wo were engaged, where he could release
Tom Bodine, surprise Morales and recapture the cave and the radio
plant?

The next moment a feeling of shame surged over him. If Von Arnheim
gained the upper hand, he would kill Stone without compunction.
Putting aside his first thought, Frank ran to where the two forms
still lay tightly locked on the ground, neither able to gain an
advantage.

He bent down, and the first thing his gaze encountered was an upflung
hand grasping a revolver, and another hand gripped about the wrist of
the first and preventing use of the weapon. He surmised it was Von
Arnheim who held the weapon, and acted accordingly.

Grasping the German's hand, he pressed back the fingers so sharply a
cry of pain was wrung from Von Arnheim's lip. The revolver dropped to
the ground. Its owner, however, pluckily continued the fight. Frank
danced about, the captured weapon clubbed in his hand, ready to deal a
blow when possible. But so furious was the fight that he feared to
strike, lest he hit his friend.

Precious minutes were flying by. He was in an agony. Morales had to be
prevented from radioing the ranch, if Jack and Bob were to stand their
chance.

Then suddenly Roy Stone gained the upper hand of his opponent. He
legs were twined about Von Arnheim, he clutched the other to his
chest, one arm was in the small of his back, the other was pressed
across his throat, his chin was sunk deep into the German's shoulder.
Von Arnheim had only one arm free, the other was pinioned to his side.
With this free arm he plucked futilely at Roy's arm across his throat,
unable to reach the guarded face. It was a grip Von Arnheim was
powerless to break, and it was only a question of time until he would
be throttled into submission.

With a leap of the heart, Frank realized this. And bending down with
his lips to Stone's ear, he said:

"I've got his gun. If you can hold him now I'm going into the cave
after Morales. He's still at the phone."

A grunt was Stone's only reply as he pressed his chin deeper into the
other's shoulder. Von Arnheim's body was beginning to arch like a bow.
If he did not surrender soon, his back would be broken.

Frank darted off down the slope.

Morales was seated at the telephone as Frank entered the cave,
captured revolver in his hand. His own weapon hung forgotten at his
side, so little used was he to the handling of small arms. Frank had
tumbled, fallen, rolled down the slope, taking no pre