved
and distributed among the rightful owners, and then, with a bow of mock
politeness, the old sombrero, empty now, was clapped on the head of the
baffled collector, who received it with a new string of blasphemies.

By this time the victim of Tom's unerring aim had gradually struggled
back to consciousness. His arms and feet had been securely tied and his
remaining revolver had been taken from his belt. Of a stronger mold than
his accomplice, he disdained to vent his rage in useless imprecations and
relapsed into silence as stoical as an Indian's. But, if looks could
kill, the boys would have been blasted by the brooding hate that shot
from under his jutting brows.

"I'm glad it didn't kill him, anyway," said Tom, as, after the tumult had
somewhat subsided, they once more were seated and the train was flying
along at full speed.

"It's a wonder it didn't," responded Dick. "It was a fearful crack."

"Tom hasn't forgotten the way he used to shoot them down from third base
to first," laughed Bert. "That right wing of his is certainly a dandy."

"It's lucky it is," said the conductor, who had just returned from giving
directions concerning the prisoners; "and talking about wings," he added,
turning to Bert, "there's no discount on yours. That fist hit like a
sledgehammer. The way you fellows piled into him was a crime. I never saw
a prettier bit of rough house.

"But the beauty of it all," he went on, "was the way you worked together.
If any one of you hadn't 'come through' at the same second, the jig would
have been up. Who figured it out?"

"Here's the slow thinker that did it," said Dick, clapping Bert on the
shoulder.

"That's the bonehead, sure enough," echoed Tom.

"Oh, come off," growled Bert, flushing a little and fidgeting uneasily in
his seat. "There was a whole lot of luck about it, anyway. If we