wed up in the distance.

Shortly after this they descried an approaching dust-cloud in the
distance, and the troopers, thinking it might be a new band of Indians or
some of the survivors of the dispersed one, unslung their rifles and made
preparations to give them a warm reception.

As the cloud drew nearer, however, figures began to emerge from it, and
in a few minutes the boys were able to make out the familiar faces of the
ranch cowboys, headed by Mr. Melton. They were all armed to the teeth,
and were spurring their horses along at a gallop.

Soon they were within hailing distance, and as the cowboys recognized the
three boys among the troopers they emitted joyful yells, and by way of
salute many of them fired their revolvers in the air. Mr. Melton appeared
more overjoyed than anybody else, however, and as the two parties met and
drew rein he exclaimed:

"Thank the Lord you're safe! When your horses galloped in late last night
without you I feared the worst. Tell me what has happened."

The cowboys crowded around, and listened eagerly while Bert gave an
account of the attack by the Indians and its result. When he had
finished, but before anybody had time to say anything, the corporal, who
commanded the escort, broke in: "From the way he tells it," he said, "you
might imagine that it had been a good deal less of a fight than it was.
But we counted over twenty dead redskins, besides a lot that were more
or less badly wounded. It must have been _some_ shindy, take it from me."

"I'm sure proud of you boys," exclaimed Mr. Melton, with glistening eyes;
"but I'm not so much surprised, after all. I always knew you were grit
clear through, anyhow."

"Oh, there was nothing very wonderful about it," disclaimed Bert. "We had
to fight, whether we wanted to or not. It wasn't a matter of choice."

"Well, we won't argue the matter," smiled Mr. Melton; "what you need now
is food and rest and a little nursing. We'll ride back home just as soon
as we can, where you'll get plenty of all three. I guess we won't need to
trouble you any more," he continued, addressing the corporal commanding
the detachment; "there's enough of us here to hold our own in case of an
attack, I think."

"I reckon so," said the corporal, sizing up the score or more of lean,
square-jawed cowboys, "and in that case we might just as well return to
camp."

He took leave of the three comrades, who thanked him for his escort, and
with the troopers at his h